Patent Grant
9990807
The present application relates to the control of graphical user interfaces and, in particular, to control of graphical user interfaces in connection with gaming applications, and more particularly, to control of multiple graphical user interfaces in a community gaming implementation.
Modern casinos are increasingly moving toward electronic and computerized implementations for their gaming machines. For example, slot machines historically were mechanical devices whose physical reels could be spun by pulling a lever on the side of the machine. Each symbol on each reel occupied a physical stop having the same probability of occurrence as all other stops on the reel, and the machine would pay out based on the combination of symbols appearing in a line across the reels (the “payline”) when all of the reels stopped spinning. Today, however, mechanical reels in slot machines are typically controlled electronically, such that different payline probabilities can be assigned to different symbols on the reels. The reels can be spun by pushing a button that activates the electronic control, although some machines may retain the traditional lever for entertainment value. In newer video slot machines, the physical reels are replaced by virtual reels whose symbols are displayed on a video screen, controlled by one or more computer processors. Some video slot machines have physical buttons for the player to press, while others are operated via touchscreen.
An electronic gaming machine is typically programmed, via software or firmware, to pay out as winnings, in the long run, a particular percentage of the money that is paid in by players as wagers. This is typically done by setting the probabilities for individual payouts in the machine's control system. For example, if a machine gives a payout of 10 times the player's wager with a probability of 5%, and a payout of 20 times the player's wager with a probability of 2%, then the machine has a theoretical payout percentage of 90%. The remaining 10% of the wagers are kept by the “house” (i.e., the slot machine operator—typically the casino) as profits. The payouts that result from various combinations of symbols appearing on a payline when the reels stop spinning are typically listed in a pay table that may be displayed somewhere on the machine. The probability of each payout can thus be controlled by setting the probabilities of the individual symbols that must co-occur on the payline to produce that payout.
The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
In one aspect, the present application discloses a method of controlling a plurality of graphical user interfaces, wherein the plurality of graphical user interfaces form a community gaming system, each graphical user interface operating as a gaming terminal. The system includes at least one central controller. The method includes each gaming terminal determining, based upon regular user gaming input received at that gaming terminal and a first probability, whether that gaming terminal qualifies for a bonus event as a qualified gaming terminal. The method further includes determining, at the central controller, based upon a second probability, that the bonus event is triggered; identifying, by the central controller, a sequence of qualified gaming terminals for the bonus event; transmitting a trigger signal from the central controller to each of the qualified gaming terminals in the sequence in turn, in response to which each qualified gaming terminal initiates scrolling of a bonus event graphic across its respective graphical user interface such that as the bonus event graphic scrolls across the graphical user interface of one of the qualified gaming terminals to reach an edge of that graphical user interface a next one of the qualified gaming terminals in the sequence then initiates scrolling of that bonus event graphic across its graphical user interface whereby the bonus event graphic appears to scroll across successive graphical user interfaces of the sequence of qualified gaming terminals. At each of the qualified gaming terminals, a graphic element corresponding to a respective bonus event structure for that qualified gaming terminal is displayed.
In another aspect, the method may include, separately for each of the qualified gaming terminals, selecting, using a third probability, from amongst a plurality of bonus event structures a selected bonus event structure for that qualified gaming terminal and communicating the respective selected bonus event structures to the corresponding qualified gaming terminals.
In another aspect, the present application includes a community gaming system having at least a controller and two or more gaming terminals configured to perform one or more of the methods described herein.
In yet another aspect, the present application includes a processor-readable medium containing processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform one or more of the methods described herein.
It should be appreciated that the description herein is by way of example only, and embodiments are not limited to providing any or all of the above-described functionality, although some embodiments may provide some or all of the functionality described herein.
The embodiments described herein can be implemented in any of numerous ways, and are not limited to any particular implementation techniques. Thus, while examples of specific implementation techniques are described below, it should be appreciated that the examples are provided merely for purposes of illustration, and that other implementations are possible.
One illustrative application for the techniques described herein is for use in a system for controlling a casino game machine. However, techniques described herein may be applied to any type of gaming device, including but not limited to a casino game machine (e.g., a slot machine), a PC, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, glasses with augmented reality technology, etc.
