Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-02
2002-12-31
Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
C463S016000, C463S030000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06500068
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a gaming system which provides a payout for each play and, more particularly, to a system which selectively provides a video presentation to a user, as a form of non-monetary compensation, in accordance with criteria such as player identification data and a gaming result.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Slot machines provide an important source of revenue for the gaming industry. For that reason, gaming establishments constantly search for new gaming strategies and features to provide additional incentives for slot machine players to continue play. Some gaming devices now provide video or graphical information to entertain a player during play. For instance, some slot machines provide “Dotmation”, a computer controlled LED display, that ties a game to an animated character. Such a system is currently utilized in “Piggy Bankin”, wherein a pig dances around an LED display screen as the slot machine play ensues.
Another approach is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,613, entitled “Casino and Entertainment System,” wherein gaming devices are furnished with audio/video communication equipment that is connected to a central control station. The control station selectively engages in both voice and video communication with the players at each individual slot machine. Live sporting events and even daytime soap opera television can be displayed.
It is also known that some gaming devices provide an increased probability of winning to attract players. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,539 (Nagao) entitled “Slot Machine with Payout Modifying Symbols” describes a gaming device in which a player wins by obtaining a certain combination of characters associated with a winning table (e.g., the various winning combinations). The gaming system includes a wild card which may be substituted for any character and, thus, increases the probability of a player receiving a winning combination of characters.
Gaming devices have also been known to provide complimentary points for players who are members of slot clubs. These slot clubs provide the player with a slot tracking card which when inserted into the slot machine rewards the player with comp points for each handle pull or game play. These points, which may be redeemed for some prize or gift, are part of casino programs used to attract players. Complimentary points are automatically provided to a player simply for initiating a gaming play, (e.g., paying a monetary sum to begin a play), but do not form part of the prize structure of the underlying game. In other words, complimentary points are provided to a player regardless of the gaming result. In most cases, the monetary sum paid by the player into the slot machine determines the amount of complimentary points to be provided by the casino.
There is a continuing desire on the part of gaming establishments to enhance the playing and winning experience at slot machines with video or graphic information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a gaming device which contains a payout table which results in a player receiving a “payout” for every possible gaming result.
A further object of the invention is to provide a system for provision of a video presentation to slot machine players, wherein the video presentation is output as a form of a low-level non-monetary winning.
A further object of the invention is to provide a gaming system, wherein a player can terminate a video presentation at a gaming device and can resume display of the video presentation from the point of termination, at another time or gaming device.
A further object of the invention is to provide a gaming device for provision of a video presentation wherein the video presentation can be used as part of a skill-game puzzle, with a prize structure separate from the gaming device.
A further object of this invention is to provide a gaming system which provides a payout, either as a monetary award or as a displayed video presentation, on each play, based on a set of payout conditions.
A gaming system includes a network server connected to a plurality of gaming devices that are adapted to provide a video payout on each play based on a set of payout parameters. Memory at each gaming device stores payout parameters that correspond to each possible gaming result or outcome. When a play is initiated by a player, a gaming result is generated at a gaming device. The gaming device responds by accessing a corresponding payout parameter from the memory which may be a monetary amount, a video presentation segment or a combination thereof. If the payout is video, the network server receives the payout parameter and transmits a video presentation segment to the gaming device accordingly. The gaming device then provides a video payout, in the form of a displayed video presentation, to the player. The player thus receives at least one form of payment on each play.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4375286 (1983-03-01), Seitz et al.
patent: 4553748 (1985-11-01), Allen et al.
patent: 4618150 (1986-10-01), Kimura
patent: 4799683 (1989-01-01), Bruner, Jr.
patent: 4839743 (1989-06-01), Best et al.
patent: 4858930 (1989-08-01), Sato
patent: 5127651 (1992-07-01), Okada
patent: 5142358 (1992-08-01), Jason
patent: 5259613 (1993-11-01), Marnell, II
patent: 5373440 (1994-12-01), Cohen et al.
patent: 5393061 (1995-02-01), Manship et al.
patent: 5411258 (1995-05-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 5423539 (1995-06-01), Nagao
patent: 5449173 (1995-09-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5472195 (1995-12-01), Takemoto et al.
patent: 5488411 (1996-01-01), Lewis
patent: 5494287 (1996-02-01), Manz
patent: 5508731 (1996-04-01), Kohorn
patent: 5513846 (1996-05-01), Niederlein et al.
patent: 5579537 (1996-11-01), Takahisa
patent: D378604 (1997-03-01), Brettschneider
patent: 5612730 (1997-03-01), Lewis
patent: 5630754 (1997-05-01), Rebane
patent: 5655961 (1997-08-01), Acres et al.
patent: 5664998 (1997-09-01), Seelig et al.
patent: 5664999 (1997-09-01), Kurihara
patent: 5697843 (1997-12-01), Manship et al.
patent: 5770533 (1998-06-01), Franchi
patent: 5779549 (1998-07-01), Walker et al.
patent: 5788573 (1998-08-01), Baerlocher et al.
patent: 5947820 (1999-09-01), Morro et al.
patent: 5971851 (1999-10-01), Pascal et al.
patent: 6110041 (2000-08-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6186893 (2001-02-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6224486 (2001-05-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6234896 (2001-05-01), Walker et al.
patent: 2072395 (1981-09-01), None
Author Unknown, “IGT Launches Next-Generation Video Gaming Machine”; PR Newswire; Aug. 23, 1995; Section: Financial News.
Author Unknown, “More ‘Dotmation’ Slots Hit Towr; The Company That Gave Us “Piggy Bankin” Starts the New Year with Three New Games That Promise to Bring More Fun to the Slot Floss”; Atlantic City Insider; Revealing the Casinos′ Best-Kept Secrets; Jan. 1997; vol. 1.
Brochure: “Welcome to Video Reality!”, Atronic Casino Technology, Oct. 1995.
Fink Jesse M.
Jorasch James A.
Sparico Thomas M.
Walker Jay S.
Fincham Magdalena M.
Sager Mark
Walker Digital, LLC
LandOfFree
Slot driven video story does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Slot driven video story, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Slot driven video story will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2938485