U.S. patent application number 09/844082 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-31 for linked gaming machines.
Invention is credited to DeMar, Lawrence E., Gomez, Benjamin T., Slomiany, Scott D., Thomas, Alfred.
Application Number | 20020160826 09/844082 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25291762 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020160826 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gomez, Benjamin T. ; et
al. |
October 31, 2002 |
Linked gaming machines
Abstract
Apparatus and method for operating a plurality of gaming
machines each having an attraction feature associated with the
machine. The attraction features are caused to be operated as a
group when any one of the linked gaming machines gives a signal
indicative of a predetermined event designed to activate its
attraction feature, such as entry into a bonus round.
Inventors: |
Gomez, Benjamin T.;
(Chicago, IL) ; DeMar, Lawrence E.; (Winnetka,
IL) ; Thomas, Alfred; (Las Vegas, NV) ;
Slomiany, Scott D.; (Streamwood, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael H. Baniak
BANIAK PINE & GANNON
Suite 1200
150 N. Wacker Drive
Chicago
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
25291762 |
Appl. No.: |
09/844082 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/16 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for operating a plurality of gaming machines in a bonus
round, comprising the steps of: providing an attraction mechanism
for each gaming machine; electronically linking said gaming
machines; and causing said attraction mechanisms to be operated as
a group when any one of said linked gaming machines provides an
electronic signal indicative of a bonus round being activated.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said attraction mechanism
comprises a mechanical apparatus which has external moving parts,
said parts being caused to move upon operation.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said mechanical apparatus is a
human figure having at least one moving limb.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said human figure is caused to
dance upon operation.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein all of said attraction mechanisms
are caused to be operated simultaneously.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said attraction mechanisms are
caused to be operated in a staggered manner.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein all of said attraction mechanisms
continue to be operated until none of said linked gaming machines
is in a bonus round.
8. A method for operating a plurality of gaming machines,
comprising the steps of: providing an attraction feature for each
gaming machine; and causing said attraction features to be operated
as a group when any one of said linked gaming machines provides a
signal indicative of a predetermined event designed to activate an
attraction feature.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said predetermined event is the
entry into a bonus round.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein all of said attraction features
are caused to be operated simultaneously.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein said attraction features are
caused to be operated in a staggered manner.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein all of said attraction features
continue to be operated until none of said gaming machines is in a
bonus round.
13. The method of claim 8 further including the step of
electronically linking said gaming machines.
14. A coordinated group of gaming machines, comprising: a plurality
of gaming machines, each machine having a basic game which a player
can play; an attraction mechanism associated with each said gaming
machine; an operator for each said attraction mechanism responsive
to an activation signal; a communication network linking said
operators; and a signal generator which yields an activation signal
upon a predetermined event, said activation signal being
communicated to each said operator to operate said attraction
mechanisms as a group.
15. The gaming machines of claim 14 wherein said attraction
mechanism comprises a mechanical apparatus which has external
moving parts, said parts being caused to move upon operation.
16. The gaming machines of claim 15 wherein said mechanical
apparatus is a human figure having at least one moving limb.
17. The gaming machines of claim 16 wherein said human figure is
caused to dance upon operation.
18. The gaming machines of claim 14 wherein all of said attraction
mechanisms are caused to be operated simultaneously.
19. The gaming machines of claim 14 wherein said attraction
mechanisms are caused to be operated in a staggered manner.
20. The gaming machines of claim 14 wherein said predetermined
event is the entry of a machine into a bonus round, and all of said
attraction mechanisms continue to be operated until none of said
gaming machines is in a bonus round.
21. The method of claim 8 wherein said attraction feature comprises
a projected display, and further including the step of providing a
visual output for said display when said attraction feature is
caused to operate.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein said displays are caused to be
operated simultaneously.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein said displays are caused to be
operated in a staggered fashion.
24. The method of claim 23 including the further step of
coordinating said displays in operation with each display providing
a different part of an overall presentation of said group.
25. An electronically linked group of gaming machines, comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, each machine having a basic game
upon which a player places a wager and plays said basic game; a
mechanized feature associated with each said gaming machine, said
mechanized feature having parts which visibly move in a manner
perceptible by a player; a controller operating said mechanized
feature upon an activation signal; a communication network linking
said controllers; and a signal generator which yields an activation
signal upon a predetermined event in operation of a gaming machine,
said activation signal being communicated to each said controller
to operate said mechanized features as a group.
