Method and apparatus for providing a time based payment from a gaming device

• US 20030228901A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Zucker, David F., Suarez, Jose A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method is provided for providing payments at a gaming device, where the payments may occur at predictable times and are of predictable amounts. In one or more embodiments, a gaming device may provide a guaranteed payment every hour on the hour, so long as a player meets one or more criteria. Criteria may include a total amount wagered, a total number of handle pulls completed, or a total amount of time spent at a gaming device. One or more embodiments provide a method for withholding value from a player in order that the value may delivered later in the form of a guaranteed payment. One or more embodiments provide a method whereby multiple gaming devices may provide payments simultaneously, thereby creating mutually reinforcing sounds and visual displays.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a first time;

determining a second time; and

providing, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment from a gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining a first time includes determining a reference time;

and

wherein determining a second time includes determining a current time.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining a first time includes determining a beginning of a next hour.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein determining a first time includes determining a time that is a predetermined number of minutes before a beginning of a next hour.

5. The method of claim 1, further including determining a size of the payment deterministically.

6. The method of claim 1, further including determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion;

and

wherein providing includes providing, based on the first time matching the second time and the determining of whether the player has satisfied the at least one criterion, a payment.

7. The method of claim 6,

wherein determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion includes determining whether the player has made a specified number of handle pulls at a gaming device.

8. The method of claim 6,

wherein determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion includes determining whether the player has made a specified number of handle pulls at a gaming device within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion includes determining whether the player has made a specified number of handle pulls at a gaming device within a time interval beginning one hour prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

10. The method of claim 6,

wherein determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion includes determining whether the player has wagered, at a gaming device, an amount of currency whose aggregate value equals or exceeds a specified value, within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

11. The method of claim 5,

wherein determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion includes determining whether the player has paid, in taxes to a gaming device, an amount of currency whose aggregate value equals or exceeds a specified value, within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

12. The method of claim 6,

wherein determining whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion includes determining whether the player has maintained a specified average rate of play at a gaming device within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein providing includes providing, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment, independent of any prior outcomes generated.

14. A method comprising:

determining a reference time;

receiving, from a player, a quantity of wagers whose aggregate value meets or exceeds a specified value;

determining, deterministically, the size of a payment; and

providing the payment to the player in temporal proximity to the reference time.

15. The method of 14,

wherein determining a reference time includes determining, deterministically, a reference time.

16. A method comprising:

directing a first gaming device to provide a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and

directing, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide a second payment that has been determined deterministically.

17. A method comprising:

determining a first payment deterministically;

determining a second payment deterministically;

directing a first gaming device to provide the first payment; and

directing, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide the second payment.

18. A method comprising:

directing a first gaming device to provide, at a specified time, a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and

directing a second gaming device to provide, at the specified time, a second payment that has been determined deterministically.

19. A method comprising:

determining a specified time deterministically;

directing a first gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time; and

directing a second gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time.

20. A method comprising:

determining a first payment for a first gaming device;

determining, independently of determining the first payment, a second payment for a second gaming device;

directing the first gaming device to provide the first payment at a specified time; and

directing the second gaming device to provide the second payment at the specified time.

21. A system comprising:

a first gaming device storing instructions to emit a sound at a specified time;

a second gaming device storing instructions to emit a sound at the specified time; and

a third gaming device, disposed between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, that is silent at the specified time.

22. A method comprising:

determining a first time;

determining a second time; and

producing, based on the first time matching the second time, the sound of coins dropping, without dropping a coin.

23. A method comprising:

instructing a first gaming device to produce, at a specified time, the sound of coins dropping; and

instructing a second gaming device to produce, at the specified time, the sound of coins dropping.

24. A method comprising:

generating an outcome;

determining a payout associated with the outcome;

apportioning the payout into a first payment and a second payment;

providing, at a first time, the first payment; and

providing, at a second time, the second payment.

25. The method of 24,

wherein providing, at a first time, includes providing, at a first time that has been determined randomly, the first payment;

and

wherein providing, at a second time, includes providing, at a second time that has been determined deterministically, the second payment.

26. The method of 24,

wherein apportioning includes apportioning, based on a predetermined percentage, the payout amount into a first payment and a second payment.

27. A method comprising

generating a first outcome;

determining a first payout associated with the first outcome;

apportioning the first payout into a first payment and a second payment;

generating a second outcome;

determining a second payout associated with the second outcome;

apportioning the second payout into a third payment and a fourth payment; and

providing the second payment and the fourth payment at predetermined times.

