Patent Grant
8979657
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 disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to gaming machines, and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to a gaming machine and a gaming system having a community event provided with a plurality of communal features.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game that may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with “progressive jackpot” awards that are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a display for displaying a base game of the wagering game in response to receiving a wager input from a player and a controller coupled to the display. The controller is programmed to randomly increment during game play a bonus-time eligibility counter for a community bonus game, decrement the bonus-time eligibility counter as real time progresses, and render a player eligible to play the community bonus game if the bonus-time eligibility counter is greater than zero when a community bonus game is triggered.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system comprises conducting a first base wagering game having a first EV at a first gaming machine in response to receiving a wager input from a player and randomly incrementing, during game play of the first base wagering game, a community event bonus-time eligibility counter for a community event bonus game, a community event bonus multiplier, or both a bonus-time eligibility counter for the community event bonus game and the community event bonus multiplier. The method also includes decrementing the first gaming machine eligible bonus-time eligibility counter in real time and rendering a player at the first gaming machine eligible to play the community event bonus game if the bonus-time eligibility counter of the first gaming machine is greater than zero when a community event bonus game is triggered.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system comprises conducting a community event bonus game and awarding one or more awards to each eligible player. In this method, the act of awarding one or more awards comprises awarding, a first value of awards to players who obtained eligibility for the community event bonus game on a first base wagering game having a first EV and awarding a second value of awards to players who obtained eligibility for the community event bonus game on a second base wagering game having a second EV lower than the first EV. The first value of awards is statistically lower than the second value of awards.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system comprises conducting a community event bonus game and awarding one or more awards to each eligible player. In this method, the act of awarding one or more awards to each eligible player comprises discriminating between players of base wagering games having different EVs, applying a first community event bonus EV to players of base wagering games having a first EV, and applying a second community event bonus EV to players of base wagering games having a second EV. In this method, the first community event bonus EV is lower than the second community event bonus EV, the first EV is higher than the second EV, and the sum of the EVs of the first community event bonus EV and the first EV is at least substantially the same as the sum of the EVs of the second community event bonus EV and the second EV.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer readable storage medium is encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the above method.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprises a gaming machine comprising a display, the gaming machine being configured to display an outcome of a wagering game conducted on the gaming machine in response to a wager input from a player, the outcome of the wagering game comprising the display of an array of randomly determined symbols and a controller coupled to the display. The controller is programmed to increment a bonus-time eligibility counter for a community bonus game responsive to the wager input, increment during game play at least one of a bonus-time eligibility counter for a community bonus game or a benefit associated with the community bonus game responsive to an occurrence of a community bonus game symbol in the array of randomly determined symbols, decrement the bonus-time eligibility counter as real time progresses, render a player eligible to play the community bonus game if the bonus-time eligibility counter is greater than zero when a community bonus game is triggered, and modify any award realized during the community bonus game by any benefit associated with the community bonus game realized during the wagering game.
Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
a is a perspective view of a free standing gaming machine embodying the present invention;
b is a perspective view of a handheld gaming machine embodying the present invention;
a is a flow chart representing a foreground process of game play in accord with at least some aspects of the present concepts;
b is a flow chart representing a background process of determining bonus-time eligibility for a gaming machine, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary display 14 for displaying information about the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine 10.
The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin currency (see
The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key 30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, the push buttons 26 may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game.
The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen in
The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, a DLP projection display, an electroluminescent (EL) panel, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10.
As shown, the primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the entire display (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome in visual association with at least one payline 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 14 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.
A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The basic game consists of a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 32 that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly-selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game.
In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in
Depicted in
The player-accessible value input device 118 may comprise, for example, a slot located on the front, side, or top of the casing 112 configured to receive credit from a stored-value card (e.g., casino card, smart card, debit card, credit card, etc.) inserted by a player. In another aspect, the player-accessible value input device 118 may comprise a sensor (e.g., an RF sensor) configured to sense a signal (e.g., an RF signal) output by a transmitter (e.g., an RF transmitter) carried by a player. The player-accessible value input device 118 may also or alternatively include a ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit or funds storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access to a central account, which can transfer money to the handheld gaming machine 110.
Still other player-accessible value input devices 118 may require the use of touch keys 130 on the touch-screen display (e.g., primary display 114 and/or secondary display 116) or player input devices 124. Upon entry of player identification information and, preferably, secondary authorization information (e.g., a password, PIN number, stored value card number, predefined key sequences, etc.), the player may be permitted to access a player's account. As one potential optional security feature, the handheld gaming machine 110 may be configured to permit a player to only access an account the player has specifically set up for the handheld gaming machine 110. Other conventional security features may also be utilized to, for example, prevent unauthorized access to a player's account, to minimize an impact of any unauthorized access to a player's account, or to prevent unauthorized access to any personal information or funds temporarily stored on the handheld gaming machine 110.
