Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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HARM MINIMIZATION INTERFACES AND SERVICES ON A GAMING
MACHINE
BACE.GROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to game playing metliods for gaming machines such as
video slot machines and video poker machines. More particularly, the present
invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing player tracking
services and
related gaming services on a gaming macliine.
There are a wide variety of associated devices that can be connected to a
gaming machine such as a slot machine or video poker machine. Some examples of
these devices are player tracking units, lights, ticlcet printers, card
readers, speakers,
bill validators, ticket readers, coin acceptors, display panels, key pads,
coin hoppers
and button pads. Many of these devices are built into the gaming machine or
components associated with the gaming machine such as a top box which usually
sits
on top of the gaming machine.
Typically, utilizing a master gaming controller, the gaming machine controls
various combinations of devices that allow a player to play a game on the
gaming
machine and also encourage game play on the gaming machine. For example, a
gaine
played on a gaming machine usually requires a player to input money or indicia
of
credit into the gaming machine, indicate a wager amount, and initiate a game
play.
These steps require the gaming machine to control input devices, including
bill
validators and coin acceptors, to accept money into the gaming machine and
recognize user inputs from devices, such as button pads and levers, to
detennine the
wager amount and initiate game play.
After game play has been initiated, the gaming machine detennines a game
outcome, presents the game outcome to the player and may dispense an award of
some type depending on the outcome of the game. A game outcome presentation
may
utilize many different visual and audio components such as flashing lights,
music,
sounds and graphics. The visual and audio components of the game outcome
presentation may be used to draw a players attention to various game features
and to
heighten the players interest in additional game play. Maintaining a game
player's
interest in game play, such as on a gaming machine or during other gaming
activities,
is an important consideration for an operator of a gaining establishment.
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One related method of gaining and maintaining a game player's interest in
ganze play are player tracking programs which are offered at various casinos.
Player
tracking programs provide rewards to players that typically correspond to the
player's
level of patronage (e.g., to the player's playing frequency and/or total
amount of game
plays at a given casino). Player tracking rewards may be free meals, free
lodging
and/or free entertainment. These rewards may help to sustain a game player's
interest
in additional game play during a visit to a gaming establishment and may
entice a
player to visit a gaming establishment to partake in various gaming
activities.
In general, player tracking programs may be applied to any game of chance
offered at a gaming establishment. In particular, player tracking programs are
very
popular with players of mechanical slot gaming machines and video slot gaming
machines. In a gaming machine, a player tracking prograin is implemented using
a
player tracking unit installed in the gaining machine and in communication
with a
remote player tracking server. Player tracking units are usually manufactured
as an
after-market device separate from the gaming machine. Many different companies
manufacture player tracking units as part of player tracking/accounting
systems. These
player tracking/accounting systems are used in most casinos. Most casinos
utilize only
one type of player tracking system (i.e. from one manufacturer) while the type
of
player tracking system varies from casino to casino.
Player tracking cards and player tracking programs are becoming more and
more popular. They have become a de facto marketing method of doing business
at
casinos. The programs allow a casino to identify and reward customers based
upon
their previous game play history. In particular, a goal of the casinos is to
identify and
then to provide a higher level of service to certain groups of players
identified as
especially valuable to the casinos. An incentive of a casino for providing
these
services is to generate "brand" loyalty, and thus, repeat business from its
valued
customers. For instance, players that visit the casino, on average, once a
week may be
deemed as "special" customers and the casino may desire to cultivate a
"special"
relationship with these customers. In general, the selection of gaming
services offered
to players via loyalty programs, such as player tracking programs, is
increasing. Also,
the gaming services offered to a particular player are becoming more focused
based
upon the desires of a particular player.
In the past, player tracking units have been primarily designed to allow a
player to enter a magnetic striped card and possibly enter an identification
code using
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a key pad. Therefore, the player traclcing unit interface, which has been
designed to
perform these tasks, typically includes a key pad, a card reader and a simple
display
such as an LED. Thus, a disadvantage of current player tracking units is that
the
player interface is not necessarily suited for providing increasingly complex
and
diverse gaming services to game players that are customized to an individual
player's
preferences.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide apparatus and methods
for a player tracking unit interface that allows a diverse range of gaming
services to be
offered to a player playing a game on a gaming machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention addresses the needs indicated above by providing a player
tracking unit with a touch screen display with a touch screen controller
integrated into
the touch screen sensor assembly. Game service interfaces may be presented on
the
touch screen display that allows a user to obtain one or more gaine services.
The game
service interfaces may include buttons with alpha-numeric syinbols, function
keys and
hand-writing recognition capabilities that are recognized using input data
from the
touch screen sensor. Thus, with the touch screen sensor, a user may navigate
through
the game service interface and supply gaming information required to obtain a
game
service. Types of interfaces provided with the gaming machine include a hann
minimization interface for helping a player to adhere to one or more game play
limits
during game play at the gaming machine, a jackpot interface for displaying one
or
more jackpots selected by the player and a directions interface for directing
the player
to a location of interest.
One aspect of the present invention provides a gaming machine. The gaming
machine may be generally characterized as comprising: 1) a master gaming
controller
designed or configured to generate and to control a game of chance played on
the
gaming machine; 2) an input mechanism under control of the master gaming
controller for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for malcing wagers on an
outcome
of the game of chance; 3) an output mechanism under control of the master
gaming
controller for outputting the cash or the indicia of credit wherein the
indicia of credit
is redeemable for cash; 4) a memory for storing software instructions for
generating a
harm ininimization interface wherein the harn.i minimization interface is for
helping a
player to adhere to one or more game play limits; and 5) a first display for
displaying
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a game service interface including the harm minimization interface. A touch
screen
may be coupled to the first display. Further, the game of chance may be
selected from
the group consisting of video slot games, mechanical slot games, video blacle
jack
games, video poker games, video keno games, video pachinlco games, video card
games, video games of chance, bingo games, lottery games, dice games, keno
games
and combinations thereof.
In particular embodiments, the one or more game play limits may be selected
from the group consisting of a time limit, a wager limit, an amount won, an
amount
lost, an amount banlced, a number of games played, a rate of gaine play, a
number of
games wliere a win has occurred and a number of games where a loss has
occurred.
The one or more game play limits may be set by the player, a gaming machine
operator, a gaming regulatory entity or combinations thereof. In response to
one or
more of the gaine play limits being exceeded one or more of the following
steps may
be taken on the gaming machine: 1) a message may be displayed on the gaming
machine where the message is in one of a textual format, a graphical format,
an audio
format, a video format or combinations thereof, 2) the gaming machine may
prevent
the player fiom playing additional games, such as by initiating a cash-out
sequence on
the gaming machine, 3) a quality of a presentation on the gaming machine may
be
degraded to discourage additional game play on the gaming machine, 4) a
maximum
wager amount for the game of chance is decreased, 5) the player may be
prevented
from making a wager for an amount of time and 6) a rate at which the game of
chance
is presented may be decreased.
The harm minimization interface may be configured in a variety of ways. For
example, one or more meters or video feeds may be displayed on the harm
minimization interface. The one or more meters may be selected from the group
consisting of an amount wagered, an amount of time played, an amount wagered
per
time, an average amount wagered per game, an amount won, an amount lost, an
amount lost per time, an amount won per time, a ratio of an amount won versus
an
amount wagered, a number of games played, a number of games where a loss has
occurred, a number of games where a win has occurred, an amount won per game,
an
amount lost per game, an amount banked and a number of drinlcs consuined.
In a particular embodiment, a harm minimization configuration interface may
be provided that allows the harm minimization interface to be customized. A
game
player may use the harm minimization configuration interface to select one or
more of
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game play limits, types of meters to display on the harm minimization
interface, still
pictures to display on the harm minimization interface, video feeds to display
on the
haim minimization interface, messages to display on the harm minimization
interface,
responses to game play limits being exceeded, a display format for the harm
minimization interface or combinations thereof.
In yet another embodiment, the gaming machine may further comprises a
microphone for receiving a voice statement of one of the game play limits from
the
player. The voice statement may be stored on the gaming machine or a remote
device.
The gaming machine may also coinprise a playback code for locating a stored
record
of the voice statement and playing it back on the gaming machine. Further, the
gaming machine may coinprise a hand writing interface for capturing a
signature or
mark input into the gaming machine in an electronic format. The signature or
mark
may be used for confirming a choice of game play limits made by the game
player.
In particular embodiments, the software instructions for generating the harm
minimization interface may be executed by the master gaming controller and the
first
display is operable to display the game of chance. In addition, the gaming
machine
may further comprise a second display operable for displaying the game of
chance.
The gaming machine may also comprise a player tracking unit coupled to the
gaming
machine, where the player tracking unit comprisirig a logic device separate
from the
master gaming controller, a network interface for coinmunicating with a player
tracking server and a communication interface for communicating with the
master
gaming controller. The software instructions for generating the harm
minimization
interface may be executed by the logic device. Also, the player tracking
server may be
designed or configured i) to compare one or more gaine play limits to game
play data
received from the gaming machine and to notify the gaming machine when the one
or
more game play liinits have been exceeded. The first display may be controlled
by the
logic device.
In yet another embodiment, the gaming machine may include a device
interface for communicating with a hand-held computing device comprising a
hand-
held display, a logic device separate from the master gaming controller and
one or
more input mechanisms coupled to the hand-held device. The device interface
may be
a wired or wireless interface. The hand-held computing device may be adapted
for
one or more of controlling or providing input to the game service interface
generated
on the first display. The logic device may execute software instructions for
generating
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and displaying the harm minimization interface on the hand-held display or the
first
display. Further, the game service interface may be displayed on the hand-held
display. The gam.ing machine may comprise an output port on an outside surface
of
the gaming machine for providing one of a communication interface, a power
interface or combinations thereof to a portable device, such as the hand-held
device.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a gaming machine. The
gaming machine may be generally characterized as comprising: 1) a master
gaming
controller designed or configured to generate and to control a game of chance
played
on the gaming machine; 2) an input mechanism under control of the master
gaming
controller for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for making wagers on an
outcome
of the gaine of chance; 3) an output mechanism under control of the master
ga.ining
controller for outputting the cash or the indicia of credit wherein the
indicia of credit
is redeemable for cash; 4) a memory for storing software instructions for
generating a
jaclcpot interface wllerein the jackpot interface is for displaying one or
more jackpots
selected by the player; and 5) a first display for displaying a game service
interface
including the jackpot interface. A touch screen may be coupled to the first
display.
Further, the game of chance may be selected from the group consisting of video
slot
games, mechanical slot games, video black jack games, video poker games, video
keno gaines, video pachinko games, video card games, video games of chance,
bingo
games, lottery games, dice games, keno games and combinations thereof.
In particular embodiments, the one or more jackpots may be selected from a
group of progressive jackpots. The one or more jaclcpots may be a personal
jaclcpot
associated with a particular player and only awarded to the particular player.
The
personal jackpot may be funded based upon the particular player's spending
during
gaming activities, non-gaming activities and combinations thereof. Furtlier, a
probability of winning the personal jackpot may be varied according to an
amount of
the personal jackpot or a time since the personal jaclcpot has last been won.
The
personal jackpot may be awarded as a result of an event that occurs during a
gaming
related activity or as a result of an event that occurs during a non-gaming
related
activity.
The personal jackpot may be awarded on a cashless instrument where an
award amount stored on the cashless instrument is redeemable for cash or for
additional game play at different gaming machine or table games. Further, the
personal jackpot may be awarded on a cashless instrument where an award amount
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stored on the cashless instnunent is redeemable for additional game play and
is not
redeeinable for cash. In addition, the personal jackpot may be awarded on a
cashless
instrument where an award stored on the cashless instrument is an amount of
scrip.
The scrip may be redeemable for services and may not redeemable for cash.
The one or more jackpots may be a group jackpot where the group jackpot is
funded from activities of members registered in the group. The registered
members in
a group may only be eligible for awards from the group jackpot. A family, a
group of
friends, attendees of a convention and a tour group are exainples of groups
that may
be registered for a group jackpot.
In particular embodiments, an award of the one or more j ackpots is stored on
a
cashless instrument where the cashless instrument has an expiration time. The
software instructions for generating the jackpot interface may executed by the
master
gaming controller. The first display is may be used for displaying the game of
chance
or a second display may be used for displaying the game of chance.
In yet another einbodiment, a player tracking unit may be coupled to the
gaming machine where the player tracking unit coinprises a logic device
separate
from the master gaming controller, a network interface for communicating with
a
player tracking server and a communication interface for communicating with
the
master gaining controller. The software instructions for generating the
jackpot
interface may be executed by the logic device. Further, the first display may
be under
control of the logic device.
The gaming machine may also comprise a device interface for communicating
with a hand-held computing device. The hand-held device may comprise a hand-
held
display, a logic device separate from the master gaming controller and one or
more
hand-held input mechanisms. The hand-held computing device may be adapted for
one or more of controlling or providing input to the game service interface
generated
on the first display. Further, the logic device may execute software
instructions for
generating and displaying the jackpot interface or a game service interface on
the
hand-held display or the first display. The gaming machine may comprise an
output
port on an outside surface of the gaming machine for providing one of a
cormnunication interface, a power interface or combinations thereof to a
portable
device, such as the hand-held device.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a gaming machine. The
gaming machine may be generally characterized as comprising: 1) a master
gaming
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controller designed or configured to generate and to control a game of chance
played
on the gaming machine; 2) an input mechanism under control of the master
gaming
controller for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for making wagers on an
outcome
of the game of chance; 3) an output mechanism under control of the master
gaming
controller for outputting the cash or the indicia of credit wherein the
indicia of credit
is redeemable for cash; 4) a memory for storing software instructions for
generating a
directions interface wherein the directions interface is for directing a
player to a
location within a casino complex wherein at the location one or more
activities or
services of interest to the player are available; and 5) a first display for
displaying a
game service interface including the directions interface. A touch screen may
be
coupled to the first display. Further, the game of chance may be selected from
the
group consisting of video slot games, mechanical slot games, video black jack
games,
video poker games, video keno games, video pachinlco games, video card games,
video games of chance, bingo gaines, lottery games, dice games, keno games and
combinations thereof.
The directions interface may be adapted to receive a search criteria that
describes one or more features of the location and to provide directions to
one or
more locations that satisfy the search criteria. The one or more services or
activities
that may be found at the location may be selected from the group consisting of
a
gaming activity, a food service, an entertainment service, a hotel service, a
concierge
service and a shopping activity. When multiple locations satisfy the search
criterion,
the interface is operable to display the locations that are closest to the
player's current
location. The directions interface may be adapted to display status
information for the
activity or the service at the location. The status information may be used to
indicate
an availability of the activity or the service.
In other embodiments, the gaming machine may comprise a printer for
printing the directions on a media. The media may include a coupon or a
promotion
for use with the activity or the service at the location. Further the gaming
machine
may further comprise an output interface for downloading the directions to a
portable
device carried by the player. The portable device may be a cell phone or a
hand-held
computing device. The directions may be provided as a map, textual information
or
audio information. The directions interface may be adapted to display a list
of the one
or more services or activities. The list may be grouped according to one or
more
categories or themes.
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In yet another embodiment, a player tracking unit may be coupled to the
gaming machine where the player tracking unit comprises a logic device
separate
from the master gaming controller, a network interface for coinmunicating with
a
player traclcing server and a coinmunication interface for communicating with
the
master gaming controller. The software instructions for generating the
directions
interface may be executed by the logic device. Further, the first display may
be under
control of the logic device.
The gaming machine may also comprise a device interface for communicating
with a hand-held computing device. The device interface may be a wired or
wireless
interface. The hand-held device may comprise a hand-held display, a logic
device
separate from the master gaming controller and one or more ha.nd-held input
mechanisms. The hand-held computing device may be adapted for one or more of
controlling or providing input to the game service interface generated on the
first
display. Further, the logic device may execute software instructions for
generating and
displaying the directions interface or a game service interface on the hand-
held
display or the first display. The gaming machine may comprise an output port
on an
outside surface of the gaming machine for providing one of a~ conununication
interface, a power interface or combinations thereof to a portable device,
such as the
hand-held device.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to computer program products
including a machine-readable medium on which is stored program instructions
for
iinplementing any of the methods described above. Any of the methods of this
invention may be represented as program instructions and/or data structures,
databases, etc. that can be provided on such coinputer readable media such as
smart
card, compact flash memory card, memory stick, RAM, CD-ROM, CD-DVD, hard
drive, etc.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be spelled out
in
more detail below with reference to the associated drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a number of gaming machines with player
tracking units connected to servers providing gaming services and player
tracking
services.
