| Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machineRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationDevice to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070021182, Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/277,525, filed on Oct. 21, 2002, entitled Device to Automatically Change Award Parameters for a Gaming Machine. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The invention is related to gaming devices and, in particular, to changing the achievable awards granted by a gaming machine. BACKGROUND [0003] From the U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,448 B1, a system of linked gaming machines is known that is connected to an external controller and an overhead display. In a special bonus mode time period, the controller randomly determines one or more of the active gaming machines for bonus multiplier opportunities, where an award normally granted by a gaming machine is multiplied by a bonus multiplier. Upon a selected gaming machine obtaining a winning symbol combination, the gaming machine's internal control unit pays out the normal award, and the controller then causes the internal control unit to pay out the multiplied award. The increased payouts are deducted from a bonus pool. SUMMARY [0004] The gaming device of the present invention increases the attraction for a player by providing an additional feature. The device of the present invention has the advantage that at an unpredicted point in time, which cannot be anticipated by the player, the gaming machine is set to an enhanced play mode. During the enhanced play mode, the awards attributed to each symbol combination are increased. The enhanced play mode may exist for a predetermined number of games, a selectable period of time, or until an award level is reached. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the enhanced play mode grants free games for a predetermined number of games, a selectable period of time, or until an award level is reached. The enhanced awards need not be provided from any special bonus pool. [0005] During the enhanced play mode, the game itself may change, such as by displaying a different set of symbols, adding new winning combinations, changing the pay loading, or changing the win frequency. By changing the pay loading or win frequency, the machines are operated economically despite the enhanced play mode. [0006] In one embodiment, to ensure that the gaming machine can be operated economically in spite of the enhanced play mode, each gaming machine transmits a signal to an external control unit to show its readiness to participate in the enhanced play mode only if certain parameters are met. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] The present invention is described with reference to the following drawings. [0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system of gaming machines, a control unit, and a jackpot display. [0009] FIG. 2 illustrates the main parts of a gaming machine, including a communication circuit to communicate with the external control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0010] A system of gaming machines 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises one or more gaming machines 2a-2d and a jackpot display enclosure 3 housing a separate control unit 4 to control the enhanced play mode, a jackpot display 5 to display a jackpot amount, and an enhanced play mode display 6 to indicate the activation of the enhanced play mode. The gaming machines 2a-2d are linked within a communication network by wires 7 or by a wireless connection. The gaming machines 2a-2d within the network can feature different games. [0011] Each gaming machine 2a-2d comprises its own display 8 to display, for example, pseudo-randomly generated winning or non-winning symbol combinations across one or more pay lines. The display 8 may be a video screen (e.g., a CRT or TFT display) or mechanical reels. A jackpot amount is displayed on the display 5 and on a display 9 of each gaming machine 2a-2d. [0012] On the front of each gaming machine 2a-2d, there is a money acceptor 10 (such as for bills, coins, or cards) adjacent to the display 8. The money acceptor 10 is connected to a control unit, comprising a microprocessor, within the gaming machine 2a-2d. [0013] The control unit 4 in the jackpot display enclosure 3 controls the jackpot display 5 and the enhanced play mode display 6, as well as controlling other aspects of the enhanced play mode. The jackpot display 5 can be a dot-matrix-display, an LCD, a CRT, or any other type of display. The display 6 can be a translucent illuminated display, a CRT, a TFT display, an LCD, or any other type of display. The control unit 4, comprising a microprocessor, in the jackpot display enclosure 3 is connected to the communications network via wires or a wireless (RF or infrared) connection. The control unit 4 may increment the jackpot display 5 based on a percentage of bets or based on any other factors. A jackpot symbol combination by one of the gaming machines 2a-2d wins all or a portion of the displayed jackpot, and the displayed jackpot amount is decremented. [0014] The block diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates functional units used to operate a gaming machine 2a-2d within the network. The gaming machine 2a-2d includes a control unit 11. The control unit 11 comprises a main board 12 and a communications board 13. The communications board 13 controls the control unit 4 in the jackpot display enclosure 3 and the data transfer through the network. [0015] A money acceptor 10 forms part of a coin unit 14, such as described in German application DE 364 13 46 A1. The coin unit 14 comprises an electronic coin validator, a hopper and a coin tray. Player control elements 15 are connected to a microcomputer 16 of the main board 12. The microcomputer 16 of the main board 12 comprises a microprocessor with a logic unit, an accumulator battery, a memory, a pulse generator, serial interfaces 17, a BUS system, and an input/output device to control the data transfer with peripheral devices such as the control unit 4, coin unit 14, and control elements 15. The BUS system provides all elements with data and storage addresses and control signals. The serial interface 17 (TTL) establishes a connection with the communications board 13. The serial interface 17 can be RS232 or any other kind of interface. [0016] The communications board 13 comprises a CPU 18 with a serial interface 19. The CPU 18 comprises non-volatile memory 20 and RAM 21. CPU 18, the memory 20, 21, and a serial controller 23 with a serial interface 26 communicate via respective addresses, an I/O-decoder 22, and a BUS system using conventional techniques. [0017] A network interface card 27 is connected to the serial interface 26 (e.g., RS485) of the controller 23. The network interface card 27 comprises an optical coupler 28 for galvanic isolation and an amplifier 29, which is connected to the network via wires 7. [0018] The communication boards 13 of all gaming machines 2a-2d are connected and communicate to each other. Each communications board 13 has a unique address, which can be set manually. After all gaming machines 2a-2d are powered up, it is decided automatically which gaming machine 2a-2d is the master or the slave. All slaves communicate with the master, and the master controls the control unit 4 within the jackpot display enclosure 3 and manages the jackpots. There may be multiple jackpots A and B. In case that there is more than one master after power up, the master with the lowest address becomes a slave. Continue reading about Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine... Full patent description for Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Betting on games using a betting exchange system Next Patent Application: Game and bonus game play for slot machines Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.18584 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