26. The gaming machines of claim 25 wherein said mechanized feature
comprises a human figure which has moving limbs, said limbs being
caused to move in a dancing mode upon operation.
27. The gaming machines of claim 26 wherein all of said figures are
caused to be operated simultaneously.
28. The gaming machines of claim 26 wherein a predetermined dancing
mode having a start and finish is provided which is common to each
gaming machine, and at least some of said figures are caused to be
operated at a different start time.
29. The method of claim 21 wherein said projected display is
generated by a laser projection system.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein said laser projection system
includes a domed projection surface on said gaming machine, said
laser projection system projecting said visual output upon an
interior side of said surface with said output being visible from
the outside of said surface.
31. The gaming machines of claim 14 wherein said attraction
mechanism comprises a projected display having a visual output.
32. The gaming machines of claim 31 wherein said projected display
is generated by a laser projection system.
33. The gaming machines of claim 32 wherein said laser projection
system includes a domed projection surface on said gaming machine,
said laser projection system projecting said visual output upon an
interior side of said surface with said output being visible from
the outside of said surface.
34. A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines; an
attraction feature associated with each gaming machine which can be
caused to function; at least one controller linking said attraction
features and causing said attraction features to operate as a
group.
35. The gaming system of claim 34 further including an operator for
each said attraction feature responsive to an activation signal, a
communication network linking said operators, and a signal
generator which yields an activation signal upon a predetermined
event, said activation signal being communicated to each said
operator by said controller to operate said attraction features as
a group.
36. The gaming system of claim 34 wherein said function is at least
one of a visual and aural character.
37. The gaming system of claim 36 wherein said predetermined event
is entry into a bonus round.
38. The gaming system of claim 36 wherein said attraction feature
comprises a mechanical apparatus which has external moving
parts.
39. The gaming system of claim 38 wherein said mechanical apparatus
is a human figure having at least one movable limb.
40. The gaming system of claim 39 wherein said figure is caused to
dance.
41. The gaming system of claim 34 wherein all of said attraction
features are caused to be operated substantially
simultaneously.
42. The gaming system of claim 34 wherein said attraction features
are caused to be operated in a staggered fashion.
43. The gaming system of claim 34 wherein said attraction features
are caused to be operated with each attraction feature providing a
different part of an overall presentation.
44. The gaming system of claim 34 wherein said attraction feature
comprises a projected display having a visual output.
45. The gaming system of claim 44 wherein said projected display is
generated by a laser projection apparatus.
46. The gaming system of claim 45 wherein said laser projection
apparatus includes a domed projection surface on said gaming
machine, said laser projection apparatus projecting said visual
output upon an interior side of said surface with said output being
visible from the outside of said surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to gaming machines, and more
particularly to a plurality of gaming machines in a casino
environment (e.g., a number of machines in relative proximity to
each other where players are wagering on the results of the
gameplay of a respective machine).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Slot machines, poker machines, blackjack machines and
similar gaming machines are abundant. Some, such as slot machines,
may be mechanical devices without any video component. Machines to
play card games, as well as slot machines, are more and more based
upon a video monitor as the display mechanism for the game, with
the game itself governed by a microprocessor-based system.
[0003] These gaming machines are also not necessarily solitary
mechanisms. In certain desired instances they can be
interconnected, such as through a LAN in a local environment, or a
wide area network (private) or the Internet in a more global
application, so that multiple players can participate at the same
time. That participation may be in the form of a display which
shows bonus game information drawn from a bank of gaming machines
linked to that display, such as discussed in EP 0 981 119 A2.
[0004] The popularity of the games, and these gaming machines,
derives from a number of factors, some of which are the apparent
likelihood of winning (typically money in a wagering environment),
the attractiveness of the gaming machine, and the basic level of
entertainment provided by the game/machine itself. It is therefore
one general driving force in the gaming industry to come up with
new and exciting games and gaming machines which will attract
players, entertain them, and promote repeated play.
[0005] One such effort has been to provide some kind of device or
mechanical item associated with the gaming machine, which may
furthermore generate movement, sound, a light display or the like.