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FIGURES 2A-2D are block diagrams of touch screens and displays for some
enibodiments of the present invention.
FIGURES 3A-31 are block diagram of game service interface displays for
some embodunents of the present invention.
FIGURES 4A and 4B are perspective diagrams of player tracking units in
accordance with specific embodiments of the present invention.
FIGURE 4C is a block diagram of player tracking unit coinmunicating with a
hand-held portable device via a wireless interface.
FIGURE 5 is a block diagram of the components of a player tracking unit in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 6 is a block diagram of processor board with a touch screen display
in a player tracking unit for one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 7 is a perspective drawing of a video gaming machine that
incorporates an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 8 is a flow chart of a method for providing gaining services on a
touch screen display of the present invention.
FIGURE 9 is a flow chart of a method for providing a"point of play" loyalty
program registration on a gaming machine of the present invention.
FIGURE 10 is a flow chart of a method for providing a "point of play" loyalty
program registration on a player tracking server of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to some specific embodiments of the
invention including the best modes contemplated by the inventors for carrying
out the
invention. Examples of these specific embodiments are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. While the invention is described in conjunction with
these
specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit
the
invention to the described embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to
cover
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the
spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, numerous
specific details are set forth below in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the
present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all
of
these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have
not
been described in detail in order not to obscure the present invention.
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In the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, a touch screen display 16 may be
used as an interface to provide player tracking services and to provide other
game
seivices to a player playing a game on a gaming machine. By way of example,
the
touch screen display 16 may be used as an interface by a player to: 1) input
player
tracking identification information, 2) view account information and perform
account
transactions for accounts such as player tracking accounts and banlc accounts,
3)
receive operating instructions related to the player tracking unit and the
gaming
machine, 4) redeem prizes or comps including using player tracking points to
redeem
the prize or comp, 5) malce entertainment service reservations, 6) transfer
credits to
cashless instruinents and other player accounts, 7) participate in casino
promotions, 8)
select entertainment choices for output via video and audio output mechanisms
on the
player tracking unit and the gaming machine, 9) play games and bonus games,
10)
request gaming services such as a drinlc orders, 11) communicate with other
players or
casino service personnel and 12) register a player for a loyalty program such
as a
player tracking program. Iu addition, the touch screen display 16 may be used
as an
interface by casino service persomlel. For example, casino service persoiulel
may use
the interface to: a) access diagnostic menus, b) display player tracking unit
status
information and gaming machine status information, c) access gaining machine
metering information, d) display player status information and e) perform
other
appropriate tasks.
In the present invention, to provide the game services described above, game
service interfaces are used that may be implemented with the touch screen
display 16.
Concepts importa.nt to many embodiments of this invention include "loyalty
points,"
"loyalty programs," "loyalty point sessions," and "loyalty program
instruments." For
instance, many of the described game service interfaces are utilized to
provide game
services associated with a loyalty program.
Loyalty points refers to any type of points accrued for participating in
designated activities at a gaming establishnient. Establishments where loyalty
points
may be accrued include casinos, hotels where gaming activities are provided,
stores
where gaming activities are permitted, Internet-based gaming activities, and
the like.
Designated activities include, but are not limited to, gaming activities such
as playing
gaming machines, card games such as black jack, pai gow poker, baccarat and
poker,
betting on public event outcomes, table games such as roulette, craps, keno
and
lotteries, etc. Other patronage activities at gaming establishments may accrue
loyalty
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points. As indicated above, loyalty points represent a form of credit accrued
for
patronage. The points can be redeemed for a variety of goods or services (or
translated to other forms of credit) within a gaming establishment or
affiliated
establishment. Player tracking points are a typical exainple of "loyalty
points."
The administration and traclcing of loyalty points is usually provided in a
loyalty program. As described above, the primary goal of a loyalty prograin is
to
generate "brand" loyalty for a particular casino or group of casinos. A player
tracking
program or a slot club are examples of loyalty programs. A participant in a
loyalty
program may be awarded with "comps" such as free drinks, free meals, free
entertainment and other game services according to their level of
participation in the
loyalty program.
To participate in a loyalty prograin, a participant is generally required to
join
the program. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is described
that
allows a player to join a loyalty program at a gaming machine. After joining,
the
participant is usually presented with a loyalty program instrument. The
loyalty
program instrument typically contains information that allows a member to
accrue
loyalty points during designated program activities. For example, for most
slot clubs,
a player is required to insert a magnetic striped card (i.e. a player tracking
card) into
the gaming machine before player tracking point points are accrued for the
player.
Examples of loyalty program instruments include a magnetic striped card, a
smart
card and a portable wireless device. However, in general, a loyalty program
instrument may be any device that carries the information necessary for a
player to
participate in a loyalty program. For instance, a printed ticket with a bar
code, plastic
card with a bar code or a room key encoding player tracking information may be
used
as loyalty program instrument. The bar-coded ticket may be read wlien inserted
into a
bill validator on the gaming machine to obtain the necessary player tracking
information or from a bar-code scanner located on the gaming machine.
Loyalty point sessions are sessions during which a person is performing the
designated activity and during which loyalty points accrue. Loyalty point
sessions
may be delineated by a first event and a second event. The events are usually
dependent on the type of loyalty point instrument employed and the designated
loyalty
program activity. For instance, in a loyalty program session on a gaming
machine
-- - -
where a magnetic-striped player tracking card is used for the loyalty program
ulstrument, the insertion of the card into a card reader on the gaming machine
and the
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removal of the card from the card reader may delineate the beginning and end
of the
loyalty program session. As another example, in a loyalty program session on a
gaming machine where a bar-coded ticket is used for the loyalty program
instrument,
the insertion of the ticket into a bill-validator and a "cash-out" on the
gaming machine
may delineate the beginning and end of the loyalty program session.
In FIG. 1, an embodiment of a player tracking system, which may be used as
part of loyalty program, is described. In FIGs. 2A-2D, 3A-3E and 4A and 4B,
display
and touch screen devices (FIGs. 2A-2D), examples of game service interfaces
that
may be implemented with touch screen devices (FIGs. 3A-3D) and player tracking
units incorporating the display and touch screen devices (4A-4D) for a few
embodiments of the present invention are described. In FIGs. 5 and 6 block
diagrams
of player tracking units incorporating the display and touch screen devices
for
embodiments of the present invention are described. In FIG. 7, the operation
of a
gaming machine for embodiments of the present invention is described. Finally,
in
FIG.S, a method of using game service interfaces on the gaming machine is
described.
In FIG. 9, a method of registering a player for a loyalty program at a gaming
machine
is described. In FIG. 10, a method, implemented on a player tracking server,
of
registering a player for loyalty program is described.
Returning to FIG. 1, an exainple of a player tracking system using an
embodiment of the present invention is described. However, the example is
presented
for illustrated purposes only as the present invention is not limited to the
following
example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a number of gaming machines with player
tracking units connected to servers providing player tracking services and
servers
providing other gaming services. In casino 150, gaining machines 90, 92, 94
and 96
are connected, via the data collection unit (DCU) 60 to the player
tracking/accounting
server 62. The DCU 60, which may be connected to up to 32 player tracking
units as
part of a local networlc in a particular example, consolidates the information
gathered
from player tracking units in gaming machines 90, 92, 94 and 96 and forwards
the
information to the player tracking account server 62. The player tracking
account
server is designed 1) to store player tracking account information, such as
infonnation
regarding a player's previous game play, and 2) to calculate player tracking
points
based on a player's game play. The player tracking points may be used as basis
for
providing rewards to the player.
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In gaming machine 92 of casino 150, a player tracking unit 56 and slot
machine interface board (SMIB) 53 are mounted within a main cabinet 8 of the
gaming machine. A top box 130 is mounted on top of the main cabinet 8 of the
gaming machine. In many types of gaming machines, the player tracking unit is
mounted within the top box 6. The player tracking unit 56 may also be mounted
on
the side of a gaming machine such as on the side of main cabinet 8. Usually,
player
traclcing units, such as 56, and SMIBs, such as 53, are manufactured as
separate units
before installation into a gaining machine, such as 92.
The player tracking unit 56 includes three peripheral devices, a card reader
24,
a speaker and microphone 58, and the touch screen display 16, all mounted
within the
unit. In some embodiments of the present invention, the peripheral devices
within the
player tracking unit are controlled by a processor (see FIG. 5) located within
the
player tracking unit. In otlier embodiments, one or more peripheral devices
may be
directly controlled by the master gaining controller 54. In yet other
embodiments, the
processor in the player tracking unit 56 may be used as a slave controller by
the
master gaming controller 54 to operate one or more peripheral devices in the
player
tracking unit 56. Details of player track.ing units with peripheral devices
operated by a
master gaming controller are described in co-pending U.S. patent application
No.
09/838,033, filed 4/19/01, by Criss-Puskiewicz, et al, titled "Universal
Player
Tracking System," which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all
purposes and
co-pending U.S. patent application No. 09/642,192, filed 8/18/00, by LeMay, et
al,
titled "Gaming Machine Virtual Player Tracking Services," which is
incorporated
herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
The player tracking devices are used to input player tracking information that
is needed to impleinent the player tracking program. The player tracking
devices may
be mounted in many different arrangements depending upon design constraints
such
as accessibility to the player, packaging constraints of a gaming machine and
a
configuration of a gaining machine. For instance, the player tracking devices
may be
mounted flush with a vertical surface in an upright gaming machine and may be
mounted flush with a horizontal surface in a table top gaming machine. The
player
tracking devices may also be externally mounted to the gaming machine cabinet.
In one embodiment, the player tracking unit 56 may communicate with the
player tracking server 60 via the SMIB 53, a main conununication board 55 and
the
data collection unit 60. The SMIB 53 allows the player tracking unit 56 to
gather
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metering information from the gaming machine 92 such as an amount a player has
wagered during a game play session. This information may be used by the player
tracking server to calculate player traclcing points for the player. In
another
embodiment, the master gaming controller 54 may communicate with the player
tracking and accounting server via the communication board 55 and the DCU 60
to
send metering information to the server 62.
The player tracking unit 56 is usually connected to the master gaming
controller 54 via a serial coimection using a wire serial connector and
communicates
with the master gaming controller 54 using a serial communication protocol.
The
serial connection between the SMIB 53 and the master gaming controller 54 may
be
through the main communication board 55 (e.g. througli connections 72),
through
another intermediate device or through a direct connection 70 to the master
gaming
controller 54. As an exainple of a serial communication protocol, the master
gaming
controller 54 may employ a subset of the proprietary Slot Accounting System
(SAS
protocol) developed by International Game Technology of Reno, NV to
communicate
with the player tracking unit 56.
In some embodiments, proprietary serial connector hardware and proprietary
coinmunication protocols may be used for coinmunication between gaming devices
within the gaming machine. For instance, Netplex, a proprietary serial
communication
protocol developed by International Game Technology (IGT, Reno, NV), may be
used
for communication between the peripheral devices, including the
speaker/microphone
56, the display w/touch screen 16 and the card reader 24, and a processor on
the
player tracking unit 56 or communication between the master gaming controller
54
and the peripheral devices. In other embodiments, serial communication between
the
peripheral devices and a processor on the player tracking unit 56 or the
master gaming
controller 54 may be provided using non-proprietary industry standard
connection
hardware and standard communication protocols such as USB, IEEE 1394,
Firewire,
RS-232, PS/2, IrDA and the like.
In other embodiments of the present invention, serial communication between
various gaming devices may be provided using wireless coinmunication hardware
and
protocols or combinations of wire and wireless communication hardware and
communication protocols. For example, the player tracking unit 56 may
communicate
with the master gaming controller 54 and a local area network connected to the
player
tracking and accounting server 62 using a wireless coinmunication protocol
such as
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Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.1lx (e.g. other IEEE
802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.11 c, IEEE 802.11 d, IEEE 802.11 e, etc.),
hiperlan/2, and HomeRF. Thus, a player tracking unit, such as 56, may be
installed in
gaming machines 90, 92, 94 and 96 without having to wire it to the gaming
machine.
In other embodiments, the master gaming controller 54 may communicate with a
slave processor on the player tracking unit 56 or directly with peripheral
devices such
as the display with touch screen 16, the card reader 24 and the
spealcer/microphone 58
using a wireless communication system compatible with wireless communication
standards as Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.1 lx (e.g.
other
IEEE 802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.11c, IEEE 802.11d, IEEE 802.11e, etc.),
hiperlan/2, and HomeRF. In yet another einbodiment, the peripheral devices,
such as
the touch screen display 16, may communicate with a processor on the player
tracking
unit 56 via a wire conununication system such as USB but may also communicate
with the master gaming controller 54 via a wireless communication protocol
such as
Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.1lx (e.g. other IEEE
802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.11c, IEEE 802.11d, IEEE 802.11e, etc.),
hiperlan/2, and HomeRF.
Typically, when a gaine player wants to play a game on a gaming machine and
utilize the player tracking services available through the player tracking
unit, a game
player inserts a player tracking card, such as a magnetic striped card, into
the card
reader 24. After the magnetic striped card has been so inserted, the player
tracking
unit 56 may detect this event and receive certain identification information
contained
on the card. For exainple, a player's naine, address, and player tracking
account
number encoded on the magnetic striped card, may be received by the player
tracking
unit 56. Iil general, a player must provide identification information of some
type to
utilize player tracking services available on a gaming machine. For current
player
tracking programs, the most coinmon approach for providing identification
information is to issue a magnetic-striped card storing the necessary
identification
information to each player that wishes to participate in a given player
traclcing
program. In FIGs. 3E, 9 and 10, a method of allowing a new player without a
player
tracking card to register for a player tracking program, using a "blank"
magnetic
striped card or other loyalty program instrument at a gaining machine is
described.
After a player has inserted her or his player tracking card into the card
reader
24, the player tracking unit 56 may command the touch screen display 16 to
display
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the game player's name on the touch screen display 16 and also, may optionally
display a message requesting the game player to validate their identity by
entering an
identification code using a game service interface with an alpha-numeric key
pad
displayed on touch screen display 16. The player may use their finger, a
stylus or
combinations thereof to enter their identification infonnation using the touch
screen
sensor. Once the game player's identity has been validated, the player
tracking
inforination is relayed to the player tracking server 62. Typically, the
player tracking
server 62 stores player tracking account records including the number of
player
tracking points previously accumulated by the player.
During game play on the gaming machine, the player tracking unit 56 may poll
the master gaming controller 54 for game play information such as how much
money
the player has wagered on each game, the time when each game was initiated and
the
location of the gaming macliine. The game play information is sent by the
player
tracking unit 56 to the player tracking server 62. While a player tracking
card is
inserted in the card reader 24, the player tracking server 62 may use the
gaine play
information provided by the player tracking unit 56 to generate player
tracking points
and add the points to a player tracking account identified by the player
tracking card.
The player tracking points generated by the player tracking server 62 are
stored in a
memory of some type on the player tracking server.
To provide additional services to a game player the player tracking unit 56
and/or the master gaming controller may communicate with otlZer remote
servers,
such as the prize server 64, a reservation server 65, a bonus server (not
shown). The
seivers may reside on a local area network or may reside on remote networks
that are
accessible to the gaming machine 90 via the Internet. Information from these
remote
servers may be used to provide gaming services to a player playing a game on
the
gaming machine 90 using the touch screen display 16 as a peripheral interface
device.
For example, a prize server, such as 64, may be used to redeem a prize won by
the
player on the gaming machine, i.e. to have the prize shipped to the player's
address.
