U.S. patent application number 13/548540 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-08 for gaming system and a method of managing usage of gaming machines.
Invention is credited to Blake Timothy James Freele.
Application Number | 20120283022 13/548540 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40513813 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120283022 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Freele; Blake Timothy
James |
November 8, 2012 |
GAMING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF MANAGING USAGE OF GAMING MACHINES
Abstract
A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of
gaming machines and a communications network arranged to facilitate
communications to and from the gaming machines. Each gaming machine
is arranged to implement a game, and to generate status information
indicative of whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied, and
the system is arranged to display availability information derived
from the status information indicative of whether at least some of
the gaming machines are vacant or occupied. A corresponding method
is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Freele; Blake Timothy James;
(Glebe, AU) |
Family ID: |
40513813 |
Appl. No.: |
13/548540 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12361390 |
Jan 28, 2009 |
8241132 |
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13548540 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3234 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2008 |
AU |
2008900385 |
Claims
1. A gaming machine comprising: a status determiner arranged to
generate status information indicative of whether the gaming
machine is vacant or occupied; a network interface arranged to
facilitate communications from the gaming machine; the gaming
machine being arranged to send the status information through the
network interface, the status information being usable by a gaming
system to generate availability information indicative of whether
the gaming machine is vacant or occupied.
2. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming
machine is arranged to receive the availability information.
3. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming
machine is associated with a gaming system comprising a plurality
of gaming machines and the gaming machine is arranged to receive a
game request from a player indicative of another gaming machine
associated with the gaming system desired to be played by the
player, or a game desired to be played by the player implemented by
another gaming machine associated with the gaming system.
4. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming
machine is arranged to receive a machine free notification
indicative that the requested gaming machine or game is vacant and
to communicate the machine free notification to the player.
5. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming
machine is arranged to reserve the requested gaming machine or a
gaming machine associated with the requested game if a player
associated with the request commences game play at the requested
gaming machine within a specific period of time.
6. A game server arranged to cooperate with at least one gaming
machine so as to implement at least one game, and arranged to
facilitate network communications from the game server; the game
server being arranged to generate status information indicative of
whether the gaming machines are vacant or occupied; and the status
information being usable to generate availability information
indicative of whether at least one gaming machine in communication
with the game server is vacant or occupied.
7. A game server as claimed in claim 6, wherein the game server is
arranged to send the availability information to at least one
gaming machine in communication with the game server.
8. A notification system for a gaming system, said notification
system comprising: a network interface arranged to facilitate
communications with at least one networked gaming machine
associated with the notification system; a game status receiver
arranged to receive status information indicative of whether the or
each gaming machine associated with the notification system is
vacant or occupied; and a display arranged to display availability
information derived from the status information indicative of
whether at least some of the gaming machines associated with the
notification system are vacant or occupied.
9. A notification system as claimed in claim 8, comprising a layout
generator arranged to generate gaming machine layout information,
the layout information being indicative of the locations of the
gaming machines relative to each other.
10. A notification system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the layout
information includes the availability information.
11. A notification system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
availability information is arranged so as to graphically indicate
whether a gaming machine is vacant or occupied.
12. A notification system as claimed in claim 8, comprising a game
request receiver arranged to receive a game request from a player
indicative of a gaming machine or a game desired to be played by
the player.
13. A notification system as claimed in claim 8, comprising a
notification controller arranged to generate a machine free
notification when the requested gaming machine is vacant using the
status information.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority
to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/361,390, having a filing
date of Jan. 28, 2009, which also claims priority to Australian
Patent Application No. 2008900385, having a filing date of Jan. 29,
2008, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] [Not Applicable]
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
[0003] [Not Applicable]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a gaming system and to a
method of managing usage of gaming machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is known to provide a gaming venue with a plurality of
player operable gaming machines which may be stand alone or
connected together in a network. Generally, the gaming machines
implement several different types of games in order to accommodate
differing preferences of game players.
