Patent Application
20210407244
The present invention generally relates to a jackpot machine, and more particularly relates to a jackpot machine with surround audio.
Jackpot machines are any apparatus (mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical) which, when operated by a player, randomly display images or symbols in a display area. The player wins when symbols that were predetermined to be winners are within the display area. Jackpot machines have progressed from purely mechanical systems where power is provided by the players' arms, to electromechanical systems, to purely electronic systems with games actually played by a local or distal processor and the results displayed on a display such as but not limited to a LCD monitor, computer monitor, a laptop monitor, a tablet device display or a mobile phone display. However, the format of the jackpot game has not changed to take advantage of the progression of the jackpot machines in order to attract more players.
Thus, it can be seen that what is needed is a jackpot machine that is able to enhance the player's experience of playing the game. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the disclosure.
In one aspect of the invention, a jackpot machine with surround audio is provided. The jackpot machine includes a processor to process at least one audio to generate at least one 3D surround audio, a sending means to send the generated at least one 3D surround audio to a headphone worn by a player, and a display showing at least one graphical representation of a prize. The at least one graphical representation of the prize is associated with the at least one audio, and is perceived by the player to audibly and visually move around the player in accordance with the generated at least one 3D surround audio and the at least one graphical representation of the prize shown on the display respectively.
In another aspect of the invention, a surround audio method for a jackpot machine having a processor and a display is provided. The method includes showing at least one graphical representation of a prize on the display, associating at least one audio to the at least one graphical representation of the prize, processing the at least one audio with the processor to generate at least one 3D surround audio, and sending the generated at least one 3D surround audio to a headphone worn by a player with a sending means. The at least one graphical representation of the prize is perceived by the player to audibly and visually move around the player in accordance with the generated at least one 3D surround audio and the at least one graphical representation of the prize shown on the display respectively.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description. It is an intent of the various embodiments to present a jackpot machine with surround audio that is able to enhance the player's experience of playing the game.
Referring to
Although five unique symbols (acorns, flowers, playing cards, hearts and headphone) 120a-i are shown, a person skilled in the art will know that there can be fewer or more unique symbols. Similarly, although three rows 130a-c and three predetermined winning locations 135a-c are shown, a person skilled in the art will know that there can be different numbers of rows and/or winning locations, such as but not limited to one, two, four or five rows and/or winning locations. The number of rows and winning locations do not have to be the same, for example, there can be three rows but only one winning location. The winning location may also be selectable by the player and/or the jackpot machine.
A button 150 may also be shown in the display area, which can be activated by a player to play the game. When activated, the button causes the rows 130a-c to spin. Activation can be via touchscreen or by use of a human-machine interface controller such as but not limited to a mouse or a keyboard. When a player activates the button 150, the three rows 130a-c on which are positioned the symbols 120a-i can be presented on the display such that the player perceives the three rows 130a-c on which are the symbols 120a-i (including the graphical representation of the prize 120d-f) to visually move around the player before coming to a stop. For example, the symbols 120a-i and the graphical representations of a prize can repeatably move from a first side of the display area to the opposite side, disappear off the display area and reappearing on the first side before coming to a stop. The three rows 130a-c in which are positioned the symbols 120a-l (including the graphical representation of the prize 120d-f) may spin horizontally, vertically, or about any axis around the player, in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Each row may spin independently from the other rows (For example, symbols 120b, 120e and 120h on row 130b may spin horizontally around the player in a clockwise direction, while the other symbols 120a, 120d and 120g on row 130a and 120c, 120f and 120i on row 130c spin horizontally around the player in an anti-clockwise direction). The symbols that come to a stop may not be the exact same initial symbols as before activation on the display area. Although the total number of symbols are the same, the number of unique symbols and the number of each unique symbols may be different. For example, the three rows as shown has nine symbols, of which there are 5 unique symbols. After activating the button, the three rows will still have nine symbols, but there may be equal, more or less unique symbols, and there may be different numbers of each unique symbols making up the nine symbols (For example, 2 acorns, 2 flowers, 2 playing cards, 2 hearts and 1 headphone after activation instead of the 1 acorn, 1 flower, 2 playing cards, 2 hearts and 3 headphones before activation).
