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  Wagering game benefits redeemable at another gaming deviceUSPTO Application #: 20080026822Title: Wagering game benefits redeemable at another gaming device Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for offering a benefit to a player of a first electronic game device. In an embodiment, the method includes determining if a player of a first electronic game device qualifies to receive at least one benefit associated with an award value, and then outputting an offer to provide the at least one benefit. In some embodiments, the offer requires use of a second electronic game device. The method may also include receiving a request for the benefit at the second electronic game device, and then providing at least one benefit to the player. In some embodiments, the offer includes such benefits as additional game play, one or more bonus-round game outcomes, a monetary payout, a game play modification, additional comp points, loss insurance, a multimedia option, and acquisition of at least one unit of media content. (end of abstract) Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC - Stamford, CT, US Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Russell P. Sammon, Robert C. Tedesco, James A. Jorasch, Daniel E. Tedesco, Jeffrey Y. Hayashida USPTO Applicaton #: 20080026822 - Class: 463 25 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080026822. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention generally relates to electronic Game Devices (GDs), such as slot machines, video poker machines and pachinko machines that are used by players to play wagering games. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining that a player of a first GD qualifies for a benefit associated with an award value, and if so, providing an offer that requires the player to redeem the benefit at a second GD. For example, a player may qualify to receive an offer for additional game play by using a second GD that is located in a different part of the casino. [0002]Advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the contents of this document, and the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims and to the drawings attached hereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0003]FIG. 1A is a plan view of an embodiment of an example of an electronic Game Device (GD) of a type adapted for use with the present invention; [0004]FIG. 1B is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a GD similar to that depicted in FIG. 1A; [0005]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic Game Server (GS) in accordance with the invention, wherein the GS is a component of a system and may be configured to communicate with a plurality of GDs; [0006]FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a GD to determine if a player qualifies to receive an offer for a benefit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; [0007]FIGS. 3B and 3C depict a flowchart 350 illustrating the operation of a second GD that is configured to receive cashout tickets from players and to satisfy proper requests to redeem benefit offers made by a first GD in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; [0008]FIGS. 4A and 4B depict a tabular representation of an example of a game results table of a GD according to an embodiment of the invention; [0009]FIG. 5 is a tabular representation of a benefits due database according to an embodiment of the invention; [0010]FIG. 6 illustrates a cashout ticket in accordance with an aspect of the invention; [0011]FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a display screen output that provides a player with an indication of an offer for a benefit according to an embodiment of the invention; [0012]FIG. 8 illustrates an example display screen of a second GD which is providing a benefit according to an embodiment of the invention; and [0013]FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a menu displayed to a player to enable selection of a bonus-round game style according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014]Applicants have recognized that it would be advantageous to, without interrupting an already-profitable behavioral pattern, steer a player from one electronic game device (GD) such as a slot machine to a different GD to redeem a spin or payout. For example, a player might win a "spin" on a first GD, and be directed to a second GD to play the spin. In a particular example, a player might play a "standard" GD, and win a bonus-round game entry or spin that is exclusively redeemable at a special "bonus-round only" GD that is positioned at a central location on a slot floor of a casino. [0015]There are numerous potential benefits to both players and casinos for directing players to other GDs for the purpose of redeeming a spin or payout. For example, casinos and GD manufacturers wish to encourage players to try new GDs, and can thus provide benefits and/or incentives (e.g., a player is awarded one free bonus spin on a new brand of slot game at a GD that is physically located at a remote site which may be a short or a long distance away from the first GD). In an embodiment, patrons may be steered to redeem winnings at a visible, central location on a slot floor, so that the players' big wins become a visible event (e.g., taking place at a large machine such as a "Mega"-GD in a high-traffic area). Such "big win" events may excite onlookers and motivate them to gamble. Moreover, the casino is given some added general flexibility concerning managing the flow of players on the slot machine floor. That is, by providing a potentially small benefit, players may be driven to particular areas or to particular GDs as the casino sees fit. [0016]In some embodiments, players may be provided with additional benefits in situations where they redeem at a second GD a payout or spin won at a first GD. For example, players may be given an additional monetary benefit (e.g., a 20% bonus on top of any winnings resulting from a particular spin). Additionally, in some embodiments, players redeeming a spin or payout at a second GD may find the second GDs ability to execute a game play and/or provide such a payout or spin to be more entertaining, immersive, or otherwise enjoyable (e.g., more than the first GDs ability). For example, if the second GD is a "bonus-round only" device that redeems bonus round entries provided by other GDs, without the need to accommodate "traditional" game play or wagering (e.g., the "bonus-round only" device doesn't need a robust dashboard of wagering and/or payline options), such a device may allow for a more robust bonus-round experience. For example, a "bonus-round only" device may feature an oversized, electromechanical