The player-accessible value input device 118 may itself comprise or utilize a biometric player information reader which permits the player to access available funds on a player's account, either alone or in combination with another of the aforementioned player-accessible value input devices 118. In an embodiment wherein the player-accessible value input device 118 comprises a biometric player information reader, transactions such as an input of value to the handheld device, a transfer of value from one player account or source to an account associated with the handheld gaming machine 110, or the execution of another transaction, for example, could all be authorized by a biometric reading, which could comprise a plurality of biometric readings, from the biometric device.
Alternatively, to enhance security, a transaction may be optionally enabled only by a two-step process in which a secondary source confirms the identity indicated by a primary source. For example, a player-accessible value input device 118 comprising a biometric player information reader may require a confirmatory entry from another biometric player information reader 152, or from another source, such as a credit card, debit card, player ID card, fob key, PIN number, password, hotel room key, etc. Thus, a transaction may be enabled by, for example, a combination of the personal identification input (e.g., biometric input) with a secret PIN number, or a combination of a biometric input with a fob input, or a combination of a fob input with a PIN number, or a combination of a credit card input with a biometric input. Essentially, any two independent sources of identity, one of which is secure or personal to the player (e.g., biometric readings, PIN number, password, etc.) could be utilized to provide enhanced security prior to the electronic transfer of any funds. In another aspect, the value input device 118 may be provided remotely from the handheld gaming machine 110.
The player input device 124 comprises a plurality of push buttons on a button panel for operating the handheld gaming machine 110. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 124 may comprise a touch screen 128 mounted to a primary display 114 and/or secondary display 116. In one aspect, the touch screen 128 is matched to a display screen having one or more selectable touch keys 130 selectable by a user's touching of the associated area of the screen using a finger or a tool, such as a stylus pointer. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen 128 at an appropriate touch key 130 or by pressing an appropriate push button 126 on the button panel. The touch keys 130 may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons 126. Alternatively, the push buttons may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys 130 may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game. The various components of the handheld gaming machine 110 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the casing 112, as seen in
The operation of the basic wagering game on the handheld gaming machine 110 is displayed to the player on the primary display 114. The primary display 114 can also display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display 114 preferably takes the form of a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the handheld gaming machine 110. The size of the primary display 114 may vary from, for example, about a 2-3″ display to a 15″ or 17″ display. In at least some aspects, the primary display 114 is a 7″-10″ display. As the weight of and/or power requirements of such displays decreases with improvements in technology, it is envisaged that the size of the primary display may be increased. Optionally, coatings or removable films or sheets may be applied to the display to provide desired characteristics (e.g., anti-scratch, anti-glare, bacterially-resistant and anti-microbial films, etc.). In at least some embodiments, the primary display 114 and/or secondary display 116 may have a 16:9 aspect ratio or other aspect ratio (e.g., 4:3). The primary display 114 and/or secondary display 116 may also each have different resolutions, different color schemes, and different aspect ratios.
As with the free standing gaming machine 10, a player begins play of the basic wagering game on the handheld gaming machine 110 by making a wager (e.g., via the value input device 18 or an assignment of credits stored on the handheld gaming machine via the touch screen keys 130, player input device 124, or buttons 126) on the handheld gaming machine 110. In at least some aspects, the basic game may comprise a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 132 that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game.
In some embodiments, the player-accessible value input device 118 of the handheld gaming machine 110 may double as a player information reader 152 that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating the player's identity (e.g., reading a player's credit card, player ID card, smart card, etc.). The player information reader 152 may alternatively or also comprise a bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable storage medium interface. In one presently preferred aspect, the player information reader 152, shown by way of example in
Turning now to
The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36 and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably, these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.
As seen in
Communications between the controller 34 and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems 50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10 bT, etc.). The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits 46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.
Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise one or more controllers or processors. In
The gaming machines 10,110 may communicate with external systems 50 (in a wired or wireless manner) such that each machine operates as a “thin client,” having relatively less functionality, a “thick client,” having relatively more functionality, or through any range of functionality therebetween (e.g., a “rich client”). As a generally “thin client,” the gaming machine may operate primarily as a display device to display the results of gaming outcomes processed externally, for example, on a server as part of the external systems 50. In this “thin client” configuration, the server executes game code and determines game outcomes (e.g., with a random number generator), while the controller 34 on board the gaming machine processes display information to be displayed on the display(s) of the machine. In an alternative “rich client” configuration, the server determines game outcomes, while the controller 34 on board the gaming machine executes game code and processes display information to be displayed on the display(s) of the machines. In yet another alternative “thick client” configuration, the controller 34 on board the gaming machine 110 executes game code, determines game outcomes, and processes display information to be displayed on the display(s) of the machine. Numerous alternative configurations are possible such that the aforementioned and other functions may be performed onboard or external to the gaming machine as may be necessary for particular applications. It should be understood that the gaming machines 10,110 may take on a wide variety of forms such as a free standing machine, a portable or handheld device primarily used for gaming, a mobile telecommunications device such as a mobile telephone or personal daily assistant (PDA), a counter top or bar top gaming machine, or other personal electronic device such as a portable television, MP3 player, entertainment device, etc.
Security features are advantageously utilized where the gaming machines 10,110 communicate wirelessly with external systems 50, such as through wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies, wireless personal area networks (WPAN) technologies, wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) technologies, wireless wide area network (WWAN) technologies, or other wireless network technologies implemented in accord with related standards or protocols (e.g., the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of WLAN standards, IEEE 802.11i, IEEE 802.11r (under development), IEEE 802.11w (under development), IEEE 802.15.1 (Bluetooth), IEEE 802.12.3, etc.). For example, a WLAN in accord with at least some aspects of the present concepts comprises a robust security network (RSN), a wireless security network that allows the creation of robust security network associations (RSNA) using one or more cryptographic techniques, which provides one system to avoid security vulnerabilities associated with IEEE 802.11 (the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) protocol). Constituent components of the RSN may comprise, for example, stations (STA) (e.g., wireless endpoint devices such as laptops, wireless handheld devices, cellular phones, handheld gaming machine 110, etc.), access points (AP) (e.g., a network device or devices that allow(s) an STA to communicate wirelessly and to connect to a(nother) network, such as a communication device associated with I/O circuit(s) 48), and authentication servers (AS) (e.g., an external system 50), which provide authentication services to STAs. Information regarding security features for wireless networks may be found, for example, in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Technology Administration U.S. Department of Commerce, Special Publication (SP) 800-97, E
Turning now to
Time-based eligibility for a community event bonus is measured using a “time slice,” which may be one second, a fraction of a second, or more than one second (e.g., 30 seconds, 45 seconds, one minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.).
At act S100 in
One or more time slices may also be obtained in act S126 following the initiation of a base wagering game and/or during play of the base wagering game in act S124 in the flowchart of
The predetermined number of time slices being granted, such as in act S126 of
In still another aspect, at any time before, during, or after base wagering game play, a player may be permitted to simply purchase one or more time slices. For example, a player may outright purchase a block of time slices and authorize an appropriate controller or service (e.g., “Big Event Coordinator) to automatically begin decrementing time slices from that block of time slices upon exhausting of all available time slices from the time slice counter. Alternatively, a player may pre-authorize prior to play or authorize during play (e.g., accepting a prompt from a pop-up window) automated purchase of time slices from a win meter amount at a rate sufficient to ensure continued eligibility for the bonus game or community game. In still other aspects, a player may open a line of credit or fund an account from which time credits may be automatically purchased on an as-needed basis to ensure continued eligibility of the player for a community event. Where a player sets up an account or accounts to handle automated maintenance of the players' time slice counter, whether using a casino account or a third-party account, the player may opt to select a minimum multiplier level that he or she wants to maintain. Deductions from or charges to such account(s) would then ensure sufficient purchase of time slice counters to maintain such minimum multiplier level until the authorization is terminated. To facilitate purchase of time slices during game play, a prominent (e.g., lighted, brightly colored, etc.) “Time Slice Quick Purchase!” button may optionally be integrated into the touch screen display or button panel 24 to permit a player to instantly purchase a predefined duration of community bonus event eligibility (e.g., a predefined plurality of time slices), so as to enable a player to quickly maintain eligibility when he or she sees that his or her eligibility time dwindling toward zero.