Some of the symbols 120a-i may be predetermined to be winners. When these symbols that are predetermined to be winners stop within the predetermined winning locations in the display area, the player wins a predetermined prize. For example, the headphone symbol 120d-f may be predetermined to be a winner. When the headphone symbols 120d-f stops in each of the predetermined winning locations 135a-c, the player wins a predetermined prize. In other words, when each of the predetermined winning locations 135a-c are occupied by a similar predetermined winner symbol, the player wins a predetermined prize. In the case of the predetermined winning symbol being a graphical representation of a prize, the predetermined prize may be the prize that is depicted by the graphical representation.
Earlier mentioned, the graphical representations of the prize 120d-f and/or the symbols 120a-i are associated with an audio, and each of the three rows 130a-c has symbols 120a-i that are positioned on fixed positions in relation to each other on each row. When the three rows 130a-c are spinning, the audio associated with the graphical representations of the prize 120d-f and/or the symbols 120a-i is processed by a processor in the jackpot machine to generate a 3D surround audio, and sent to the headphones worn by the player through a sending means, such as but not limited to a headphone jack or USB port for connecting to a wired headphone and a wireless audio transmitter or Bluetooth transceiver for transmitting to a wireless headphone. The audio is processed using spatial audio technology such as but not limited to binaural processing using generic head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) and/or binaural room impulse response (BRIR), such that the player audibly perceives the graphical representations of the prize 120d-f and/or the symbols 120a-i to be moving around the player, with the player in the centre. Additionally, with the use of BRIR (for example), the player can also be virtually audibly transported to his favourite location to play the game. The background of display area 140 can be changed to match the scenery of the favourite location. For example, the player can be virtually transported to a casino or a beach, with corresponding casino or beach scenery shown on the background of the display area 140, and background audio of the casino or the beach sent to the headphones worn by the player. The player can see the casino or beach scenery on the background of the display area 140 on the display 110 and hear the sound of other jackpot machines or waves crashing on the beach through his headphones. The background audio can be positioned anywhere inside the virtual 3D space, preferably in a fixed spatial location in front of the player. Advantageously, the use of such spatial audio technology enhances the player's experience when playing the game by heightening his listening experience through the 3D surround audio and/or replicating an ambience of a location.
Referring to
Although five unique symbols (acorns, flowers, playing cards, hearts and headphone) 220a-i are shown, a person skilled in the art will know that there can be fewer or more unique symbols. Similarly, although nine fixed positions 230a-i with three winning positions 230d-f are shown, a person skilled in the art will know that there can be different numbers of fixed positions and/or winning positions, from one position up to as many as can reasonably fit in the display area such that the player can still determine the position(s) and symbols visually. The winning location may also be selectable by the player and/or the jackpot machine.
A button 250 may also be shown in the display area, which can be activated by a player to play the game. Activation can be via touchscreen or by use of a human-machine interface controller such as but not limited to a mouse or a keyboard. When a player activates the button 250, the symbols 220a-i (including the graphical representation of the prize 220d-f) may be shown on screen to traverse around the screen and even go off-screen such that the player perceives the symbols 220a-i to be traversing around a virtual 3D space and around him (e.g. on a plane or multiple planes; on parallel or criss-crossing paths) before coming to a stop back within the fixed positions in a random manner from any direction. The symbols viewable on the display area that come to a stop may not be the exact same symbols as before activation, as the number of each unique symbols and the number of unique symbols may be different, although the total number of symbols are the same. For example, the nine positions as shown has nine symbols, of which there are 5 unique symbols. After activating the button, the nine positions will still have nine symbols, but there may be equal, more or less unique symbols, and there may be different numbers of each unique symbols making up the nine symbols (For example, 2 acorns, 2 flowers, 2 playing cards, 2 hearts and 1 headphone after activation instead of the 1 acorn, 1 flower, 2 playing cards, 2 hearts and 3 headphones before activation).
