Patent Application
20050020358
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to gaming systems, and more particularly relates to a multimedia presentation at the gaming machine formed by synchronized multiple video streams and/or audio streams.
In order to maintain interest of the player of a gaming machine, the video screen presentation of still and moving elements provides great attraction. Heretofore, this has been accomplished by generation of unique content video presentations on the gaming machine display using a single video stream carrying the display content. In other cases, multiple display units have been positioned both on the gaming machine and at a separated location.
In addition to providing an interesting display at the gaming machine, it is desirable to provide a number of services and benefits to the player while the player is at the gaming machine. Such services may be initiated or provided via the display unit(s) of the gaming machine. For example, a player may desire to make a dinner reservation. To do so, the player would leave the gaming machine and walk to the casino restaurant where the player would make the reservation. This causes delay in the gaming activities of the player and may pose an annoying inconvenience. Instead, the player may visually access the remote reservationist from the gaming machine. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,271, which issued on Oct. 26, 1999, describes such a communication system. Instead of live content, other gaming machines have provided video entertainment at the gaming machine. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,495, which issued on Sep. 5, 2000.
However, in these types of systems, problems arise where the player views two disjointed and unrelated video displays occurring at the same time, or where one distant display interrupts viewing of a near display. The player must deal with one display or the other or alternatively attempt to deal with both at the same time.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gaming system having a single video presentation, formed from multiple and independent video streams, at the individual gaming machine.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide player amusement and interest at a gaming machine by generating a composite video presentation formed of a plurality of independent videos which are simultaneously and synchronously displayed as a composite on a single game display screen.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for player activation of a composite video display from selected ones of independent video streams to be displayed on the same screen of the gaming machine.
It is yet another object of the present invention to permit the player to select a game presentation by activating an independent video stream synchronized with a primary game video stream.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a composite gaming machine display which includes a real time video presentation of live events.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a source of multiple independent video streams which are synchronized and combined into a single composite stream which is displayed on a single display screen or panel of the gaming machine. In some embodiments, player interaction with a gaming machine interface effects the composite video stream. In other embodiments, a remote central computer affects the composite video stream.
Referring to
Data is transmitted over network 19 between the gaming machines and central authority 21 which is formed of one or more computers. Each gaming machine includes a smart communication interface 23 for control of communications over network 19. Interface 23 may be a microprocessor based device, as for example, the Sentinel interface manufactured by Aristocrat Technology Inc. of Las Vegas, Nev., the assignee of the present invention. Central authority 21 stores game output data (received from the gaming machines) and stores game input data (to be sent to the gaming machines) in a central database 25.
As will suggest itself, more than the three gaming machines 13, 15 and 17 may be connected to network 19. Gaming machines 13 and 15 are slot electronic gaming machines and gaming machine 17 is a video poker electronic gaming machine. Other types of gaming equipment and gaming machines may be connected to network 19, including table games, which may or may not include a composite display of multiple video streams, as described hereinafter. In addition, a display unit 14 e.g., a large plasma screen unit, is located external to gaming machines 13, 15, 17. Display unit 14 provides displayed information and/or video to players at a bank of a number of gaming machines, e.g., machines 11, 13, 15 and may include a composite display of multiple video streams, as described hereinafter.
As shown in
Display unit 31 is formed from a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. However, other types of display units may be used, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, etc. Display unit 31 preferably presents a rectangular display face 33 upon which video images or graphics may be displayed.
Display unit 31 generates a primary display area 35 centrally located on display face 33. A secondary display area 37 is located as a border surrounding primary display area 35. Display areas 35, 37 may be of any size, and together fill the entire area of display face 33.
Primary display area 35 is used to display the primary game features for play of a game. For example, the display unit may generate a conventional slot game in which a plurality of symbols 41 (fifteen symbols being shown) are moved within their respective column, as if rotated, at the appropriate time in response to the user activation of the gaming machine.
