Remote content management and resource sharing on a gaming machine and method of implementing same

• US 10,607,437 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Little, William C., De Waal, Daniel J., Manfredi, Vincent S., Bullard, Bryan E., Iddings, Cara L., Schneider, Richard J., LeMay, Steven G., Beaulieu, Nichole M., Gipp, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garner, Werner G
• Application Number:
  US15/158,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20160260283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn'"'"'t alter the play of game of chance.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a housing;

a wireless communication interface;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including an acceptor, and a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor supported by the housing; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

receive a wager on a play of a game,

for the wagered on play of the game;

randomly determine a game outcome,

cause the at least one display device to display, in a game window controlled by the at least one processor, the determined game outcome,

determine any award associated with the displayed game outcome, and

cause the at least one display device to display any determined award associated with the displayed game outcome,

upon an occurrence of a designated event and after a determination, based at least in part on a usage of the at least one processor, occurs to allocate control of the wireless communication interface of the electronic gaming machine to a remote host executing remote host software, cause data received from the remote host and associated with a remote host controlled service window to be wirelessly communicated, via the wireless communication interface of the electronic gaming machine, to a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is separate and distinct from the electronic gaming machine, the remote host is distinct from the at least one processor, and the wirelessly communicated data enables the mobile device to display, via a mobile device display device and in the remote host controlled service window, at least one of;

an available player selectable player service and an available player selectable function, and

responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the available player selectable player service is selected from the group consisting of:

enabling a player to order at least one of a food item and a drink item, enabling the player to communicate with another player, enabling the player to communicate with a gaming establishment concierge, enabling the player to learn gaming establishment information, enabling the player to make at least one reservation, enabling the player to transfer funds, enabling the player to purchase a lottery ticket, enabling the player to obtain change, enabling the player to make a wager on an event separate from the play of the game, enabling the player to cash out a winning event ticket, enabling the player to send and receive electronic messages, enabling the player to locate another player, enabling the player to purchase at least one vending item, enabling the player to access an internet enabled service, enabling the player to check a quantity of player tracking points, enabling the player to redeem player tracking points, enabling the player to receive gaming establishment promotional information, enabling the player to watch television, enabling the player to watch a movie, enabling the player to listen to music, enabling the player to access a gaming establishment account, enabling the player to pick a game to play from a plurality of available games, enabling the player to place at least one side-bet, enabling the player to play for at least one progressive award, enabling the player to participate in a gaming tournament, enabling the player to customize at least one aspect of displayed content, enabling the player to enroll in a player tracking system, enabling the player to simultaneously play a plurality of games, enabling the player to access a score card of accomplished events, enabling the player to access a tournament leader board, and enabling the player to select a favorite award to play for.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the available player selectable function is selected from the group consisting of:

displaying information relating to a gaming experience of a player, providing personalized audio-video content, providing a virtual automatic teller machine, providing a virtual entertainment center, providing a virtual lottery machine, providing a virtual change machine, providing a virtual sports book, providing a virtual communication center, providing a virtual concierge, providing a virtual vending machine and providing a virtual internet kiosk.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the designated event is selected from the group consisting of:

the establishment of the credit balance, an insertion of a player tracking card, information being read from the mobile device, an actuation of one of the input devices, an event triggered from the play of the game, the cashout input, the receipt of the wager on the play of the game, the randomly determined game outcome, the award associated with the randomly determined game outcome, a quantity of credits available, a removal of the player tracking card, and an event generated by a remote host.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of:

a hand-held computer, a personal digital assistant, and a cellular phone.

6. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

receive data associated with a placement of a wager on a play of a game of an electronic gaming machine, wherein the wager is placed after a physical item is received via an acceptor of the electronic gaming machine to establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the physical item and for the wagered on play of the game, at least one display device of the electronic gaming machine displays, the determined game outcome in a game window, and

upon an occurrence of a designated event and following an occurrence of a determination, based at least in part on a usage of at least one processor of the electronic gaming machine, to allocate a wireless communication interface of the electronic gaming machine to the at least one processor which is distinct from the at least one processor of the electronic gaming machine, cause data associated with a service window to be wirelessly communicated to a mobile device, wherein the wirelessly communicated data enables the mobile device to display, by a mobile device display device and in the service window and separate from the at least one display device of the electronic gaming machine, at least one of;

an available player service and an available function.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the available player service is selected from the group consisting of:

enabling a player to order at least one of a food item and a drink item, enabling the player to communicate with another player, enabling the player to communicate with a gaming establishment concierge, enabling the player to learn gaming establishment information, enabling the player to make at least one reservation, enabling the player to transfer funds, enabling the player to purchase a lottery ticket, enabling the player to obtain change, enabling the player to make a wager on an event separate from the play of the game, enabling the player to cash out a winning event ticket, enabling the player to send and receive electronic messages, enabling the player to locate another player, enabling the player to purchase at least one vending item, enabling the player to access an internet enabled service, enabling the player to check a quantity of player tracking points, enabling the player to redeem player tracking points, enabling the player to receive gaming establishment promotional information, enabling the player to watch television, enabling the player to watch a movie, enabling the player to listen to music, enabling the player to access a gaming establishment account, enabling the player to pick a game to play from a plurality of available games, enabling the player to place at least one side-bet, enabling the player to play for at least one progressive award, enabling the player to participate in a gaming tournament, enabling the player to customize at least one aspect of displayed content, enabling the player to enroll in a player tracking system, enabling the player to simultaneously play a plurality of games, enabling the player to access a score card of accomplished events, enabling the player to access a tournament leader board, and enabling the player to select a favorite award to play for.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the available function is selected from the group consisting of:

displaying information relating to a gaming experience of a player, providing personalized audio-video content, providing a virtual automatic teller machine, providing a virtual entertainment center, providing a virtual lottery machine, providing a virtual change machine, providing a virtual sports book, providing a virtual communication center, providing a virtual concierge, providing a virtual vending machine and providing a virtual internet kiosk.