[0006] However, with this type of gaming system, it is often
difficult for a player to find a gaming machine of interest which
is available.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a gaming system comprising: [0008] plurality of
gaming machines; and [0009] a communications network arranged to
facilitate communications to and from the gaming machines; [0010]
each gaming machine being arranged to implement a game, and to
generate status information indicative of whether the gaming
machine is vacant or occupied; [0011] the system being arranged to
display availability information derived from the status
information indicative of whether at least some of the gaming
machines are vacant or occupied.
[0012] In one embodiment, the availability information is received
and displayed at a gaming machine. In an alternative embodiment,
the availability information is received and displayed at a display
location separate to the gaming machines.
[0013] In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to generate
gaming machine layout information, the layout information being
indicative of the locations of the gaming machines relative to each
other. The layout information may include the availability
information, and in one embodiment the layout information may be
displayed on a gaming machine. The layout information may include
information indicative of the name of the or each of the games
implementable by the gaming machines associated with the gaming
system, and/or the denominations associated with the implementable
games.
[0014] In one embodiment, the availability information is arranged
so as to graphically indicate whether a gaming machine is vacant or
occupied, for example by representing vacant gaming machines with a
first colour such as green and representing occupied gaming
machines with a second colour such as red, by causing
representations of the occupied gaming machines or the vacant
gaming machines to flash, or by including the word "OCCUPIED" or
"VACANT" on or adjacent the representations of the gaming
machines.
[0015] In one arrangement, the gaming system is arranged to receive
a game request from a player indicative of a gaming machine or a
game desired to be played by the player. The game request may be
received in response to player selection of a gaming machine using
the layout information, for example using a touch screen.
[0016] In one embodiment, each gaming machine is arranged to
receive a game request from a player.
[0017] In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to receive
a game request from a game request device separate to the gaming
machines.
[0018] In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to receive
a game request from a mobile communications device, such as a
mobile phone.
[0019] The gaming system may be arranged to generate a machine free
notification when the requested gaming machine is vacant using the
status information generated by the requested gaming machine.
[0020] In one embodiment, the machine free notification is
communicated to the gaming machine associated with the game
request, and information indicative of the machine free
notification is communicated to the player at the gaming machine,
for example by displaying a machine free message on a display of
the gaming machine.
[0021] In one embodiment, information indicative of the machine
free notification is communicated to the player by displaying the
information at a display location separate to the gaming
machines.
[0022] In one embodiment, information indicative of the machine
free notification is communicated to the player by sending the
information to a mobile communications device associated with the
player, such as a mobile phone.
[0023] The system may be arranged such that the requested game is
reserved for play by the player if the player commences game play
at the requested gaming machine within a specific period of
time.
[0024] The gaming system may be arranged to generate an identifier
when a machine free notification is generated, the identifier being
usable by a requested gaming machine to identify the player
associated with the game request and thereby make a requested
gaming machine available for game play. The identifier may be
communicated to a player by displaying the identifier on a screen,
may be stored on a storage medium readable by the requested gaming
machine or may be incorporated into or on a ticket readable by the
requested gaming machine.
[0025] In one embodiment, each gaming machine is arranged to
communicate directly with other gaming machines. Each gaming
machine may have an associated notification module which may
comprise a player marketing module, the notification module being
arranged to receive status information from the gaming machines, to
generate game request information indicative of a game desired to
be played by a player and/or a particular gaming machine desired to
be played by a player, and to communicate a machine free
notification to a player.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the gaming system comprises a
notification system arranged to communicate with the gaming
machines through the communications network, the notification
system comprising a game status receiver arranged to receive status
information from the gaming machines, and to communicate the status
information to the gaming machines.
[0027] The notification system may comprise a layout server
arranged to generate layout information indicative of the locations
of the gaming machines relative to each other, the availability
information, and information indicative of the name of the or each
of the games implementable by the gaming machines associated with
the gaming system, and/or the denominations associated with the
implementable games.