bonus wheel, large display screens, surround sound, and possibly some other over-sized or "extreme" features. Such "bonus-round only" Gds may also contain instructions on a display, for example, that are visible to persons who pass by (such as casino patrons and/or players) explaining how to win spins and/or which other GDs may be used to achieve game play on that GD. Players may perceive that the ability to utilize such a "bonus-round only" second GD is a privilege, and may be happy that other patrons see them playing the second GD. [0017]In some situations, the practice of directing a player of a first GD to a second GD may be unnecessary, inadvisable (e.g., the player is enjoying himself and should not be disturbed), unprofitable (e.g., the player is generating substantial revenue through play of the first GD) or otherwise unacceptable to a casino. Thus, in an embodiment, the method and system includes various rules (e.g., stored in electronic memory and utilized by one or more software programs of a GD and/or a casino server and/or a Gaming Server (GS) or the like) that may be put in place to determine when players may receive and/or redeem such additional spins and/or payouts. For example, the casino may only offer the provision and/or redemption of such benefits (which may be additional spins) and/or payouts at various times of the day, for certain players, for large payout amounts, and/or when utilization with respect to certain GDs is beneath a certain threshold. Further, methods are contemplated for motivating the players to go back to the GDs that they were initially playing on the slot floor after they are finished using the second GD (e.g., a dual-value cashout option provides more "promotional" or non-cashable value at certain standard GDs (e.g., 110 promotional credits) on the floor than for simply being cashed out (e.g., for a monetary equivalent of 100 credits)). [0018]For example, a player who is playing a standard video slot machine GD may achieve an outcome of "Wheel-Wheel-Wheel". However, rather than trigger the bonus round immediately at the GD that he's playing, the screen indicates: "Congratulations, you've won a spin of our Mega Bonus Wheel in the center of the room! Just insert your cashout ticket from this machine at any time to redeem your spin." The standard video slot machine (or server in communication therewith) also determines and stores an award value, which may be an expected value (EV) due to the player in association with the bonus spin. (For example, the EV may be equivalent to the sum of the probability of each possible outcome the player may later receive multiplied by the outcome's payout.) In order to take advantage of the additional game play (which may also be thought of as acquiring an additional gaming output), the player later inserts his cashout ticket at the Mega Bonus Wheel GD. When the cashout ticket is inserted, the Mega Bonus Wheel device (i) looks up the predetermined award value (for example, an EV) that is due to the player (e.g., a central database may store a value such as "100" coins), and then (ii) provides the EV by generating a random game result that yields the EV. (For example, by way of the random result, some players win 80 coins, some players win 100 coins, and other players win 120 coins. But in the long run 100 coins are paid out on average to players who are due and/or presenting an EV of 100 coins). [0019]In another example, rather than indicate an award value which may be provided to a player, a cashout ticket or other type of ticket or voucher may indicate a probability table and/or a payout table against which a random result is to be determined by the second device (e.g., the ticket indicates "Bonus round pool BP-X10292," referring to a table or a database that stores a variety of bonus payout amounts with probabilities and random number ranges associated therewith). But in some other embodiments, a player may be presented with a display of several "masked" rewards boxes that each conceals a payout amount, wherein the payout amounts are not associated with probability or payout tables. [0020]In some embodiments, such a second GD or "bonus-only" device may recall or otherwise obtain and then output the "bonus-triggering" outcome the player initially achieved at the first machine. For example, before providing an elaborate bonus round animation sequence, a second GD or bonus-only device may obtain and "replay" the original "Wheel-Wheel-Wheel" outcome the player achieved on a standard GD, such as a slot machine, which serves as a thematic reminder of how the player gained access to the bonus-only device. [0021]It should be understood that, although a slot machine type of GD was discussed in the examples above, the present methods are also applicable to other GDs that offer different types of wagering games, including but not limited to, video poker machines, video blackjack machines, keno terminals, a pachinko machine, a GD offering a table-top game, a personal computer, a telephone or cell phone, a portable handheld gaming device (e.g., a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless intra-property handheld wagering device, a Nintendo.RTM. GameBoy.RTM., and the like), a skill crane, a skee-ball machine, and/or hardware positioned adjacent to or in association with a table game (for example, blackjack or craps) that is configured to accept, for example, cashout tickets or vouchers with such bonus round information and/or player identification and/or bet input. It is noted that applying the methods disclosed herein to interactive games, such as video poker or video blackjack, may be beneficial because it may encourage players to try out new or different GDs that they would not ordinarily utilize when visiting the casino. Continue reading... Full patent description for Wagering game benefits redeemable at another gaming device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Wagering game benefits redeemable at another gaming device patent application. 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The secure transactions may include a transfer of an amount of an indicia of credit with a cash value from the portable device to the gaming machine or a transfer of an amount of an indicia ... ###  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 Wagering game benefits redeemable at another gaming device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Reusable cashless instruments for gaming machines and systems Next Patent Application: Gaming machine and gaming method thereof Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Wagering game benefits redeemable at another gaming device patent info. 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