The term electronic gaming machine (EGM) may be used herein to refer to a single-player gaming terminal. The terms EGM and gaming terminal may be used interchangeably herein. The gaming terminal may be implemented as a stand-alone physical device within its own cabinet in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the gaming terminal may be implemented in a common cabinet with other gaming terminals as part of an integrated set of EGMs. Many of the embodiments below refer to a plurality of gaming terminals. In some embodiments, the plurality of gaming terminals may be part of an integrated unit, with each of the gaming terminal having its own graphical user interface. In such embodiments, the integrated unit may or may not also have one or more common screens on which messaging and graphics applicable to more than one of the users is displayed. In some other embodiments, the plurality of gaming terminals is distributed such that each gaming terminal is a stand-alone unit, but in communication with a central controller. In one embodiment, one of the EGMs in the plurality of EGMs serves as the central controller. In some embodiments, the central controller may be server or other processing device. The central controller may be located proximate the EGMs or in a remote location.
An exemplary electronic gaming machine (EGM) 10 (i.e. gaming terminal) is illustrated in perspective view in
Display 12 and/or display 14 may have a touch screen lamination that includes a transparent grid of conductors. A player touching the screen may change the capacitance between the conductors, and thereby the X-Y location of the touch on the screen may be determined. A processor within EGM 10 may associate this X-Y location with a function to be performed. There may be an upper and lower multi-touch screen in accordance with some embodiments.
In some embodiments, a coin slot 22 may accept coins or tokens in one or more denominations to generate credits within the EGM 10 for playing games. An input slot 24 for an optical reader and printer may receive machine readable printed tickets and may output printed tickets for use in cashless gaming.
A coin tray 32 may receive coins or tokens from a hopper (not shown) upon a win or upon the player cashing out. However, in some embodiments, the EGM 10 may not pay in cash, but may only issue a printed ticket for cashing in elsewhere. Alternatively, a stored value card may be loaded with credits based on a win, or may enable the assignment of credits to an account associated with a computer system, which may be a network-connected computer.
A card reader slot 34 may accept any of various types of cards, such as smart cards, magnetic strip cards, and/or other types of cards conveying machine readable information. The card reader may read the inserted card for player and/or credit information for cashless gaming. The card reader may read a magnetic code on a conventional player tracking card, where the code uniquely identifies the player to the host system. In some embodiments, the code may be cross-referenced by a host system to any data related to the player, and such data may affect the games offered to the player by the EGM 10. The card reader may also include an optical reader and printer for reading and printing coded barcodes and other information on a paper ticket. A card may also include credentials that enable the host system to access one or more accounts associated with a user. The account may be debited based on wagers by a user and credited based on a win.
A keypad 36 may accept player input, such as a personal identification number (PIN) and/or any other player information. A display 38 above keypad 36 may display a menu for instructions and/or other information, and/or may provide visual feedback of the keys pressed. The keypad 36 may be an input device such as a touchscreen, or dynamic digital button panel, in accordance with some embodiments.
In some embodiments, player control buttons 39 may include any buttons and/or other controllers usable for the play of the particular game or games offered by the EGM 10, including, for example, a bet button, a repeat bet button, a spin reels (or play) button, a maximum bet button, a cash-out button, a display pay lines button, a display payout tables button, select icon buttons, and/or any other suitable button(s). In some embodiments, buttons 39 may be replaced by a touch screen with virtual buttons. In some embodiments, touchless control gesture functionality may replace or coexist with buttons 39.
Game controller board 44 may contain memory and one or more processors for carrying out programs stored in the memory and for providing the information requested by the network. Game controller board 44 may execute programs stored in the memory and/or instructions received from host system 41 to carry out game routines.
Peripheral devices/boards may communicate with game controller board 44 via a bus 46 using, for example, an RS-232 interface. Such peripherals may include a bill validator 47, a coin detector 48, a smart card reader and/or other type of credit card reader 49, and/or player control inputs 50 (such as buttons 39 and/or a touch screen).
Game controller board 44 may also control one or more devices that produce the game output including audio and video output associated with a particular game that is presented to the user. For example, audio board 51 may convert coded signals into analog signals for driving speakers. Display controller 52 may convert coded signals into pixel signals for one or more displays 53 (e.g., display 12 and/or display 14). Display controller 52 and audio board 51 may be directly connected to parallel ports on game controller board 44. In some embodiments, the electronics on the various boards may be combined in any suitable way, such as onto a single board.
