U.S. patent application number 11/573114 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for gaming machine with environment aware audio configuration.
Invention is credited to Eric M. Pryzby, Alfred Thomas.
Application Number | 20080064486 11/573114 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35839837 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080064486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pryzby; Eric M. ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
Gaming Machine with Environment Aware Audio Configuration
Abstract
A computerized wagering game system has a gaming module
comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when
executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which
monetary value can be wagered. An audio configuration module is
operable to provide a graphical volume control interface that can
be used to set at least one volume setting of the computerized
wagering game system. The graphical volume control interface also
provides a user interface for setting environmental characteristics
of the wagering game machine, and setting multiple volume settings
that are in some embodiments interrelated.
Inventors: |
Pryzby; Eric M.; (Skokie,
IL) ; Thomas; Alfred; (Las Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWEGMAN, LUNDBERG & WOESSNER/WMS GAMING
P.O. BOX 2938
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
35839837 |
Appl. No.: |
11/573114 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
August 1, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US05/27275 |
371 Date: |
September 10, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60598035 |
Aug 2, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/025 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A computerized wagering game system, comprising: a gaming module
comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when
executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which
monetary value can be wagered; an audio configuration module, the
audio configuration module operable to provide a graphical volume
control interface, the graphical volume control interface operable
to set at least one volume setting of the computerized wagering
game system.
2. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the
volume of the audio source set by the graphical volume control
interface is also subject to a master volume setting.
3. The computerized wagering game system of claim 2, wherein the
master volume setting is also set via a graphical volume control
interface.
4. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the
graphical volume control interface comprises environmental
settings.
5. The computerized wagering game system of claim 4, wherein the
environmental settings comprise at least one of neighboring
wagering game system locations, wall behind settings, aisle
settings, and corner location settings.
6. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the
volume settings configurable via the graphical volume control
interface comprise at least one of jackpot, attract mode, bonus,
and master volume.
7. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the
graphical volume control interface is further operable to set
volume for various times of day.
8. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the
graphical volume control interface is operable to control the
volume between a maximum volume setting and a minimum nonzero
volume setting.
9. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the
graphical volume control interface is further implemented on a
remote computerized system from which volume settings on the
computerized wagering game can be controlled.
10. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the
graphical volume control interface is presented as a wizard, the
wizard operable to step a user through multiple volume control
setting steps.
11. A method of operating a computerized wagering game system,
comprising: conducting a wagering game on which monetary value can
be wagered by executing gaming code on a processor; setting at
least one volume setting of the computerized wagering game system
via an audio configuration module comprising a graphical volume
control interface.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting a master
volume setting, wherein the volume of the audio source set by the
graphical volume control interface is also subject to the master
volume setting.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the master volume setting is
also set via a graphical volume control interface.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical volume control
interface comprises environmental settings.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental settings
comprise at least one of neighboring wagering game system
locations, wall behind settings, aisle settings, and corner
location settings.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the volume settings
configurable via the graphical volume control interface comprise at
least one of jackpot, attract mode, bonus, and master volume.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting volumes for
various times of day via the graphical volume control
interface.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical volume control
interface is operable to control the volume between a maximum
volume setting and a minimum nonzero volume setting.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical volume control
interface is further implemented on a remote computerized system
from which volume settings on the computerized wagering game can be
controlled.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical volume control
interface is presented as a wizard, the wizard operable to step a
user through multiple volume control setting steps.
21. A machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the
instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized
wagering game system to: play a wagering game on which monetary
value can be wagered by executing gaming code on a processor; set
at least one volume setting of the computerized wagering game
system via an audio configuration module comprising a graphical
volume control interface operable to receive user input.
22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, the instructions
further operable to set a master volume setting, wherein the volume
of the audio source set by the graphical volume control interface
is also subject to the master volume setting.
23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the master
volume setting is also set via a graphical volume control interface
operable to receive user input.
24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the graphical
volume control interface comprises environmental settings.
25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the
environmental settings comprise at least one of neighboring
wagering game system locations, wall behind settings, aisle
settings, and corner location settings.
26. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the volume
settings configurable via the graphical volume control interface
comprise at least one of jackpot, attract mode, bonus, and master
volume.
27. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, the instructions
further operable to set volumes for various times of day via input
received through the graphical volume control interface.
28. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the graphical
volume control interface is operable to control the volume between
a maximum volume setting and a minimum nonzero volume setting.
29. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the graphical
volume control interface is further implemented on a remote
computerized system from which volume settings on the computerized
wagering game can be controlled.
30. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the graphical
volume control interface is presented as a wizard, the wizard
operable to step a user through multiple volume control setting
steps.
31. An audio control interface operable to control multiple volume
settings in a computerized wagering game system, comprising: a
graphical volume control interface displayed on a display of the
computerized wagering game system, and operable to indicate at
least one present volume setting and at least one alternate volume
setting; one or more inputs operable to select and set a volume
setting presented by the graphical volume control interface.
32. The audio control interface of claim 31, the interface further
operable to play a sound at the volume setting selected via the
graphical user interface and the one or more inputs upon at least
one of selection of the volume level or setting the selected volume
level.
33. The audio control interface of claim 31, wherein the one or
more inputs comprise at least one of a touchscreen or buttons.
34. An audio control wizard operable to control multiple volume
settings in a computerized wagering game system, comprising: a
graphical volume control interface displayed on a display of the
computerized wagering game system, and operable to indicate at
least one present volume setting and at least one alternate volume
setting; one or more inputs operable to select a volume setting
presented by the graphical volume control interface; a wizard
program operable to step a user through setting multiple volume
levels via the graphical volume control interface and the one or
more inputs.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/598,035, filed 2 Aug. 2004, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
LIMITED COPYRIGHT WAIVER
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material to which the claim of copyright protection is made. The
copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by
any person of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it
appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records,
but reserves all other rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates generally to wagering gaming systems,
and more specifically to a wagering game machine with
environment-aware audio configuration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A wide variety of gaming devices are now available to gamers
and to casino operators in computerized form, from slot machines to
games that are traditionally played live such as poker and
blackjack. These computerized games provide many benefits to the
game owner and to the gambler, including greater reliability than
can be achieved with a mechanical game or human dealer, more
variety, sound, and animation in presentation of a game, and a
lower overall cost of production and management.
[0005] Computerized video game systems must be designed with many
of the same concerns as their mechanical and table game
ancestors--they must be fair, they must provide sufficient feedback
to the gamer to make the game fun to play, and they must meet a
variety of gaming regulations to ensure that both the machine owner
and gamer are honest and fairly treated in implementing the game.
Further, they must provide a gaming experience that is at least as
attractive as the older mechanical gaming machine experience to the
gamer, to ensure success in a competitive gaming market.
[0006] Part of the gaming experience presented to game players is
an audio and visual presentation that continually grows more
sophisticated and complex, as computerized wagering game systems
rapidly adopt new technologies. But, as wagering game systems
increase in capability and complexity, the knowledge and effort
required to configure them to take full advantage of their
capabilities can increase undesirably.
[0007] For example, setting the audio features of a traditional
wagering game simply comprised turning a single potentiometer or
mechanical volume control knob hidden within the wagering game
machine until the volume knob appeared to be set at the desired
level. But, with the advent of computerized wagering game systems,
more sophisticated methods such as electronically altering the
wagering game system volume have become more common, and in many
environments require less effort to employ.
[0008] But, even modern digital control of such features typically
ignores a number of factors, including environment-specific
information such as the location of the machine and the nature of
its surroundings. The physical construction of a gaming
establishment, the physical location of nearby gaming machines, and
other such factors are therefore not compensated except by the ear
or judgment of the last person to have fiddled with the wagering
game's volume control. Such a method can lead to inconsistent or
poor volume settings, and is less than ideal. It is therefore
desired that a wagering game system incorporate environmental-aware
audio configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides in one embodiment a
computerized wagering game system having a gaming module comprising
a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the
processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be
wagered, and an audio configuration module operable to provide a
graphical volume control interface that can be used to set at least
one volume setting of the computerized wagering game system.