9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the designated event is selected from the group consisting of:

the establishment of the credit balance, an insertion of a player tracking card, information being read from the mobile device, an actuation of one of the input devices, an event triggered from the play of the game, the cashout input, the receipt of the wager on the play of the game, the randomly determined game outcome, the award associated with the randomly determined game outcome, a quantity of credits available, a removal of the player tracking card, and an event generated by the remote host.

10. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of:

a hand-held computer, a personal digital assistant, and a cellular phone.

11. The gaming system of claim 6, which transmits and receives data over a data network.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the data network is an internet.

13. A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, said method comprising:

establishing a credit balance responsive to a physical item being received via an acceptor, said credit balance being based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

receiving a wager on a play of a game,

for the wagered on play of the game;

randomly determining, by at least one processor of the electronic gaming machine, a game outcome,

causing a display, via at least one display device of the electronic gaming machine and in a game window controlled by the at least one processor, the determined game outcome,

determining, by the at least one processor of the electronic gaming machine, any award associated with the displayed game outcome, and

causing a display, via the at least one display device of the electronic gaming machine, of any determined award associated with the displayed game outcome,

upon an occurrence of a designated event and after a determination, based at least in part on a usage of the at least one processor of the electronic gaming machine, occurs to allocate control of a wireless communication interface of the electronic gaming machine to a remote host executing remote host software, causing data received from the remote host and associated with a remote host controlled service window to be wirelessly communicated, via the wireless communication interface of the electronic gaming machine, to a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is separate and distinct from the electronic gaming machine, the remote host is distinct from the at least one processor of the electronic gaming machine and the wirelessly communicated data enables the mobile device to display, via a mobile device display device and in the remote host controlled service window, at least one of;

an available player selectable player service and an available player selectable function, and

causing, by the at least one processor, an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance responsive to a cashout input being received via a cashout device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the available player selectable player service is selected from the group consisting of:

enabling a player to order at least one of a food item and a drink item, enabling the player to communicate with another player, enabling the player to communicate with a gaming establishment concierge, enabling the player to learn gaming establishment information, enabling the player to make at least one reservation, enabling the player to transfer funds, enabling the player to purchase a lottery ticket, enabling the player to obtain change, enabling the player to make a wager on an event separate from the play of the game, enabling the player to cash out a winning event ticket, enabling the player to send and receive electronic messages, enabling the player to locate another player, enabling the player to purchase at least one vending item, enabling the player to access an internet enabled service, enabling the player to check a quantity of player tracking points, enabling the player to redeem player tracking points, enabling the player to receive gaming establishment promotional information, enabling the player to watch television, enabling the player to watch a movie, enabling the player to listen to music, enabling the player to access a gaming establishment account, enabling the player to pick a game to play from a plurality of available games, enabling the player to place at least one side-bet, enabling the player to play for at least one progressive award, enabling the player to participate in a gaming tournament, enabling the player to customize at least one aspect of displayed content, enabling the player to enroll in a player tracking system, enabling the player to simultaneously play a plurality of games, enabling the player to access a score card of accomplished events, enabling the player to access a tournament leader board, and enabling the player to select a favorite award to play for.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the available player selectable function is selected from the group consisting of:

displaying information relating to a gaming experience of a player, providing personalized audio-video content, providing a virtual automatic teller machine, providing a virtual entertainment center, providing a virtual lottery machine, providing a virtual change machine, providing a virtual sports book, providing a virtual communication center, providing a virtual concierge, providing a virtual vending machine and providing a virtual internet kiosk.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the designated event is selected from the group consisting of:

the establishment of the credit balance, an insertion of a player tracking card, information being read from the mobile device, an actuation of one of the input devices, an event triggered from the play of the game, the cashout input, the receipt of the wager on the play of the game, the randomly determined game outcome, the award associated with the randomly determined game outcome, a quantity of credits available, a removal of the player tracking card, and an event generated by a remote host.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of:

a hand-held computer, a personal digital assistant, and a cellular phone.

18. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by processor upon an occurrence of a designated event and after an occurrence of a determination, based at least in part on a usage of a processor of an electronic gaming machine, to allocate a wireless communication interface of the electronic gaming machine to the processor which is distinct from the processor of the electronic gaming machine, cause the processor to cause data to be wirelessly communicated to a mobile device, wherein the wirelessly communicated data enables the mobile device to display, by a mobile device display device and separate from a display device of the electronic gaming machine, a sporting event wager available to be placed on a sporting event.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the data wirelessly communicated to the mobile device enables the mobile device to display the sporting event wager in a service window associated with the electronic gaming machine.