In some embodiments, master EGM 310 may include one or more tangible, non-transitory processor-readable storage devices storing processor-executable instructions, and one or more processors that execute the processor-executable instructions to perform the functions described herein. The storage devices may be implemented as computer-readable storage media (i.e., tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media) encoded with the processor-executable instructions; examples of suitable computer-readable storage media are discussed below. An example of a suitable storage medium is memory 316 depicted in
Exemplary control system 310 also includes a user interface component 318 configured to allow a user (player) 330 to interact with the EGM 310. User interface 318 may be implemented in any suitable form, as embodiments are not limited in this respect. In some embodiments, user interface 318 may configured to receive input from player 330 in any suitable form, such as by button, touchscreen, touchless control gesture, speech commands, etc., and may be configured to provide output to player 330 in any suitable form, such as audio output and/or visual output on a 2D or 3D display. In one exemplary embodiment, user interface 318 may include one or more components of EGM 100 (
Within the community gaming system, EGMs 311 and 313 further include respective processors 304, memory 306, user interfaces 308, 328, and network interfaces 302, 322.
In some embodiments, one or more processors of an EGM 100 (
Reference is now made to
Conventional EGMs provide stand-alone game play for the user. Within a community gaming system, the stand-along game play may be interrupted to present a common bonus event to all players active in the community gaming system. During such a common bonus event, the community gaming system may be configured to display graphics regarding the bonus event on a common display screen viewable by players at all EGMs in the community gaming system, or may be configured to cause all the EGMs to show the graphics regarding the bonus event on their respective display screens simultaneously. This feature of community gaming systems, whereby all EGMs in active use are occasionally interrupted to participate in a common bonus event, creates a community experience for the players.
In accordance with one aspect of the present application, a community gaming system is configured to operate a common bonus event on a differentiated basis, such that each of the EGMs within the community gaming system participating in the bonus event receives or implements a respective randomly-selected bonus event structure. The random selection may result in all EGMs having the same bonus event structure or one or more of the EGMs having a different bonus event structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present application, the graphical user interfaces of the EGMs are controlled so as to visually communicate the differentiated nature of the bonus event. In one aspect, a central controller may identify a sequence of participating or validated EGMs for the bonus event and may cause each EGM to successively cause a bonus event graphic to scroll across its respective display. In one example, the start time for scrolling the bonus event graphic on one display is initiated when the bonus event graphic is scrolled to an edge of the display screen of the previous EGM in the sequence, such that the bonus event graphic appears to be scrolling across each of the display screens of the EGMs in sequence. In one embodiment, as the bonus event graphic is scrolled off of an EGM's display screen, that EGM updates its graphical user interface to indicate its respective selected bonus event structure.
As noted above, individual EGMs may qualify for participation in a bonus event. During each activation of the EGM, i.e. each “spin” or “wager”, the individual EGM determines whether it has qualified for the bonus event. This determination may be based upon a preset qualification probability and a randomly generated number. The preset qualification probability may be scaled in accordance with a wager amount or other factors required or permissible under the prevailing return percentage constraints applicable to the EGM. If the determination is that the EGM has qualified, then the graphical user interface may be updated to notify the user that the EGM has qualified.
If the EGM qualifies for the bonus event, it saves data in memory noting that its status as a qualified gaming terminal. This may include updating a data structure in memory tracking bonus event qualifications. The EGM may alternatively or additionally transmit a communication to the central controller containing data indicating that the EGM is a qualified gaming terminal.
In some implementations, the EGM may qualify more than once for the bonus event. Multiple qualifications for a bonus event may results in scaled probabilities relating to the bonus event and/or prize multipliers. In some embodiments, each qualification for the bonus event increments a prize multiplier by one. The incremented multiplier is stored in memory by the EGM. The EGM may also transmit a signal to the central controller to provide the central controller with up-to-date multiplier status for the qualified gaming terminal.
Each activation of the EGM, i.e. each “spin” or “wager”, also results in a signal from the EGM to the central controller to notify the central controller that the EGM has been activated. Each activation may further trigger a bonus event possibility at the central controller. The central controller determines whether a bonus event has been triggered based upon a bonus event probability and a randomly generated number.
