| Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus gameRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Credit/debit Monitoring Or Manipulation (e.g., Game Entry, Betting, Prize Level, Etc.), Pool Amount (e.g., Jackpot, Etc.)Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070004505, Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/451,607, filed Mar. 3, 2003, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING REGULAR ENTRANCE INTO A BONUS GAME" which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. [0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of: [0003] commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/419,303, filed Apr. 18, 2003, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A TIME BASED PAYMENT FROM A GAMING DEVICE"; and is also a continuation-in-part of: [0004] commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/420,066, filed Apr. 21, 2003, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMPLOYING FLAT RATE PLAY"; and is also a continuation-in-part of: [0005] commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/414,934, filed Apr. 15, 2003, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINKED PLAY GAMING WITH COMBINED OUTCOMES AND SHARED INDICIA"; and is also a continuation-in-part of: [0006] commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/420,981, filed Apr. 22, 2003, entitled "GAMING DEVICE METHOD AND APPARATUS EMPLOYING ALTERNATE PAYOUT FEATURES"; and is also a continuation-in-part of: [0007] commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/___,___ (Attorney docket No. 03-005), filed Feb. 26, 2004, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLAY OF A GAME WITH NEGATIVE OUTCOMES". [0008] Each of the above-referenced applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention relates to gaming devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing scheduled benefits, including scheduled payouts and scheduled entries into a bonus game. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0010] Slot machines generate more than $15 billion in revenue per year for US casinos. Most casinos generate more than half of their gaming revenue from slot machines. Some casinos offer three or four thousand slot machines in a single location. Many slot players believe that if they just play long enough, they will be rewarded with a significant payout. However, after a long session of play, most end up disappointed. Methods are needed for alleviating player disappointment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an example system according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating an alternative example system according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the details of a casino server 102 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the details of a gaming device 104 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the external appearance of a gaming device 104 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the external appearance of a gaming device 104 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to some other embodiments of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 6 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example player database 208 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 7 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example gaming device database 210 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 8 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example current session database 314 as depicted in FIG. 3 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 9 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example proration database 316 as depicted in FIG. 3 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. Continue reading about Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game 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 Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Multi-core processing in a wagering game machine Next Patent Application: Casino display methods and devices Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method and apparatus for providing regular entrance into a bonus game patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.1853 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