Further embodiments comprise setting environmental characteristics
of the wagering game machine, and setting multiple volume settings
that are in some embodiments interrelated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a computerized reel slot gaming system having
an audio system, upon which the present invention may be practiced
in some embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computerized wagering game
having a graphical volume control interface, consistent with an
example embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an example display image of a graphical volume
control interface, consistent with an example embodiment of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows an example display image of an environmental
configuration display, consistent with an example embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows an example display image of a time-of-day
volume configuration display, consistent with an example embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] In the following detailed description of sample embodiments
of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings
which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of
illustration specific sample embodiments in which the invention may
be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail
to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and
it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and
that logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made
without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to
be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is
defined only by the appended claims.
[0016] The present invention provides in one embodiment a
computerized wagering game system having a gaming module comprising
a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the
processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be
wagered, and an audio configuration module operable to provide a
graphical volume control interface that can be used to set at least
one volume setting of the computerized wagering game system.
Further embodiments comprise setting environmental characteristics
of the wagering game machine upon which the wagering game system's
volume settings are dependent, and setting multiple volume settings
that are in some embodiments interrelated.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a computerized wagering game machine, as
may be used to practice some embodiments of the present invention.
The computerized gaming system shown generally at 100 is a video
gaming system, which displays information for at least one wagering
game upon which monetary value can be wagered on video display 101.
Alternate embodiments of the invention will have other game
indicators, such as mechanical reels instead of the video graphics
reels 102. The game of chance is played and controlled with various
buttons 103, and in some embodiments also with a pull arm 104 to
initiate reel spin. Value is wagered on the games, such as with
tokens, coins, bills, or cards that hold value. The wagered value
is conveyed to the machine through a changer 105 or a secure user
identification module interface 106, and winnings are returned via
the returned value card or through the coin tray 107. Sound is also
provided through speakers 108, and is regulated by one or more
volume settings within the computerized wagering game machine.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computerized wagering game
system having a graphical volume control interface, consistent with
an example embodiment of the present invention. At the center of
the system is a processor 201, which executes program instructions
to conduct the wagering game and to perform other functions. The
wagering game is presented to game players via a display 202, which
is also used to present the graphical volume control interface when
appropriate. In some further embodiments of the wagering game
system, display 202 also includes a touchscreen overlay on the
display, which enables a user to provide input to the wagering game
system by touching a selected location on the screen.
[0019] The graphical volume control interface is in some
embodiments initialized by use of a key, an electronic
identification, or by a switch located inside the wagering game
machine that can be actuated to initiate a configuration mode.
These or other such security measures ensure that only authorized
users are able to use the configuration functions of the wagering
game machine, and ensure that such settings are not presented to
game players.
[0020] The wagering game machine further comprises nonvolatile
storage 203, for storing game code, the state of a game being
played, and game setting such as volume settings. The audio signal
presented to a game player or other wagering game machine user is
managed via an audio module 204, and is played through speakers
205. Various embodiments of wagering game machines also feature
buttons 206 for input, and a clock 207 that keeps time and
indicates the time to the wagering game system.
[0021] In operation, configuration mode is entered or volume
control settings are accessed by some other means. The volume
control is presented graphically, such as using dials, a slider,
radio buttons, or other such graphical displays. FIG. 3 shows an
example display image of a graphical volume control interface,
consistent with an example embodiment of the present invention. A
master volume setting, shown at 301, is presently set one volume
level below maximum, as shown by the double-box. In different
embodiments, any other suitable method of indicating a selected
volume level will be used, including varying color, position, or
other characteristics of a graphical element.
[0022] In addition to the master volume setting, one or more other
volume settings, such as jackpot sound volume 302, attract mode
volume 303, and bonus volume level 304 can be similarly set. These
secondary volume settings are relative to the master volume
setting, and each rises or falls as the master volume setting is
changed. More specifically, the volume of a particular element,
such as the jackpot, is dependent upon both the master volume
setting and the particular element volume setting. This enables not
only adjustment of the overall volume level of the machine via the
master volume setting, but also relative volume adjustment of
different sounds via the element volume settings. For example, the
attract mode volume for sounds played while a machine is not being
played but is trying to attract game players may often be set lower
than the jackpot or bonus volume levels, irrespective of the
overall volume level settings for the wagering game system. FIG. 3
reflects such a setting, where the jackpot setting is maximum
relative volume, while the attract mode sounds are set to a medium
relative volume.
