System and method for remote automated play of a gaming device

• US 7,607,981 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Suarez, Jose A., Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/424,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

A method according to one or more embodiments of the present invention provides for initiating an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of games, and receiving a first signal including a video representation of the automated session. The method also includes transmitting a second signal including the video representation of the automated session to a player communication device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating remote automated play of at least one slot machine, in which at least one of the at least one slot machine is not available for manual play at least during the remote automated play;

receiving a first signal including a representation of the remote automated play;

receiving a request from a remote player to view the representation of the remote automated play; and

transmitting a second signal including the representation of the remote automated play to a remote player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the remote player data representative of at least one of;

an end time,

a maximum number of plays,

a wager amount, or

a rate of play.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the remote automated play of the slot machine.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting locking data to the at least one slot machine.

5. The method of claim 1, in which a first slot machine of the at least one slot machine is stacked on top of a second slot machine.

6. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the at least one slot machine comprises a first casing that may be replaced with a second casing.

7. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the at least one slot machine is not accessible by any player.

8. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the second signal comprises:

determining a communication device that is associated with the remote player; and

transmitting the second signal to the communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the communication device comprises a handheld device.

10. The method of claim 8, in which the communication device comprises a telephone.

11. The method of claim 8, in which the communication device is associated with an internet protocol address.

12. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the second signal comprises:

transmitting the second signal via wireless communication.

13. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the second signal comprises:

transmitting the second signal to a display device.

14. The method of claim 1, in which the first signal comprises a video signal.

15. The method of claim 1, in which the first signal is received from a camera.

16. The method of claim 15, in which the camera is operable to view the automated play of at least one of the at least one slot machine.

17. The method of claim 15, in which the camera may be operated by the remote player.

18. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting comprises:

transmitting the second signal in response to a request from the remote player.

19. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the at least one slot machine comprises a machine identifier viewable by the remote player.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the remote player a first amount of funds for use in providing the remote automated play;

storing the first amount of funds in a repository;

checking out the first amount of funds;

initiating the remote automated play using the first amount of funds;

storing an indication of at least one outcome generated during the remote automated play;

determining a second amount of funds based on the remote automated play; and

checking in the second amount of funds at the repository.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining a first difference between the first amount and the second amount;

determining an amount won during the remote automated play;

determining an amount lost during the remote automated play;

determining a second difference between the amount won and the amount lost; and

determining whether the first difference is equal to the second difference.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

initiating remote automated play of at least one slot machine, in which at least one of the at least one slot machine is not available for manual play at least during the remote automated play;

receiving a first signal including a representation of the remote automated play;

receiving a request from a remote player to view the representation of the remote automated play; and

transmitting a second signal including the representation of the remote automated play to a remote player.

23. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

initiating remote automated play of at least one slot machine, in which at least one of the at least one slot machine is not available for manual play at least during the remote automated play;

receiving a first signal including a representation of the remote automated play;

receiving a request from a remote player to view the representation of the remote automated play; and

transmitting a second signal including the representation of the remote automated play to a remote player.