As another example, the reservation server 65 may be used by the player to
make a
diimer or entertainnzent reservation using the touch screen display 16. An
embodiment of a game service interface for making an entertainment reservation
that
may be used with the touch screen display 16 is described in more detail with
respect
to FIG. 3C. An embodiment of a game service interface for redeeming a prize
that
may be used with the touch screen display is described with respect to FIG.
3D.
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Additional details of providing prizes and prize redemption on a gaming
machine are
described in co-pending U.S. patent application no. 09/515,717, filed 2/29/00
and
entitled "Name Your Prize Game Playing Metliodology," which is incorporated
herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
FIGURES 2A-2D are bloclc diagrams of touch screens and displays for some
embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 2A, two display screens are
shown, a
narrow display screen 105 and a display screen 110 with a length to height
ratio of
about 4 to 3. Traditionally, display screens on player tracking units have
used LED's
to display a single row of alphanumeric text such as a 16 character display
resulting in
a narrow display such as 105. A touch screen may be used with an LED display
screen to eliminate a key pad on the player tracking unit. However, a color
LCD
display screen may be preferred over an LED screen to allow for the display of
symbols as well as alphanumeric characters. In one embodiment of the present
invention, a color LCD display screen with a 3.5 inch diagonal and a
resolution of 320
pixels by 240 may be used with a touch screen as a touch screen display. In
addition
to LCD's and LED's, a touch screen may be used with a plasma display screen, a
CRT display as well as with other conventional display technology.
In FIGs. 2B-2D, three embodiments of different types of touch screens, a
resistive based touch screen (FIG. 2B), a capacitive based touch screen (FIG.
2C) and
a surface acoustic wave touch screen (FIG. 2D) are described. In FIG 2B, an
embodiment of a resistive touch screen 111 integrated witll a display 110 is
shown. Ii1
a resistive touch screen 111, a glass panel 120 is coated with a clear
conductive
material 118. Polyester spacer dots 116 are used to separate a polyester cover
sheet
112 from the glass panel 120 with the conductive material coating 118. An
inner
surface of the polyester cover sheet 120 in contact with the polyester spacer
dots 116
is coated with a conductive metal coating 114. An outer surface of the
polyester cover
sheet may be covered with a scratch resistant coating (not shown). The glass
panel
120 and other layers may be integrated into a touch screen assembly that may
be
mounted over the display 110 using an adhesive epoxy or some other mounting
means.
A touch screen controller (not shown) is used to apply a small voltage
gradient
across the x-axis 111 of the glass panel 120 and across y-axis 113 of the
cover sheet
112 which produces a small current in the panel and the cover sheet. With a
voltage
applied to the glass panel 120 and cover sheet 112, the layers of the
resistive touch
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screen may be used as a sensor. When a stylus or other implement is used to
press the
conductive layers, 114 and 118, togetlier, the current flowing across the
panel 120 and
the cover sheet is altered. Based on the change in current, the touch screen
controller
determines the x and y coordinates of the stylus contact.
In FIG 2C, an embodiment of a capacitive touch screen 130 integrated with a
display 110 is shown. In a capacitive touch screen 130, a glass panel 136 is
coated on
both sides with a clear conductive material, 134 and 138. The inner conductive
layer
138 may be primarily used for shielding. The outer surface of the touch screen
may
be a scratch resistant coating 132. Electrodes 139 are uniformly distributed
around the
edge of the touch screen 130 to apply a low-voltage field uniformly across the
outer
conductive layer 134. When a finger or a conductive stylus contacts the screen
132, a
capacitive coupling occurs with voltage field which causes a small current to
be
drawn into the finger or the stylus. The current flow from the corners of the
touch
screen electrodes 139 are measured. The measured current flow is used by the
touch
screen controller (not sliown) to detennine the location of the contact on the
screen.
In FIG. 2D, an embodiment of a wave touch screen mounted to a display 110
is shown. The screen 144 is an uncoated glass panel. In one type of wave touch
screen, transducers 142 in the corners produce ultrasonic waves on the glass
panel.
The reflectors 145 are used to create a standing wave pattern on the glass
panel 144.
When a soft-tipped stylus is touched to the surface of the panel 144, the
transducers
detect the attenuation of the wave, which may be used by a touch screen
controller to
determine the coordinates of the stylus. In an infrared touch screen, LED's
and
photoresistors on the edge of the screen are used to create a grid of infrared
beams. A
stylus or finger may be used to obstruct the beams and the touch screen
controller
determines the coordinates of the obstruction.
For most embodiments of the present invention, a capacitive based touch
screen is preferred but the present invention is not limited to capacitive
based touch
screens. Capacitive touch screens are very clear, durable and have a high
resolution.
However, capacitive touch screen are generally more expensive than resistive
touch
screens. Further, when a finger is used as a stylus on a capacitive touch
screen, a
small amount of current is drawn into to the finger which some game players
may
find annoying. Thus, in some einbodiments, other touch screen types, such as a
resistive touch screen or a wave touch screen, may be employed with the
present
invention.
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The touch screen controller processes signals from the touch screen sensor and
passes touch screen event data to one or more gaming devices that utilize the
touch
screen event data. For instance, the x and y coordinates of a contact point on
the touch
screen may be used be a processor on a player tracking unit, a master gaming
controller or combinations thereof, to allow a user to navigate through a game
service
interface (see FIGs. 3A-3D) and to enter gaming information. In general, a
logic
device in communication with the touch screen, such as the processor on the
player
tracking unit or the master gaming controller, uses a device driver to receive
touch
screen event data from the touch screen controller. The touch screen
controller may be
a component separate from the touch screen assembly. The touch screen assembly
includes the layers of the touch screen sensor and is mounted onto a display.
In one
embodiment of the present invention, the touch screen controller is integrated
into the
touch screen assembly.
FIGURES 3A-3H are block diagrain of game service interfaces for some
embodiments of the present invention. In each of the figures, a single "page"
of the
gaine service interface that may be displayed on a touch screen display of the
present
invention is shown. However, the game service interfaces are not limited to a
single
page. Multiple pages may be used with each game service interface to provide a
particular game service. Thus, in some embodiments, to utilize a gaine service
interface to receive a game service, a user may be required to navigate
through
multiple pages.
A component layout for each game service interface is provided for
illustrative
purposes only and is not limited to the layout in each of the figures. Thus,
layout
paraineters including but not limited to: 1) types of components (i.e.,
"buttons" and
other input areas) included on each page, 2) a size of buttons on each page,
3) a shape
of the button on each page (e.g. square, oval, rectangular, star-shaped, n-
sided
polygon, etc), 4) a color scheme for the buttons, 5) alpha-numeric text or
symbols on
each button and 6) background color scheme for the interface, may be varied.
The
input buttons may be rendered in 2-D. In some embodiments, the layout of pages
for a
particular game service interface may be customized according to the
preferences of
an individual player.
In particular embodiments, the buttons may be rendered with surface shading
and textures to appear three-dimensional and may be animated. As example of an
3-D
animation, when a button is touched on the touch screen, it may appear to move
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the screen. Further, the symbols on the buttons may be appear to be animated
in 2-D
or 3-d. For instance, text on the buttons may appear to flash or move or
characters and
symbols on the buttons may appear to move. The characters and symbols may be
selected according to a theme of a game played on the gaming machine. For
instance,
for a "little green man" game, an animation of a little green man taking a
drink may
be used to request a drink on the gaming machine.
An audio layout may also be included with each interface. For example, when
a player touches a particular button on a game service interface displayed on
the touch
screen peripheral device or completes a particular taslc, a corresponding
sound may be
projected from an audio device located on the player tracking unit or a gaming
machine. The sounds may include but are not limited to music, voice messages
(e.g.
"welcome" or "thanlc you") and noises (e.g. buzzing or beeping). In some
embodiments, the audio layout may be customized according to the preferences
of the
user. For instance, voice message may be in a language selected by the player.
The interfaces may be generated on an output device connected to a gaming
machine or in communication with the gaming machine. For instance, the
interfaces
may be generated on a display screen of a player tracking unit connected to
the
gaining machine, a main display or a secondary display of the gaming machine
or on a
portable device, such as cell phone, PDA (i.e., hand-held computer) or cell
phone/PDA combo, in communication with a logic device coupled to the gaming
machine. Further, via the gaining machine or some other local gateway, the
portable
device may also communicate with a remote server wliile providing various
interfaces. In FIG. 4C, the generation of an interface on a portable device in
wireless
communication with a player tracking unit coupled to the ganling machine is
described.
In FIG. 3A, a metering game service interface 200 that may be displayed on a
touch screen display 201 is shown. The metering game service interface allows
a
casino operator to view metering infonnation on the gaming machine. After
logging
into to the system using metering interface 200 or another interface, the
casino
operator may use the hopper button 202 to obtain metering information about a
hopper on the gaming machine or a printer button 204 to obtain metering
information
about a printer on the gaming machine that issues printed tickets that may be
used to
obtain gaming credits on other gaming machines or redeemed for cash. The
metering
information may be displayed on the display area 216. The casino operator may
use
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calculator buttons 208, 210, 212, 214 to perform aritlunetic operations on the
metering data. For example, "back" button 208 and "enter" button 210 may be
used to
enter data. The arithmetic f-unction buttons 212 and numeric buttons 214 may
be used
to perform various arithmetic operations. The interface 200 may also include
gaming
specific function keys. For instance, the function keys 206 may allow the user
to
convert the metering information to different gaming machine denominations
such as
a nickel, quarter or dollar machine.
In Fig. 3B, a credit game service 225 that may be displayed on the touch
screen display is shown. The credit interface 225 may be used by a player to
transfer
credits and cash winnings to various accounts accessible to the player. For
instance, a
player may be able to transfer a portion of their credits or cash to a smart
card, a
printed ticket or a banlc account using the card button 220, the ticket button
222 or the
bank button 224. The numeric buttons 214 may be used to enter account
inforination
and PIN numbers as well as to perforrn arithmetic operations. The function
keys 226
may be used for currency conversion such as between dollars, pounds and yen.
To
transfer money to bank account, the player tracking unit or the gaming machine
may
communicate with the bank via a network connection available to the player
tracking
unit or gaming machine as described with respect to FIG. 1.
In Fig. 3C, a reservation interface 230 that may be displayed on the touch
screen display is shown. The reservation interface may be used by the player
to make
reservations for food and entertainment at a gaming establishment such as a
casino.
When the entertainment button 236 or the restaurant button 236 is pressed,
different
selections in each category may be displayed. When the restaurant button 236
is
pressed, three restaurant selections 238 are displayed. When the info button
232 is
pressed, information about the entertainment selections or restaurant
selections may
be displayed in display area 216. For example, the info button 232 may be used
to
determine one of the restaurant selections serves "Asian Cuisine." Using the
date
button 242, date selection buttons 244, time button 246 and time selection
buttons, a
player may select a time and date for a reservation. Then, when the reserve
button 240
is pressed, a request for a reservation may be sent to a remote reservation
server 65 or
another remote device as described with reference to FIG. 1. When the
reservation has
been confirmed by the remote server, a confirmation message may be displayed
on the
reservation interface. In some embodiments, w11en the gaming machine includes
a
printer, a printed receipt with the reservation may be issued to the player.
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The reservation interface 230 as well as other game service interfaces
described herein may be not available to all players using the touch screen
interface.
For example, in some embodiments, only players with a special "status"
according to
criteria determined by the gaming establishment may be able to access a
particular
game service interface. For instance, after a certain amount of game play by
the
player, the player may be presented access to the reservation interface 230 to
obtain a
free dinner or a show as compensation (e.g. coinp) for the amount of their
game play.
In Fig. 3D, a prize game service interface 225 that may be displayed on a
touch screen peripheral device is shown. The prize interface may be used by
the
player to malce redeem prizes awarded on a gaining machine. For instance,
prizes may
be awarded as: 1) a"jaclc pot" on a gaming machine, 2) based upon game play
history
that is tracked as part of a loyalty program or 3) part of a promotion at the
gaming
establishment. The prize buttons 258 maybe pressed to select one of the
prizes. When
the info button 232 is pressed, information about the prize selection may be
displayed
in display area 216. Using the credits button 252, points button 254 and EFT
(electronic funds transfer) button, a player may used a combination of credits
available on the gaming machine, loyalty points and cash from a bank account
to
redeem a particular prize. The player may use an additional page of the prize
redemption interface 250 to enter additional information such as a shipping
address.
In Fig. 3E, a loyalty program registration interface 260 that may be displayed
on a touch screen peripheral device is shown of the present invention. Using
the
loyalty program registration interface 260, a player that is not a member of a
loyalty
program, such as player tracking program, may use the interface 260 to join
the
program at the gaming machine as part of a "point of play" registration. In
one
embodiment, the player may obtain a "blank" magnetic striped card or another
type of
loyalty program instrument excepted by the card reader on the gaming machine
such
as a smart card. Next at the gaming machine, the player may request a "point
of play"
registration on the gaming machine from a menu of game services available on
the
gaming machine. A "point of play" registration on the gaming machine may be
initiated before game play session has begun on the gaming machine (e.g. the
player
registers and then plays one or more games on the gaming machine), during a
game
play session on the gaming machine (e.g. game play by the player occurs prior
to the
registration and after the registration) and at the end of a game play session
(e.g. the
player registers but does not continue to play).
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After the "point of play" registration has been initiated on the gaming
machine, a logic device on the player tracking unit or the gaming machine may
instruct the player to insert the "blanlc" magnetic striped card into the card
reader and
display the loyalty program registration interface 260 on the touch screen
display.
Using a finger or stylus, a player may enter their name, address and other
identification information required for registration. Different combinations
of
registration information may be used and are not limited to a name and
address. The
required identification information may be entered using the numeric input
buttons
214 and the alphabetic input buttons 266. The required information may be
input in
different languages and is not limited to English or other Romance languages.
Thus,
the input buttons 266 may be adapted for languages using alphabets other than
a
Roman alphabet.
In some embodiments, the touch screen display may be used with hand writing
recognition software located on a logic device on the player tracking unit,
player
tracking server or the gaining machine to allow a player to write information
on the
display screen, such as their name and address, as a means of inputting this
information. The "written" information may be converted to text by the hand-
writing
recognition software and stored electronically. For example, a player name,
"JOE"
264 is written in a writing template area 262. The name may be recognized
using
hand-writing recognition software and converted to text. The required
registration
information may be written in languages other than English and using an
alphabet or
characters that are different than the Roman alphabet such as Kanji characters
or
Hiragana or Katagana alphabets which are used in Japan.
In addition, the player may sign their name in the writing template area 262.
The player's signature may be recorded and stored so that it may be later used
for
identification purposes. For example, prior to the initiation of a player
tracking
session or anotlier game service, a signature recorded from the writing
template area
262 may be compared with a stored signature using comparison software. When
the
signatures compare, the player tracking session or other game service is
allowed to
proceed. When the signatures do not compare, the player tracking session or
game
service may be terminated or additional identification information may be
required
from the player before the player tracking session is allowed. Alphabetic
input buttons
and writing template areas with hand writing recognition and feature
recognition
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software are not limited to the loyalty program registration interface 260 and
may be
used with any of the other game service interfaces of the present invention.
Besides a signature, other biometric information may be recorded from the
player as part of the registration process. For instance, a camera may be used
to record
a picture of player's face or perform a retinal scan of a player's retina. As
another
example, a finger print reader may be used to record a player's finger print.
A
microphone may be used to record a player's voice. In one embodiment, the
biometric
information may be used for auditing purposes to identify that a player has
actually
registered. hi another einbodiment, the biometric infonnation entered during
the
registration process may be used to validate a player's identity to initiate a
loyalty
prograin session. For instance, a recorded player's finger print may be used
to validate
the player's identity when they initiate a loyalty program session using a
loyalty
prograin instrument. The biometric input devices used in the registration
process,
such as a camera, finger print reader, a microphone may be located on a player
tracking unit, a gaming machine, a casino kiosk or any other gaming device
used to
register a player.