[0023] Note also that this particular embodiment of the invention
does not provide for sounds to be selectively disabled, or for the
master volume to be set to zero. Each volume control has a maximum
volume level, a minimum but nonzero volume level, and a range of
intermediate volume levels. This enables customization of relative
volume levels and setting a master volume level without risking
that a particular sound will not be heard.
[0024] Referring again to FIG. 2, the volume settings selected via
user inputs such as a touchscreen on display 202 or buttons 206 are
stored on nonvolatile storage 203, and are used via the processor
201 to instruct the audio module 204 to play various sounds through
speakers 205 at the appropriate volume level. In further
embodiments, environmental settings such as the computerized
wagering game's physical position are set via a similar
configuration screen as shown in FIG. 4, and clock 207 is used to
determine the time of day for time-specific volume settings as
shown in FIG. 5.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a screen image of one example embodiment of an
environmental audio configuration input screen. The physical
location of the computerized wagering game machine is indicated by
the game graphic at 401, while the double box around the wall
behind graphic at 402 indicates that present settings indicate that
there is a wall directly behind the machine. As before, the
graphical indicators may take any form, including varying color,
text, images presented, or other such changes to indicate when a
particular graphic is selected or deselected. The R graphic shown
at 403 is similarly double-boxed at 403, indicating that there is a
neighboring computerized wagering game machine to the right of the
machine presently being configured, but the L graphic shown at 404
is not selected, indicating that there is no computerized wagering
game system to the left of the machine being configured.
[0026] The environmental configuration settings such as those shown
in FIG. 4 are used in some embodiments of the present invention to
vary the phase, frequency response, volume, and other
characteristics of the audio produced by the computerized wagering
game system. For example, a wagering game placed near a wall may
have its bass output reduced to compensate for reflection of
low-frequency sounds off a wall to the rear or side of the machine.
Similarly, volume may be reduced and phase may be changed if a
wagering game machine is to one side of the configured computerized
wagering game machine, and volume may be further reduced and phase
may be further shifted if other machines are present both to the
right and to the left of the wagering game machine being
configured.
[0027] In further embodiments of the invention, greater
customization will be possible, such as by creating a map of the
are in which the computerized wagering game system is installed. A
master map is created in some variations, and can be loaded into
multiple wagering game machines or distributed via network to
multiple wagering game systems in an area. Further network
embodiments will include the ability to configure more than one
computerized wagering games' audio systems via a graphical user
interface on a single wagering game machine within the group, or
via a graphical user interface on a controller or other networked
device.
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates how the time of day may be considered as
another environmental factor in self-changing the audio
configuration of a computerized wagering game machine. Times of day
are selected or are predetermined and presented as shown at 501,
which indicates a particular volume setting is to take effect at
2:00 a.m. Looking to the left, it can be seen at 502 that the
volume setting for 2:00 a.m. is maximum, again as indicated by the
double boxes around the currently selected volume level. At 5:00
a.m., the volume level drops to one step above a minimum volume,
and the volume level drops further to the minimum volume at 8:00
a.m. At 7:30 p.m., the volume increases to a middle level, and it
increases further to one level below maximum volume at 11:00 p.m.
In some embodiments, the volume changes gradually over a period of
minutes or at a certain rate until it has reached the new volume
setting, so that the change in volume is not abrupt and obvious or
startling to game players.
[0029] These changes in volume are selected based on anticipated
environmental volume levels at these specific times of day. In
further embodiments, the change in volume is dependent on detected
environmental noise levels, such as via a microphone in the
wagering game machine that is operable to sample environmental
sounds. For example, a microphone may monitor the audible sounds in
a gaming establishment, and use the average volume level over the
past several minutes to set the wagering game's volume level.
[0030] These are examples of many ways in which the present
invention may be employed to change an audio configuration using
environmental conditions. The graphical user interface of the
present invention facilitates setting computerized wagering game
machines to be responsive to environmental conditions, and
simplifies the wagering game configuration process. Although
specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it
will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any
arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be
substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is
intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention.
It is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims,
and the full scope of equivalents thereof.
* * * * *