ENHANCED VIDEO GAMING MACHINE

• US 20080161107A1
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tipping Point Group
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Johnson, Sam
• Granted Patent: US 8,784,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

The present invention provides a closed-loop system that allows the operator of video gaming machines or other systems to define promotional events for the particular machines or systems, monitor the activity of the particular machines or systems, and grant awards. More specifically, the promotional events may include scheduling information, winning criteria and awards. During the period of time that the promotional event is active, the activity of the machine or system is monitored to determine if the winning criteria has been satisfied. If the winning criteria are satisfied, information pertaining to event is recorded. The present invention is applicable to a variety of embodiments including video poker machines, black jack machines or other gaming and gambling machines, as well as other systems that include a display mechanism and an activity that can be monitored.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine controlling system including a video display output and a user input interface, the electronic gaming machine controlling system comprising:

a first controller function that renders a game by providing data on the video display output, responding to actuations of the user input interface and providing award output data based on the logic of the game and a payout table associated with the game; and

a second controller function that renders content simultaneously and in addition to the game by providing data on the video display output, wherein the rendering of the game is not interrupted by the rendering of the content.

2. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 1, wherein the first controller function is performed by a processing unit resident to the electronic gaming machine and the second controller function is performed by a separate processing unit resident in a controller box.

3. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 1, wherein the first controller function is performed by a processing unit resident to the electronic gaming machine and the second controller function is performed by a separate processing unit resident in a controller box but that interfaces to the same video display output.

4. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 3, wherein the content comprises entertainment feeds obtained from an entertainment source.

5. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 3, wherein the content comprises promotional events obtained from a promotional event server.

6. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 5, wherein the promotional events are programmable through the promotional server and can be customized and scheduled.

7. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 3, wherein the content comprises two components, entertainment feeds obtained from an entertainment source and promotional events obtained from a promotional event server.

8. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 7, wherein the second controller function monitors actuations of the user input interface and renders the entertainment feed component of the content based at least in part on such actuations.

9. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 8, wherein the promotional events identify actuations of the user interface and results of such actuations.

10. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 9, wherein the results of such actuations relate to the presentation of the entertainment feed component of the content.

11. The electronic gaming machine controlling system of claim 9, wherein the results of such actuations augment the award output data.

12. A method for controlling an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising the steps of:

rendering a game on the electronic gaming machine, such rendering including the functions of providing data on a video display communicatively coupled to the electronic gaming machine, responding to actuations of the user input interface and providing award output data based on the logic of the game and a payout table associated with the game;

rendering additional content simultaneously with the rendering of the game by providing data on the video display, wherein the rendering of the game is not interrupted by the rendering of the content;

monitoring the actuations of the user input interface; and

performing additional functions based on the actuations detected by the monitoring step.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of performing additional functions based on the actuations detected by the monitoring step further comprises performing actions based on logic associated with the additional content.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of monitoring the actuations of the user input interface further comprises monitoring actions that are associated with the play of the rendered game.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of rendering additional content further comprises the step of presenting content that identifies actuations of the user interface and actions that will occur as the result of such actuations, wherein the actuations comprise activities associated with the play of the rendered game.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of rendering additional content further comprises presenting a promotional event indicating an actuation of the user interface that is commensurate with the play of the game, and wherein the monitoring step further comprises detecting the actuation associated with the promotional event.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of performing additional functions further comprises providing a monetary award.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the content further comprises an entertainment feed and the step of performing additional functions further comprises the step of including the entertainment feed in the content as a condition of the actuation.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of presenting a promotional event further comprises presenting promotional event in accordance with a schedule of promotional events.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensitive screen and the step of rendering additional content further comprises presenting a promotional event indicating an actuation of the user interface that will result in an additional action being performed.