After the player has entered the required information using the game service
interface, the player may touch the register button 268 and a registration
request
message is sent to the player tracking service. The registration request
message
contains at least the identification information entered by the player and
identification
information from the loyalty point instrument used in the registration process
such as
a serial number recorded from the magnetic striped card or other
identification
information recorded on the loyalty point instrument. The registration request
message may be generated by a logic device located in the player tracking unit
or in
the gaming machine such as the master gaming controller. After receiving a
confirmation of the registration from the player tracking server, any
additional game
play on the gaming machine by the player may be recorded on the gaming machine
and sent to the player tracking server as part of a player tracking session.
In one
embodiment, the gaming machine may issue a printed receipt to the player to
confirm
the registration process.
After registration, the magnetic striped card, or other loyalty point
instrument
used in the registration process, may be used by the player to initiate a
player tracking
session on other gaming machines or participate in otller loyalty program
activities
available to the player through the loyal program using the magnetic striped
card.
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Additional details of the point of play registration method of the present
invention are
described with respect to FIGs. 9 and 10.
The "point of play" registration method, described above, is not limited to
touch screen displays located on a player tracking unit. The method may be
iinplemented on a touch screen display used as the main display on the gaming
machine or as a secondary display on the gaming machine. In addition, the
method
may be impleinented on a touch screen display located on a casino kiosk. The
casino
kiosk may include a card reader and baskets containing blank magnetic striped
cards
or other gaming devices used as a loyalty program instruments. For instance, a
smart
card or a room key may be used as loyalty program instruinents. At the kiosk,
the
player may use the blanlc magnetic striped cards and the touch screen display
interface
to register for a loyalty program such as a player tracking program as
described above
with respect to the gaming machine.
The "point of play" registration may also be implemented using many
different input mechanisms or combinations of input mechanisms to enter a
required
set of registration information for a loyalty program. The input mechanisms
may be
located on a gaming machine or other gaming devices (e.g. casino kiosks and
hand-
held wireless devices) used to perform a "point of play" registration. For
instance, a
user may enter some of the registration information using a microphone and
voice
recognition software. In another examples, a user may enter registration
information
using alpha-numeric characters displayed on a display screen and a selection
mechanism on the gaining machine to select the characters on the display
screen. The
selection mechanism may be one or more of the following but is not limited to
input
buttons, a joystick, a track-ball and a mouse.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the point of play
registration may be initiated by a casino service representative. When a
player is
playing a game on the gaming machine and has not initiated a player tracking
session,
a light, the touch screen display (e.g., change color) or some other interface
device
(see FIGs. 4A and 4B) on the player tracking unit may indicate that the player
may be
a valuable to the casino as a member of their loyalty program such as their
player
tracking program. For example, when the player has bet an amount of money over
some amount of time determined by the casino, the light on the player tracking
unit
may be activated. A passing casino service representative may notice the light
and
inquire whether the player would like to enroll in a player tracking program.
The
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casino service representative enter the player's registration information on
touch
screen display located on a hand-held wireless device carried by the casino
service
representative and obtain card information from a card reader attached to the
hand-
held device. The hand-lield wireless device may communicate with player
traclcing
unit using a wireless communication standard such as but not liinited to
Bluetooth,
IrDA (Infrared Direct Access), IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11x,
hiperlan/2, and HomeRF After entering the required information, a registration
request message may be sent tlirough a wire interface or a wireless interface
on the
player tracking unit to the player tracking server (see FIGs. 4B), tluough a
wireless
interface on the gaming machine to the player tracking server or directly to
the player
traclcing server from the hand held-device. After receiving a registration
confirmation
from the player tracking server, the player may be presented with an activated
player
tracking card which may be used to iiutiate a player tracking session on the
gaming
machine. An example of hand-held wireless device that may be used to provide
the
"point of play" player tracking registration is described in co-pending U.S.
application
No. 09/544,844, by Rowe, filed April 7, 2000, tilted "Wireless Gaming
Environment," which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all
purposes.
IrDA is a standard for devices to communicate using infrared light pulses. A
hand-held device, such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) may communicate
with
the player tracking unit and the gaming machine using infrared light pulses
using the
IrDA communication standard or some other infrared communication standard.
Generally, infrared communication using IrDA requires line of sight
communications.
The game service interfaces described above have been presented for
illustrative purposes only as many other types of game service interfaces may
be used
with the touch screen displays of the present invention. For example, game
service
interfaces may be used that allow a player to specify various game playing
preferences. Additional details of these interfaces, which may be used in the
present
invention, are described in co-pending U.S. patent application no. 09/819,152,
by
Paulsen, filed March 27, 2001, titled "Interactive Game Playing Preferences",
which
is incorporated herein in its entirety a.nd for all purposes. As another
example, a player
may use the touch screen display and a game service interface to select
different
entertainnlent content sources, such as video programs, audio programs and
Internet
-- -
based services. The display screen may be used to display entertainment
content such
as a movie, a sporting event, advertising and other promotions. For Internet
based
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services, the display with a touch screen may be used to operate a web-browser
and
other web-based applications. A few examples of entertainment content sources
and
interfaces, including Internet-based entertainment content sources, that may
be
provided with the touch screen display of the present invention are described
in co-
pending U.S. patent application no. 09/665,526, by Nelson, et al, filed on
September
9, 2000, and titled "Play Per View," which is incorporated herein in its
entirety and
for all purposes. In yet another example, a player may use a game service
interface to
select promotions available to the player and receive a printed coupon used to
obtain
the promotion.
FIGURES 3F and 3G are block diagrams of game service interfaces for
providing harm minimization on the gaming machine. Harm minimization may be
defined as minimizing harm that may occur to a player wliile participating in
a
gaming activity. One aspect of harm minimization may be related to providing
information and tools that can enable a player to make better decisions during
participation in a gaming activity. For instance, a display for showing how
long a
player has been participating in the gaming activity may provide information
that
allows a player to make a better decision in regards to ending their gaming
activity.
Another aspect of harm minimization may be related to setting limits to a
player's game play. For instance, a limit may be set for an ainount a player
can wager
over a period of time on a gaming machine. When the limit is exceeded, the
player
may be required to end their play on the gaming machine. The limits may be
voluntarily self-imposed by a player, may be imposed by an operator of the
gaming
machine, such as a casino operator, or may be imposed by a regulatory body
where
the gaming machine is located. These limits may vary from player to player,
from
casino to casino or from gaining jurisdiction to gaming jurisdiction.
In a particular embodiment, harm minimization rules and requirements may be
mandated by a particular gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming machine is
located.
The mandated rules may have been stipulated as a condition for allowing gaming
in a
particular gaming jurisdiction. For instance, a particular gaming jurisdiction
may
mandate that a clock for monitoring game play be made available on gaming
machines. The player may choose to display or not display the clock for
monitoring
their game play. In another instance, the gaming jurisdiction may mandate that
the
clock for monitoring game play is prominently display while the player is
playing a
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game on the gaming machine. In this case, the player does not have a choice in
regards to displaying the clock.
In FIGs. 3F and 3G, an iinplementation of game service interfaces for harm
minimization on a player tracking unit of the present invention is described.
The
present invention, however, is not limited to harm minimization on a player
tracking
unit. For instance, the game service interfaces for harm minimization may be
implemented on a gaming machine without a player tracking unit. In another
example,
the game service interfaces may be displayed on one or more devices located at
a
table game, such as blaclc jack or poker. In yet another example, these game
service
interfaces may be implemented on a gaming terminal connected to a remote
server via
the internet that provides games of chance to the ganling terminal. In a
further
exainple, the game service interfaces (see FIG. 4C) may be implemented on a
portable
hand-held device used by the game player.
In FIG. 3F, a game service interface 270 for configuring a harm minimization
interface is shown. The game server interface 270 may be referred to as a harm
minimization configuration interface. In one einbodiment of the present
invention, a
user may customize the harm minimization interface. In another embodiment, the
harm minimization interface may be non-customizable.
The info button 232 may describe an overview of the configuration options. In
this example, the player may be able to select wager limits, time limits,
messages and
infonnation for display on the harm minimization interface 280 in FIG. 3G. To
select
a wager limit, the player may select the wager button 275. The wager limit may
be an
amount the player can wager during a game play session on the gaming machine.
The
player may enter the wager limit using the buttons 214 on the interface.
A player may place a limit on the ainount of time they may play. To select the
time limit, the player may activate a time limit button 274 and input the time
limit
using the buttons 214. For instance, the player may enter a time limit of an
hour for
their play on the gaming machine. Other examples of limits a player may select
include but are not limited to a rate of play, an amount lost, an amount won,
an
amount banked, a number of games played, a number of games where a win has
occurred and a number of games where a loss has occurred. In one embodiment,
the
gaming machine may display a screen of pre-selected limits. For example, for
the time
limits, the screen may display %z hour, 1 hour, 1%2 hours, 2 hours and other
and the
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gaming machine inay be operable allow the player to select one of the these
displayed
limits.
As another example, for the amount banked, the player may select a
percentage of their wiimings to bank. For example, a player may choose to bank
5%
of their winnings. As another example, a player may choose to bank a
percentage of
their winnings for all wins over a certain amount. For example, for a win over
100
credits, the player may choose to bank 25%, 50% or 75% of this amount. The
amount
banked may be transferred to a remote account associated with the player. The
player's access to this account may be limited in some manner. For instance,
the
player may be prevented fonn withdrawing banlced winnings for a certain time
period,
such as a day.
In anotlier embodiment, the gaming machine may store and track baiiked
winning for the player. At the end of their game play session, the gaming
machine
may print a cash-out ticket redeemable for the banked winning. The gaming
machine
may also store information needed to redeem the banked winnings to another
type of
instrument, such as but not limited to a smart card, RFID enabled device or a
cell
phone. The banked winnings, redeemable using the instrument, may be "time
locked,"
such that the winnings may not be redeemed or used for additional game play
for a set
time period, such as a day.
In one embodiment, when a player selects a limit that is enforced on the
gaming machine, the player may be instructed to state their selected limit.
The stated
limit may be recorded using a microphone placed on the gaming machine. The
recorded information may be stored on the gaming machine or on a server
connected
to the gaming machine. The recorded limit statement may be used for a number
of
purposes, such as authentication, auditing and dispute resolution. For
example, for
authentication purposes, the recorded limit statement may be compared with a
previously stored and authenticated sample of the player's voice to determine
if the
recorded limit statement was made by the player. As another example, for
dispute
resolution purposes, if a player later disputes that they did not set an
enforced limit,
the recorded statement may be played-back to the player confirm that they set
the
limit.
The limit statement may be recorded with other biometric information. For
instance, the gaming machine may include a still or video camera (see FIG. 4C)
and a
still picture or movie of the player making the statement limit statement may
be
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recorded. The gaming machine may include a playback program that allows and
operator to locate and playback recorded limit statements. In another example,
the
player may select their limits and then enter a signature on the gaming
machine, such
as via a touch screen on the gaming machine. Details of electronic signature
input that
may be used with the present invention are described in co-pending U.S.
application
no. 09/946,905, filed September 4, 2001 and titled, "Electronic Signature
Capability
on a Gaming Machine," wliich is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety and
for all purposes.
The audio/video record feature may be also applied in other applications on
the gaming machine and is not limited to harm minimization. In general, it
could be
used for authentication for any transaction performed on the gaming machine.
For
instance, when a player transfers money to the gaming machine from an outside
account to the gaming machine. The player may be asked to verbally confirm
their
intentions and a movie with video and sound of them making the statement may
be
recorded. In another embodiment, the gaming machine may include logic to
record a
movie at specific instances of game play, such a when a player wins a large
jaclcpot.
The video could be used to determine that the winner of the jackpot was
eligible (i.e.,
not an underage player) or for entertainment purposes. For instance, a small
video clip
of the player winning could be sent to the player's picture cell phone or to
an e-mail
account. The player could later play back the video clip to remember the event
and to
show it to friends.
As previously described, in some embodiments, the player may select various
limits in regards to their game play. In other embodiments, a gaming machine
operator or a gaming jurisdiction may impose the limits. For instance, in a
casino with
a limited nuinber of gaming machines and crowded conditions, the casino may
impose a limit in regards to the amount of time each player can play. fi1
another
example, a gaming jurisdiction may limit losses over a time period for a
player to a
particular amount.
The player tracking unit and or gaming machine may monitor parameters and
perform calculations necessary to track limits. For instance, when a limit for
the rate
of play has been set, the gaming machine may calculate the rate of play i.e.
the
amount wagered over a particular time period. When a limit, such as a time
limit or a
wager limit is reached, the gaming machine may take a number of actions or
combination of actions to discourage further game play. As an example, the
gaming
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machine may end the game play session by not allowing the player to continue
playing. In another example, the gaming machine may not allow the player to
make
another wager for a period of time. In yet another example, the game player
may
display a particular message, such as "You have reached your limit. Stop
Playing!" In
a further example, the gaming machine may lower the sound the level on the
gaming
inacliine or decrease the graphics resolution to discourage further game play.
In yet
another example, the gaming machine may limit a maximum wager amount that can
be made for each game.
In a particular embodiment, the player may be required to provide
identification information, such as an account number and pin or name and pin,
each
time they engage in game playing at a gaming machine. The gaming machine may
contact a central server with this information. The central server may track
the
player's game playing, such as time played and ainount spent, on a plurality
of
gaming machines. The central server may keep track of harm minimization limits
set
by the casino, gaming jurisdiction, player or coinbinations thereof. When set
limits
are exceeded, the central server may send messages and/or commands to the
gaming
machine indicating a limit has been exceeded. In one instance, the message may
contain information that indicates a limit has been exceed and from the
information a
logic device on the gaming machine, such as a master gaming controller or a
logic
device on the player tracking unit, determines the correct response. hi
another
embodiment, the central server may send a command directly to the gaming
machine
where the command indicates a response that the gaming machine is to
iinplement.
For instance, the central server could command the gaming machine to terminate
gaine play and display a message indicating what limits were exceeded and when
game play can resuine again or the central server could simply command the
gaming
machine to display a message, such as "You have lost 'x' dollars."
lil yet another einbodiment, a cashless system may be used to limit a player's
spending for harm minimization purposes. In this instance, the gaming machines
may
only accept cashless instruments, such as printed ticket vouchers for game
play. Prior
to begimiing their game play, the player may be required to identify
themselves and
then purchase a cashless instrument with a certain value below a set limit,
such a $500
dollars. Each time the player plays a game at the gaming machine, they provide
their
cashless instrument to the gaming machine. After they finish at the gaming
machine,
their cashless instrument (e.g., a smart card) is updated with their available
credits,
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which may include amounts won and lost, or a new cashless instrument (e.g., a
printed ticket voucher) is generated with this information.
The cashless instrument traiisactions generated in a chain starting with the
original purchase amount may be valid for only a particular time period, such
as a
day. After that the player may be forced to cash-out the cashless instrument.
As an
example, a player may make an initial purchase of a cashless instrument of a
printed
ticket voucher for $500 dollars, which is the maximum amount that can be spent
in 24
hours. The printed ticket voucher may encode a time/date issued and a
remaining
time. This information may be encoded in a forinat that can be read by the
player.
Next, the player may use this instrument for games at a gaming machine and
win $200 dollars and receive a new printed voucher for $700. The new printed
voucher may encode the time that the first voucher was issued i.e., the one
that started
the tllread of transaction and the time remaining for the thread. Next, the
player may
use the voucher with $700 at a table game. After playing, they may be issued a
new
ticket voucher with $200. Again, this printed ticket voucher for $200 may
encode the
time the first ticket voucher was issued and the remaining time. Next, the
player may
not use the printed ticket voucher for $200 during its time remaining. When
the player
tries to use the voucher for game play at a gaming machine, the gaming machine
may
not accept the ticket but may indicate that the printed voucher may be
redeemed for
cash. The player may then cash-out the voucher and then purchase a new printed
voucher with a value and start the process over again. Details of a cashless
system that
may be used with the present invention are described in co-pending U.S.
application
no. 10/406,911, by Rowe, filed April 2, 2003 and titled "Cashless Transaction
Clearinghouse, which is incorporated herein by reference and for all purposes.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the player may be able to select
certain message or messages for display on the harm minimization interface. In
one
embodiment, a list of available messages and/or mandated messages may be
displayed
when the messages button 273 is selected. Further, when the messages button
273 is
selected an alphanumeric interface may be displayed (e.g., 266 in FIG. 3E). In
another
embodiment, the player using a microphone may be able to record a voice
message
that can be later played back.