Secondary display area 37, in a first embodiment, presents a continuously moving video image of an ocean beach scene 49 of incoming waves breaking at a shoreline. An audio sound of ocean waves is generated by audio speaker 43 located on the front surface of the gaming machine. The sound from speaker 43 is generated in synchronism with the breaking of the waves shown in secondary display area 37.
Some or all of the symbols 41 may be display graphics having a beach motif or ocean theme. For example, a symbol 45 has the appearance of a starfish. A symbol 47 has the appearance of two swimming fish. Other symbols may include, for example, a sea horse and a mermaid. For most of the time, symbols 41 are “still” (non-moving) until game play when symbols 41 rotate within their respective column in a conventional slot machine manner.
As understood, other themes may be presented by the video displays in areas 35, 37. For example, an erupting volcano may be shown in secondary display area 37. Corresponding synchronized sound may be produced from speaker 43.
Referring to
Game control CPU 61 controls an image generator 63 which generates a primary video signal 65. Video signal 65 is used to present game graphics, for example, the five columns of symbols 41 (
Video signal 65 is generated from prestored data in generator 63 in order to present one or more particular games to the player. The player may select a particular game to be played and image generator 63 generates a video signal 65 corresponding to the game selected. The video signal 65 is developed and changes in accordance with the play of the game. The video signal 65 carries game graphics information that produces still symbols 41 on a green background within the five columns (each column showing three symbols) and that moves the still symbols 41 by columnar rotation at select times. CPU 61 receives control signals from one or more player interface controls 69 in order to carry out game play, e.g., rotating the symbols.
Player interface controls 69 may also be used for game selection. In such a case, CPU 61 communicates with image generator 63 in accordance with the game selected by the player. As understood, gaming machine 13 may provide play of only one game such that game selection by a player is not a feature of gaming machine 13.
Where gaming machine 13 allows for player selection of the particular game played, players may prestore their game preference in central database 25 (
Referring again to
Referring again to
The first and second video signals 65, 71 are combined at combiner 67 to form a composite video signal 75. Composite video signal 75 is sent to a video controller 77 which drives display unit 31 for display of a composite image, for example, the image shown in
The combiner 67 replaces portions of video signal 65 with portions of video signal 71. The location of the replacement depends on the presence of, for example, a particular shade of a color or shade of gray—commence on chrominance in the video signal 65. A color keyer circuit 83 receives video signal 65 and outputs a keying signal 85 in accordance with the presence or absence of the particular shade of color in video signal 65. A switching amplifier 87 (diagrammatically represented as a SWITCH) responds to keying signal 85 to switch either video signal 65 or video signal 71 as the output signal 75. The particular color or shade of gray to which color keyer 83 responds may be determined, for example, by a control signal sent along line 89. For example, an eight bit word may represent 256 different color shades. Color keyer 89 may programmably store such an eight bit word to identify the particular color to which color keyer 89 responds. Alternatively, the color keyer need not be programmable and may respond in accordance with fixed data identifying a particular color shade, for example, an eight bit word may be stored in a ROM (not shown) located within color keyer 83.
A control signal along line 89 may also serve to maintain the switching amplifier in a state to pass only video signal 65 as the output signal 75. Such a control signal on line 89 turns ON and turns OFF the combining effect. This may be as simple as a control signal on line 89 providing an eight bit word which identifies a color not found in video signal 65. Alternatively, signal 89 may merely control switching amplifier 87 to a pass only video signal 65, or to pass only video signal 71.
Referring to
The composite video image 129 thus includes a continuously moving video of ocean waves in the border area, and a still (fixed) graphic display of symbols in the center area. The symbols will rotate however, at the proper time, in response to player activation of the game.
Referring again to
CPU 61 first determines the outcome of the game, i.e., the five symbols to occur in the center row at the end of the spin. (Horizontal pay lines may be included to indicate the winning row(s)). CPU 61 thereafter instructs generator 63 to spin the symbols in order to present a display conforming to the game outcome.
As will suggest itself, instead of a digital signal, image generator 63 may generate an analog output signal as signal 65. For example, the digitized video data signal may be converted to an analog output signal in the image generator 63 by the addition of clock synch pulses prior to output to combiner 67. Alternatively, combiner 67 may operate directly on a digital video signal input received as video signal 65. Whether in analog or digital format, video signal 65 carries game graphics information, as well as key color information which identifies the particular screen area in accordance with the key color data's location in time in video signal 65.
