Patent Application
20130090164
Land-based gaming establishments, such as casinos and betting shops, generally have one or more freestanding gaming machines that can be used by players in order to play wagering games.
A gaming machine of this type may be configured to offer a single wagering game to a player, or may enable the player to select a game from a menu of two or more games that are available for play, one play at a time.
Further, such a gaming machine may be a standalone machine consisting of a processor, game software, and a random number generator (RNG), all of which are contained within a housing or cabinet, and which does not require network connectivity in order to operate. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be designed to function in a client/server topology in which the RNG is located in a remote gaming server that generates game results and delivers the results to the gaming machine. A processor in this alternative type of this gaming machine may execute game software to display a simulation of the game results to the player in an intelligible manner. This alternative type of gaming machine uses network connectivity so as to communicate with the gaming server.
Traditionally, gaming machines are supplied to a gaming establishment already configured with game software and input/output peripherals such as buttons, note acceptors (bill validators), coin hoppers, tower lights and key switches, in accordance with the proprietor's requirements. The gaming machines are also configured with artwork and trade marks in accordance with the gaming establishment.
Gaming machines may have dual display screens, in vertical alignment. Usually, the simulation of the game takes place on the lower display screen, while the upper display screen is used for ancillary purposes such as, for example, displaying a game pay table, displaying game-specific trademarks and artwork, or displaying various video sequences to attract would-be players.
It is desirable to utilise the upper display screen of such gaming machines to provide players with enhanced game play functions and features.
In an example embodiment, an instance of a first application may be displayed on a screen of a multiple-screen user-interface. Perhaps while displaying the instance of the first application on the screen of the multiple-screen user-interface, it may be determined that no application instance is being displayed on at least one other screen of the multiple-screen user-interface. Potentially in response to at least determining that no application instance is being displayed on the at least one other screen of the multiple-screen user-interface, (i) an instance of a second application may be initiated, and (ii) the instance of the first application and the instance of the second application may be displayed on different screens of the multiple-screen user-interface.
In some embodiments, the first and second applications are the same application, while in other embodiments, the first and second applications are different applications. Regardless, the first and second applications may operate independently from one another.
Displaying the instance of the first application on a first screen and displaying the instance of the second application on a second screen may involve swapping application instances and screens so that the instance of the first application is displayed on the second screen and the instance of the second application is displayed on the first screen. In some embodiments, the multiple-screen user-interface may include a swap-screen control, and the application instances and screens may be swapped also in response to determining that the swap-screen control has been activated.
Alternatively or additionally, the instance of the first application may be displayed on a first screen. Displaying the instance of the first application and the instance of the second application on different screens of the multiple-screen user-interface may involve moving the display of the instance of the first application to a second screen, and displaying the instance of the second application on the first screen. In some embodiments, the multiple-screen user-interface may include a move control, and the display of the instance of the first application may be moved to the second screen in response to determining that the move control has been activated.
Generally speaking, each respective screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with a respective set of controls that impact behavior of the respective application displayed on the respective screen. Alternatively, a single screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with a set of controls that only impact behavior of an application displayed on the single screen, or a single screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with a set of controls that impact behavior of applications displayed on any screen of the multiple-screen user-interface.
In some embodiments, a given screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with an autoplay control. Operating the first application may involve performing a first sequence of turns with each turn in the first sequence performed according to a first parameter. If it is determined that the autoplay control has been activated for the first application, a specification of a first number of turns and a specification of the first parameter may be received. The first application may be automatically performed for the first number of turns, such that each respective turn is performed according to the first parameter.
Additionally, operating the second application may involve performing a second sequence of turns with each turn in the second sequence performed according to a second parameter. If it is determined that the autoplay control has been activated for the second application, a specification of a second number of turns and a specification of the second parameter may be received. The second application may be automatically performed for the second number of turns, such that each respective turn is performed according to the second parameter.
Further, performance of the second application for the second number of turns may begin before performance of the first application for the first number of turns ends.