In particular embodiments, the player may select to display a message
indicating an amount lost at particular time intervals or at random time
intervals. The
amount lost that is displayed may be calculated at the time the message is
generated.
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The time interval may be entered via the buttons 214. In another example, the
amount
lost may be displayed when the player has lost a certain amount or each time a
certain
amount has been lost. For instance, each time a player has lost $100 dollars,
a
message may be displayed that says you have lost $100 dollars over the
following "x"
time period where a device on the gaming machine traclcs the amount of time it
took
to lose $100 dollars. Of course, the present invention is not limited to
tracking
monetary amounts in dollars and other currency amounts may be tracked with the
present invention. Further, the messages may be in other languages depending
on
where the gaming machine is located and/or the player's preference.
In yet another embodiment, the player may choose to display a message such
as "I am playing for entertainment" or "You have been playing 5 straigllt
hours. Take
a break." In yet another exainple, when the player's rate of play exceeds a
particular
amount, the player may select to have a message displayed, such as "You are
playing
to fast. Slow Down." As previously described, the gaming machine may be
configured to display certain messages whether the player has selected the
message or
not. These message may mandated by the gaining jurisdiction in which the
gaming
machine is located. The message can be displayed on display 201 or another
display
on the gaming machine.
The cam button 276 may be used to select different video cams that may be
displayed on the gaming machine, such as on display 201. For example, a player
may
be to select a video feed from outside the casino. The cues provided from
outside may
help the player limit their game play by allowing them to keep better track of
time. In
another example, the player may be simply interested in the weather outside in
regards to whether it is raining or not. As another example, the harm
minimization
interface 280 may be configured to display still images, such as a picture of
the
player's spouse, family or relative at certain times.
The metering buttons 272 may be used to select different meters and forrnats
for displaying the meters. The meters are typically related to aspects of the
players
game play. For instance, an ainount wagered, an amount of time played, an
amount
wagered per time, an average amount wagered per game, an amount won, an amount
lost, an amount lost per time, an amount won per time, a ratio of the amount
won
versus the amount wagered, a number of drinks ordered/consumed, a number of
games played, an amount won or lost per game, etc. In particular embodiments,
these
meters may be plotted as a function of time or as a function of games played.
The
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formats (see FIG. 3G for a few examples) may be any combination of plots,
graphics
and colors, such as pie charts, bar graphs, etc.
The player may use the preview button 271 to review any limits they have set
or that are imposed. Further, the preview button 271 may be used and to
preview a
display of the harm minimization interface 280 that they have configured (see
FIG.
3G). After, the player has coinpleted their selections, the player may engage
the enter
button 210 to complete the configuration.
In one embodiment, a configuration of a harm minimization interface may be
saved for the player. For instance, their personal configuration may be save
to an
account, such as a player tracking account, on a remote server. In another
example,
their personal configuration may be encoded on a printed ticket, which is
issued to the
player. The player may insert this ticket into another gaming machine to
reconfigure
the gaming machine witli their personal configuration. In yet another
embodiment,
their personal configuration information may be downloaded to a smart card,
cell
phone, PDA, hand-held computer or the like for storage and later uploaded to a
gaming machine with an interface compatible with the device on which the
information is stored.
In FIG. 3G, an example of a configured harm minimization interface 280 is
illustrated. This player tracking unit may be configured to display interface
280 on its
display screen 201 (see FIGs. 4A-4C). In general, this interface 280 may be
generated
on any of the video displays located on the gaming machine or adjacent to the
gaming
machine. In one embodiment (see FIG. 4C), the interface 280 may be generated
on a
hand-held device, such as a PDA or cell phone, carried by the player.
The interface 280 illustrated in FIG. 3G provides 3 meters: 1) a rate of play
meter 286, a time remaining meter 284 and a loss meter 285. The present
invention is
not limited to the display of information from 3 meters. One or more meters or
no
meters may be displayed on the interface 280. A logic device may adjust the
size of
the meters to accominodate a specified display area. If the display area is
too small to
accommodate a desired number of meters, then the format of the meters may be
adjusted, such as using text-only instead of graphics, or the gaming machine
may
cycle through the meters, i.e., display each one for a limited amount of time
and then
display the next one.
The rate of play meter 286 is in a bar format. The lengtll of the bar is used
to
indicate the rate of play, which is shown as 50 cents per minute. The rate of
play may
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vary over time and the bar graph may be updated as the player's rate of play
increases
or decreases. In one embodiment, the player may set a limit for a rate of play
and the
rate of play meter may flash and/or change colors and in addition a warning
sound
may be emitted when the player exceeds their rate of play. In another
embodiment, a
logic device on the gaming machine may limit a player's maximum bet to
decrease
their rate of play.
The time left meter 284 shows a pie graph of time remaining where the slice
of pie gets smaller as the time remaining approaches zero. The player may have
configured a time limit using the configuration interface 270 and the meter
284 may
reflect the time remaining based upon the limit. A message, "5 minutes to go"
is
shown in display area 216. This message may be based upon the time limit that
has
been set. It may flash periodically and at different intervals, such as at %2
hour to go,
minutes to go, 5 minutes to go and 1 minute to go.
The loss meter 285 shows the amount a player has lost using a thermometer
15 graphic. The thermometer may include markings for allowing the player to
determine
the ainount they have lost or a marlcing indicating a limit. The filling in
the
thermometer may go up and down as losses decrease or increase and change color
as a
loss limit is approached. Again, text message may be coordinate with the loss
meter,
such as "Approaching loss limit."
Although specific meter graphics are illustrated in FIG. 3G, it should be
appreciated that any suitable graphical construct may be used to convey the
metering
inforination. In some implementations, the player may be able to change the
format of
the displayed meters using the display format button 282. For instance, the
pie graph
meter 284 may be changed to a simple text output. As another example,
different
variables, such as amount won or an amount lost may be plotted versus time in
a line
plot. The display format button 282 may be also used to change the metering
infomzation that is displayed and the number of meters that are displayed at
any one
time. For instance, the player may select 5 meters to display but only one at
a time and
the interface may cycle through each meter. The menu button may be used to
reconfigure the interface and may provide access to the harm minimization
interface
described with respect to FIGs. 3F.
The display area 283 provides an example of the one of the cams described
with respect to FIG. 3F. In this example, a weather cam is displayed. The
weather cam
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283 displays the weather outside the casino and a local weather forecast. In
area 283,
a 3-day weather forecast is shown.
In FIG. 3H, an interface 290 for displayed different jaclcpots is shown. The
interface 290 may be configured to allow a number of different jackpots to be
displayed. In one embodiment, the interface may be adapted for allowing a
player, a
gaming machine operator or both to select different jaclcpots for display. For
promotional purposes, the gaming machine operator may choose to select
different
jaclcpots for display. When the interface 290 has been configured by a player,
the
player's selection may be stored to a device, such as a cell phone, PDA, smart
card,
etc. carried by the player or may be stored to a remote account. The stored
selection
information may be used to reconfigure the interface 290 on different gaming
machines that a player may utilize
The info button 232 may be used to display a list (textual and/or graphical)
of
the jackpots that may be displayed. In one einbodiinent, different progressive
jackpots
may be displayed on the interface. The progressive jackpots may or may not be
available for game play on various gaming machines within a casino where the
gaming machine is located. In the FIG. 3H, two progressive jackpots that have
been
selected for display, MegabucksTM and Wheel of Fortune S1otsTM by IGT (Reno,
NV)
are shown. Under a graphic representing each progressive jackpot, a jackpot
amount,
which may be continually updated on the gaming machine, is shown. The updates
to
the gaming machine may be provided from a remote server in communication with
the gaming machine.
In one embodiment, the gaming machine may be adapted to provide a map of
a casino for allowing a player to locate a gaming machine where the
progressive
jaclcpot is available. For example, when the "MegabucksTm" graphic is selected
on the
touch screen, a map may be shown on the display 201 that shows the location of
the
current gaming machine, various gaming machines and other landmarlcs on the
casino
floor and a location of a gaming machine(s) providing the progressive jackpot
that has
been selected. The location of the current machine and the gaming machines
providing the selected jackpot may be highlighted on the map. Further, a line
may
drawn between the current location and the desired location (e.g., the
location where
the selected progressive jackpot is provided). In one embodiment, the gaming
machine may be adapted to be print out a map for the player.
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The mapping service described in the previous interface is not necessarily
limited to locating a gaming machine providing a progressive jaclcpot. In one
embodiment, a player may be able to select from variety of locations within a
casino
complex and the gaining machine may be operable to provide a map and/or
directions
to this location. An example of a mapping interface 295 is shown in FIG. 31.
Returning to FIG. 3H, in one embodiment of the present invention, the
interface 290 may be adapted to display personal jackpots maintained for the
player.
Two personal jackpots, 292 and 293, are shown in the picture. In the gaming
industry,
a percentage of a player's spending at a casino is often awarded back to the
player in
the form of comps (complimentary awards). For example, if a player spends
enough,
the player may be awarded a comp of a free meal or a free hotel night. In
embodiments that incorporate a personal jackpot, a percentage of the player's
spending may go towards funding a personal jackpot that can only be won by the
player. The funding of the jackpot may be based upon a player's spending at
various
gaming activities, such as gaming machines, table games and sports bets as
well non-
gaming related activities, such as shopping at particular shops, eating at a
particular
restaurant, selecting a hotel room of a particular value or utilizing other
casino/hotel
services.
The fiulding rate may vary from activity to activity and may be vary depending
on an ainount spent. For instance, the funding rate for various activities may
be higher
initially to quickly fund the personal jackpots, 292 and 293. Then, once the
personal
jaclcpot reaches a certain level, the funding rate may decrease. Then, for
higher
amounts spent, the funding rate may increase.
Unlike other complimentary awards that are valid for a particular service,
such
as diimer at a particular restaurant, the jackpots, 292 and 293, may be
awarded as
cash. The player may use this cash in the manner of their choosing. In one
enlbodiment, a portion or all of a personal jackpots, 292 and 293, may be
awarded as
scrip that may be valid for various activities or services but may not be
directly
redeemed for cash. For example, the scrip may be valid for promotional credits
on a
gaming machine where the player may use the promotional credits for game play
and
may collect any winning resulting from the game play but may not convert the
promotional credits to cash. As another example, the scrip may be valid for
play at a
table game, such as black jack. In another example, the scrip may be applied
for a
service available at a casino/hotel, such as a meal at a restaurant or a
service at a spa.
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A scrip or cash award may be made directly at the gaming machine or may be
credited to a player's account. For instance, a ticket voucher, redeemable for
cash or
redeemable as script may be printed at the gaming machine. As another example,
an
award of a cash or scrip amount may be credited to a cashless instrument
carried by
the player, such as a smart card, phone or hand-held coinputer.
In FIG. 3H, the two personal jaclcpots may represent jackpots funded from
different sources. For instance, jackpot 292 may be funded from game play
activities
while jackpot 293 may be fiuided from non-gaming activities. In another
example, the
two jackpots, 292 and 293, may represent a cash value versus a scrip value.
For
instance, when the player wins a personal jackpot, the player may be able to
select the
cash jackpot value 292 or the scrip jackpot value 293.
In one embodiment, a personal jaclcpot may be funded from activities linked to
a group of players. For example, a player may wish to join with their family
members
and/or friends to form a jackpot group. As another example, attendees of a
trade
conference or a convention may be registered in the group as part of their
registration
for the conference. To join the group, each member may have to register in
some
manner to indicate that they wish to participate in the group. In this
embodiment, only
registered members of the group are eligible for awards from the group jackpot
pool.
A determination of an award from the group jackpot may be made at the ganzing
machine, the remote device or combinations thereof.
When a player provides identification inforination at a gaming machine, a
determination may be made as to whether the player is eligible to win any
group
jackpots. The group jackpots that the player is eligible to win may be
displayed on the
jackpot interface. In one embodiment, a player may be eligible to join one or
more
groups providing group jaclcpots and the groups that a player is eligible to
join may be
displayed on the jackpot interface. The jackpot interface may allow the player
to join
the group via, a registration process. In one embodiment, the player may be
required to
pay a fee to join a group. In another embodiment, the player may be
automatically
registered in a group as a result of an event occurring at the gaming machine.
For
example, the player may be registered for a particular group jackpot when a
particular
outcome occurs while they are playing a game of chance at a gaming machine.
A reinote device, such as a player tracking server, may monitor a group's
contributions to the group jackpot and update the jackpot total. When a member
of a
group is playing at a gaming machine, the group jackpot total may be displayed
at the
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gaming machine via the jaclcpot interface. Further, wheii one member of the
group
wins an award, other members in the group may be notified of the identity of
the
person who won the award. For example, when Joe and Bob are in a group and Joe
wins a portion of the group jackpot, Bob may receive a message, such as "Joe
won an
award of X dollars from the group jaclcpot." Details for detennining a
location of a
player at a gaming macliine that may be used with the present invention are
described
in U.S. application 09/655,526, by LeMay, et al, filed September 19, 2000 and
titled,
"Play Per View," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and
for all
purposes.
The personal jackpots may be maintained, updated and accessed via
communications with a remote server, such as a player tracking server, may be
maintained on a device carried by the player, such as a smart card, cell
phone, PDA,
etc. For example, eligible transactions may be forwarded to the remote server.
The
remote server may then update the j ackpot and regularly send updates that are
displayed on display 201. As another example, the jackpot amount may be stored
on a
smart card carried by the player. An initial jackpot may be stored on the
smart card
and downloaded to the gaming machine at the beginning of a gaming machine.
Then,
a logic device on the gaming machine may update the jackpot amount on the
gaming
machine during the game play session. Details of using a portable device for
providing personal jackpots are described in co-pending U.S. application
09/718,974,
by Rowe, filed 11/22/2000 and entitled "EZ PayTM Smart Card and Ticket
System,"
which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
lii yet another example, when a transaction occurs at a location not in
contact
with a remote server, certain transactions may be stored on the device carried
by the
player and then uploaded to the remote server when the carried device by the
player
comes in contact with a device in communication with the remote server. The
remote
server may then receive a record of the transaction, validate it and then
update the
personal jackpot. For example, the player may make a purchase(s) of an item at
a
shop(s) that is not in contact with a remote server. The record of this
transaction may
be stored to a cell phone carried by the player. Later, the player may engage
in game
play at a gaming machine connected to the remote server. During the game play
session, the record of the transaction stored on the phone may be uploaded to
the
remote server via the gaming machine and the personal jackpots 292 and 293 may
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updated via communications with the remote server to reflect the uploaded
transactions.
The personal jackpots may be triggered from events related to gaming or other
activities. In one embodiment, a fixed probability for winning the personal
jackpot
may be assigned to the jaclcpot and each time the player engages in an
approved
activity, a random number may be generated and compared with criteria, which
may
include a probability of winning, to determine whether the player has won the
jackpot.
For instance, approved activities may include a play of each game at a gaming
machine, a purchase at a shop over some amount, a purchase at a dinner over
some set
amount, checkout at a hotel, etc. In another embodiment, the winning of the
personal
jaclcpot may be triggered by a particular event occurring on the gaining
machine, such
as when a particular combination of the symbols appears on the gaming machine.
The
deterinination of whether a player has won their personal jackpot may be made
independently of the outcome of a game of chance played on the gaming machine
and
the resulting payout may be a portion of the personal jaclcpot or the entire
jackpot.
The probability of winning may vary with time. For example, as the personal
jackpots, 292 and 293, increase in size, the probability of winning either of
the
jackpots may increase. Thus, in this instance, the player will be more likely
to win
larger jaclcpots and less likely to win smaller jackpots. For example, the
probabilities
of winning jackpots 292 and 293 may be selected such that the probability of
winning
jackpot 293 may be greater than probability of winning jackpot 292. In one
embodiment, the probability of winning a jackpot may be set to zero until the
amount
of the jackpot reaches a certain value.