The video information in video signal 65 is analyzed by color keyer 83. Where the video signal 65 is in digital form, color keyer 83 inspects each picture point for the key color. If the picture point is the key color, then color keyer 83 causes amplifier 87 to switch to the video digital picture point of video signal 71. As understood, clocking signals serve to synchronize video signals 65, 71 so that the signals present picture point information for the same point at the same time on the CRT display. While amplifier 87 is shown as a mechanical switch, typically amplifier 87 is constructed from solid state switches.
Combiner 67 may include a digital-to-analog converter which converts the digital video signal output from amplifier 87 to an analog composite video signal 75. Analog video signal 75 will be developed with the necessary synch pulses in order to drive display 31 in a raster scan type presentation. Video controller 77 receives the analog video signal 75 and drives display 31 in a conventional manner. As understood, the digital-to-analog converter may be located instead in video controller 77.
Video source 73 may be a video signal storage device which is addressable along line 81 in order to select one particular video signal from among a plurality of video signals stored in video source 73. Line 81 may be used by central authority 21, and/or communication interface 23 or CPU 61 to select the video signal 71. For example, in order to reward the player with a special display effect, central authority 21 may generate a command on network 19 to select a particular video signal 71.
Video source 73 may include a DVD player, or camera, digital photo, jpeg, bit map, video camera microphone, vector map, biometric or MPEG player, or MPEG2 player, or VHS, DVD or SVGA player, or a frame store, for storing digital video data. In addition, as described below, a video signal may be sent to video source 73 along conductor 72 and then output as video signal 71. The output video signal 71 of video source 73 may be a digital video stream which is sent to combiner 67. Video signal 71 is clocked in synchronism with video signal 65 so that both signals present a timed raster format of their respective images.
Referring to
Preferably, the video image in secondary display area 37 appears on display unit 31 solely at a time when the player desires to speak with the person 511. Initially, display unit 31 displays game graphics only in primary display area 35 (cards and game information being shown in
Using microphone 45, the player may speak to person 511, for example, asking the person 511 for a dinner reservation, assuming person 511 is a reservationist. The player sees the reservationist respond back by viewing display area 37 and listening to the speech of person 511 coming from speaker 43.
Referring to
Referring to
Upon actuation of call button 49 by the player, the secondary video signal 71 from video source 73 is combined with the primary video signal 65 to form composite signal 75. The secondary video signal 71 will present its video display wherever the particular shade of the color gray, for example, appears in the primary video signal 65. Thus, in this embodiment, the secondary video will only appear in image area 625 (
As shown in
The video display 627 (
Referring again to
Interface 23 may respond to activation of call button 49 in a number of ways. First, interface 23 may communicate with the player that the call is being initiated. This may occur by interface 23 providing instructions to video source 73 along input 81. Video source 73 may provide a CALL REQUEST background display for insertion in area 625 (
Secondly, interface 23 provides a request to the central authority to connect the reservationist to a particular gaming machine. Central authority 21 controls the switching of the receptionist video camera signal to conductor 72 of the particular gaming machine. In addition, central authority 21 controls the switching of the receptionist microphone signal (not shown) to speaker 43. Central authority 21 also connects microphone 24 and camera 47 (
Interface 23 may also provide instructions to video source 73 along input 81 so as to connect the video signal of conductor 72 as the video signal 71 to combiner 67.
Reservationist 511 is able to disconnect from the player at will by activation of a disconnect button (not shown) located at the receptionist station, for example. Upon activation of the disconnect button, a data signal is sent to central authority 21. Central authority 21 may remove the video signal from conductor 72 and disconnect the audio signal from speaker 43. In addition, central authority 21 may transmit a disable signal to interface 23 of the particular gaming machine. Interface 23 may disable the video source 73 from providing the signal on conductor 72 as video signal 71, and may disable microphone 45, speaker 43 and camera 47. As will suggest itself, music or game sounds may now be presented from speaker 43. That is, speaker 43 may be used for either music entertainment to the player, sounds associated with the particular game being played at the machine or voice from reservation 511.
