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  Affiliated gaming systemRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Access Or Authorization (e.g., Game Selection, Security, Etc.)The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070167226. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/470,606 filed Sep. 6, 2006, entitled SYSTEM GAMING APPARATUS AND METHOD, which in turn claimed the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/714,754, filed Sep. 7, 2005, entitled SYSTEM GAMING APPARATUS AND METHOD, and continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/225,770 filed Sep. 12, 2005, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GAMING-CONTENT CONFIGURATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/470,605, filed Sep. 6, 2006. COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates generally to a player tracking system and system gaming apparatus for playing non-base games in a casino, arcade, or web based environment, and more particularly, to a player tracking system and system gaming apparatus for playing non-base games by funding the credit side of a gaming cycle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Casinos have long sought new ways to induce play on the gaming devices. They try to increase player time on gaming devices, average wager amount, and speed of play. Various techniques have been used in attempts to gain higher casino profits. One such technique in the casino gaming industry is the use of secondary bonus rounds or bonus games. This usually takes the form of a second level inside a base game of a gaming device embodied in software or an add-on top box bonus game. Newer game titles can be created with these secondary levels of play providing the player with additional chances of winning even larger prize rewards. Older game titles do not have these newer secondary games or bonus rounds due to high game software and hardware upgrade costs, and/or lack of interest of game manufacturers to re-code or configure legacy software, which is often a very difficult task. Also game resubmission to regulatory agencies is prohibitive in cost, time, and resources. The game manufacturer would rather focus on creating these new features on new software titles under development using a more modern hardware/software platform. As such it is difficult to provide players of these older gaming devices a secondary win opportunity [0005] In the last decade, player tracking systems have emerged, wherein a player registers for a player-tracking card at a registration desk. The player is typically given a plastic magnetic strip player card for use while playing gaming devices on the casino floor, or at the card tables. Each player card has a number on it that associates it with a player record in a casino marketing promotion server. [0006] The casino creates at least two accounts for a player. The first account is sometimes called eCash. Money can be given by the casino at any time to the player as a means to encourage players to go to the casino floor and gamble. Often $5 of free money is assigned to the player account at registration time to induce the player to visit the slot machines on the floor or to revisit the casino. These player tracking systems usually contain a small player tracking display to show the player his account, a player tracking magnetic card reader, a pin pad for password entry, a base gaming device, a base game monitoring unit (GMU), and an array of network servers in communication with the GMU that manage the player account. Upon insertion of the player card at the card reader associated with a particular gaming device the player tracking system may transfer this money down to the gaming device usually after entry of a PIN# by the player, which provides security. This money can now be played at the base gaming device just as if the player inserted cash or cash ticket into the machine. [0007] The second type of account is a bonus points account, called eCash in some instances, wherein a patron accrues points into his account if the player's card is inserted in the player tracking card reader at the gaming device. Systems typically detect the amount of money played on the base gaming devices using the GMU, and they forward this information to casino marketing servers for point accrual. The accrual is typically based upon amount of money played or handle-pull at the base gaming device being played by the player. For example, the player plays X dollars on the base game and gets Y bonus points accrued to the player's account. These points are typically redeemed at various hotel venues at a conversion rate into cash value. These points create long term player loyalty to the location. The more a player plays, the more points the player receives. This is very similar to the airline industry with their frequent flyer miles program. Typically the casino will give 0.1%-0.25% of the players' gross wager back to the player in the form of bonus point value. [0008] More recent additions to the casino player tracking systems provide for bonus prizes or prize pools that are periodically given to carded players on a random basis to give the player the more instantaneous and larger rewards verses the slow accrual of Bonus Points. This is done for several reasons: to help induce play on the gaming device, to encourage players to become carded players, to create player loyalty for the casino, and to provide bonus prizes without modifying the base gaming device software. These bonus prizes are given separately from the regular payout from a casino gaming device pay table. These bonus systems usually differ from traditional wide area progressives (WAPs) that are usually game theme and pay table specific. Newer player tracking displays have multimedia capabilities and are typically 640.times.240 screen resolution with touch screen overlay. These displays open the player tracking display to a whole new assortment of options for entertainment verses the older 2 line vacuum florescent display with keypad. With the advent of the newer player tracking multi-media touch screen video displays, an opportunity exists to add new secondary bonus games to any base game that is so equipped. Even an older mechanical slot machine can now have a secondary video game associated with it for the players' enjoyment without modifying any of its own software. These systems typically detect the amount of money played on the base gaming devices using a game monitoring unit (GMU), and allocate a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool on the bonus server. After the bonus pool level exceeds a turn-on level, the bonus pool is randomly awarded to a pre-selected carded player at a gaming device [0009] In some systems a bonus period occurs where a pre-selected subset of gaming devices are enabled for this bonus period and a bonus is awarded to all of the pre-selected, or just one pre-selected, gaming device(s). Other bonus accrual techniques use win rate for casino or loss rate for a player. Other base game variables can be used. For example a bonus point or points could be given for every maximum bet game. Generally any variable tracked by the base game and reportable to the system can be used to increment bonus progressive pots. [0010] Other systems provide means to award a bonus by re-configuring the base game payout, and resetting the gaming device after the bonus has been awarded. Most of the time, all players are shown the size of the progressive bonus awards