A described with respect to FIG. 3H, a player may wish to learn of the
location of a gaming machine where a certain progressive jackpot is available.
In FIG.
3I, a directions interface 550 is shown that provides a map with locations of
interest to
a player. The directions may be in the form of a map, text (e.g., turn right,
go straight,
etc.), combinations of a map and text, voice directions that could be emitted
from the
gaming machine or any otller information format that provides the player
enough
information to navigate to the location of interest from their current
location. The
directions may be viewed on the gaming machine and/or output to the player in
some
manner, such as a downloaded to a device carried by the player or a printout
of
directions output via a printer on the gaming machine.
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The interface 550 may include a number of buttons that allows a player to
select from lists of locations that are categorized according to a theme. For
example,
buttons, 552, 554, 556 and 560 allow locations for different types of gaming
machines, table games, sports book, shops, dining and other services (e.g.,
gym, spa,
pool, hotel check-in, travel/entertainment services, concierge, etc) to be
generated on
display 201. In this embodiment, the term "location" is used to indicate a
place where
the player can find a service or activity of interest to the player. The place
may be
located within a casino, within a casino complex (e.g., a casino, restaurants,
hotel,
parking garage, etc), locations nearby the casino (e.g., affiliated casinos,
general
attractions, nearby shops and service providers, such as a pharmacy) or any
other
location of interest to the player.
The buttons may lead to various sub-buttons or menus. For example, when the
gaming machine 552 button is selected, the player may be able to select from a
list of
different types of games, progressive games, bonus games (e.g., Wheel of
FortuneTM)
that are available for play in a particular casino. For example, using the
interface, the
player may be able to locate all gaming machines or nearby gaming machines
that
access to the MegabucksTM progressive game. As another example, the may player
may be able to locate all restaurants or snack bars that serve a certain type
of food,
that are open and do not require reservations. In general, the player may be
able to
select multiple features of an item of interest, such as a gaming machine,
gaming
device, table game, bar or restaurant, and search for locations where those
features are
provided.
In one embodiment, when the player has provided search criteria for a location
and no locations satisfy the search criteria, the gaming machine may display
locations
that satisfy at least one criterion of the search criteria. The directions
interface may list
criterions for each location that are satisfied. When inultiple locations
satisfy a
player's search criteria, the interface 550 may display the nearby locations
first or only
the nearby locations.
In one embodiment, the direction interface 550 may have access to status
information for locations of interest. For example, the direction interface
may have
access to information indicating whether a gaming machine(s) of interest is
currently
being played, seats at a black jack table are available or a shop. This
information may
be displayed on the interface or may be used to narrow a search criterion. For
example, in one embodiment, the direction interface 550 may only highlight
gaming
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machines of interest that are not being played or table games of interest with
an open
seat. An advantage of providing status information for the location of
interest is that a
player may not wish to embarlc to a location that is currently not available
to provide
the service of interest to the player.
The interface 550 may be adapted to accept multiple input selections to limit
the locations that satisfy the search criteria. For example, using the
interface 550, a
player may be able to locate gaming machines that accept a certain
denomination,
such as nickel slots, and provide a particular main game. As another example,
using
the interface 550 may be able to determine the location of a type of table
game with a
certain bonus game.
After the player has selected one or more criterion that match particular
locations in the casino a map showing the locations may be provided on the
interface
550. For example, in FIG. 31, the player has provided inputs indicating that
want to
know the locations of blaclcjack tables. The display area 216 provides the
message
"BLACK JACK TABLES" to indicate the player's location selection.
On the interface 550, a map 568 of a portion of the casino is shown. The map
includes banks of gaming machines, i.e., the squares, a landmark 570 and a
number of
table games. The la.ndmark 570 may be a fountain or some other landmark on the
casino floor. The player's current location 564, which is a gaming machine, is
highlighted in black and the player's selected locations, the black jack
tables 566, are
also highlighted in black. Various methods, such as different colors, flashing
colors,
etc. may be used to higlllight the locations of interest to the player.
The map itself may be rendered using many different methods. For example,
the map may provide simplified line drawings. As another example, the map may
provide actual pictures of particular items. The map may be rendered in black
and
white or in color depending on the type of display that is used on the
interface.
The player may use the map to quickly arrive at their location(s) of interest.
In
one embodiment, the interface 550 may provide directions, such as a line that
connects the current location 564 to one or more locations of interest. In
another
embodiment, the player may be able to navigate in the map using the control
buttons
562,
In yet another embodiment, using the print button 550, the gaming machine
may be operable to print a copy of the map that the player may take with them
using
the print button 560. The printed map may include promotions that can be used
at the
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location of interest to the player. For example, if the player has selected a
particular
restaurant, a map with a coupon for the selected restaurant or another
restaurant may
be provided. As another example, when the player has select a game played at a
particular gaming machine as a location of interest, the directions interface
may a
coupon with promotions credits that may be used to play the game of interest.
In an additional embodiment, the directions interface 550 may be used to
encourage a player to go to particular locations independently of whether the
player
has indicated the location is of interest to the player. For example, the
interface 550
may flash locations where a particular promotional activity along with a
message
providing details about the activity. For instance, a location where learning
session
about various casino gaines is being provided may be displayed on the
interface and
messages providing details of the learning session may be displayed on the
interface.
Further, the printing option may be used to print coupons with maps that
encourage a
player to go to restaurant. For example, a printed ticket may be provided with
a
promotion for a restaurant and a map of the casino floor where the restaurant
is
located.
The promotions provided on the interface 550 may be also linked to current
status information about the various locations that are shown on the mapping
interface. For example, if not many people are playing the blackjack or other
table
games and a casino operator wants to encourage more people to play table
games, the
mapping interface may be used on a nuinber of gaming machines to provide the
locations of the table games and any promotions that are currently being
offered.
Further, to encourage the players viewing interface 550 to move to the
location being
promoted by the casino, the gaming machines may be instructed to print tickets
for
the selected location. As another example, if business was slow at a
particular
restaurant and busy at other restaurants, the directions interface 550 could
be used to
show the locations of the various restaurants and status information for each,
such as
a current waiting time. To encourage business at the slow restaurants a coupon
with
the directions could be printed.
FIGURES. 4A and 4B are perspective diagrams of different embodiments of
player tracking units of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a front diagram for
a housing
or chassis 300 enclosing a number of interface peripherals. The interface
peripherals
may be used to provide input and output (I/O) to a player tracking system or
may be
used to provide UO to other gaming systems such as a gaming machine. The
device
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housing 300 may enclose a logic device (see FIG. 5) and other electronics
configured
to execute player tracking functions or the logic device may be enclosed in a
logic
device housing separate from the device housing 300.
Using the player tracking interface devices enclosed in the housing 300,
gaming infonnation, such as player tracking information, may be input to the
player
tracking unit and gaming information may be visually and aurally communicated
to
various individuals that may use the player tracking unit, such as game
players, casino
service representatives and maintenance technicians. The device housing 300
encloses
a touch screen display 315, a key pad 320, a speaker/inicrophone 56, a card
reader
325, a light 311 adjacent to the card reader 325 and a light 316 adjacent to
the touch
screen display 315. In other embodiments, the housing 300 may enclose many
different combinations of player tracking interface devices. For instance,
additional
gaming devices, such as biometric input devices (e.g., cameras, retinal
scanners,
finger print readers), wireless interface devices cameras and bonus buttons,
may also
be enclosed in the device housing (see FIG. 4B). In one einbodiment, face
plate 330
surrounds the display 315, the key pad 320, the card reader 325, the light
316, the
light 311 and the speaker 56. The face plate 330 may include mounting holes,
such as
312, for mounting various player tracking interface devices to the face plate
330 such
as the touch screen display 315.
The face plate 330 includes cut-outs (not shown) that may allow access to the
player tracking interface devices. For instance, a front portion of the light
316, a front
portion of the touch screen display 315, and a front portion of the key pad
are visible
through the face plate 330. Each of the key pad buttons, such as 321, 322 and
323,
may be back-lit by illumination devices of some type. The illuinination
devices,
behind the key pad buttons, may be independently controlled to display various
light
and color patterns. The light and color patterns may be used to represent game
information.
The dimensions of the device housing 300, (e.g. 305, 308 and 310) are shown
in FIGs. 2A and 2C. The device housing 300 is shown as a rectangular box for
illustrative purposes only. A shape of the device housing 300 is variable and
is not
strictly limited to rectangular shapes. Further, dimensions of the cut-outs on
the face
plate 330 for the player tracking interface devices may vary depending the
manufacturer of a particular interface peripheral device, which may be used as
a
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player tracking device. Typically, the dimensions of player tracking interface
devices
vary from manufacturer to maiiufacturer.
The light 316, adjacent to the touch screen display 315 may use one or more
illumination devices. Further, the liglzt 316 may employ one or more types of
lighting
systems such as light emitting diodes (LED's), neon bulbs, incandescent bulbs,
halogen bulbs, florescent bulbs, electro-luminescent ligliting elements or
combination
thereof. In a particular embodiment, the LED's may be multi-colored LED's. The
light may extend substantially surround the touch screen display 315 or the
light may
extend around a portion of the perimeter of the touch screen display.
Illumination
devices within light 316 may be used to indicate different types of gaming
information. For instance, the light 316 may be used to indicate a player has
inserted
their card incorrectly into the card reader 325. The liglit 316 may be
activated to
signal a passing casino service representative to initiate a "point of play
registration,"
as described with reference to FIG. 3E.
The touch screen display 315 may be an LED, LCD, vacuum florescent,
plasma display screen or any other type of display technology. The touch
screen
display 315 may employ one of the touch screen sensors, preferably but not
limited to
a capacitive sensor, with a touch screen controller integrated into the touch
screen
assembly as described with reference to FIGs. 2A-2D. The touch screen display
315
may be used to display additional symbols or gaming information that may be
used to
enliance player tracking services and other related gaming services. For
instance, a
drink button 322 is used on the key pad 320 for a player to request a drink.
Additional
drink symbols or text names may be displayed on the touch screen display 315
to
allow a player to select a particular type of drink.
Portions of the touch screen display 315 may be used to convey gaming
information in a manner similar to the illumination devices. For instance, one
or more
portions the touch screen display 315, such as a rectangular border around the
perimeter of the touch screen display, may flash with various color patterns
and
symbols as part of an attract mode. Further, one or more portions of the touch
screen
display may be used to signal machine events. For example, when a player
tracking
card is inserted correctly in the card reader 325, a portion or all of the
touch screen
display 315 may light up as green. When a player tracking card is inserted
incorrectly
in the card reader 325, a portion of the display may light up and flash red.
As another
example, when a machine malfunction has occurred, a portion of the touch
screen
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display or all of the touch screen display 315 may light up in red. Details of
other
gaming infonnation (e.g., machine events) which may be provided by
illumination
devices that may be also may be used with a touch screen display are described
in co-
pending U.S. application No. 09/921489, by Hedrick, et al., filed on August 3,
2001,
entitled "Player Tracking Communication Means in a Gaming Machine," which is
incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
FIG. 4B is a front diagram for a housing or chassis 300 enclosing a number of
interface peripherals, which may be used as player tracking interface devices,
for one
embodiment of the present invention. The front plate 330 is covered with a
decorative
skin 365 with a silk-screen logo 366. In addition to the peripheral interface
devices
described with respect to FIG. 4A, the player tracking housing 300 includes a
wireless
interface 364, a cainera 362 and a finger-print reader with platen 360. The
wireless
interface 364 may be compatible with one or more wireless communication
standards
including but not limited to Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE
802.11x, hiperlan/2, and HomeRF.
In one embodiment, the touch screen display 315 is a color LCD. The touch
screen display 315 may be used to implement a game service interface as
described
with respect to FIGs. 3A-3E. In addition, the touch screen display 315 is used
to
replace the key pad 320. More specifically, the touch screen display may be
used as an
interface by a player to: 1) input player tracking identification information,
2) view
account information and perform account transactions for accounts such as
player
tracking accounts and bank accounts, 3) receive operating instructions related
to the
player tracking unit and the gaming machine, 4) redeem prizes or comps
including
using player tracking points to redeem the prize or comp (see FIG. 3D), 5)
make
entertainment service reservations (see FIG. 3C), 6) transfer credits to
cashless
instruments and other player accounts (see FIG. 3B) , 7) participate in casino
promotions, 8) select entertainment choices for output via video and audio
output
mechanisms on the player tracking unit and the gaming machine, 9) play games
and
bonus games, 10) request gaming services such as a drink orders, 11)
communicate
with other players or casino service personnel, 12) play progressive games,
13)
register a player for a loyalty program such as a player tracking club (see
FIG. 3E),
14) perform banking transactions and 15) obtain machine diagnostics. In
addition, the
touch screen display 315 may be used as an interface by casino service
personnel to:
a) access diagnostic menus, b) display player tracking unit status information
and
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gaming machine status information, c) access gaming machine metering
information
(see FIG. 3A) and d) display player status infonnation.
The camera 362 may be used for security purposes, promotional purposes and
to enter biometric information. For instance, the camera 362 may deter
tampering
with a player tracking unit or gaming machine. As another example, a picture
of a
player may be recorded when they win a jackpot and used for a promotion. As
another
exatnple, the camera may be used with feature recognition software to identify
the
player. Similarly, the finger-print reader 360 may be used to read a player's
fingerprint, which is used to determine their identity. As another example,
the
microphone 56 may be used with voice recognition software to recognize a
player's
voice for player authentication purposes. Thus, a voice signal input into the
microphone may be compared with a stored voice print to identify the player.
In some
embodiments, biometric input devices may be used to supplement information
read
from a card inserted in the card reader orto even replace the card reader 325.
Biometric information input using the camera 362, finger-print reader 360 or
microphone might also be used as part of the "point of play" registration
method. For
instance, when a player attempts to register for a loyalty program such as a
player
tracking prograin at the gaming machine, a picture of the player or a retinal
scan may
be taken by the camera or a finger print may be recorded using the finger
print reader
360. The information may be used for future identification of the player or
for security
purposes.
The wireless interface 364 may be used to communicate with a portable
wireless device worn or carried by a player, a casino service representative
or
maintenance technician. For example, rather than inserting a card into the
card reader
325, a player may wear or simply carry a wireless communication device that
may be
about the size of a player tracking card. When the player is near the machine,
a
wireless interface device 364 and the wireless device worn by the player may
automatically detect each other and establish communications. The
coinmunication
connection allows gaming information to be transferred between the wireless
devices.
As another example, the wireless interface 364 may be used to communicate with
a
wireless device carried by a casino service representative such as a hand-held
device
used for a "point of play" registration of a game player at the gaming
machine.
The wireless interface device 364 may use a wireless communication standard
such as BluetoothTM to communicate with portable wireless devices using this
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standard. The Bluetooth communicates on a frequency of 2.45 Gigahertz.
Typically,
Bluetooth devices send out signals in the range of 1 milliwatt. The signal
strength
limits the range of the devices to about 10 meters and also limits potential
interference
sources. Interference is also limited by using spread-spectrum frequency
hopping. For
instance, a device may use 79 or more randomly chosen frequencies within a
designated range that change on a regular basis up to 1,600 times a second.
Thus,
even if interference occurs, it is likely only to occur for a short period of
time.
When Bluetooth-capable devices come within range of one another, an
electronic conversation talces place to determine whether they have data share
or
whether one needs to control the other. The connection process is performed
automatically. Once a conversation between the devices has occurred, the
devices
form a network. Bluetooth systems create a Personal-Area Networks (PAN) or
"piconets". While the two or more devices in a piconet remain in range of one
another, the distances between the communications devices may vary as the
wireless
devices are moved about. Once a piconet is established, such as between the
wireless
interface device 364 and a portable wireless device, the members of the
piconet
randomly hop frequencies in unison so they reinain in touch with another and
avoid
other piconets that may be operating in proximity to the established piconet.
