Patent Grant
8517832
The invention relates generally to wagering gaming systems, and more specifically to use of digital audio in a wagering game machine.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which the claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any person of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever.
A wide variety of gaming devices are now available to gamers and to casino operators in computerized form, from slot machines to games that are traditionally played live such as poker and blackjack. These computerized games provide many benefits to the game owner and to the gambler, including greater reliability than can be achieved with a mechanical game or human dealer, more variety, sound, and animation in presentation of a game, and a lower overall cost of production and management.
Computerized video game systems must be designed with many of the same concerns as their mechanical and table game ancestors—they must be fair, they must provide sufficient feedback to the gamer to make the game fun to play, and they must meet a variety of gaming regulations to ensure that both the machine owner and gamer are honest and fairly treated in implementing the game. Further, they must provide a gaming experience that is at least as attractive as the older mechanical gaming machine experience to the gamer, to ensure success in a competitive gaming market.
Many computerized wagering game systems have a variety of sound and graphical elements designed to attract and keep a game player's attention, such as sound effects, music, and animation. These game presentation features often include a variety of music, sound effects, and voices presented to complement a video presentation of the wagering game on a display.
But, as wagering game systems evolve and audio technology progresses, it can become difficult to interface older technology with new technology. For example, sending an audio signal from one device to another requires that it be sent in a format recognized by both devices, which traditionally means that it is sent as a “line-level” analog audio signal. But analog signals are subject to noise and other interference in a computerized system employing digital electronics, lights, and other devices that produce electrical interference, and so can reduce or degrade the quality of the signal.
It is therefore desired to interface audio components using superior technologies in a wagering game machine.
The present invention provides in one embodiment a computerized wagering game system having a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio module operable to exchange digital audio data with an audio device over a digital audio format link. The digital audio format link in various embodiments comprises a SPDIF link, an AES/EBU link, an HDMI link, or an I2S link, or a digital audio signal carried over another link such as a USB link.
In the following detailed description of sample embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific sample embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.
The present invention provides in one embodiment a computerized wagering game system having a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio module operable to exchange digital audio data with an audio device over a digital link supporting a digital audio format. The digital audio format link in various embodiments comprises a SPDIF link, an AES/EBU link, an HDMI link, or an I2S link, and is used to facilitate digital transfer of audio data from one electronic component or device to another electronic component or device in the wagering game system.
A game of chance is implemented using software within the wagering game, such as through instructions stored on a machine-readable medium such as a hard disk drive or nonvolatile memory. In some further example embodiments, some or all of the software stored in the wagering game machine is encrypted or is verified using a hash algorithm or encryption algorithm to ensure its authenticity and to verify that it has not been altered. For example, in one embodiment the wagering game software is loaded from nonvolatile memory in a compact flash card, and a hash value is calculated or a digital signature is derived to confirm that the data stored on the compact flash card has not been altered. The game of chance implemented via the loaded software takes various forms in different wagering game machines, including such well-known wagering games as reel slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, or hold'em games. The wagering game is played and controlled with inputs such as various buttons 103 or via the touchscreen video display 101. In some alternate examples, other devices such as pull arm 104 used to initiate reel spin in this reel slot machine example are employed to provide other input interfaces to the game player.
Monetary value is typically wagered on the outcome of the games, such as with tokens, coins, bills, or cards that hold monetary value. The wagered value is conveyed to the machine through a changer 105 or a secure user identification module interface 106, and winnings are returned via the returned value card or through the coin tray 107. Sound is also provided through speakers 108, typically including audio indicators of game play, such as reel spins, credit bang-ups, and environmental or other sound effects or music to provide entertainment consistent with a theme of the computerized wagering game. In some further embodiments, the wagering game machine is coupled to a network, and is operable to use its network connection to receive wagering game data, track players and monetary value associated with a player, and to perform other such functions.
Audio presented to the wagering game player is typically presented through speakers 108, but in various embodiments of the invention is also provided as an audio output signal that can be received in another audio device, such as via a digital audio output. Other embodiments of the invention incorporate a digital audio input, such as may be used to receive digital audio signals from digital audio devices such as a CD or DVD player, an MP3 or other music player, or a digital audio distribution network. Exchanging digital data with a digital audio device includes receiving digital audio data, sending digital audio data, or both sending and receiving digital audio data in various embodiments of the invention.