Turning to
If the bonus game or community event game is triggered, then, at act S108, the game process is informed that the bonus game or community event game has occurred. Non-community-event-game-eligible players are then permitted to continue play of their base wagering games in act S112, whereas community-event-game-eligible players are permitted to progress to the community event game, either before (S116) or after (S118) completion of their base wagering games. In the community event game is not triggered in act S106, a time slice is decremented from the time-slice counter in act S110. Then, the process goes back to act S102 to determine whether there are any time slices available. In at least some aspects, this process continues regardless of any player's activity in the base wagering game. Thus, with respect to
The time-slice counter represented in acts S122 and S130 of
In at least some aspects of the present concepts, such as is represented by act S128 in which the game process or controller determines whether any bonus enhancement such as, but not limited to, a community event bonus multiplier, is to be awarded. The bonus enhancement does not relate to eligibility, but does apply to increase a player's award should they be eligible for and in fact play in the community event game in act S150. The amount of the bonus multiplier may comprise, in one embodiment, a function of the amount wagered with respect to time. For example, each credit buys 1 time slice of eligibility for the bonus game or community game. The price of each time slice may be varied, as desired (e.g., two credits per time slice, two time slices per credit, etc.). Two things occur at every time slice interval (i.e., every 250 ms, every second, etc.). First, a decision is made to determine if a time-based game should be triggered. Second, the number of time slices that the player has accumulated is updated (e.g., decremented).
The time-based bonus game or community game is triggered, in act S106, randomly, pseudo-randomly, or following satisfaction of one or more predetermined triggering conditions. In at least some aspects, the time-based bonus games or community games are triggered asynchronously from normal game flow. An asynchronous process executes the RNG to select a random number at some predefined time interval. This random number is then compared to a predefined number or series of predefined numbers. If the random number matches, or is a subset of the predefined series, a bonus game is triggered. If the random number does not match, or is not a subset of the predefined series, then no bonus game is triggered. The time interval of how often a number is selected, what range the number is selected from, and the criteria for matching to trigger a bonus are all dependent on the desired mathematics of the game.
In some aspects, the time slice interval is determined from variables including, but not limited to, an expected value (EV) of the base wagering game or the bonus game or community game and/or a probability of occurrence of the bonus game or community game. For example, if the time-based bonus game is to take up to 10% of the total return in the wagering game, then each time slice should have an Expected Value (“EV”) of 0.1 credits where the time slices are purchased for 1 credit (i.e., 10% of 1 credit=0.1 credits). In addition, the EV of each time slice is the product of the chance of the bonus and the EV of the bonus or, stated differently, the chance of the bonus is equal to the dividend of the EV of the time slice by the EV of the bonus. Thus, for an EV of a time slice of 0.1 credits and an EV of the bonus as 2000 credits, a bonus would occur, on average, once every 20000 time slices. For 250 ms. time slices, for example, a bonus game would occur on average about every 5000 seconds or 83 minutes.
At every time slice interval, a process executes to remove one of the time slices. Optionally, more than one time slice can be removed when considering multipliers greater than 1×. The removal of the time slices continues until all of the player's time slices are removed. When all the time slices have been removed, the player becomes ineligible for playing the bonus game. Thus, where a player's bet or game play has yielded twenty 250 ms. time slices, the player has 5 seconds of bonus eligibility and a time slice is removed from this counter every 250 ms. until no more time slices remain.
The examples depicted in
This above example of allocation of a predetermined number of time slices to an initial wager is non-limiting and, of course, the duration of the time slices and/or the number of time slices awarded for a given wager may also or alternatively be varied by game designers to suit game play. For example, the number time slices awarded might be weighted toward higher wagers, wherein a wager of 1 or 2 credits yields no time slices, a wager of 3 credits yields 5 time slices, a wager of 4 credits yields 25 time slices, and a wager of 5 credits yields 50 time slices. Still further, a player may only receive a predetermined number of time slices if they wager “Max Bet” and are only permitted to play the basic wagering game and any associated non-community event bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. In another variation, each additional extra credit wagered beyond the “Max Bet” may confer to the player, for a limited number of credits (e.g., up to 5 additional credits), a predetermined number of additional time slices proportional to the number of time slices awarded to the player for placing a “Max Bet” wager (e.g., 10 time slices per additional credit in the preceding example).
In one embodiment of at least some aspects of the present concepts, the player must make a “Max Bet” wager and make an additional 2 credit extra bet to obtain time slices and thereby obtain potential eligibility for a community bonus, such as the Big Event bonus, during the pendency of such time slices. The number of additional credits beyond the “Max Bet” needed to be wagered to obtain such potential for eligibility may be varied by game designers to suit game play. For example, the number of additional credits beyond the “Max Bet” needed to be wagered to obtain such potential for eligibility may be set to be one credit, three credits, or more than three credits.
For a given wager, a player satisfying or exceeding a minimum threshold wager to obtain potential eligibility for a community game, such as the Big Event bonus, may also optionally be given options, such as being able to choose whether they would like to receive a predetermined number of time slices, corresponding to the wager, at a lower multiplier (e.g., 1×) or a lesser number of time slices, corresponding to the wager, at a higher multiplier (e.g., 2× or 3×). Thus, a player may be permitted to choose between maximizing eligibility or maximizing potential awards in a bonus game or community event game should eligibility be conferred in the allotted time period.