Additionally, in any embodiment, the multiple-screen user-interface may be combined with a computing device so that the computing device comprises the multiple-screen user-interface. Alternatively, the multiple-screen user-interface and the computing device may be separate physical devices that communicate with one another (e.g., over a network). In either arrangement, the computing device may include a computer-readable medium containing instructions that, if executed, cause the computing device to perform any of the functions described above.
These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that the description provided in this summary section and elsewhere in this document is intended to illustrate the claimed subject matter by way of example and not by way of limitation.
Example embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the drawings, in which:
Gaming machine 100 may be arranged to allow a player to play any of a variety of games. For example, gaming machine 100 may be arranged to allow a player to play slot games, dice games, electronic scratch ticket-type games, or card games such as poker, blackjack or bridge. Other games a player can play using gaming machine 100 are also possible.
Gaming machine 100 may include a processor 102, data storage 104, a network interface 106, and a user interface indicated generally by reference numeral 108, all linked together via a system bus, network, or connection mechanism 110.
Processor 102 may comprise one or more processors. Processor 102 may arranged to carry out functions described herein, and may do so by executing program instructions and/or by interacting with data storage 104, network interface 106, user interface 108, and/or connection mechanism 110.
Data storage 104 may be a computer-readable medium. Data storage 104 may store various types of data. For example, data storage 104 may store program logic that is executable by processor 102. The program logic may be arranged such that, when executed, gaming machine 100 carries out certain functions as described herein.
As another example, data storage 104 may store gaming machine software files that correspond to gaming machine 100. In particular, data storage 104 may store the gaming machine software files that have been transmitted to gaming machine 100 from a download server (not shown) over a network.
Network interface 106 facilitates interfacing the gaming machine 100 to one or more networks. Network interface 106 may include a network interface card for interfacing to a wireless network and/or a wired network.
User interface 108 facilitates entering data into and/or receiving data from the gaming machine 100. User interface 108 may be arranged in various configurations. For example, user interface 108 may be arranged to have two display screens, namely, as shown in
Referring to
The bottom display screen 111 also includes an icon 204 labelled “DUAL PLAY” and an icon 220 labelled “AUTO PLAY”, both of which will be discussed in detail in the description that follows.
As shown in
When the player activates the DUAL PLAY icon 204, A Dual Play Menu of active icons appears on the bottom display screen 111, indicated generally by reference numeral 206 and exemplified in
A SAME AGAIN icon 300: activation of this icon will cause a further instance of a currently-active game on the bottom display screen 111 to initiate on the top display screen 112 as well, thereby allowing the player to play two different instances of the same game simultaneously.
A SWAP GAMES icon 302: activation of this icon will cause display of a currently-active instance of a game on the bottom display screen 111 to move to the top display screen 112. In addition, display of a currently-active instance of a game on the top display screen 112 will move to the bottom display screen 111.
A MOVE GAME UP icon 304: this icon will cause display of a currently-active instance of a game on the bottom display screen 111 to move to the top display screen 112. The effect of this icon is the same as that of the SWAP GAME icon 302 in the case when there is no currently-active instance of a game on the top display screen 112.
A CLOSE TOP GAME icon 306: activation of this icon causes an active instance of a game on the top display screen 112 to terminate, and the gaming machine 100 to return to single game play mode.
A CLOSE MENU icon 308: activation of this icon will cause the Dual Play Menu 206 on the bottom display screen 111 to close, and gaming machine 100 to remain in dual game play mode.
A. Replicating the Same Game
The procedure commences with opening the Dual Play Menu 206, if not already open, by activating the DUAL PLAY icon 204 on the bottom display screen 111, as indicated at steps 600 and 602. If, at step 604, there is no active game instance on the top display screen 112, or there is an active game instance different to that on the bottom display screen 111, the SAME AGAIN icon 300 on the Dual Play Menu is enabled, as reflected at step 608. Alternatively, at step 606, if there is an active game instance on the top display screen 112 and the active game instances on the top and bottom display screens 112, 111 relate to the same game, the SAME AGAIN icon on the Dual Play Menu is disabled at step 610.