These "attractions" (as used herein, just to use one apt phrase)
most typically can take the form of some kind of mechanism on the
machine top, or in a display area formed within the top or
elsewhere on (or even nearby), the gaming machine. The attraction
may be as simple as recognizable likenesses, such as molded figures
of characters from "the Addams Family," formed on a gaming machine
having a general theme derivative thereof. As mentioned, some
attractions may include animation, either of a mechanical nature or
on a video display, or both. Examples of such mechanical tops
include an ape climbing a skyscraper, chickens that dance to a
bonus game musical score, and mechanical wheels that spin to award
a bonus payoff, representative of which are U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,874
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,932.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has as one of its principal objectives
to provide a method and apparatus for linking a plurality of gaming
machines together insofar as the attractions used on the machines,
where the attractions have some audio and/or visual aspect in most
instances, such as an animation. An integration system is
contemplated which operates between linked gaming machines such
that some or all of an attraction mechanism in one gaming machine
is caused to operate in response to a triggering event occurring in
another gaming machine. That triggering event could be the
activation of that other machine's attraction mechanism, such as
through entry into a bonus round.
[0007] In one broad aspect of the invention, the linkage between
the gaming machines causes the grouped machines to substantially
simultaneously operate their respective attraction mechanisms when
one is activated. This could occur at the onset of a bonus round in
the triggering machine, for instance. One result can be that all of
the attractions operate the same way at the same time. Another
result can be that there is a serial presentation made by the
linked machines, whereby a group "message" or display is begun in
part on one machine and then continued or spread across, or
throughout, its neighbors. The linkage could also be that the
linked machines are all then placed in a particular gameplay
condition, such as all being advanced to a bonus round at the same
time.
[0008] The present invention in one form is a method for operating
a plurality of gaming machines, with an initial step of providing
an attraction feature for each gaming machine. The attraction
features are caused to be operated as a group when any one of the
linked gaming machines gives a signal indicative of a predetermined
event designed to activate its attraction feature. That
predetermined event can be the entry into a bonus round, for
instance.
[0009] The method of operating the linked attraction features can
be effected through all of the attraction features being caused to
be operated simultaneously, such as with each performing the same
activity at the same time. Alternatively, the attraction features
could be caused to be operated in a staggered manner, e.g., one
being started after another, such as in a coordinated routine or
other presentation which visually/aurally progresses from one
machine to another.
[0010] Where the activating event is entry into a bonus round, the
method advantageously has all of the attraction features continuing
to be operated until none is in a bonus round.
[0011] The invention is also a coordinated group of gaming
machines. Each machine has a basic game which a player can play.
Typically, the gaming machines would include a wagering device. An
attraction mechanism is associated with each gaming machine, such
as on the top of the machine. A controller operates the attraction
mechanism upon an activation signal.
[0012] A communication network links the controllers. This network
could be between machines themselves, or could be a centralized
link which then broadcasts to the machines as a group. A signal
generator yields an activation signal upon a predetermined event in
operation of a gaming machine, such as entry into a bonus mode.
Each machine preferably has such a signal generator, with the
activation signal from one machine then being communicated to the
controllers of the other linked machines, to thereby operate the
attraction mechanisms as a group.
[0013] One attraction mechanism currently contemplated is a
mechanical apparatus which has external moving parts, with the
parts being caused to move upon operation. Most preferably, the
mechanical apparatus is a figure having one or more movable limbs,
which is caused to dance. As noted above with respect to the method
of the invention, these dancing figures could be caused to be
operated simultaneously, or in some other manner, whether
synchronized or not.
[0014] Instead of a mechanical apparatus with visually moving
parts, a contemplated variation would be having the attraction
feature as a projected display, which would have a visual output
when operated. The display may be a video monitor, laser projection
apparatus, CRT, dot matrix, or the like. That visual output may
take a wide variety of forms, such as a dancing figure, some other
graphic or a message, just to name a few. Such a message may be
communicated in a coordinated presentation across a bank of gaming
machines, for instance, with each machine providing a portion of
the message.
[0015] The objectives, attributes and advantages of the present
invention will be further understood upon consideration of the
following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a group of linked gaming machines in accordance
with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a linkage arrangement
for gaming machines in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the gaming machine having a laser
projection display made in accordance with the present invention;
and
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of elements making up a laser
projection unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0020] As noted above, the present invention is generally related
to the provision of an attraction mechanism (sometimes also
referred to herein as a "feedback" mechanism) in, on or in
proximity to a gaming machine. The attraction or feedback
mechanisms are then linked in some manner.