prior to a win, and if a specific player is lucky, then the player is awarded the bonus automatically at the gaming device. [0011] Sometimes there are player qualification rules to ensure that a player must spend a certain amount of money per unit time on the base gaming device to have a chance to win the system bonus award. More recent implementations of these bonusing techniques have included a simulated game for the player view, such as a bingo game. These games are usually just an improved presentation to the previously mentioned bonus awards to give the player a more entertaining way of winning the bonus award than previous implementations that just tell the player that the player won without telling the player how. Typically the player must only insert their card in the card reader and begin play on the base gaming device in order to have a chance to win the bonus award. Typically there is more than one bonus pool available to win on a casino floor. Small, medium, and large pools create various compelling reasons for the player to play the base gaming device. Small dollar amount progressive bonuses are awarded more frequently than the large pools, but the large dollar amount pools are compelling because they can be life changing if a player wins. [0012] One system discloses a means of issuing a bonus award at a predetermined gaming device once the pool has reached a turn-on level and forcing bonus to be given out prior to reaching a maximum level. For example the large progressive may default to $50,000. The maximum the progressive will grow to will be $150,000. It will increment by 25% of the handle pull on the base game. The turn-on level may be secretly, randomly determined to be at $141,083. Once the progressive reaches $141,083 dollars, the bonus period begins, and one or more gaming devices may be awarded the bonus shortly thereafter. The specific machine that wins is typically randomly chosen from one of the carded players on the gaming floor at the time. If configured to do so, the progressive bonus award will be forced to be paid by the time it reaches $150,000. These systems allow a casino to do a marketing promotion to their players by taking a certain percentage of the money played on the casino floor and giving it back to patrons in a jackpot form of bonus game that is shown on the player tracking display. Another benefit of bonus games is that they give the operator the chance to provide a unique gaming experience across their entire floor that is unique to their facility. It helps differentiate them with other casinos that have the same base games. [0013] While these bonusing techniques are a significant improvement over non-bonusing systems they as of yet do not allow the player to choose the system bonus game they want to play. These systems do give the player an ability to win additional bonus awards on top of the base gaming device, but the player is not in control of the bonus game process in any way. They have no choice as to which prize game or prize pool they want to play for. It is automatically determined for them by the system. [0014] Thus, it would be desirable to provide a system game platform capable of giving the player a wide choice of games to choose from wherein each game can have its own pay table and can increment its own progressive accordingly. It would further be desirable to provide some system games that create competition or cooperation for players, such as tournaments and the like. It would be desirable for the player to choose a game that has the reward that he desires verses what the casino desires. It would be desirable to allow both free bonus games and pay-to-play games to equally co-exist on this player tracking device to increase incremental income per unit time at this gaming device. It would also be desirable to provide system games that can induce even more rapid play on the base gaming device, larger average wager, increase time on machine, and competitive play between patrons. It would be desirable to have a system game platform that can play games on player tracking device displays as well as larger display systems. Also it would be desirable to provide skill games, chance games, lottery style, and also other styles of games. It would be desirable to have a system gaming platform and architectures that can complement any online gaming system as an add-on experience for those businesses. It would further be desirable to take advantage of these system gaming/player tracking devices for casino wide promotions and games that can be delivered consistency across base game manufacturers. It would also be desirable to provide a full player account used to authorize, track, and reward every play on the floor, to provide a true cashless floor. The following invention addresses these and other issues. The preferred embodiments of the system and method described herein clearly addresses these and other needs. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0015] Briefly, and in general terms, the claimed invention resolves the above and other problems by providing a system and method for enabling a gaming system having a secondary gaming device. In one preferred embodiment, the system includes at least one gaming device having a base game. A secondary device has a display and processor operatively associated with the gaming device. The secondary device enables a player with an opportunity to play a secondary bonus game, wherein the rate of play of the base game at least partially controls the rate of play of the secondary game. [0016] In another preferred embodiment, a casino gaming system has at least one gaming device including a base game. A secondary device has a display and processor operatively associated with the gaming device. The secondary device provides a player with an opportunity to play a secondary bonus game. The secondary bonus game includes a plurality of play elements, wherein activation of each successive play element is controlled by the amount wagered in each play of the base game, or alternatively, the total amount wagered in the base game. [0017] In another preferred embodiment, the secondary device provides a player with an opportunity to play a secondary bonus game that includes a plurality of play segments, wherein activation of each successive play segment is controlled by the amount wagered in the base game. [0018] In another preferred embodiment, a casino gaming system includes at least one gaming device having a base game. A secondary display device has a secondary bonus game and a credit meter displayed thereon. A credit accrual engine is responsive to the amount wagered in each play of the base game, wherein the engine accrues credits in response to base game activity, and wherein the accrued credits can be used to activate the play of the secondary bonus game. [0019] In another preferred embodiment, a casino gaming system comprises at least one gaming device having a base game. A secondary display device displays a secondary bonus game. A promotional credit accrual engine is responsive to the amount wagered in each play of the base game, wherein the engine accrues credits in response to base game activity, and wherein the accrued credits activate the play of the secondary bonus game. Continue reading... Full patent description for Affiliated gaming system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Affiliated gaming system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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