[0028] The notification system may also comprise a game request
receiver arranged to receive game request information indicative of
a game desired to be played by a player and/or a particular gaming
machine desired to be played by a player, and a notification
controller arranged to generate a machine free notification when
the requested game and/or gaming machine is available.
[0029] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a gaming system comprising: [0030] a plurality of
gaming machines; [0031] a server arranged to cooperate with each
gaming machine so as to implement a game; and [0032] a
communications network arranged to facilitate communications
between the gaming machines and the server; [0033] the server being
arranged to generate status information indicative of whether the
gaming machines are vacant or occupied; and [0034] the system being
arranged to display availability information derived from the
status information indicative of whether at least some of the
gaming machines are vacant or occupied.
[0035] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of managing usage of gaming machines,
the method comprising: [0036] providing a plurality of gaming
machines; and [0037] enabling communications to and from the gaming
machines; [0038] arranging each gaming machine to generate status
information indicative of whether the gaming machine is vacant or
occupied, and to receive availability information derived from the
status information indicative of whether at least some of the other
gaming machines are vacant or occupied.
[0039] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a gaming machine comprising: [0040] a status
determiner arranged to generate status information indicative of
whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied; [0041] a network
interface arranged to facilitate communications from the gaming
machine; [0042] the gaming machine being arranged to send the
status information through the network interface, the status
information being usable by a gaming system to generate
availability information indicative of whether the gaming machine
is vacant or occupied.
[0043] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a game server arranged to cooperate with at least
one gaming machine so as to implement at least one game, and
arranged to facilitate network communications from the game server;
[0044] the game server being arranged to generate status
information indicative of whether the gaming machines are vacant or
occupied; and [0045] the status information being usable to
generate availability information indicative of whether at least
one gaming machine in communication with the game server is vacant
or occupied.
[0046] In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a notification system for a gaming system, said
notification system comprising: [0047] a network interface arranged
to facilitate communications with at least one networked gaming
machine associated with the notification system; [0048] a game
status receiver arranged to receive status information indicative
of whether the or each gaming machine associated with the
notification system is vacant or occupied; and [0049] a display
arranged to display availability information derived from the
status information indicative of whether at least some of the
gaming machines associated with the notification system are vacant
or occupied.
[0050] In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a computer program arranged when
loaded into a computer to instruct the computer to operate in
accordance with a gaming system comprising: [0051] a plurality of
gaming machines; and [0052] a communications network arranged to
facilitate communications to and from the gaming machines; [0053]
each gaming machine being arranged to implement a game, and to
generate status information indicative of whether the gaming
machine is vacant or occupied; [0054] the system being arranged to
display availability information derived from the status
information indicative of whether at least some of the gaming
machines are vacant or occupied.
[0055] In accordance with a eighth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a computer readable medium having computer
readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable
program code being arranged when loaded into a computer to cause
the computer to operate in accordance with a gaming system
comprising: [0056] a plurality of gaming machines; and [0057] a
communications network arranged to facilitate communications to and
from the gaming machines; [0058] each gaming machine being arranged
to implement a game, and to generate status information indicative
of whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied; [0059] the
system being arranged to display availability information derived
from the status information indicative of whether at least some of
the gaming machines are vacant or occupied.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0060] The present invention will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0061] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gaming system in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0062] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a gaming machine
of the gaming system shown in FIG. 1;
[0063] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of operative components
of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 2;
[0064] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of components of a
memory of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 2;
[0065] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a gaming network including
the gaming system shown in FIG. 1;
[0066] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of managing
usage of gaming machines in a gaming system in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0067] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a gaming machine
notification shown on a display of a gaming machine of the gaming
system shown in FIG. 1; and
[0068] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an alternative gaming
system in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0069] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a gaming
system 10 including multiple player operable gaming machines 12,
each of which in this example is arranged to implement a
probabilistic wagering game of the type wherein a player wagers a
bet amount, and a game outcome is determined in a probabilistic
way. With some such probabilistic games, several symbols from a set
of symbols are randomly displayed, and a game outcome is determined
on the basis of the displayed symbols.
