Method and apparatus for enabling a player to simultaneously control game play on multiple gaming devices

• US 20060160614A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tedesco, Robert C., Patterson, Michael W., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a gaming system is operable to determine a first gaming device being operated by a player and select a second gaming device to be controlled, via the first gaming device, by the player. In some embodiments, the gaming system is further operable to configure the second gaming device to be controlled via an interface of the first gaming device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting a second gaming device;

configuring the second gaming device to accept control from the first gaming device; and

controlling the second gaming device from the first gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including determining game outcomes for the first gaming device and the second gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the second gaming device includes requesting a game outcome from the second gaming device with the first gaming device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling includes signaling the second gaming device to display a game outcome.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first gaming device determines the game outcome displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling includes signaling the second gaming device to generate a random game outcome.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second gaming device has a plurality of peripheral components, further wherein configuring includes deactivating at least one of the plurality of peripheral components.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a second gaming device with a first gaming device includes sending a signal from the first gaming device to the second gaming device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the signal from the first gaming device to the second gaming device includes routing the signal with a gaming server.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the signal from the first gaming device to the second gaming device includes sending the signal through a peer-to-peer network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the second gaming device from the first gaming device includes controlling the second gaming device with the game program of the first gaming device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the second gaming device from the first gaming device includes controlling the second gaming device with a user interface associated with the first gaming device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user interface is controlled by a player.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device may be controlled with the user interface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the user interface is selected from the group consisting of a graphical user interface or a pushbutton.

16. The method of claim 1, further including randomly determining a first game outcome for the first gaming device and a second game outcome for the second gaming device.

17. The method of claim 16, further including providing an award for a winning game outcome determined by a combination of the first game outcome and the second game outcome.

18. The method of claim 16, further including providing a bonus as a predetermined function of the first game outcome and the second game outcome.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of configuring the second gaming device includes displaying at least one game outcome on both the first gaming device and the second gaming device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the combination of the first gaming device and the second gaming device display the at least one game outcome.

21. The method of claim 1, further including selecting the second gaming device with the first gaming device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the second gaming device is adjacent to the first gaming device.

23. The method of claim 2, wherein the game outcomes are determined by a server in communication with the first gaming device and the second gaming device.

24. A method for controlling gaming devices in a gaming network, comprising:

selecting a plurality of gaming devices;

signaling the plurality of gaming devices to accept control from the first gaming device;

configuring the plurality of gaming devices for control from the first gaming device; and

controlling the plurality of gaming devices from the first gaming device.

25. The method of claim 24, further including determining game outcomes for each of the gaming devices.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of controlling includes requesting a game outcome from each of the plurality of gaming devices with the first gaming device.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of controlling includes signaling each of the plurality of gaming devices to display one of a plurality of game outcomes.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first gaming device determines the game outcomes.

29. A method, comprising:

determining a first gaming device being operated by a player;

selecting a second gaming device to be controlled, via the first gaming device, by the player; and

configuring the second gaming device to be controlled via an interface of the first gaming device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein selecting comprises:

determining a second gaming device selected by the player via the interface of the first gaming device.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein selecting comprises:

receiving an indication of at least one characteristic the second gaming device is to possess; and

selecting the second device based on the at least one characteristic.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving, via the first gaming device, a wager for a game play to be conducted on the second gaming device.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

outputting, via the first gaming device, a payout for an outcome obtained on the second gaming device.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

outputting, via a display of the first gaming device, an indication of an outcome obtained via the second gaming device.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein configuring further comprises:

establishing a communication link among the first gaming device and the second gaming device, such that the first gaming device may direct the second gaming device to perform game play functions.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein configuring further comprises:

configuring the second gaming device to perform game play functions in response to a signal from a gaming server, the gaming server in turn operable to receive, from the first gaming device, instructions for how to control the second gaming device.