Some of the symbols 220a-i may be predetermined to be winners. When these symbols that are predetermined to be winners stop within the predetermined winning locations in the display area, the player wins a predetermined prize. For example, the headphone symbols 220d-f may be predetermined to be winners. When the headphone symbols 220d-f stop in each of the predetermined winning locations 230d-f, the player wins a predetermined prize. In other words, when each of the predetermined winning locations 230d-f are occupied by a similar predetermined winning symbol, the player wins a predetermined prize. In the case of the predetermined winning symbol being a graphical representation of a prize, the predetermined prize may be the prize that is depicted by the graphical representation.
Earlier mentioned, the graphical representations of the prize 220d-f and/or the symbols 220a-i are associated with an audio, and each of the fixed positions 230a-i has symbols 220a-i that are positioned within. When the symbols 220a-i (including the graphical representation of the prize 220d-f) are shown visually to be traversing around the screen and going off-screen such that the player perceives the symbols 220a-i to be traversing around a virtual 3D space which the player is also virtually within, the audio associated with the graphical representations of the prize 220d-f and/or the symbols 220a-i is processed by a processor in the jackpot machine to generate a 3D surround audio, and sent to the headphones worn by the player through a sending means, such as but not limited to a headphone jack or USB port for connecting to a wired headphone and a wireless audio transmitter or Bluetooth transceiver for transmitting to a wireless headphone. The audio is processed using spatial audio technology such as but not limited to binaural processing using generic head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) and/or binaural room impulse response (BRIR), such that the player audibly perceives the graphical representations of the prize 220d-f and/or the symbols 220a-i to be traversing around the player in a virtual 3D space, with the player also virtually positioned in the virtual 3D space. Additionally, with the use of BRIR (for example), the player can also be virtually audibly transported to his favourite location to play the game. The background of the display area 240 can be changed to match the scenery of the favourite location. For example, the player can be virtually transported to a casino or a beach, with corresponding casino or beach scenery shown on the background of the display area 240, and background audio of the casino or the beach sent to the headphone worn by the player. The player can see the casino or beach scenery on the background of the display area 240 on the display 210 and hear the sound of other jackpot machines or waves crashing on the beach through his headphone. The background audio can be positioned anywhere inside the virtual 3D space, preferably in a fixed spatial location in front of the player. Advantageously, the use of such spatial audio technology enhances the player's experience when playing the game by heightening his listening experience through the 3D surround audio and/or replicating an ambience of a location. The synchronization of the audio and visual elements, as well as synchronization between the audio and visual elements may be carried out using variable tempo. Various other synchronization techniques known to the person skilled in the art may also be used.
The jackpot machine (100, 200) may have a receiving means such as but not limited to a card reader, a data entry interface, a transceiver, an Internet connection or USB port for receiving a set of personalization data of the player. The set of personalization data may include the player's HRTF, for example, a personalized HRTF or a generalized representation of the player's HRTF determined through best-match basis to a general grouping of HRTFs, and/or the player's anthropometric measurements or approximation of his ear(s) and upper torso. The audio associated with the graphical representations of the prize 120d-f, 220d-f and/or the symbols 120a-l, 220a-i is processed by a processor in the jackpot machine to generate a 3D surround audio based on the personalization data of the player. Advantageously, by processing the audio based on the personalization data of the player, the spatial effect of the 3D surround audio is made even more realistic, further enhancing the player's experience when playing the game. The jackpot machine can process audio and generate personalized HRTF using any suitable technique. For example, the techniques as disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/853,676, U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/225,682, and U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/390,171, which are hereby incorporated by reference, can be used.