The player can activate the enabled SAME AGAIN icon 300 at step 612 to cause a separate instance of the currently-active game on the bottom display screen 111 to initiate on the top display screen 112 as well (step 614). If instances of two different games are already active on the top and bottom display screens 112, 111, the active game instance the top display screen 112 is replaced by an instance of the currently-active game on the bottom display screen 111. The active game instance on the bottom display screen 111 continues to function, and the Dual Play Menu may be manually or automatically closed at step 616.
B. Initiating a Second, Different Game
With reference to
The procedure commences with opening the Dual Play Menu 206, if not already open, by activating the DUAL PLAY icon 204 on the bottom display screen 111, as indicated at steps 700 and 702. The MOVE GAME UP icon 304 is enabled on the Dual Play Menu at step 704. At step 706 the player activates the MOVE GAME UP icon which causes, at step 708, the instance of the currently-active game on the bottom display screen 111 to be transferred to the top display screen 112. A menu of available games is then presented on the bottom display screen 111, at step 710. The player selects a game from the menu of available games at step 712, and at step 714 an instance of the player-selected game is initiated on the bottom display screen 111. The Dual Play Menu 206 then may be manually or automatically closed, at step 716.
The player-selected game initiated on the bottom display screen 111 may be the same game that was transferred from the bottom display screen 111 to the top display screen 112. In such circumstances, the MOVE GAME UP icon 304 achieves the same result as the SAME AGAIN icon 300 of the Dual Play Menu 206.
C. Swapping Games in Dual Play Mode
The procedure commences with opening the Dual Play Menu 206, if not already open, by activating the DUAL PLAY icon 204 on the bottom display screen 111, as indicated in steps 800 and 802. If, at step 804, there are active game instances on each of the top and bottom display screens 112 and 111, the SWAP GAMES icon 302 on the Dual Play Menu 206 is enabled, as reflected at step 808. On the other hand, if there is no game instance active on one of these display screens, the SWAP GAMES icon 302 on the Dual Play Menu 206 is disabled at step 806.
The player can activate the enabled SWAP GAMES icon 302 at step 810 to cause the currently-active game instance on the top display screen 112 to move to the bottom display screen 111 as illustrated at step 812 and, simultaneously, cause the currently-active game instance on the bottom display screen 111 to transfer to the top display screen 112 at step 814. The Dual Play Menu 206 may be manually or automatically closed at step 816.
D. Closing the Top Game
The player may terminate a currently-active game instance on the top display screen 112 by activating the CLOSE TOP GAME icon 306 on the Dual Display Menu 206. In response, the Dual Play Menu 206 closes automatically and the top display screen 112 will return to displaying artwork and/or promotional messages relating to the currently-active game instance on the bottom display screen 111. If there is no currently-active game instance on the top display screen 112, the CLOSE TOP GAME icon 306 on the Dual Display Menu 206 is disabled.
E. Closing the Dual Display Menu
The player may unconditionally force the Dual Play Menu 206 to close, if already open, by activating the CLOSE MENU icon 308 on the Dual Play Menu. Furthermore, the player may also close the Dual Play Menu by either activating the Dual Play icon 204 once more, or by touching the bottom display screen 111 outside the area occupied by the Dual Play Menu 206. The gaming machine 100 remains in dual game play mode.
F. Configuring Game Play
In an example embodiment, both top and bottom display screens 112, 111 are touch-sensitive display screens. In this embodiment, each active game instance has its own wager controls in the form icons that the player may utilise to regulate the progress of that game instance. With reference to
The wager controls for the game of
The player controls the game instance on the bottom display screen 111 by means of the wager controls 202 displayed on the bottom display screen, and controls the game instance on the top display screen 112 by means of the wager controls 202 displayed on the top display screen. Furthermore, the gaming machine 100 may be equipped with a console (not shown) having physical buttons that perform the functions of some or all of the wager controls described above. The console buttons can be used in parallel with the wager controls 202 to regulate the progress of the active game instance on the bottom display screen 111, but have no effect on the active game instance on the top display screen 112.