[0070] The gaming machines 12 communicate with a notification
system 14 through a local network 16, the notification system 14
being arranged to gather status information from the gaming
machines 12 indicative of whether the gaming machines are
implementing a game, and to communicate the status information to
the gaming machines 12 on request.
[0071] A game may be implemented by the gaming system in various
ways.
[0072] In a first implementation, a stand alone gaming machine is
provided wherein all or most components required for implementing
the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.
[0073] In a second implementation, a distributed architecture is
provided wherein some of the components required for implementing
the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some
of the components required for implementing the base game are
located remotely relative to the gaming machine.
[0074] For example, a "thick client" arrangement may be used
wherein part of the game is executed on a gaming machine 12 and
part of the game is executed by a gaming server, or a "thin client"
arrangement may be used wherein most of the game is executed
remotely by the gaming server and a gaming machine 12 is used only
to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player
and receive gaming inputs from the player.
[0075] However, it will be understood that other arrangements are
envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein the
respective functions of the gaming machine 12 and the gaming server
are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may
operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, "thick client" mode or
"thin client" mode depending on the game being played, operating
conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons
skilled in the art.
[0076] Operative components of the notification system 14 are shown
in FIG. 1.
[0077] The notification system 14 includes a game status receiver
18 arranged to receive status information from each of the gaming
machines 12 associated with the gaming system 12. The status
information from each gaming machine 12 includes information
indicative of whether the gaming machine 12 is implementing a game
(occupied) or is available for game play (vacant), and information
indicative of the game, the denomination associated with the game
such as the minimum bet amount per line, and any other game related
information.
[0078] The notification system 14 also includes a game request
receiver 20 arranged to receive game request information from the
gaming machines 12, the game request information including
information indicative of the game desired to be played by a player
and/or a particular gaming machine desired to be played by a
player, and of the current gaming machine being played by the
player.
[0079] The notification system 14 also includes a layout server 22
arranged to generate layout information indicative of the locations
of at least some of the gaming machines 12 associated with a gaming
venue, of the types of games implementable by the gaming machines
12, and of the availability of the gaming machines 12 for game play
using the status information received at the game status receiver
18 from the gaming machines 12. The layout server 22 also
communicates the layout information to the gaming machines through
the network 16, for example when requested by a gaming machine 12
in response to player input. The layout information is used by the
gaming machines 12 to generate a representation on a display of a
gaming machine of a venue layout showing the locations of the
gaming machines associated with the gaming system 10 in relation to
the venue and relative to each other, the games implemented by the
gaming machines, the denomination(s) appropriate for the gaming
machines 12, and whether the gaming machine(s) are available to be
played by a prospective player.
[0080] As an alternative to serving the layout information to the
gaming machines for display at the gaming machines, the gaming
system may be arranged so as to display the layout information at a
display location separate to the gaming machines.
[0081] As an alternative to receiving game requests from gaming
machines, the gaming system may be arranged to receive game
requests from other devices, such as from a game request facility
at the notification system 14 or at a kiosk located at the gaming
venue, or from a communications enable mobile device such as a
mobile phone associated with a player.
[0082] Using controls on a gaming machine 12 which may be buttons
or a touch screen, a player is able to select a game which is
currently unavailable and which is desired to be played by the
player, and in this example the player is also able to select a
specific gaming machine which is desired to be played. After
selection of a game to be played, or a gaming machine to be played,
a game request communication is sent from the gaming machine to the
notification system 14 through the network 16. The game request
communication is received by a game request receiver 20 which
communicates with a notification controller 24, and using
information provided by the game status receiver 18 the
notification controller 24 determines when the requested game or
gaming machine 12 becomes available. When the requested game or
gaming machine 12 becomes available, the notification controller 24
sends a machine free notification to the relevant gaming machine
associated with the game request, and based on receipt of the
machine free notification the gaming machine displays an available
message to the player to indicate that the desired game and/or
gaming machine is now available.