Central authority 21 may control the use of speaker 43. For example, upon disconnect by reservation 511, central authority 21 may merely deactivate speaker 43 via interface 23 from the audio signal coming from the reservationist's station and re-enable the game audio signals to speaker 43. Also, for example, an audio game signal carrying sounds associated with the game may be input to speaker 43 instead of a separate speaker (not shown). The audio game signal may be disconnected from the speaker when the player activates the call button 49. Alternatively, the audio game signal may be decreased in volume, or muted automatically by the voice audio signal, after the player activates the call button so that the player may hear reservationists 511 clearly. As will suggest itself, when the game audio signal is sent to a separate game speaker (not shown), the volume from the separate game speaker may be decreased or muted.
Reservationist 511 may also provide an “annoyance disconnect request” to central authority 21 to prevent this particular player, as identified by the player's player card, from further activation of this feature. For example, should the player prove annoying to the reservationist 511, reservationist 511 may activate an annoyance button.
Activation of the annoyance button transmits a signal to central authority 21. The central authority stores annoyance data in the player's account to indicate that communication by the player to the reservationist 511 will be blocked. Thus, the communication system may be activated by the central authority for carded players only. Upon insertion of a player's card, and preferably a player's PIN number associated with the card, central authority 21 inspects the player's account to determine whether the player may have access to the reservationist 511 by way of call button 49.
When the player later attempts activation of call button 49 at any gaming machine, central authority 21 reviews the player's account for an annoyance indicator. If an indicator exists in the player's account, central authority 21 will not connect the reservationist to the gaming machine. Instead, central authority may connect a still video display from video source 73 that states that a connection cannot be made and for the player to contact casino personnel. Alternatively, the central authority may connect the player to a security person, via secondary display 37, who will then explain why the feature has been denied to the player.
Restaurant reservationist 511 may instead be a hotel concierge, a cocktail server, a security person, a slot manager, or a technician. Alternatively, an operator may be linked up initially, who will then connect the player to the appropriate person depending upon whom the player wishes to speak.
Referring to
CPU 61 may send instructions to video source 73 for selection of the particular video stream 71 which is sent to combiner 67. For example, different border backgrounds 37 (
Also, central authority 21 may communicate through interface 23 to video source 73 to generate a particular video signal 71 to combiner 67. For example, to award the player a bonus, the central authority may provide an enhanced video display via combiner 67. The central authority receives player tracking and machine data, for example, the amount of wagers made by a player at the gaming machine. Any one or more of these variables may be monitored by the central authority during play of the gaming machine. When the variable monitored reaches a predetermined threshold, a bonus is granted to the player. The central authority generates a command over the network to enhance the video display via operation of combiner 67.
In another form of promotion, central authority 21 may recognize the particular player as a class A player from inspection of the player's player account in database 25, and responsively enhance the video display. Also, central authority 21 may recognize the present day as the player's birthday, for example, and cause video source 73 to generate a Happy Birthday background video signal to combiner 67 for presentation as a border display 37.
Image generator 63 includes memory, such as a hard drive, for holding multiple images that are displayed onto display 31. Different types of video data may be stored such as digital disk (DVD) data, Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) data, etc. Image generator 63 develops video signal 65 in response to control signals from CPU 61.
As understood, video source 73 may generate more than one video signal 71, for example two video signals, simultaneously to combiner 67. Color keyer 83 may switch one video signal 71 to one key color in video signal 65 and switch another video signal 71 to a different key color in video signal 65. Video source 73 may be located outside of gaming machine 13 so as to provide video signal 71 to the gaming machine. In addition, output 75 from combiner 67 may drive external display unit 14 in order to provide a composite video formed of a background image 127 (
While the invention has been described with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular step, structure, or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Other applications include:
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/472,905 filed May 23, 2003, incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60472905 | May 2003 | US |
