System and method for remote automated play of a gaming device

• US 7,806,763 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Suarez, Jose A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US10/635,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,616 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/26, 463/46, 463/16, 463/17
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

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 of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

determining data representative of at least one limiting criterion selected from the group consisting of;

an end time of automated play,

a wager amount on each play of the game of said automated play, and

a rate of play of said automated play;

causing at least one processor to initiate said automated play of one or more gaming devices, said automated play including a then-unknown quantity of plays of the game, which quantity is greater than one, without requiring any input from the player after initiation of said automated play, each play of the game associated with a probability greater than zero of resulting in an award having a value greater than zero, in which at least one of the one or more gaming devices is not available for manual play during the automated play;

causing the at least one processor to terminate the automated play of the one or more gaming devices according to the determined data representative of the at least one limiting criterion;

receiving a first signal including a representation of at least a portion of the automated play;

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

after receiving the first signal and the request from the remote player, transmitting a second signal to the remote player, the second signal including the representation of at least the portion of the automated play.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting locking data to the at least one gaming device, said locking data causing the at least one gaming device to be locked during said automated play.

3. The method of claim 1, in which at least one gaming device is not operable for manual play regardless of whether the automated play is occurring.

4. The method of claim 1, in which at least one gaming device is positioned in a portion of a facility which is not accessible by any player.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling manual play of at least one gaming device after terminating the automated play.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the one or more gaming devices includes a first gaming device and a second gaming device, the first gaming device being stacked on top of the second gaming device.

7. The method of claim 1, in which at least one gaming device includes a first casing configured to be replaced with a different second casing.

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

determining a communication device associated with the remote player; and

transmitting the second signal to the determined 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, which includes wirelessly transmitting the second signal to the remote player.

13. The method of claim 1, which includes transmitting the second signal to a display device associated with the remote player.

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

15. The method of claim 1, which includes receiving the first signal from a camera.

16. The method of claim 15, in which the camera is positioned adjacent to at least one gaming device to capture an image indicative of the automated play of said at least one gaming device.

17. The method of claim 15, which includes enabling the remote player to provide an input to operate the camera.

18. The method of claim 1, which includes transmitting the second signal in response to a request for the second signal from the remote player.

19. The method of claim 1, in which at least one gaming device is associated with a machine identifier.

20. The method of claim 19, in which the machine identifier is viewable by the remote player during the automated play.

21. The method of claim 1, in which at least one gaming device is associated with an indicator of activity.

22. The method of claim 21, in which the indicator of activity includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a first source of light,

a second source of light having a color that is associated with the remote player,

a flag, and

a text message.

23. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

receiving data associated with a remote player, the data representative of at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a wager amount, and

a rate of play;

causing at least one processor to initiate automated play of a gaming device, said automated play including a then-unknown quantity of plays of the game, which quantity is greater than one, without requiring any input from the player after initiation of said automated play, each play of the game associated with a probability greater than zero of resulting in an award having a value greater than zero;

causing the at least one processor to terminate the automated play of the gaming device according to the received data associated with the remote player;

receiving a first video signal captured by a camera, the first video signal indicating at least one outcome of at least one play of the game of the automated play;

causing the at least one processor to generate a second video signal indicative of the at least one outcome of the at least one play of the game of the automated play;

determining at least one communication device associated with the remote player; and

transmitting the second video signal to the determined at least one communication device.