Gaming machines with player reservation feature

• US 8,915,783 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Tipping Point Group, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/457,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20130288778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A player reservation feature is provided for a casino gaming machine by a secondary controller of the casino gaming machine. The player reservation feature may be accessed at the gaming machine or remotely at another gaming machine or other device, e.g., a smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like. The gaming machine is locked and unavailable for play except by the player that made the reservation. Reserving a gaming machine may be free, or a fee may be accessed for a reservation. Where a fee is assessed, the fee may be waived for a reserving player. Where the reservation feature is being accessed remotely, a casino floor map may be displayed at the device that is being used, such as another casino machine, smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like, along with information about each gaming machine on the casino floor.

Claims

1. A casino system comprising:

at least one casino gaming machine comprising

a housing,

at least one video display,

at least one player input device,

a main game controller configured to output a video signal comprising game information to be displayed via said at least one video display regarding a wagering game presented at said gaming machine, and

a secondary controller of said casino gaming machine configured to receive reservation information and process said received reservation information to reserve said casino gaming machine, said reservation information identifying a reservation of said casino gaming machine made by a reserving player and comprising a reservation time and information identifying said reserving player, wherein at or about said reservation time said secondary controller uses said reservation information to lock said casino gaming machine from use except for use by said reserving player; and

at least one casino server communicatively linked with a secondary controller of each of a first casino gaming machine and a second casino gaming machine, said at least one casino server configured to communicate with said secondary controller of said first casino gaming machine, including communicating at least one web page of a website, said at least one web page comprising a casino floor map and information about each of said at least one casino machine for use in identifying a casino gaming machine for reservation;

wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause said at least one video display to display at least one reservation page and is further configured to receive said reservation information via said at least one player input device of said at least one casino gaming machine;

wherein said secondary controller of said first casino gaming machine causing said at least one video display of said first casino gaming machine to display said at least one web page of said website, said secondary controller of said first casino gaming machine configured to receive input via said at least one player input device identifying said second casino gaming machine, said secondary controller of said first casino gaming machine configured to communicate information identifying said second casino gaming machine to said at least one casino server;

wherein said at least one casino server is configured to establish a communication link between said first and second casino gaming machines for use in reserving said second casino gaming machine by said reserving player using said first casino gaming machine; and

wherein said secondary controller of said second casino gaming machine is configured to communicate said at least one reservation page to said first casino gaming machine and receive said reservation information from said first casino gaming machine.

2. The casino system in accordance with claim 1 wherein when said casino gaming machine is being played by a player other than said reserving player at said reservation time, said secondary controller is further configured to wait for said other player to complete play before locking said casino gaming machine.

3. The casino system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to unlock said casino gaming machine in response to input identifying said reserving player, said input being received via said at least one player input device of said at least one casino gaming machine.

4. The casino system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the at least one casino server is communicatively linked with a reserving player'"'"'s presentation device, said at least one casino server configured to communicate with said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device, including transmitting at least one web page of a website to said presentation device, said at least one web page comprising a casino floor map and information about each of said at least one casino gaming machine for use in identifying a casino gaming machine for reservation;

wherein said secondary controller is communicatively linked with a presentation device of said reserving player and is further configured to communicate said at least one reservation page to said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device and receive said reservation information from said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device.

5. The casino system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause a message about said reservation to be transmitted to at least one presentation device of said reserving player, said message notifying said reserving player that said at least one casino gaming machine is available for play in accordance with said reservation.

6. The casino gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to assess a fee for said reservation and accept payment of said fee from said reserving player.

7. A casino system comprising:

at least one casino gaming machine comprising

a housing,

at least one video display,

at least one player input device,

a main game controller configured to output a video signal comprising game information to be displayed via said at least one video display regarding a wagering game presented at said gaming machine, and

a secondary controller of said casino gaming machine configured to receive reservation information and process said received reservation information to reserve said casino gaming machine, said reservation information identifying a reservation of said casino gaming machine made by a reserving player and comprising a reservation time and information identifying said reserving player, wherein at or about said reservation time said secondary controller uses said reservation information to lock said casino gaming machine from use except for use by said reserving player

wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause a message about said reservation to be transmitted to a casino gaming machine in use by said reserving player, said message notifying said reserving player that said at least one casino server is available for play in accordance with said reservation.