The personalization data may include characteristics of the player's headphones. This may be obtained from the receiving means earlier described. For example, the USB ID may be used to determine the type of headphones plugged into the jackpot machine, the Bluetooth ID may be used to determine the type of headphones wirelessly connected to the jackpot machine, or the player can input the type of headphones he is using through the data entry interface. With the type of headphones, the characteristics of the type of headphones may, for example, be obtained from a look-up table. The audio associated with the graphical representations of the prize 120d-f, 220d-f and/or the symbols 120a-i, 220a-i can be processed by a processor in the jackpot machine to generate a 3D surround audio based on the characteristics of the type of headphones. The processing can be based on applying a suitable equalizer setting. Advantageously, by processing the audio based on the characteristics of the headphones, the audio effect of the 3D surround audio is further improved, further enhancing the player's experience when playing the game.
Referring to
In step 360, the audio associated with the graphical representations of the prize is processed by the processor to generate a 3D surround audio based on either the generic data loaded in step 340 or the personalized data loaded in step 350. Advantageously, by processing the audio using spatial audio technology, the player's experience when playing the game is enhanced by heightening his listening experience through realistic 3D surround audio. More advantageously, by processing the audio based on the personalization data of the player, the spatial effect of the 3D surround audio is made even more realistic, further enhancing the player's experience when playing the game. The jackpot machine can process audio and generate personalized HRTF using any suitable technique. For example, the techniques as disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/853,676, U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/225,682, and U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/390,171, which are hereby incorporated by reference, can be used.
The audio associated with the graphical representations of the prize may alternatively or in combination also be processed based on the characteristics of the headphones. The processing can be based on applying a suitable equalizer setting. Advantageously, by processing the audio based on the characteristics of the headphones, the audio effect of the 3D surround audio is further improved, further enhancing the player's experience when playing the game.
The audio associated with the graphical representations of the prize is processed using spatial audio technology such as but not limited to binaural processing using head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) and/or binaural room impulse response (BRIR), such that the player audibly perceives the graphical representations of the prize to be traversing around the player in a virtual 3D space, with the player also virtually positioned in the virtual 3D space. Additionally, with the use of BRIR (for example), the player can also be virtually audibly transported to his favourite location to play the game. The background of the display area can be changed to match the scenery of the favourite location. For example, the player can be virtually transported to a casino or a beach, with corresponding casino or beach scenery shown on the background of the display area and background audio of the casino or the beach sent to the headphone worn by the player. The player can see the casino or beach scenery on the background of the display area on the display and hear the sound of other jackpot machines or waves crashing on the beach through his headphone. The background audio can be positioned anywhere inside the virtual 3D space, preferably in a fixed spatial location in front of the player. Advantageously, the use of such spatial audio technology enhances the player's experience when playing the game by heightening his listening experience through the 3D surround audio and/or replicating an ambience of a location. The synchronization of the audio and visual elements, as well as synchronization between the audio and visual elements may be carried out using variable tempo. Various other synchronization techniques known to the person skilled in the art may also be used.
In step 370, the 3D surround audio is sent to the headphones worn by the player through a sending means, such as but not limited to a headphone jack or USB port for connecting to a wired headphone and a wireless audio transmitter or Bluetooth transceiver for transmitting to a wireless headphone.
Although the steps in the block diagram are given sequentially, it should be appreciated that some of the steps can be performed concurrently, or in a different sequence. The steps described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.
Thus, it can be seen that a device and method for a jackpot machine with surround audio has been provided. An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way for jackpot machines to have surround audio, and enhances the player's experience when playing the game by heightening his listening experience through the 3D surround audio and/or replicating an ambience of a location.
While exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the present embodiments, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exists. It should further be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, operation, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of steps and method of operation described in the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, the headphone can be replaced with speakers or any other sound reproduction devices.
This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application 63/046,365, filed 30 Jun. 2020, and titled, “JACKPOT MACHINE WITH SURROUND AUDIO,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63046365 | Jun 2020 | US |