When
Bluetooth is applied in a casino environment, many such piconets may be
operating
simultaneously. Details of the BluetoothTm standard and the BluetoothTm
special
interest group may be found at www.bluetooth.com. Other wireless standards
that
may be used with the present invention include but are not limited to IrDA,
IEEE
802.11 a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11x (e.g. other IEEE 802.11 standards such as
IEEE 802.11c, IEEE 802.11d, IEEE 802.11e, etc.), hiperlan/2, and HomeRF.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the microphone and speaker
56 may be used to input gaming information and aurally communicate gaming
information. For instance, the microphone 56 may be used with voice
recognition
software executed by: a) a logic device on the player tracking unit or b) a
master
gaming controller in a gaming machine, may be used recognize verbal requests
for
gaming services. For instance, the player may request a drink by saying,
"order me a
drink" into the microphone
The speaker 56 may be used to aurally communicate gaming information to
the player or someone else using the gaming machine. For instance, when a card
has
been inserted incorrectly in the card reader 325. A message, such as "card not
inserted
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correctly," may be projected from the speaker. Simultaneously, although not
required,
the liglit 316 may flash red to draw the player's attention. As another
example, as part
of a "point of play" registration, a player may be able to speak their name,
address and
otlier required information into the microphone 56. The voice infonnation from
the
player may be used to request a player tracking program registration from a
player
tracking server as described with respect to FIGs. 3E. The voice recognition
software
may be used in combination with the touch screen display. For example,
infonnation
entered by the player from spealcing may be converted to text and then may be
displayed on the touch screen display 315. A game service interface on the
touch
screen display 315 may be used to correct errors in text converted from a
player's
voice input.
Voice messages from the speaker 56 may be projected in different languages.
For example, for a Japanese speaking gaine player messages may be in Japanese,
for a
Spanish spealcing gaine player the messages may be in Spanish wliile for an
English
spealcing player the messages may be in English. The language preferred by the
player
may be stored as player tracking information on a player tracking card or the
player
may be able to specify their language using one of the input devices on the
player
tracking unit. The player tracking infonnation on the player tracking card may
be
based on a user profile previously established by the player, which may be
used to
select the language used by the player.
FIGURE 4C is a block diagrain of player tracking unit communicating with a
hand-held portable device 301 via a wireless interface 364 and wireless
conununications 382 for one embodiment of the present invention. The wireless
communications are used to generate a game service interface, such as the
gaine
service interface previously described with respect to FIGs. 3A-3I on the hand-
held
device 301. The hand-held device may be any type of portable computing device,
such as a cell phone, a PDA or a combination cell phone/PDA.
The present invention is not limited to wireless communications. The hand-
held device may be comlected to the player tracking unit 300 via a wired
connection
and/or may receive power from the player tracking unit 300. For example, the
hand-
held device may receive data and/or power via a wired USB connection to the
USB
port383.
In one embodiment, the hand-held device may receive a software download
used to generate the game service interface on the hand-held device via a
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communicate connection with the player tracking unit. Further, while logic
instructions used to generate the game service interface are executing on the
hand-
held device, the hand-held device may communicate data needed by interface or
generated by the interface to the player tracking unit via the wired or
wireless
communication connection. For example, the player tracking unit 300 may
download
software used to generate the jackpot/progressive interface 290 (described
with
respect to FIG. 3H) or the harm minimization interface 280 (described with
respect to
FIG. 3G) to the hand-held device. Then, once the software is executing on the
device
301, data used by the interface 280, such as personal jackpot information or
updated
progressive j ackpot information, may be communicated from the player tracking
unit
to the hand-held device 301. Further, data and/or commands generated from the
operation of the interface 280, such as a request to display a different
progressive
jackpot may be coinmunicated from the hand-held device 301 to the player
tracking
unit and the player tracking unit 300 may respond appropriately to the
command/data.
In one enlbodiment, the hand-held device 301 may be used as a remote control
for the player tracking unit 300. For example, using an input mechanism(s) on
the
hand-held device 301, such as input button 381 or a touch screen on display
380, a
game service interface, such as 290, that is displayed on the player tracking
unit 300
may be selected. Once the interface 290 is generated on the display 261, the
hand-held
device may be used to operate the interface 290 and provide any required input
into
the interface. For example, the interface generated on the player tracking
unit 300 may
be mirrored on the hand-held device 301 and inputs may be provided to the
interface
via a touch screen display on the hand-held device. In anotlier example, the
input
buttons 381 may be used to make selections that appear on the interface, such
as 290,
generated on the player tracking unit.
In another embodiinent, a first game service interface, such as 290, may be
generated on the player tracking unit and a second game service interface,
280, may
be generated on the hand-held device 300. These two interfaces may be
controlled and
operated independently of one another via input mechanisms on the player
tracking
unit, the hand-held device or combinations thereof. In general, in the present
invention, any type of content or interface generated on the player tracking
unit or the
gaming machine may be generated in some form on the hand-held device. The
forms
may differ because the graphics, memory and computing capabilities of the
player
tracking unit or gaming machine as compared to the hand-held device differ.
For
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example, simplified version of graphics intensive content or interface
displayed on the
gaming machine may be displayed on the hand-held device.
The command/control responsibilities may be divided in various ways
between the hand-held device and the player tracking unit or the gaming
machine. For
example, in one embodiment, the hand-held device may operate essentially
autonomously of a logic device on the gaming machine by executing software
instructions for the interface. While executing the software instructions for
the
interface, the hand-held device may request and post information to the gaming
machine, such as a request for needed data or a post of data/commands. In
another
example, a logic device on the gaming machine, such as a master gaming
controller or
a player tracking unit controller, may execute software instructions that
allow for
sending high level cominands to the hand-held device that are translated to
low-level
commands by the hand-held device. In yet another example, a logic device on
the
gaming machine may send low-level cominands to the hand-held device to
directly
control a component of the hand-held device, such as a display on the hand-
held
device.
Additional details of using a reinote control device on a gaming machine are
described in co-pending U.S. application no. 10/246,373, by Hedrick, et al.,
filed
September 16, 2002 and titled, "PLAYER TRACKING COMMUNICATION
MECHANISMS IN A GAMING MACHINE," which is incorporated herein in its
entirety and for all purposes.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a player tracking unit 300 of
the present invention connected to a master gaming controller 54 (see FIG. 1)
on a
gaming machine and a player tracking server 62. The player tracking unit 300
includes a logic device 410 and a number of player tracking interface devices
411
including a card reader 325, a display 315, a touch screen 416, a light
pane1316, a
speaker/ microphone 56, a wireless interface and other player tracking
interface
devices 456.
The logic device 410 may include a processor for executing software allowing
the player tracking unit to perform various player tracking functions such as
communicating with the player tracking server 62, communicating with the
master
gaming controller 54 or operating the various peripheral devices such as the
card
reader 325, the display 315, the touch screen and the light panel 316. For
instaslce, the
logic device 410 may send messages containing player tracking information or
game
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service interfaces to the display 315 and may receive input invents from the
touch
screen 416. As another example, the logic device 410 may send commands to the
light pane1316 to display a particular light pattern and to the
speaker/microphone 56
to project a sound to visually and aurally convey game information. The logic
device
410 may utilize a microprocessor and/or microcontrollers. For instance, the
light
pane1316 may include a microcontroller that converts signals from the
processor 402
to voltage levels for one or more illumination devices. In one embodiment,
application software for the player tracking unit 300 and configuration
information for
the player tracking unit may be stored in a memory device such as an EPROM
408, a
non-volatile memory, hard drive or a flash memory.
The player tracking unit may include a memory 416 configured to store: 1)
player tracking software 414 such as data collection software, 2) player
tracking
communication protocols (e.g.420) allowing the player tracking unit 300 to
communicate with different types of player tracking servers, 3) device drivers
for
many types of player tracking interface devices (e.g. to conununicate with the
touch
screen controller), 4) voice recognition software for receiving voice commands
from
the microphone 56, 5) software for displaying different gaine service
interfaces, 6)
software for generating a "point of play" registration request and 7) industry
standard
communication protocols (e.g. 440) such as TCP/IP, USB, Firewire, EEEE1394,
IrDA
or Bluetooth allowing the player tracking unit to communicate with devices
using
these protocols and proprietary cominunication standards such as Netplex and
SAS
(IGT, Reno, NV) allowing the player tracking unit to communicate with devices
using these protocols. Typically, the master gaming controller, such as 54,
communicates using a serial communication protocol. A few examples of serial
communication protocols that may be used to communicate with the master gaming
controller include but are not limited to USB, RS-232 and Netplex (a
proprietary
protocol developed by IGT, Reno, NV).
A plurality of device drivers may be stored in memory 316 for each type of
player tracking device. For example, device drivers for five different types
of card
readers, six different types of displays and eight different types of touch
screens may
be stored in the memory 416. When one type of a particular peripheral device
is
exchanged for another type of the particular device, a new device driver may
be
loaded from the memory 416 by the processor 402 to allow communication with
the
device. For instance, one type of card reader in the player tracking unit 300
may be
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replaced with a second type of card reader wliere device drivers for both card
readers
are stored in the memory 416.
In some embodiments, the software units stored in the memory 416 may be
upgraded as needed. For instance, when the memory 416 is a hard drive, new
device
drivers or new communication protocols may be uploaded to the memory from the
master gaming controller 54, the player tracking server 62 or from some other
external device. As another example, when the memory 416 is a CD/DVD drive
containing a CD/DVD designed or configured to store the player tracking
software
414, the device drivers and other communication protocols, the software stored
in the
memory may be upgraded by replacing a first CD/DVD with a second CD/DVD. In
yet another example, when the memory 416 uses one or more flash memory units
designed or configured to store the player tracking software 414, the device
drivers
and other communication protocols, the software stored in the flash memory
units
may be upgraded by replacing one or more flash memory units with new flash
memory units storing the upgraded software.
A minimal set of player tracking software applications 414, communication
protocols 440, player tracking communication protocols and device drivers may
be
stored on in the memory 416. For instance, an operating system, a
communication
protocol allowing the player tracking unit 300 to communicate with a remote
server
such as the player tracking server 62 and one or more common player tracking
applications may be stored in memory 416. When the player tracking unit is
powered-
up, the player tracking unit 300 may contact a remote server 62 and download
specific
player tracking software from the remote software. The downloaded software may
include but is not limited to one or more particular player tracking
applications that
are supported by the remote server, particular device drivers, player tracking
software
upgrades, and a particular coinmunication protocol supported by the remote
server.
Details of this method are described in co-pending U.S. Application No.
09/838,033,
filed on March 19, 2001, by Criss-Puskiewicz, et al., entitled, "UNIVERSAL
PLAYER TRACKING SYSTEM," which is incorporated herein in its entirety and all
for purposes
In some embodiments, the player tracking functions may be implemented by
both the logic device 410 and the master gaming controller 54. For instance,
the
master gaming controller may execute voice recognition software to interpret
voice
commands input from the microphone 56. As another example, the master gaming
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controller 54 may execute software for displaying game service interfaces on
the
display 315 and may receive touch screen events from the touch screen 416. For
example, the master gaming controller may execute software for a game service
interface allowing a "point of play" registration for a player traclcing
program. Thus,
player traclcing software such as the player tracking protocols may be stored
on a
memory located on the gaming machine, which is separate from the player
tracking
unit. In some embodiments, the player tracking software stored on the memory
on the
gaining machine may be executed by the master gaming controller 54 on the
gaming
machine. In other embodiments, the player tracking software stored on the
memory on
10, the gaming machine may be executed by the logic device 410 on the player
tracking
unit.
The logic device 410 includes a network interface board 406 configured or
designed to allow communication between the player -tracking unit 300 and
other
remote devices such as the player tracking server residing on local area
networks,
such as a casino area network, a personal area network such as a piconet (e.g.
using
Bluetooth), or a wide area network such as the Intenlet. The network interface
board
406 may allow wireless or wired comniunication with the remote devices. The
network interface board may be connected to a firewal1412. The firewall may be
hardware, software or combinations of both that prevent illegal access of the
gaming
machine by an outside entity connected to the gaming machine. The internal
firewall
is designed to prevent someone such as a hacker from gaining illegal access to
the
player tracking unit or gaming machine and tampering with it in some manner.
For
instance, an illegal access may be an attempt to plant a prograin in the
player tracking
unit that alters the operation of the gaming machine allowing it to perform an
unintended function.
The communication board 404 may be configured to allow communication
between the logic device 410 and the player tracking interface devices
including 325,
315, 416, 316, 56 and 456 and to allow communication between the logic device
410
and the master gaming controller 54. Additional details of communication
between
the processor 402, display 315 and touch screen 416 are described with
reference to
FIG. 6. The wireless interface 364 maybe used to allow the player tracking
unit and
possibly the master gaming controller 54 to communicate with portable wireless
devices or stationary devices using a wireless communication standard. The
wireless
interface 364 may be connected to an antenna 357. In some einbodiments, the
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wireless interface 364 may be incorporated into the communication board 404.
In
addition, in some embodiments, the logic device 410 and the master gaming
controller 54 may comununicate using a non-proprietary standard wireless
communication protocol such as Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.1 la, IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.1lx (e.g. other IEEE 802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.1 lc, IEEE
802.11d, IEEE 802.11 e, etc.), hiperlan/2, and HomeRF, or using a non-
proprietary
standard wired communication protocol such as USB, Firewire, IEEE 1394 and the
like. In other embodiments, the logic device 410 and the master gaming
controller
may communicate using a proprietary communication protocol used by the
manufacturer of the gaming machine such as Netplex.
The communication between the player tracking unit 400 and 1) the player
tracking interface devices 411, 2) the master gaming controller 54, 3) the
player
tracking server 62 and 4) any other external or internal gaming devices may be
encrypted. In one embodiment, the logic device 410 may poll the player
tracking
interface devices for information. For instance, the logic device 410 may poll
the card
reader 325 to determine when a card has been inserted into the card reader or
may poll
the touch screen 416 to determine when the touch screen has been touched. When
polled, the touch screen may send the coordinate location of a touch location
on the
touch screen sensor. In some embodiments, the player tracking interface
devices 411
may contact the logic device 410 when a player tracking event such as a card
being
inserted into the card reader or the touch screen 416 being touched has
occurred.
The logic device 410, using an appropriate device driver, may send
instructions to the various player tracking interface devices to perform
specific
operations. For instance, after a card has been inserted into the card reader
325, the
processor logic device may send a "read card" instruction to the card reader,
"display
game service interface A" instructions to the display 315 and a "good luck"
voice
message to speaker 54. In addition, the logic device 410 may be configured to
allow
the master gaming controller 54 to send instructions to the player tracking
interface
devices via the logic device 410. As an example, after a card has been
inserted into
the card reader 325, the processor logic 410 may determine that the card is
for a
gaming application controlled by the master gaining controller 54 and send a
message
to the master gaming controller 54 indicating a card has been inserted into
the card
reader. For instance, when a player has requested a "point of play
registration, " a
registration interface may be displayed on the main display with a touch
screen on the
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gaming machine rather than on a touch screen display on the player tracking
unit. In
response, to the message from the logic device, the master gaming controller
54 may
send a series of commands to the player tracking interface devices such as a
"read
card" instruction to the card reader 325, a flash light pattern "A" command to
the light
panel 316, and a "display message" instruction to the display 315 via the
logic device
410. The instructions from the master gaming controller 54 to the player
tracking
interface devices may be obtained from gaming application software executed by
the
master gaming controller 54. The gaming application software may or may not be
related to player tracking services.
The player tracking unit 300 may include one or more standard peripheral
communication connections (not shown). The logic device 410 may be designed or
configured to communicate with the master gaming controller 54 and the player
tracking interface devices using a standard peripheral connection, such as an
USB
connector, and using a standard communication protocol, such as USB. Details
of
using a standard peripheral communication comiection are described in co-
pending
U.S. patent application No. 09/414,659, filed October 6, 1999, by LeMay, et
al.,
entitled, "STANDARD PERIPHER.AL COMIVIUNICATION," which is incorporated
herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
In one embodiment, the peripheral devices 411 on the player tracking unit
such as the display 315 and the touch screen 416 may communicate using both
wired
and wireless communications. For instance, the processor 402 may communicate
wit11
the touch screen 416 via a USB connector and using a USB communication
protocol.