28. The method of claim 27,

wherein providing includes providing the second payment and the fourth payment at predetermined times that are within temporal proximity of one another.

29. A method comprising:

determining a first time;

determining a second time; and

initiating, based on the first time matching the second time, play of a bonus round.

30. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

determine a first time;

determine a second time; and

provide, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment from a gaming device.

31. The system of claim 30,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine a reference time;

determine a current time; and

provide, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment from a gaming device.

32. The system of claim 30,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine a beginning of a next hour.

33. The system of claim 30,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine a time that is a predetermined number of minutes before a beginning of a next hour.

34. The system of claim 30,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine a size of the payment deterministically.

35. The system of claim 30,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine whether a player has satisfied at least one criterion; and

provide, based on the first time matching the second time and the determining of whether the player has satisfied the at least one criterion, a payment.

36. The system of claim 35,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine whether the player has made a specified number of handle pulls at a gaming device.

37. The system of claim 35,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine whether the player has made a specified number of handle pulls at a gaming device within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

38. The system of claim 37,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine whether the player has made a specified number of handle pulls at a gaming device within a time interval beginning one hour prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

39. The system of claim 35,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine whether the player has wagered, at a gaming device, an amount of currency whose aggregate value equals or exceeds a specified value, within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

40. The system of claim 35,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine whether the player has paid, in taxes to a gaming device, an amount of currency whose aggregate value equals or exceeds a specified value, within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

41. The system of claim 35,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine whether the player has maintained a specified average rate of play at a gaming device within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the first time, and ending with the first time.

42. The system of claim 30,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

provide, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment, independent of any prior outcomes generated.

43. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

determine a reference time;

receive, from a player, a quantity of wagers whose aggregate value meets or exceeds a specified value;

determine, deterministically, the size of a payment; and

provide the payment to the player in temporal proximity to the reference time.

44. The system of claim 43,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

determine, deterministically, a reference time.

45. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

direct a first gaming device to provide a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and

direct, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide a second payment that has been determined deterministically.

46. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

determine a first payment deterministically;

determine a second payment deterministically;

direct a first gaming device to provide the first payment; and

direct, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide the second payment.

47. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

direct a first gaming device to provide, at a specified time, a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and

direct a second gaming device to provide, at the specified time, a second payment that has been determined deterministically.

48. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

determine a specified time deterministically;

direct a first gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time; and

direct a second gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time.

49. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

determine a first payment for a first gaming device;

determine, independently of determining the first payment, a second payment for a second gaming device;

direct the first gaming device to provide the first payment at a specified time; and

direct the second gaming device to provide the second payment at the specified time.

50. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

determine a first time;

determine a second time; and

produce, based on the first time matching the second time, the sound of coins dropping, without dropping a coin.

51. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

instruct a first gaming device to produce, at a specified time, the sound of coins dropping; and

instruct a second gaming device to produce, at the specified time, the sound of coins dropping.

52. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

generate an outcome;

determine a payout associated with the outcome;

apportion the payout into a first payment and a second payment;

provide, at a first time, the first payment; and

provide, at a second time, the second payment.

53. The system of claim 52,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

provide, at a first time that has been determined randomly, the first payment; and

provide, at a second time that has been determined deterministically, the second payment.

54. The system of 52,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

apportion, based on a predetermined percentage, the payout amount into a first payment and a second payment.

55. A system comprising

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

generate a first outcome;

determine a first payout associated with the first outcome;

apportion the first payout into a first payment and a second payment;

generate a second outcome;

determine a second payout associated with the second outcome;

apportion the second payout into a third payment and a fourth payment; and

provide the second payment and the fourth payment at predetermined times.

56. The system of claim 55,

wherein the program further includes instructions to:

provide the second payment and the fourth payment at predetermined times that are within temporal proximity of one another.

57. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;

determine a first time;

determine a second time; and

initiate, based on the first time matching the second time, play of a bonus round.

58. A method comprising:

determining a reference time;

determining a current time;

determining whether a player of a gaming device has satisfied at least one criterion;

determining a size of a payment deterministically and independently of any prior outcomes generated by the gaming device; and

providing, based on the first time matching the second time and the determining whether a player of a gaming device has satisfied at least one criterion, the payment from the gaming device,

wherein determining a reference time includes determining a time that is a predetermined number of minutes before or after a beginning of a next hour,

wherein the at least one criterion includes the player has paid, in taxes to the gaming device, an amount of currency whose aggregate value equals or exceeds a specified value, within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the reference time, and ending with the reference time, and

wherein the at least one criterion further includes the player is present at the gaming device at the reference time.