When the central controller determines that a bonus event has been triggered, it then notifies the EGMs to enter a bonus event state. In this example, only active EGMs that have “qualified”, i.e. that have determined that they are qualified gaming terminals, may participate in the bonus event. Unqualified gaming terminals (either those that are not in active use, or those in active use that have not qualified for a bonus event) may either enter a suspended game state during which those terminals cannot be activated or they may be permitted to continue regular game play while the qualified gaming terminals participate in the bonus event.
If a qualified gaming terminal is engaged in completing an active regular game play operation, then it completes that operation while the central controller and other qualified gaming terminals await that completion. In order to effect this, each qualified gaming terminal sends the central controller a ready signal indicating that the respective gaming terminal has completed any game play operation that was in progress when the bonus event notification was received from the central controller. Once the central controller receives ready signals from each of the qualified gaming terminals in the community gaming system, then it may initiate the bonus event.
In one embodiment, the EGMs report their qualification status for bonus events to the central controller as the qualification is achieved. In such a case, the central controller has a stored record indicating which EGMs are qualified when a bonus event is triggered. Accordingly, it may only notify those EGMs of the bonus event in some embodiments. In another example, the EGMs only report their qualification status once the central controller transmits a bonus event notification.
The central controller identifies a sequence of the qualified EGMs. In some implementations, the EGMs have a predefined sequence that corresponds to their physical arrangement. For example, when the EGMs physically adjacent to each other in a row, the leftmost EGM may be designated as the first EGM in the predefined sequence, and the rightmost EGM as the last EGM in the predefined sequence. The predefined sequence may serve as the basis for the central controller to determine the sequence of qualified EGMs, since not all EGMs in the predefined sequence may be qualified for the bonus event.
The central controller also selects a bonus event structure for each EGM. In this example, the bonus event may have a plurality of optional features. In some instances, these features may be alternatives to one another. In some instances, the features may be cumulative. The combination of features is termed the “bonus event structure” herein. In one example, a feature is a “wild” card position on a reel. Another example feature may be a full reel of “wild” cards. Yet another example feature is “surrounding wilds”. Other game play features may be used in other embodiments.
Using a bonus feature probability, the central controller randomly selects, for each qualified EGM individually, the bonus event structure for that EGM—i.e. the features that are to be applied by that EGM in implementing the bonus event. Each qualified EGM may thus end up with a different feature or set of features to be implemented during the bonus event. The differentiated bonus event structures across EGMs is over and above any different in outcome attributable to different wagers input to the respective EGMs.
The EGMs each receive their respective selected bonus event structure information from the central controller and implement the bonus event. Implementing the bonus event may include graphically displaying images in accordance with the selected bonus event structure information received from the central controller, awaiting user input to trigger the bonus event operation, and determining using a bonus event probability the resulting combination of symbols for display as a bonus event outcome. The EGM then determines from the displayed combination of symbols and a payline pattern and wager the result and a corresponding display is output to indicate to the user whether the wager was lost or won and, if won, the resultant payout.
Before conducting the bonus event, the EGMs graphically communicate the initiation of the differentiated bonus event under control of the central controller. In particular, the central controller initiates scrolling of a bonus event graphic across the screens of the sequence of EGMs in succession.
In one embodiment, the central controller may initiate scrolling of the graphic by sending the first EGM in the sequence a scrolling trigger signal. In response, the first EGM begins scrolling the bonus event graphic 320 across its display screen 300. Note that the scrolling in this example is left to right, but in other examples it could be right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, diagonal, or in any other direction.
In one example implementation, the central controller sends successive scrolling trigger signals to qualified EGMs in the sequence based upon a predetermined time delay, where the predetermined time delay is precalculated as the time for each EGM to scroll the bonus event graphic 320 such that a leading edge of the bonus event graphic 320 traverses the screen, i.e. is scrolled into an edge of the display screen 300. Based on that time delay, each EGM in the sequence begins its scrolling in turn so as to give the impression of the bonus event graphic 320 crossing the screens seamlessly in succession.
In another example implementation, the EGM determines when the bonus event graphic 320 has been scrolled such that its leading edge meets an edge of the display screen 300. In response to that determination, the EGM notifies the central controller that the bonus event graphic 320 has reached an edge and the central controller then sends a scrolling trigger signal to the next EGM in the sequence.
It will be understood that the bonus event graphic 320 may, in some embodiments, be wider than the display screen 300, such that scrolling of the graphic 320 continues after the leading edge of the graphic 320 has been “scrolled off” the display screen 300.