8. The casino system in accordance with claim 7 wherein when said casino gaming machine is being played by a player other than said reserving player at said reservation time, said secondary controller is further configured to wait for said other player to complete play before locking said casino gaming machine.

9. The casino system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to unlock said casino gaming machine in response to input identifying said reserving player, said input being received via said at least one player input device of said at least one casino gaming machine.

10. The casino system in accordance with claim 7

wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause said at least one video display to display at least one reservation page and is further configured to receive said reservation information via said at least one player input device of said at least one casino gaming machine;

wherein the casino system further comprises at least one casino server communicatively linked with said secondary controller of said casino gaming machine and a reserving player'"'"'s presentation device, said at least one casino server configured to communicate with said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device, including transmitting at least one web page of a website to said presentation device, said at least one web page comprising a casino floor map and information about each of said at least one casino gaming machine for use in identifying a casino gaming machine for reservation; and

wherein said secondary controller is communicatively linked with a presentation device of said reserving player and is further configured to communicate said at least one reservation page to said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device and receive said reservation information from said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device.

11. The casino system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause a message about said reservation to be transmitted to at least one presentation device of said reserving player, said message notifying said reserving player that said at least one casino gaming machine is available for play in accordance with said reservation.

12. The casino gaming system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to assess a fee for said reservation and accept payment of said fee from said reserving player.

13. A casino system comprising:

at least one casino gaming machine comprising

a housing,

at least one video display,

at least one player input device,

a main game controller configured to output a video signal comprising game information to be displayed via said at least one video display regarding a wagering game presented at said gaming machine, and

a secondary controller of said casino gaming machine configured to receive reservation information and process said received reservation information to reserve said casino gaming machine, said reservation information identifying a reservation of said casino gaming machine made by a reserving player and comprising a reservation time and information identifying said reserving player, wherein at or about said reservation time said secondary controller uses said reservation information to lock said casino gaming machine from use except for use by said reserving player

wherein said secondary controller is further configured to assess a fee for said reservation and waive said fee for said reserving player that has reached a certain threshold level of play, and

wherein said fee comprises a minimum wager amount for all games played during said reservation time and wherein said secondary controller controls said casino gaming machine to permit presentation of games only upon said player placing at least said minimum wager during said reservation time.

14. The casino system in accordance with claim 13 wherein when said casino gaming machine is being played by a player other than said reserving player at said reservation time, said secondary controller is further configured to wait for said other player to complete play before locking said casino gaming machine.

15. The casino system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to unlock said casino gaming machine in response to input identifying said reserving player, said input being received via said at least one player input device of said at least one casino gaming machine.

16. The casino system in accordance with claim 13

wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause said at least one video display to display at least one reservation page and is further configured to receive said reservation information via said at least one player input device of said at least one casino gaming machine;

wherein the casino system further comprises at least one casino server communicatively linked with said secondary controller of said casino gaming machine and a reserving player'"'"'s presentation device, said at least one casino server configured to communicate with said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device, including transmitting at least one web page of a website to said presentation device, said at least one web page comprising a casino floor map and information about each of said at least one casino gaming machine for use in identifying a casino gaming machine for reservation; and

wherein said secondary controller is communicatively linked with a presentation device of said reserving player and is further configured to communicate said at least one reservation page to said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device and receive said reservation information from said reserving player'"'"'s presentation device.

17. The casino system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause a message about said reservation to be transmitted to at least one presentation device of said reserving player, said message notifying said reserving player that said at least one casino gaming machine is available for play in accordance with said reservation.

18. The casino gaming system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to assess a fee for said reservation and accept payment of said fee from said reserving player.