[0083] As an alternative to sending a machine free notification to
the relevant gaming machine associated with the game request, the
machine free notification may be used at the notification system
14, sent to a dedicated player notification device located at the
gaming venue, or sent to a mobile communications device such as a
mobile phone associated with the player.
[0084] Irrespective of the destination of the machine free
notification, a visible indication is generated to indicate to the
requesting player that the requested game and/or gaming machine is
available.
[0085] The gaming system 10 may be arranged such that after receipt
of the machine free notification, the player has a predefined
period of time in which to commence game play at the requested
gaming machine 12, otherwise the gaming machine 12 becomes
available to all prospective players.
[0086] In order to ensure that the requested game and/or requested
gaming machine is reserved for use only by the requesting player,
the player may be provided with an identifier which may be in the
form of an alphanumeric code or may be in the form of a printed
ticket, with the desired gaming machine being provided with the
facility to accept the identifier, for example by providing the
gaming machine with a keypad or ticket reader, and to validate the
identifier in order to verify the validity of the prospective
player. As a further alternative, the gaming machines may be
arranged to receive data storage cards which are capable of storing
identifiers together with other personal and/or game play related
information specific to the players. On receipt of a valid
identifier at the gaming machine within the allowed time period,
the game is implemented.
[0087] In this example the layout server 22, the notification
controller 24, the game request receiver 20, and the game status
receiver 18 are implemented using a processor 26 and associated
software (not shown), although it will be understood that other
implementations are envisaged.
[0088] A gaming machine 40 of stand alone type is illustrated in
more detail in FIG. 2. The gaming machine 40 includes a console 42
having a display 44 on which is displayed representations of a game
46 that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 50 of the gaming
machine 40 houses a bank of buttons 52 for enabling a player to
interact with the gaming machine during game play, including
enabling the player to select the bet amount. The mid-trim 50 also
houses a credit input mechanism 54 which in this example includes a
coin input chute 54A and a bill collector 54B. A reading device may
also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking
device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player
tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any
other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading
device.
[0089] A top box 56 may carry artwork 58, including for example pay
tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images
relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be
provided on a front panel 59 of the console 52. A coin tray 60 is
mounted beneath the front panel 59 for dispensing cash payouts from
the gaming machine 40.
[0090] The display 44 is in the form of a video display unit,
particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the
display 44 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any
other suitable video display unit. The top box 56 and/or the front
panel 59 may also include a display, for example a video display
unit, which may be of the same type as the display 44, or of a
different type.
[0091] The display 44 may include a touch screen and the buttons 52
and/or the touch screen may be arranged such that a player is able
to use the buttons 52 and/or the touch screen to cause the gaming
machine layout to be shown on the display 44 and to select a game
and/or a gaming machine which is desired to be played.
[0092] The top box 58, front panel 59 and/or the display 44 may
further display advertising material which in this example is
displayed in response to advertising data downloaded from an
advertising server.
[0093] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of operative components 100 of
the gaming machine 40.
[0094] The operative components 100 include a game controller 102
and a player interface 120.
[0095] The game controller 101 comprises a processor 20 and a
memory 103. Instructions and data to control operation of the
processor 20 are stored in the memory 103. Typically, the gaming
machine 40 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and
more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being
collectively represented by the memory 103.
[0096] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an
exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B
and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily
holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related
data. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain
some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is
typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may
be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using
protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.
[0097] The game controller 101 also includes meters 104 for
purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring
player credit, and an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for
communicating with a player interface 120.
[0098] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the player interface 120
includes the display 44, buttons 52 and the credit input mechanism
54, and also comprises a touch screen 107, a card and/or ticket
reader 108 and a printer 109. Additional hardware may be included
as part of the gaming machine 40, or hardware may be omitted as
required for the specific implementation.