In a gaming machine, such as that described herein in which the top and bottom display screens are in vertical alignment, it may not be ergonomically feasible to use wager controls 202 on the top display screen 112 to regulate the progress of the game instance on the top display screen.
In order to overcome this deficiency, an alternative embodiment provides for wager controls (and the console buttons) to operate only in conjunction with the active game instance on the bottom display screen 111. In this embodiment, operating parameters of the active game instance on the bottom display screen 111 are configured in the same manner as described above using the wager controls (i.e. Coins icon 208, Select Lines icon 210, Bet Per Line icon 212 and Max Bet icon 214) on the bottom display screen 111, or by means of the console buttons. The corresponding wager controls of the game instance on the top display screen 112 are disabled, in which case the top display screen 112 need not be a touch-sensitive display screen. In order to configure the operating parameters of the active game instance on the top display screen 112, the game instances on the top and bottom display screens 112, 111 are first swapped using the SWAP GAMES icon 302 of the Dual Play Menu 206 in order to bring the top game instance into focus on the bottom display screen 111. At this stage, the game instance on the bottom display screen 111 (and which was formerly on the top display screen 112) can be configured using the wager controls 202 of this game instance, or by means of the console buttons.
G. Controlling Game Play
The player activates the Spin icon 216 of the wager controls 202 in order to initiate a turn of an active game instance. Referring to the previously-described embodiment of the gaming machine 100 in which both top and bottom display screens 112, 111 are touch-sensitive, turns of active game instances on both display screens may be initiated asynchronously by activating the respective Spin icons 216 of the respective wager controls 202. In the alternative embodiment in which the top display screen is not touch-sensitive, activation of the Spin icon 216 of the wager controls 202 on the bottom display screen 111 may initiate a turn of the active game instance on each of the top and bottom display screens 112, 111, causing such turns to occur synchronously. As described above, the game instances on the top and bottom display screens 112, 111 can be two separate instances of the same game or instances of each of two different games.
The wager controls 202 shown in
In the embodiment in which both top and bottom display screens 112, 111 are touch-sensitive, the player may configure either one or both of the active game instances for autonomous play as described. Autonomous play of a configured game instance commences when the player activates the Spin icon 216 of the wager controls 202 corresponding to that game instance, and continues for the configured number of consecutive turns of the game, independently of play of the other game instance.
In the alternative embodiment in which the top display screen is not touch-sensitive, the player configures a game instance on the bottom display screen 111 for autonomous play as described above. The player can then move the configured game instance to the top display screen 112 (by using the SAME AGAIN icon 300, the SWAP GAMES icon 302 or the MOVE GAME UP icon 304 as necessary). When the player next activates the Spin icon 216 on the wager controls 202 on the bottom display screen 111, autonomous play of the configured game instance initiates on the top display screen 112 and continues for the configured number of consecutive turns of the game, independently of play of any active game instance on the bottom display screen 111.
The player may also configure a game instance on the bottom display screen for autonomous play, in which case activation of the Spin icon 216 initiates autonomous play of both game instances, independently of one another.
As an alternative example, autonomous play of a configured (but still idle) game instance may initiate automatically upon transfer of that game instance from the bottom display screen 111 to the top display screen 112.
In some embodiments, the first and second applications are the same application, while in other embodiments the first and second applications are different applications. Regardless, the first and second applications may operate independently from one another.
Displaying the instance of the first application on a first screen and displaying the instance of the second application on a second screen may involve swapping application instances and screens so that the instance of the first application is displayed on the second screen and the instance of the second application is displayed on the first screen. In some embodiments, the multiple-screen user-interface may include a swap-screen control, and the application instances and screens may be swapped also in response to determining that the swap-screen control has been activated.
Alternatively or additionally, the instance of the first application may be displayed on a first screen. Displaying the instance of the first application and the instance of the second application on different screens of the multiple-screen user-interface may involve moving the display of the instance of the first application to a second screen, and displaying the instance of the second application on the first screen. In some embodiments, the multiple-screen user-interface may include a move control, and the display of the instance of the first application may be moved to the second screen in response to determining that the move control has been activated.
