Operation of gaming machines in a linked bonus prize winning mode

• US 6,375,569 B2
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/075,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/16-22, 463/28, 463/30, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming machine system having a bonus prize award mode in the play of gaming machines is disclosed. Interface units each are coupled to a respective gaming machine to receive a play signal that includes the identity of the respective machine. A central processor, that includes a data memory is linked to each of the interface units. The system is operable by the processor executing a first prize accumulation phase during which a value is added to an initial value for each play signal up to a level where the accumulating value equals a prize value that will be awarded to one of the gaming machines, and executing a second prize award winning phase during which the accumulated value remains frozen and subsequent plays of the gaming machines are separately counted for their occurrence. The play of a gaming machine causing the count to equal a prize win count value results in that gaming machine being awarded the prize value.

Claims

1. A method for awarding a bonus prize in the play of a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming machines being linked to a central processor having a data memory, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, on play of any one gaming machine, a play signal therefrom to said central processor, said signal identifying the transmitting gaming machine;

registering each said play signal as an entry in said memory;

executing a first prize accumulation phase during which a value is accumulated with an initial value for each said play signal up to a level where the accumulatedg value equals a prize value that will be awarded to one of the linked gaming machines; and

thereafter executing a prize awarding phase during which said accumulated value remains frozen, and subsequent plays of one or more of the gaming machines are separately counted for their occurrence, and a play of a gaming machine causing the count to equal a prize win count value results in that gaming machine be awarded said prize value.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby said play signals generated in the prize accumulation phase are based on any one or more of coin-in, coin-out, play duration and quantum of wagers for the respective gaming machine.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby said play signals generated in the prize awarding phase are based on any one or more of coin-in, coin-out, play duration, number of game plays and quantum of wager for the respective gaming machines.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, whereby, in the prize awarding phase, the gaming machines contributing to the separate count includes any one of:

(i) all the gaming machines,

(ii) only the gaming machines playing during the prize accumulation phase, or

(iii) only the gaming machines playing during a short time period reckoned from commencement of the prize awarding phase.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of displaying said accumulated value on indicator means linked to said central processor.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further step of displaying the awarding of the prize value on the respective gaming machine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises displaying the prize amount during at least a portion of the prize awarding phase.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further includes:

continuing to add a value for each play signal during the prize awarding phase;

accumulating the added value during the prize awarding phase into an excess pool;

initiating a second prize accumulation phase after the prize awarding phase; and

using the excess pool as at least a portion of an initial value during the second prize accumulation phase.

9. A gaming machine system having a bonus prize awarding mode in the play of gaming machines, the system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines for playing games thereon;

a plurality of interface units each coupled with a respective gaming machine to receive a play signal therefrom including the identity of the respective gaming machine;

a central processor having a data memory and being linked to said interface units to receive said play signals;

and wherein said system is operable by said central processor executing a first prize accumulation phase during which a value is accumulated with an initial value for each said play signal up to a level where the accumulated value equals a prize value that will be awarded to one of the linked gaming machines, and thereafter executing a second prize awarding phase during which said accumulated value remains frozen, and subsequent plays of the gaming machines are separately counted for their occurrence, and a play of a gaming machine causing the count to equal a prize win count value results in that gaming machine be awarded said prize value.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said play signals generated in the prize accumulation phase are based on any one or more of coin-in, coin-out, play duration and quantum of wagers for the respective gaming machine.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said play signals generated in the prize awarding phase are based on any one or more of coin-in, coin-out, play duration, number of game plays and quantum of wager for the respective gaming machines.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in the prize awarding phase, the gaming machines contributing to the separate count includes any one of:

(i) all the gaming machines,

(ii) only the gaming machines playing during the prize accumulation phase, or

(iii) only the gaming machines playing during a short time period reckoned from commencement of the prize awarding phase.

13. A system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising display means linked to said central processor on which said accumulated value is displayed.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the awarding of a prize value is displayed on the display means and/or the respective gaming machine.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said method further comprises displaying the prize amount during at least a portion of the prize awarding phase.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said method further includes:

continuing to add a value for each play signal during the prize awarding phase;

accumulating the added value during the prize awarding phase into an excess pool;

initiating a second prize accumulation phase after the prize awarding phase; and

using the excess pool as at least a portion of an initial value during the second prize accumulation phase.

17. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a network to a central processor comprising:

determining a prize amount;

transmitting an identifying signal from each gaming device to the central processor responsive to play of the gaming devices;

using the processor to track the amount of money played on the gaming devices;

allocating a portion of the money played on the gaming devices to a bonus pool during a prize accumulation phase;

thereafter continuing to transmit an identifying signal from each gaming device to the central processor responsive to play of the gaming devices during a prize awarding phase;

comparing gaming device play during the prize awarding phase to a predefined level of gaming device play; and

awarding the prize amount to a selected gaming device after the gaming device play during the prize awarding phase equals the predefined level of gaming device play.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said method further comprises displaying the prize amount during at least a portion of the prize awarding phase.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said method further includes:

continuing to use the processor to track the amount of money played on the gaming devices during the prized awarding phase;

allocating a portion of the money played on the gaming devices to an excess pool during the prize awarding phase; and

adding the excess pool to the bonus pool after the prize awarding phase.