[0099] In addition, the game controller 101 includes a
communications interface, for example a network card 112, which
facilitates communications between the gaming machine 40 and the
notification system 14 through the network 16, and a status
determiner 115 arranged to determine whether a game is currently
being implemented by the gaming machine 40 and to communicate
status information to the notification system using the network
card 112. In this example, the status information includes
information indicative of whether the gaming machine 12 is
implementing a game or is available, and also information
indicative of the game(s) implementable by the gaming machine, and
the denomination associated with the game such as the minimum bet
amount per line.
[0100] FIG. 5 shows a gaming network 200 in accordance with an
alternative embodiment, the gaming network incorporating the gaming
system and being arranged to implement games using a network
architecture
[0101] In this example, three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202
are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a
player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming
machines 40,100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified
functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game
play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated in
FIG. 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also
envisaged.
[0102] One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the
network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with
one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be
used to display representations associated with game play on the
gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations,
for example promotional or informational material.
[0103] In a thick client embodiment, a game server 205 implements
part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and
the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this
embodiment, as both the game server 205 and the gaming machine 202
implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game
controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of
game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the
gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming
system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot
server 207 will be provided to monitor and carry out the Jackpot
game.
[0104] In a variation of the above thick client embodiment, the
gaming machine 202 may implement the game, with the game server 205
functioning merely to serve data indicative of a game to the gaming
machine 202 for implementation.
[0105] With this implementation, a data signal containing a
computer program usable by the client terminal to implement the
gaming system may be transferred from the game server to the client
terminal, for example in response to a request by the client
terminal.
[0106] In a thin client embodiment, the game server 205 implements
most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine
202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player
interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 provides the
game controller. The gaming machine will receive player
instructions, and pass the instructions to the game server which
will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming
machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming
machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software
that provides a player interface operable using standard computer
input and output components.
[0107] Servers are also typically provided to assist in the
administration of the gaming system 200, including for example a
gaming floor management server 208 and a licensing server 209 to
monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An
administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to
monitor the network 201 and the devices connected to the
network.
[0108] The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming
systems, other local networks such as a corporate network, and/or a
wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a
firewall 211.
[0109] A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided.
[0110] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in
accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side
of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different
computers. For example, elements may be run as a single "engine" on
one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the
game server 205 could run a random number generator engine.
Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be
provided.
[0111] Operation of an exemplary gaming system 10 will now be
described with reference to the flow diagram 120 shown in FIG. 6
and the gaming machine layout shown in FIG. 7. The flow diagram 120
illustrates steps 122 to 146 carried out in a method of managing
usage of gaming machines in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0112] In the present example shown in FIG. 1, three gaming
machines 12 are shown associated with the local network 16,
although it will be understood that in practice more than three
gaming machines 12 would typically be present.
[0113] Each gaming machine 12 implements a probabilistic game of
the type wherein a player is able to place a bet and obtain a prize
when the game results correspond to a winning outcome. In this
example, a first gaming machine 12a is configured to implement a
first game Queen of the Nile with a denomination of $1, a second
gaming machine 12b is arranged to implement a game Black Panther
with a denomination $1, and a third gaming machine 12c is arranged
to implement a game Spring Carnival with a denomination 50c.
[0114] In this example, each of the games implemented by the gaming
machines 12 is a spinning reel game of the type wherein several
symbols from a set of symbols are randomly displayed, and a game
outcome is determined on the basis of the displayed symbols. With
such probabilistic games, the set of symbols may include standard
symbols and function symbols, and the game outcome is determined on
the basis of the displayed standard symbols and the function
associated with any displayed function symbol. For example,
standard symbols may resemble fruit such as apples, pears and
bananas with a win outcome being determined when a predetermined
number of the same fruit appear on a display in the same line,
scattered, and so on. The function associated with a function
symbol may be for example a wild function wherein display of the
function symbol is treated during consideration of the game outcome
as any of the standard symbols. A function symbol may be
represented as the word "WILD", a star, or by any other suitable
word or symbol. Other functions are also envisaged such as scatter
functions, multiplier functions, repeat win functions, jackpot
functions and feature commencement functions.