Generally speaking, each respective screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with a respective set of controls that impact behavior of the respective application displayed on the respective screen. Alternatively, a single screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with a set of controls that only impact behavior of an application displayed on the single screen, or a single screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with a set of controls that impact behavior of applications displayed on any screen of the multiple-screen user-interface.
In some embodiments, a given screen of the multiple-screen user-interface may be associated with an autoplay control. Operating the first application may involve performing a first sequence of turns with each turn in the first sequence performed according to a first parameter. If it is determined that the autoplay control has been activated for the first application, a specification of a first number of turns and a specification the first parameter may be received. The first application may be automatically performed for the first number of turns, such that each respective turn is performed according to the first parameter.
Additionally, operating the second application may involve performing a second sequence of turns with each turn in the second sequence performed according to a second parameter. If it is determined that the autoplay control has been activated for the second application, a specification of a second number of turns and a specification the second parameter may be received. The second application may be automatically performed for the second number of turns, such that each respective turn is performed according to the second parameter.
Further, performance of the second application for the second number of turns may begin before performance of the first application for the first number of turns ends.
Additionally, in any embodiment, the multiple-screen user-interface may be combined with a computing device so that the computing device comprises the multiple-screen user-interface. Alternatively, the multiple-screen user-interface and the computing device may be separate physical devices that communicate with one another (e.g., over a network). In either arrangement, the computing device may include a computer-readable medium containing instructions that, if executed, cause the computing device to perform any of the functions described above.
The above detailed description describes various features and functions of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, figures, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments can be utilized, and other changes can be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.
With respect to any or all of the ladder diagrams, scenarios, and flow charts in the figures and as discussed herein, each block and/or communication may represent a processing of information and/or a transmission of information in accordance with example embodiments. Alternative embodiments are included within the scope of these example embodiments. In these alternative embodiments, for example, functions described as blocks, transmissions, communications, requests, responses, and/or messages may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrent or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. Further, more or fewer blocks and/or functions may be used with any of the ladder diagrams, scenarios, and flow charts discussed herein, and these ladder diagrams, scenarios, and flow charts may be combined with one another, in part or in whole.
A block that represents a processing of information may correspond to circuitry that can be configured to perform the specific logical functions of a herein-described method or technique. Alternatively or additionally, a block that represents a processing of information may correspond to a module, a segment, or a portion of program code (including related data). The program code may include one or more instructions executable by a processor for implementing specific logical functions or actions in the method or technique. The program code and/or related data may be stored on any type of computer-readable medium such as a storage device including a disk or hard drive or other storage medium.
The computer-readable medium may also include non-transitory computer-readable media such as computer-readable media that stores data for short periods of time like register memory, processor cache, and random access memory (RAM). The computer-readable media may also include non-transitory computer-readable media that stores program code and/or data for longer periods of time, such as secondary or persistent long term storage, like read only memory (ROM), optical or magnetic disks, compact-disc read only memory (CD-ROM), for example. The computer-readable media may also be any other volatile or non-volatile storage systems. A computer-readable medium may be considered a computer-readable storage medium, for example, or a tangible storage device.
Moreover, a block that represents one or more information transmissions may correspond to information transmissions between software and/or hardware modules in the same physical device. However, other information transmissions may be between software modules and/or hardware modules in different physical devices.
For the embodiments described herein, the terms “random” or “randomly” shall refer to any realizable process of randomly generating events. Such processes shall include, but not be limited to, generating events without a deterministic pattern of occurrences. Additionally, these processes may be pseudo-random, thus resulting in a deterministic pattern of occurrences that exhibit some form of statistical randomness.
It should also be understood that use of any form of enumeration within an element of any of the claims should not be construed to imply that an ordering of events within the claim is required.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Furthermore, other variations from the disclosed embodiments may be made without departure from the scope of the invention. All questions concerning scope are to be answered by reference to the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1117329.1 | Oct 2011 | GB | national |
