Universal Game Monitoring Unit and System

• US 20110230260A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: McAllister, Lawrence, Hein, Marvin A., Morrow, James W., White, Warren R., Luciano, Robert A. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

An embedded user interface incorporated into a gaming device, the gaming device including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game. The embedded user interface includes: a player tracking interface and an embedded processor. The player tracking interface includes (or is associated with) a display screen and enables display of a system game to a user, presentation of information to the user, and reception of information from the user. The embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, enables control of the system game, control of player tracking information, and control of non-gaming information. In one embodiment, the embedded user interface enables control of a system game of which at least a portion of the system game is presented physically external to the embedded user interface. In another embodiment, the embedded user interface enables control of a system gaming indicator that is physically external to the embedded user interface. In still another embodiment, communication between a game processor and an embedded user interface is only enabled through the gaming network and is not direct enabled via a direct connection.

Claims

1. An embedded user interface incorporated into a gaming device, the gaming device including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game, wherein the gaming processor of the gaming device enables play of the base game without requiring use of the embedded user interface, the embedded user interface comprising:

a player tracking interface including a display screen, wherein the player tracking interface enables display of a system game to a user, wherein the player tracking interface enables presentation of information to the user, and wherein the player tracking interface enables reception of information from the user; and

an embedded processor, wherein the embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor controls an outcome of the system game of which at least a portion of the system game presentation is physically external to the embedded user interface;

wherein the embedded user interface drives gaming presentation components of a system game of which at least a portion of the gaming presentation components are physically external to the display screen; and

wherein the embedded user interface enables control of a system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen.

2. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional gaming presentation.

3. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional display screen.

4. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a wheel.

5. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more reels.

6. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a sound-generating mechanism.

7. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more lights.

8. An embedded user interface system incorporated into a gaming device, the gaming device including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game, wherein the gaming processor of the gaming device enables play of the base game without requiring use of the embedded user interface system, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a player tracking interface including a display screen, wherein the player tracking interface enables display of a system game to a user, wherein the player tracking interface enables presentation of information to the user, and wherein the player tracking interface enables reception of information from the user; and

an embedded processor, wherein the embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor controls an outcome of the system game of which at least a portion of the system game presentation is physically external to the embedded user interface system;

wherein the embedded user interface system drives gaming presentation components of a system game of which at least a portion of the gaming presentation components are physically external to the display screen; and

wherein the embedded user interface enables control of a system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen.

9. The embedded user interface system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional gaming presentation.

10. The embedded user interface system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional display screen.

11. The embedded user interface system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a wheel.

12. The embedded user interface system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more reels.

13. The embedded user interface system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a sound-generating mechanism.

14. The embedded user interface system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the portion of the system game that is physically external to the embedded user interface or the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more lights.

15. An embedded user interface system incorporated into a gaming device, the gaming device including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game, wherein the gaming processor of the gaming device enables play of the base game without requiring use of the embedded user interface system, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a player tracking interface including a display screen, wherein the player tracking interface enables display of a system game to a user, wherein the player tracking interface enables presentation of information to the user, and wherein the player tracking interface enables reception of information from the user; and

an embedded processor, wherein the embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor controls an outcome of the system game of which at least a portion of the system game presentation is physically external to the embedded user interface system;

wherein the embedded user interface system drives gaming presentation components of a system game of which at least a portion of the gaming presentation components are physically external to the display screen.

16. The embedded user interface system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the system game that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional gaming presentation.

17. The embedded user interface system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the system game that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional display screen.

18. The embedded user interface system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the system game that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a wheel.

19. The embedded user interface system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the system game that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more reels.

20. The embedded user interface system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the system game that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a sound generating mechanism.

21. The embedded user interface system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the system game that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more lights.

22. An embedded user interface system incorporated into a gaming device, the gaming device including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game, wherein the gaming processor of the gaming device enables play of the base game without requiring use of the embedded user interface system, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a player tracking interface including a display screen, wherein the player tracking interface enables display of a system game to a user, wherein the player tracking interface enables presentation of information to the user, and wherein the player tracking interface enables reception of information from the user; and

an embedded processor, wherein the embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor controls an outcome of the system game of which at least a portion of the system game presentation is physically external to the embedded user interface system;

wherein the embedded user interface system drives gaming presentation components of a system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen.

23. The embedded user interface system of claim 22, wherein the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional gaming presentation.

24. The embedded user interface system of claim 22, wherein the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

an additional display screen.

25. The embedded user interface system of claim 22, wherein the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a wheel.

26. The embedded user interface system of claim 22, wherein the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more reels.

27. The embedded user interface system of claim 22, wherein the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

a sound-generating mechanism.

28. The embedded user interface system of claim 22, wherein the system game indicator that is physically external to the display screen includes:

one or more lights.

29. A gaming system comprising:

a player tracking system server connected to a network, wherein the player tracking system server includes an application program interface;

an accounting and control system server connected to the network, wherein the player tracking system server includes an application program interface through which communication with the accounting and control system server is enabled via the application program interface of the player tracking system server;

one or more gaming devices connected to the network, wherein each gaming device includes a gaming presentation of a base game and a master processing unit for controlling the base game, and wherein the master processing unit enables communication with the accounting and control system server; and

an embedded user interface incorporated into each gaming device, wherein the embedded user interface enables communication with the player tracking system server, each embedded user interface comprising;

a player tracking interface including a display screen, wherein the player tracking interface enables display of a system game to a user, wherein the player tracking interface presentation of information to the user, and wherein the player tracking interface enables reception of information from the user; and

an embedded processor, wherein the embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor enables controls an outcome of the system game of which at least a portion of the system game presentation is physically external to the embedded user interface system;

wherein the embedded user interface drives gaming presentation components of a system game of which at least a portion of the gaming presentation components are physically external to the embedded user interface.