[0021] In a presently contemplated embodiment, a plurality of
gaming machines 10a, 10b through 10n have attractions in the form
of a mechanical dancing FIG. 12a, 12b through 12n, respectively.
This figure, depicted herein in a manner perhaps reminiscent of
"Elvis," is located on the top of the gaming machine 10. The
details of the manner by which the "Dancing Elvis" is animated are
not set forth herein, being considered to be well within the scope
of one of ordinary skill in the art. Suffice it to say, however,
that movement of one or more limbs, and perhaps the head and torso
also, may be readily accomplished.
[0022] Further, while an animated dancing figure is disclosed in
this embodiment, the attraction mechanism is not so limited, and
could include sound or music alone, a light show, or any
combination thereof. Moreover, it could include some other sense
besides visual or aural, such as a "shaking" aspect (in an
earthquake theme, for instance).
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, this block diagram shows one way in
which a bank of gaming machines 10a through 10n could be connected
for operation in a linked arrangement according to the present
invention.
[0024] Each machine 10a through 10n would have its own CPU and
programming associated with the base gameplay (such as video slots,
for instance). A video display 14 is part of each gaming machine,
with player input controls of known type for wagering and gameplay
indicated at panel 16.
[0025] In this embodiment, each gaming machine includes a Bonus
Game Unit indicated schematically at 18a, 18b through 18n. The
Bonus Game Unit operates the dancing FIG. 12 for a respective
gaming machine.
[0026] A gaming machine 10a, 10b through 10n communicates with its
Bonus Game Unit using a standard RS-232 serial interface. However,
it may communicate using any suitable configuration or protocol.
The gaming machine 10a, which is representative, has a CPU 20 for
operating its game with associated programming. ROM 21 and RAM 22
are of standard type, along with inputs/interfaces for display
controls 24, buttons/meters/wagering registration devices (coins,
bills) 26, payout (hopper) 27, along with sounds and lights for the
game indicated at 28, and printer and online system devices 29.
There is a bonus interface indicated at 30, which communicates with
the gaming machine interface 32 of the Bonus Game Unit 18a.
[0027] In this embodiment, the Bonus Game Unit 18a has its own CPU
40, with associated ROM 42, RAM 43 and dancing figure controller
44. The dancing figure need not be operated by a separate Bonus
Game Unit, however, and could be as easily controlled by the CPU 20
of the gaming machine. The gaming machine also can use some other
communication with the Bonus Game Unit besides that described
above, for that matter. Again, from the standpoint of the present
invention, there is provided some manner of communication between
multiple gaming machines insofar as their attraction or feedback
mechanisms are concerned.
[0028] All of the Bonus Game Units 18a, 18b through 18n of FIG. 2
are on a local area network via a LAN control 45 using a 10 Base T
Ethernet network and hub. Any other suitable networking arrangement
could be used, such as USB, RS-422, serial daisy-chain, IEEE-1394
and the like, as well as a standard casino online system (sometimes
referred to as a player tracking system).
[0029] In the embodiment discussed herein, the gaming machines 10a,
10b through 10n would (but of course need not) play appropriate
thematic music upon initiation of a bonus round (which might occur
during the course of the underlying base game, or at the end of the
base game) for a given machine. For example, assuming that the
player of gaming machine 10a has triggered the bonus round, music
for that machine 10a would play, along with whatever other light
display (if any) that may be part of the presentation, and the
animated FIG. 12a would dance. Simultaneously in this embodiment,
all of the other linked FIGS. 12b, 12c through 12n would likewise
begin to dance.
[0030] One way to accomplish this is, at the start of a bonus
round, the respective machine entering the bonus round--here
machine 10a--sends out via its Bonus Interface 30 a "begin bonus
round" message (signal) to its respective Bonus Game Unit 18a. That
Bonus Game Unit 18a then communicates (rebroadcasts) the message to
all of the other linked Bonus Game Units on the network, causing
their FIGS. 12b, 12c through 12n to dance (along with activation of
whatever other elements may be associated with the dancing
sequence). The various FIGS. 12a through 12n will continue to dance
until a signal indicating that the bonus round of gaming machine
10a has concluded.