Use of a digital audio stream provides compatibility with an ever-increasing number of digital audio components, and reduces the chance that an analog audio signal will be degraded by noise or other interference. The digital audio signal comprises in some embodiments a signal comprising one of two distinct voltage levels, where the changes between voltage level over time represent encoded samples or audio amplitude values. These digital audio signals can be converted to analog audio for playback through a speaker or headphones via a digital-to-analog converter, and by related circuitry that provides filtering, timing, and other functions.
The USB interface is absent entirely in still other embodiments, and is replaced with an audio adapter having a digital interface. For example, many commercially available sound cards or adapters, and many commercially available computer audio chipsets support digital audio in one or more formats, such as SPDIF or AES/EBU. This enables direct connection of a digital audio device to the wagering game's audio components, using an interface that is widely used, is robust, and is secure.
The digital audio I/O enables a wagering game provider to provide digital audio content to a wagering game machine in a format that doesn't require authentication or verification, as does most code or other digital data stored in a wagering game machine. Because the interface is an audio interface and does not carry program code or other such data to the processor, wagering game machine designers can incorporate digital audio devices having replaceable or reconfigurable media, or can in embodiments such as that of
The USB interface 301 of
In a further embodiment, the USB interface 301 is replaced with an audio processor, which in an alternate embodiment is a part of digital signal processor 304, which is operable to exchange digital audio information with another digital audio device. The jack 303 in some such embodiments is a digital audio interface jack, such as a Toslink optical digital audio jack, or an RCA digital audio jack, configured to couple to a digital audio device. Some digital audio standards specify the jack type, such as the Toslink jack for optical digital audio signals, and some further specify electrical parameters such as a 75 Ohm or 110 Ohm impedance for connecting cables. For example, the AES/EBU digital audio standard includes a specified cable and termination impedance of 110 Ohms, and a two-to-seven Volt peak-to-peak signal level. The SPDIF standard, which is more common in consumer applications such as portable digital audio devices, specifies a single-ended 75 Ohm cable and RCA or phono plugs and jacks for interconnection, and a 0.5 Volt peak-to-peak signal level when using an electrical interface. Alternately, a Toslink optical interface can be used for SPDIF, and converters from electrical to optical and optical to electrical can be easily incorporated into the jack 303 and are widely commercially available.
The wagering game system receives the digital audio content from the wagering game player's digital audio device, and plays it during game play at 403. In various embodiments, the volume of the digital audio playback is varied during the wagering game, such as to reduce the volume during bonus sounds, instructional sounds, or other important sounds, and to increase the volume during less active periods in game play.
The wagering game player continues to play until awarded digital audio content at 404, such as a free song or music video from a catalog of music. The digital audio content is then sent to the wagering game player's portable digital audio device, where it can be stored and from which it can be played. Once the wagering game player has finished game play, the wagering game player disconnects the attached digital audio device, and the wagering game returns to attract mode at 405.
In one example application of the invention, a user is able to plug an external digital audio player into the wagering game via a digital audio interface jack as shown at 303 of
In another embodiment, a USB interface or other digital interface operable to convey a digitally encoded audio signal is operable to send digital audio from the wagering game system to a wagering game player's digital audio device, such as to provide a song, album, video clip, or other digital audio to the wagering game player for later use. In one such example, free songs are awarded based on a certain number of credits wagered, time played, or other such factors, and the songs are provided to the game player via a digital interface. The digital audio content provided to the game player may be selected from a list, may be selected consistent with a theme of the wagering game, or can be provided via another mechanism or for another purpose in various embodiments.
The examples presented here have illustrated how a digital interface operable to convey digital audio information can be used in a wagering game machine to provide higher quality and greater connectivity than with analog audio interfaces, and further how such an interface can be used to transfer digital audio to another device such as to send a song to a wagering game player's digital audio player. A variety of formats have been illustrated, including digital audio-specific electrical connections and sending digital audio over a general-purpose electrical connection such as USB. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. It is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims, and the full scope of equivalents thereof.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/615,217 filed 1 Oct. 2004, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
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