After, or while, the trailing edge of the bonus display graphic 320 is scrolled off the display screen 300, the EGM updates its graphical user interface to display graphical elements corresponding to its respective selected bonus event structure. For example, if the selected bonus event structure for an EGM includes a full reel of wild symbols, the graphical user interface is updated to show that feature.
Although the foregoing examples show three qualified EGMs in the bonus event, it will be appreciated that the present differentiated bonus event structure may also be applied in the case of two qualified EGMs or four or more qualified EGMs, within a community gaming system.
Reference is now made to
In the example signal diagram 400, the EGM detects activation input, e.g. user input of a wager amount or activation of a play button to initiate normal gameplay. The EGM in this example notifies the central controller of the gameplay activation. The EGM then tests whether the activation results in a qualification for bonus events using a first probability. In this example, the result is positive, and the EGM sends a qualify signal to the central controller. The central controller stores information in memory noting the qualification of the EGM for bonus events. The central controller also determines, using a second probability, whether the activation results in a bonus event. In the first example, it does not.
The signal diagram 400 shows a second detected activation at the EGM. The same communication and processing sequence is carried out, but in this example, the central controller determines that a bonus event is to occur based on the second probability and a randomly-generated number. Accordingly, it sends a bonus event interrupt signal to the EGM. When the EGM is finished any ongoing gameplay routine, it responds to the central controller with a ready signal. The central controller then identifies the qualified EGMs based on stored data and for each qualified EGM it selects a respective bonus event structure (i.e. bonus feature or combination of features) using a third probability.
The respective selected bonus event structure is sent to the corresponding EGM. The EGM then awaits a scrolling trigger signal to initiate scrolling of the bonus event graphic across its display screen. In this example embodiment, the EGM notifies the central controller when the leading edge of the graphic reaches an edge of the screen so that the central controller can trigger scrolling at the next EGM in the sequence of EGMs. As noted above, in another embodiment, the central controller may send trigger signals to the EGMs in sequence based upon a predetermined timing delay.
The EGM then implements the bonus event structure in accordance with the bonus event structure information received and graphically displays the bonus event structure. The EGM then awaits detection of an activation input at which point it runs the bonus event and determines the outcome. The bonus even results are then displayed on the EGM display screen and the resultant payout, if any, is triggered.
The embodiments are operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the described techniques include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
The computing environment may execute computer-executable instructions, such as program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.
With reference to
Computer 710 typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer 710 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by computer 710. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.
The system memory 730 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 731 and random access memory (RAM) 732. A basic input/output system 733 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer 710, such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM 731. RAM 732 typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit 720. By way of example, and not limitation,
The computer 710 may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,
The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in
The computer 710 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 780. The remote computer 780 may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 710, although only a memory storage device 781 has been illustrated in
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 710 is connected to the LAN 771 through a network interface or adapter 770. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 710 typically includes a modem 772 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN 773, such as the Internet. The modem 772, which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus 721 via the user input interface 760, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 710, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,
The above-described embodiments can be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, the embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed among multiple computers. It should be appreciated that any component or collection of components that perform the functions described above can be generically considered as one or more controllers that control the above-discussed functions. The one or more controllers can be implemented in numerous ways, such as with dedicated hardware, or with general purpose hardware (e.g., one or more processors) that is programmed using microcode or software to perform the functions recited above.
In this respect, it should be appreciated that one implementation comprises at least one processor-readable storage medium (i.e., at least one tangible, non-transitory processor-readable medium, e.g., a computer memory (e.g., hard drive, flash memory, processor working memory, etc.), a floppy disk, an optical disc, a magnetic tape, or other tangible, non-transitory processor-readable medium) encoded with a computer program (i.e., a plurality of instructions), which, when executed on one or more processors, performs at least the above-discussed functions. The processor-readable storage medium can be transportable such that the program stored thereon can be loaded onto any computer resource to implement functionality discussed herein. In addition, it should be appreciated that the reference to a computer program which, when executed, performs above-discussed functions, is not limited to an application program running on a host computer. Rather, the term “computer program” is used herein in a generic sense to reference any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program one or more processors to implement above-discussed functionality.
The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and additional items. Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term), to distinguish the claim elements.
Having described several embodiments of the invention, various modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended as limiting. The invention is limited only as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereto.
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