[0031] In order to accommodate a situation where more than one
gaming machine may enter into the bonus round at one time (i.e.,
one player enters the bonus round for his machine while another
player is still in her bonus round), each Bonus Game Unit 18a, 18b
through 18n will count the number of "begin bonus round" messages
that may be registered by the entire group during an interval when
an initial "begin bonus round" message has gone out. Each Bonus
Game Unit will then decrement one from that total for each "end
bonus game" signal thereafter received, until the counter reaches
zero, whereupon no bonus game is in progress, and all of the
dancing and related hoopla associated with the attraction feature
ceases.
[0032] As should therefore be apparent from the foregoing
illustration, the activation of the attraction mechanism of other
machines besides the one which actually entered the bonus round
will serve to advertise that a lucky player has achieved the bonus
round. This should inspire and motivate the other players to press
on to achieve the same end, providing positive reinforcement for
their efforts. In this same regard, there are various enhancements
that may be made, such as an indicator light 33 on the gaming
machine which flashes on the particular machine in the bonus round
to identify the lucky player.
[0033] A variation on the foregoing illustrative embodiment would
be to have all of the linked machines enter the bonus round when
any one achieves the bonus round. This is not considered to be a
particularly advantageous approach, however, since it can instill
somewhat slothful play in a group of machines while each player
waits for the other to trigger the bonus sequence. It can still
nonetheless serve as an attraction to players for the linked group
of machines over others which are not so linked.
[0034] Another variation is to assign each gaming machine 10a
through 10n a sequential identification number. Either through
programming contained in the gaming machine or the Bonus Game Unit,
commands would have certain FIGS. 12a through 12n activated in a
planned sequence. This could be, for instance, a dance sequence
which is initiated on machine 12a and then continued through the
other machines seriatim. Each machine on the LAN would begin
animating its respective FIG. 12a through 12n upon receiving a
command that matches its identification number. Broadcasting the
identification numbers consecutively with a time delay between each
identification number would therefore effect a staggered animation
sequence running left to right for the group, for example. The
broadcast sequence could just as easily be for some other
organization of the linked units, such as a more randomized-like
activation of machines throughout the room. These are but two ways
to choreograph the linked machines.
[0035] Instead of the mechanical "Dancing Elvis" (e.g., 12a), a
projected figure could be used. This would be accomplished, for
instance, by using a laser dome on top of each of the gaming
machines. Alternatively, this could be done using a video monitor
or LED, CRT, or other like display. The means of displaying the
attraction is completely at the discretion of the maker, and does
not limit the invention in its broadest expressions. This dome
contains a laser with appropriate optics, mirrors and drivers,
along with a computer program to project a laser image of the
dancing figure on the dome. Accomplishing all of the foregoing is
well within the skill of the art. That being said, FIGS. 3 and 4
relate to just such a domed laser projection arrangement for the
attraction feature. Here, gaming machine 10 has a semi-transparent
or translucent domed top 50. Internal to the dome is the output of
a laser projection apparatus, which has its x-y beam directing
apparatus indicated at 52. The projection system generally is
comprised of a laser 53, such as a He--Ne type or any other
suitable laser, whose output is then directed by a galvanometer
type scanner or the like 54, which manipulates the beam in the x-y
plane. The scanner 54 is operated by a controller 55 driven by
display data, input by the CPU 20 or 40. The display generated by
the foregoing system, here a laser outline of a FIG. 12a', is
projected on the inside of the dome, but is visible from the
outside. Details of such a projection system may be gleaned from
U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,838 for instance. Another laser projection
system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,584 using a dome-shaped
structure upon which the image is displayed, and an alternative
spherical projection system is set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
5,582,518. Conventional lasers, scanners, modulators and other
aspects of the projection system are well known, as U.S. Pat. No.
5,317,348 notes and discloses.
[0036] This projection approach also provides some further
flexibility, such as in yielding the ability to provide a message,
or other graphics besides the dancing figure. One adaptation would
be to have the machine that has entered into the bonus round
project the value of the round as it is being accumulated for all
to see; meanwhile, all of the other linked machines have the
animation of the dancing figure in progress thereon. The linked
displays could furthermore be subject to the same type of broadcast
sequencing described above, so that a word, phrase or other message
might be spelled out across the displays as a whole, with or
without the intervention of a dancing figure.
[0037] Thus, while the invention has been described with respect to
a certain embodiment, those of skill will recognize variations,
modifications and adaptations in materials, arrangement,
application and the like which will still fall within the spirit
and scope of the invention, and which are intended to be
encompassed, as set forth hereafter in the claims.
* * * * *