[0115] Using an appropriate button or using a touch screen on a
gaming machine, a player is able to cause a layout 150 of gaming
machines in the gaming venue to be displayed on the gaming machine
display. An example gaming machine layout 150 is shown in FIG.
7.
[0116] The gaming machine layout 150 includes regions 152
associated with gaming machines, the locations of the regions
relative to each other being representative of the locations of the
gaming machines 12 relative to each other at the gaming venue. Each
region 152 includes a description of the game, the denomination of
the game associated with the region, and information indicative of
whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied. The regions may
also be arranged so as to provide an additional readily
recognizable indication as to whether the associated gaming
machines are vacant or occupied, for example by displaying vacant
gaming machine regions 152a in a first colour such as green, and
displaying occupied gaming machine regions 152b in a second colour
such as red, by flashing either the vacant gaming machine regions
or the occupied gaming machine regions, or in any other way. In the
example shown in FIG. 7, vacant gaming machines are indicated by
representing the vacant gaming machine regions 152a with full lines
and occupied gaming machines are indicated by representing the
vacant gaming machine regions 152b with broken lines.
[0117] A player may use the gaming machine layout 150 to determine
which gaming machines are vacant. If a desired gaming machine 12 is
occupied or all gaming machines implementing a desired game are
occupied, the player has the option of reserving a gaming machine
by selecting the occupied gaming machine. In this example selection
of a gaming machine may occur by touching the gaming machine
display at the desired gaming machine region 152.
[0118] After selection of an occupied gaming machine, a gaming
machine request communication is sent from the gaming machine to
the notification system 14 which creates a request record including
information indicative of the requesting gaming machine, of the
requested gaming machine and an identifier usable to verify the
identity of the player when the requested gaming machine becomes
free.
[0119] The notification system 14 then monitors status information
received from the gaming machines at the venue in order to monitor
the gaming status of the requested gaming machine. When the
requested gaming machine becomes available, a machine free
notification is sent from the notification system 14 to the
requesting gaming machine 12 and displayed on the requesting gaming
machine to indicate to the player that the desired gaming machine
is now available. When this occurs, a timer starts which determines
an amount of time available for the player to finish the current
game being played and commence a game at the requested gaming
machine. In order to ensure that only the correct player is able to
play the game on the requested gaming machine within the allowed
time period, the player may be provided with an identifier, for
example printed on a ticket. The identifier is communicated to the
requested gaming machine, for example by introducing the ticket
into the requested gaming machine within the allowed time period,
and if the identifier matches the identifier stored in the
respective request record, the requested gaming machine 12 is made
available to the player to play a game. If the player does not
commence the game at the requested gaming machine within the
allowed time period, the reservation ceases and any prospective
player is able to play a game on the requested gaming machine.
[0120] While the above embodiments are described in relation to a
gaming system including a notification system 14 in networked
communication with a plurality of gaming machines 12 and arranged
to gather status information from the gaming machines, disseminate
the information to the gaming machines, and to facilitate
reservation of desired gaming machines by players, it will be
understood that other variations are possible. For example, as
shown in FIG. 8, an alternative gaming system 220 is shown wherein
each gaming machine 222 is arranged to communicate directly with
other gaming machines 222 through the network 16, for example by
providing each gaming machine 222 with a notification system 224
configured carry out functions similar to the functions carried to
out by the notification system shown in FIG. 1. In particular, each
notification system 224 may be arranged to generate a gaming
machine layout 150 based on status information received directly
from all other gaming machines, to send gaming machine requests
directly to other gaming machines, and to receive notifications of
availability directly from requested gaming machines. With this
embodiment, the above functions may be carried out by a
notification module connected to each gaming machine. The
notification module may comprise a player marketing module (PMM)
and/or a player tracking module (PTM).
[0121] In alternative arrangements using a server based
architecture wherein a game is at least partly implemented at a
central server, instead of arranging each gaming machine to provide
status information indicative of whether the gaming machine is
vacant or occupied, the system may be arranged such that the status
information is generated by the central server.
[0122] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a
skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present
invention.
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