METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING GAMING CONTENT

• US 20090082095A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Tulley, Stephen, Tedesco, Daniel E., Sammon, Russell P., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S., Hayashida, Jeffrey Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,435,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• 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 comprises receiving an indication of a triggering event at a gaming device, determining a gaming content associated with the gaming device, identifying a public display on which is displayed non-gaming media content, and outputting the gaming content on the public display wherein the gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the non-gaming media content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a triggering event at a gaming device;

determining a gaming content associated with the gaming device;

identifying a public display on which is displayed non-gaming media content; and

outputting the gaming content on the public display wherein the gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the non-gaming media content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the gaming content comprises outputting the gaming content such that at least a portion of the non-gaming media content is obscured by the outputted gaming content.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the outputted gaming content is surrounded by the non-gaming media content.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the outputted gaming content is displayed in picture-in-picture format.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the gaming content is displayed as a scrolling overlay to the non-gaming media content.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-gaming media content comprises audio content and visual content.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein outputting the gaming content comprises reducing a display space of the visual content.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein outputting the gaming content comprises outputting the gaming content and non-gaming media content in a split screen format.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the gaming content comprises outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is time shifted.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the gaming content comprises outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is paused.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the gaming content comprises outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is presented in real time.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the gaming content comprises outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is entirely obscured.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-gaming media content is retrieved from a storage device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the storage device is a VHS cassette.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the non-gaming media content is retrieved from the storage device in a digital format.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-gaming media content comprises a television broadcast.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the television broadcast comprises at least one of a network television broadcast and a cable television broadcast.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the triggering event comprises a provision of consideration by a player at the gaming device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the consideration comprises cash.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the consideration comprises comp points.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the consideration comprises a commitment to make a purchase.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the consideration comprises a proof of a prior purchase.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the triggering event comprises a request from a player of the gaming device.

24. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an indication of a triggering event at a gaming device;

determining a gaming content associated with the gaming device;

identifying a public display on which is displayed non-gaming media content; and

outputting the gaming content on the public display wherein the gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the non-gaming media content.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving an indication of a triggering event at a gaming device;

determining a gaming content associated with the gaming device;

identifying a public display on which is displayed non-gaming media content; and

outputting the gaming content on the public display wherein the gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the non-gaming media content.

26. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a player to output gaming content on a public display wherein the request comprises a selection of the public display by the player; and

determining to output the gaming content on the public display.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising receiving an indication that the player has met at least one eligibility criteria.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising determining the gaming content based upon the at least one eligibility criteria.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising determining a percentage of the public display to be occupied by the gaming content based upon the at least one eligibility criteria.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising determining an amount of time the gaming content is outputted to the public display based upon the at least one eligibility criteria.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one eligibility criteria comprises a player tracking status.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein determining comprises determining to output the gaming content on the public display so as to supersede a non-gaming media content.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining the gaming content based upon the request.

34. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining a percentage of the public display to be occupied by the gaming content based upon the request.

35. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining an amount of time the gaming content is outputted to the public display based upon the request.

36. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining the gaming content based upon a trigger event.

37. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining a percentage of the public display to be occupied by the gaming content based upon the trigger event.

38. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining an amount of time the gaming content is outputted to the public display based upon the trigger event.

39. The method of claim 26 wherein determining comprises determining to output the gaming content in exchange for consideration.

40. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request from a player to output gaming content on a public display wherein the request comprises a selection of the public display by the player; and

determining to output the gaming content on the public display.

41. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving a request from a player to output gaming content on a public display wherein the request comprises a selection of the public display by the player; and

determining to output the gaming content on the public display.

42. A method comprising:

determining a public display on which is displayed a first video output;

determining control of the public display by at least one player of a gaming device; and

displaying on the public display the first video output and a second video output associated with an output of the gaming device.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein determining the public display comprises receiving an identification from the at least one player of the public display.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the player communicates the identification via at least one of a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a cashless gaming receipt reader, and a personal computer.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein determining the public display comprises providing assistance to the at least one player to select the public display.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein determining control of the public display comprises determining control of the public display based upon a comp level status of the at least one player.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein determining control of the public display comprises determining control of the public display based upon a comp point total of the at least one player.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein determining control of the public display comprises determining control of the public display based upon a wager amount of the at least one player.

49. The method of claim 42 wherein determining control of the public display comprises determining control of the public display based upon a factor relating to at least one gaming outcome of the at least one player.

50. The method of claim 42 wherein determining control of the public display comprises determining control of the public display based upon a number of the at least one player.

51. The method of claim 42 wherein determining control of the public display comprises determining control of the public display based upon the content of the first video output.

52. The method of claim 42 wherein determining control of the public display comprises determining control of the public display based upon activity within viewing distance of the public display.

53. The method of claim 42 further comprising generating gaming content.

54. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

determining a public display on which is displayed a first video output;

determining control of the public display by at least one player of a gaming device; and

displaying on the public display the first video output and a second video output associated with an output of the gaming device.

55. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method comprising;

determining a public display on which is displayed a first video output;

determining control of the public display by at least one player of a gaming device; and

displaying on the public display the first video output and a second video output associated with an output of the gaming device.