'However, the master gaming controller 54 may communicate directly with the
touch
screen 416 or may communicate with the touch screen 416 through the
cominunication board 404 using a wireless communication protocol such as
Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11 a, IEEE 802.1 lb, IEEE 802.1 lx (e.g. other IEEE
802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.1 lc, IEEE 802.1ld, IEEE 802.1 le, etc.),
hiperlan/2, and HomeRF.
FIGURE 6 is a block diagram of processor board with a touch screen display
in a player tracking unit for one embodiment of the present invention. The
player
tracking unit communicates with a display 514 and touch screen 516 using a PC-
like
architecture. The player tracking CPU 402 communicates with memory control
chip
set 502 and RAM 504 via the local micro-processor bus. A bus interface unit
506
provides an interface between the microprocessor bus and a PCI bus 512 and
provides
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an interface between the microprocessor bus and an ISA bus 522. An Ethernet
interface 508 is located on the PCI bus 512. The Ethernet interface allows
communication with a local area network (LAN) at 10/100 MB communication
rates.
The processor 402 may communicate with a player traclcing server and other
gaming
devices located on the LAN via the Ethernet interface 508.
A display controller 510 for the touch screen display 514 is also located on
PCI bus 512. The display controller interprets instructions from the processor
402 that
allow video content such as game service interfaces, video streaming, games,
bonus
games, video conferencing, advertising, movies, television programs and web-
browsers to be displayed on the display 514. The touch screen controller 518,
which
is integrated into the touch screen asseinbly, operates the touch screen
sensor, such as
by applying a voltage, and interprets touch screen iulputs. For example, for a
capacitive touch screen sensor, a voltage change in the sensor as the result
of a touch
may be converted to x and y coordinates or pixel locations by the touch screen
controller 518. The touch screen controller sends touch screen event data to
an I/O
controller 520 via a serial connection 522. The serial connection between the
touch
screen controller 18 and the I/O controller may be a wire connection that
employs
USB, RS232, PS/2, Firewire or IEEE1394 or a wireless connection that employs
wireless connection standard such as Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11 a, IEEE
802.11b,
IEEE 802.11x (e.g. other IEEE 802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.1 lc, IEEE
802.11d, IEEE 802.11 e, etc.), hiperlan/2, and HomeRF.
The UO controller 520 sends touch screen events received from the touch
screen controller to the bus interface unit 506 via the ISA bus 522 and on to
the
processor 402. A legacy network interface may be connected to the ISA Bus 522.
The
legacy network interface allows the processor to communicate with gaming
devices
coimected to the player tracking unit using legacy communication protocols
such as
fiber optic, current loop (IGT proprietary standard) and RS-485.
Turning to FIGURE 7, more details of using a player tracking system in the
context of game play on a gaming machine are described. In FIG. 7, a video
gaming
machine 2 of the present invention is shown. Machine 2 includes a main cabinet
4,
which generally surrounds the machine interior (not shown) and is viewable by
users.
The main cabinet includes a main door 8 on the front of the machine, which
opens to
provide access to the interior of the machine. Attached to the main door are
player-
input switches or buttons 32, a coin acceptor 28, and a bill validator 30, a
coin tray
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38, and a belly glass 40. Viewable through the main door is a video display
monitor
34 and an information panel 36. The display monitor 34 will typically be a
cathode
ray tube, higli resolution flat-panel LCD, or other conventional
electronically
controlled video monitor. A touch screen may be mounted over the display
monitor
34 and game service interfaces may be displayed on the touch screen monitor.
The
information panel 36 may be a back-lit, silk screened glass panel with
lettering to
indicate general game information including, for example, the number of coins
played. The bill validator 30, player-input switches 32, video display monitor
34, and
information panel are devices used to play a game on the game machine 2. The
devices are controlled by circuitry (see FIG. 1) housed inside the main
cabinet 4 of the
machine 2. Many possible games, including traditional slot games, video slot
games,
video poker, video black jack, video keno, video pachinko, lottery games and
otlier
games of chance as well as bonus games may be provided with gaming macliines
of
this invention.
The gaming machine 2 includes a top box 6, which sits on top of the main
cabinet 4. The top box 6 houses a number of devices, which may be used to add
features to a game being played on the gaming machine 2, including speakers
10, 12,
14, a ticket printer 18 which may print bar-coded tickets 20 used as cashless
instruments. A secondary display 44, which may also include a touch screen, is
mounted in the top box. The secondary display 44 may also be used to operate
game
service interfaces.
The player tracking unit mounted within the top box 6 includes a touch screen
display 22 for entering player tracking information, displaying player
tracking
information and displaying game service interfaces. The player tracking unit
also
includes a card reader 24 for entering a magnetic striped card containing
player
tracking information and a speaker/microphone 42 for projecting sounds and
inputting
voice data. In addition, the player tracking unit may include additional
peripheral
interface devices such as biometric input devices as described with respect to
FIGs.
4A and 4B.
Understand that gaining machine 2 is but one example from a wide range of
gaming machine designs on which the present invention may be iinplemented. For
example, not all suitable gaming machines have top boxes or player tracking
features.
Further, some gaming machines have two or more game displays - mechanical
and/or
video. And, some gaming machines are designed for bar tables and have displays
that
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face upwards. Still further, some machines may be designed entirely for
cashless
systems. Such machines may not include such features as bill validators, coin
acceptors and coin trays. Instead, they may have only ticket readers, card
readers and
ticlcet dispensers. As another example, a game may be generated in on a host
computer and may be displayed on a remote terminal or a remote computer. The
remote computer may be connected to the host computer via a network of some
type
such as the Internet. Those of skill in the art will understand that the
present
invention, as described below, can be deployed on most any gaming machine now
available or hereafter developed.
Returning to the example of Figure 4, when a user wishes to play the gaming
machine 2, he or she inserts cash through the coin acceptor 28 or bill
validator 30. In
addition, the player may use a cashless instrument of some type to register
credits on
the gaming machine 2. For exainple, the bill validator 30 may accept a printed
ticket
voucher, including 20, as indicia of credit. As another example, the card
reader 24
may accept a debit card or a smart card containing cash or credit information
that may
be used to register credits on the gaming machine.
Prior to begiiming a game play session on the gaming machine 2, a player may
insert a player tracking card into the card reader 24 to initiate a player
tracking
session. In some embodiments, after inserting their card, the player may be
visually
prompted on the display screen 22 or aurally prompted using the speaker to
enter
identification information such as a PIN code using the touch screen display
22.
Typically, the player tracking card may remain in the card reader 24 during
the game
play session. As anotller example, the gaining machine may transfer player
tracking
information from portable wireless device worn by the player via a wireless
interface
device (not shown) on the gaming machine 2. An advantage of using a portable
wireless device is that the transfer of player tracking information is
automatic and the
player does not have to remember to correctly insert a player tracking card
into the
gaming machine.
In a player tracking session on the gaming machine, features of the player's
gaine play during a game play session on the gaming machine, such as an amount
wagered during the game play session, may be converted to player tracking
points and
stored in the player's player tracking account on a player tracking server.
Later,
accumulated player tracking points may be redeemed for rewards or for "comps"
for
the player such as free meals or a free room. Usually, the player tracking
card inserted
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into the card reader contains at least player tracking account information.
When the
card is inserted correctly into the card reader 24, the information stored on
the card,
such as the player's account infonnation, may be read by the card reader and
transferred by a logic device on the player traclcing unit (see FIG. 5) to the
player
tracking server. The player tracking account information allows the player
traclcing
server to store player tracking points accumulated during the game play
session to the
appropriate account. When player tracking inforination is not provided by the
player,
for instance, when the player tracking card has been inserted incorrectly into
the card
reader 24 or the player is not a member of a player tracking program, player
tracking
points are not accumulated. However, using the methods described with respect
to
FIGs. 3E, 9 and 10, when a player is not a member of the player tracking
program, the
player may register at the gaming machine.
During the course of a game, a player may be required to malce a number of
decisions, which affect the outcome of the game. For example, a player may
vary his
or her wager on a particular game, select a prize for a particular game, or
make game
decisions, which affect the outcome of a particular game. The player may make
these
choices using the player-input switches 32, the video display screen 34 or
using some
other device which enables a player to input information into the gaining
machine.
Certain player choices may be captured by player tracking software loaded in a
memory inside of the gaining machine. For example, the rate at which a player
plays a
game or the amount a player bets on each game may be captured by the player
tracking software.
During certain game events, the gaming machine 2 may display visual and
auditory effects that can be perceived by the player. These effects add to the
excitement of a gaine, which malces a player more likely to continue playing.
Auditory effects include various sounds that are projected by the speakers 10,
12, 14.
Visual effects include flashing lights, strobing lights or other patterns
displayed from
lights on the gaming machine 2, from lights behind the belly glass 40 or the
light
panel on the player traclcing unit 44.
After the player has completed a game, the player may receive game tokens
from the coin tray 38 or the ticket 20 from the printer 18, which may be used
for
further games or to redeem a prize. Further, the player may receive a ticket
20 for
food, merchandise, or games from the printer 18. The type of ticket 20 may be
related
to past game playing recorded by the player tracking software within the
gaming
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machine 2. Tn some embodiments, these tickets may be used by a game player to
obtain game services or as a receipt for game service transactions made on the
gaming
machine.
FIGUIZ.E 8 is a flow chart of a method for providing gaming services on a
touch screen display of the present invention. In 700, a user, such a game
player or a
casino operator, may enter identification information via a touch screen
display. For
instance, a P1N number may be entered via a key pad displayed on the touch
screen
display, a player may "sign-in" by providing a signature via the touch screen
display
or combinations thereof. In 705, a game service interface menu may be
displayed to
the touch screen display. The game service interface menu may allow the user
to
select from a number of game service interfaces available to the user. The
game
service interface menu may be user specific. For instance, a casino operator
may have
access to different game service interfaces than a game player. As another
example, a
"special" status game player, as determined by a gaming establishment, may
have
access to special game service interfaces not available to every game player.
In 710, a game service interface is selected from the game service interface
menu using the touch screen display. In 715, the selected game service
interface is
displayed. For instance, the selected gaine service interface may allow a
player to join
a player tracking program at a gaming machine. In 720, a processor, providing
player
tracking services, may receive a number of touch screen events via the game
service
interface that may be converted into game service transaction information. The
location of touches on the touch screen display may allow the processor to
generate
game service transaction infonnation and instructions. For instance, as part
of a "point
of play registration," a player may type in their name and address by touching
the
touch screen at locations where different alpha-nuineric symbols are
displayed.
In 725, based upon information entered by the user, a game service or game
service transaction may be provided. As an example of a game service, the user
may
be able to view selected video content on the touch screen display. As
examples of
game service transactions, the user may be registered in a player tracking
program,
redeein a prize, or transfer credits to one or more cashless instruments such
as printed
ticket. In 730, a receipt may be optionally generated as a record of the game
service
transaction provided. The receipt may be printed on a printer located on the
gaming
machine. As examples, the receipt may be a coupon for a promotion requested by
the
player or an entertainment reservation made by the player. In 735, the user
may have
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the option to request access to anotller game service interface. When the user
requests
access to another game service interface, the gaine service interface menu may
be re-
displayed according to 705.
FIGURE 9 is a flow chart of a method for providing a "point of play" loyalty
program registration on a gaming machine of the present invention. In FIG. 9,
the
method is iinplemented on a gaming machine. However, as described with respect
to
FIG. 3E, the method may be implemented on gaming devices such as a hand-held
wireless device or a casino kiosk. In 800, a request to register a player for
a loyalty
program is detected.
The registration request may be initiated using a touch screen interface
located
on a player tracking display, main display or secondary display on the gaming
machine. Further, the registration request may be initiated using another
input
mechanism on the ganling machine such as input buttons or a key pad available
on the
gaming machine. In one embodiment, the registration request may be initiated
automatically by the gaming machine. For instance, when a player is not
involved in a
player tracleing session during a game play session on the gaming machine, the
gaming machine may initiate a registration request based upon the amount a
player
has wagered over a time period during the game play session. The gaming
machine
may initiate the request by displaying a message to the player asking them if
they
would like to register for a loyalty program.
In 805, a game service interface is displayed on a touch screen peripheral
interface available on the gaining machine such as on but not limited to the
player
tracking unit. In 810, information from a loyalty program instrument such as a
magnetic striped card, smart card, room key or a portable wireless device may
be read
into to the gaming machine. For instance, in one embodiment, to register for a
player
traclcing program, a blank magnetic striped card may be inserted into a card
reader on
the gaming machine to read a serial number on the card. In 815, the user may
enter
identification information, such as a name and address, via the registration
touch
screen interface wliich is received by a processor located on the gaining
machine such
as in the player tracking unit or in the master gaming controller. When the
user has
completed entering the information, an input button on the touch screen
display such
as "register" button may be touched (see FIG. 3E).
In 818, the information entered by the user is checked. In 816, when
additional
information is required, a message may be sent to the toucll screen display
with a
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request for the missing information. In 820, when the user has entered the
required
registration information, a registration request message is generated by a
processor on
the gaming machine and sent to a playing tracking server. The registration
request
message may include player identification information and information obtained
from
the loyalty prograin instrument such as the serial nuinber from the magnetic
striped
card. In some embodiments, the networlc comiection to the player tracking
server may
be unavailable. In this case, the processor may store the registration request
message
and send it when the player tracking server becomes available.
In 825, the gaming machine receives a registration reply from the player
tracking server. In 830, the gaming machine determines if the registration has
been
confirmed from the registration reply message. In 845, when the registration
has not
been confirmed, a message may be displayed to the player indicating the
registration
request was denied with a reason for the denial. For instance, the
registration may be
denied because the player is already registered for the player tracking
program. In
833, when the player tracking server has confirmed the registration, a
confirmation
message may be displayed to the player and a player tracking session may be
initiated
on the gaming machine 840. In 835, a receipt indicating the registration has
occurred
may be generated by the gaming machine.
After registration, the player may use the registered loyalty program
instrument, such as a magnetic striped card, PDA (personal digital assistant),
cell
phone, room key or smart card, at other gaming machines to initiate a loyalty
program
sessions such as player tracking sessions. In some embodiments, the loyalty
program
instrument used during the registration process may be a permanent membership
card
that may be used by the player to participate in the loyalty prograin. In
other
embodiments, the loyalty program instrument used during the registration may
be
teinporarily used by the player until a permanent membership card is mailed to
the
player.
FIGURE 10 is a flow chart of a method for providing a "point of play" loyalty
program registration on a player tracking server of the present invention. In
900, the
player tracking server receives a registration request message from a gaming
device.
The gaming device may be at least one of a gaming machine, casino kiosk or
hand-
held wireless device. The sent message may be encrypted by the gaming device
and
then decrypted by the player tracking server. The message contents and the
message
sender may also be validated in some mamler before the registration request is
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processed. In 905, the player tracking server may compare identification
information
and instrument information contained in the registration request message with
information stored in a player tracking database. In 910, the player tracking
server
may determine if the player is already a member of the player tracking
program. In
915, when the player is already registered, a registration reply message may
be
generated and sent to the gaming device indicating that the registration was
denied
because the player is already a member of the prograin.
In 920, when the player is not a member of the player tracking program, the
player tracking server may generate a new player tracking account using the
player
identification information and loyalty program instruinent information
contained in
the registration request message. The identification information may include
biometric information such as scanned finger-print, picture, voice print or
signature
that may be stored in the new player tracking account. In 925, a registration
reply
message, which includes a confirmation of the registration, is generated by
the player
tracking server and sent to the gaming device. In 930, a PIN number may later
be sent
to the player.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for
purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes
and
modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. For
instance,
while the gaming machines of this invention have been depicted as upright
models
having top box mounted on top of the main gaming machine cabinet, the use of
gaining devices in accordance with this invention is not so limited. For
example,
gaming machine may be provided without a top box or the gaming machine may be
of
a slant-top or a table top design.