Alternatively, multipliers, where provided, may be assigned only to progressively larger wagers. For example, in the above example wherein a player is required to make a “Max Bet” wager and place an additional 2 credit extra wager to obtain time slices and thereby obtain potential eligibility for a community bonus, such eligibility may be only at a “1×” multiplier. The player may be permitted to place a still additional x credit wager (e.g., 3 credits), above the 7 credits already wagered, to increase a Big Event multiplier to “2×” or to place a still larger y credit wager (e.g., 6 credits), above the 7 credits already wagered, to increase a Big Event multiplier to “3×”.
In still other aspects, since poker-based games and card-based games, in general, involve some element of reasoning or skill and it is desired to avoid “rushing” the players, the eligibility for the community event, such as the Big Event bonus, and/or any multipliers potentially associated therewith, may be made predominantly contingent upon game play rather than wagers. In this manner, eligibility and/or multipliers will not be based solely on a time between wagers or an amount of wagers. However, eligibility and/or multipliers may still optionally be based, in part, upon on a time between wagers or an amount of wagers. In at least some aspects of the present concepts, the Big Event multiplier may max out at a low value (e.g., 3×) so that a player does not feel that they are missing out on huge multipliers if they do not play fast.
Additionally, eligibility and/or multipliers may yet be based wholly upon on a time between wagers or an amount of wagers even in card-based wagering games. In such aspects, the number of time slices awarded per credit, the number of time slices awarded per credit, the number of additional extra credits wagered, or any other variable, may be altered as required to provide players of certain games, such as poker-based games, sufficient time to play without undue haste.
As noted above, a plurality of tiered (e.g., 1×, 1.5×, 2×, 2.5×, 3×, etc.) community event bonus multipliers may be provided in the community event bonus game, such as the Big Event game. This tiering of the community event bonus multipliers may be optionally linked to the number of time slices accumulated by a player to award player's for having more eligibility time. For example, each multiplier level may be configured to accept only a predetermined maximum number of purchasable or obtainable time slices. For example, the “1×” community event bonus multiplier may be configured to accept, at most, x time slices of a predetermined duration (e.g., 100 ms., 250 ms., 500 ms., etc.), where x is any integer. In this example, it will be assumed that the “1×” community event bonus multiplier can accept 50 time slices for a time slice duration of 500 ms. Once the player exceeds 50 time slices for the “1×” multiplier, excess time slices are then deposited in the next higher community event bonus multiplier, “2×” in this example, and that community event bonus multiplier begins to fill with added time slices. After the “2×” multiplier is filled, the “3×” multiplier would begin to fill, and so on. The number of time slices allocated to each of the community event bonus multipliers may be the same, such as 50 time slices per multiplier, or may be different, such as 50 times slices for the “1×” community event bonus multiplier, 100 times slices for the “2×” community event bonus multiplier, and 150 times slices for the “3×” community event bonus multiplier. In another configuration, The number of time slices allocated to each of the community event bonus multipliers may initially be high, but may decrease for higher community event bonus multipliers. For example, 200 time slices may be required to surpass the “1×” community event bonus multiplier, 100 additional times slices required to fill the “2×” community event bonus multiplier, and 50 times slices to fill the “3×” community event bonus multiplier and advance to the “4×” community event bonus multiplier. At some point, the progression toward further decreases in the number of time slices required to advance to a successive community event bonus multiplier would naturally be limited. For example, in the preceding example, any multiplier above “4×” would need 50 additional times slices to fill the “4×” community event bonus multiplier and advance to a higher multiplier.
When a time-based community event bonus game is triggered, such as noted above, the player's current maximum multiplier for which he or she is then, in some aspects, applied to all awards received by that player in the bonus game. Thus, if the player has just achieved a “2×” community event bonus multiplier immediately prior to actual qualification for the community event, all awards received by that player in the community event bonus game are multiplied by “2×”. In another aspect, the player's multiplier is for which he or she is then, in some aspects, applied proportionally to all awards received by that player in the bonus game. Thus, if the player has accumulated 100 time slices to achieved a “2×” community event bonus multiplier, and the community event bonus game was triggered when the player had 150 time slices total with 50 time slices in the “2×” range immediately prior to actual qualification for the community event, the awards received by that player in the community event bonus game would receive a “2×” multiplier in proportion to the player's time slices (e.g., 33% of the players award in the community event bonus would be multiplied by “2×”). In one alternative embodiment, rather than carry a community event bonus multiplier into the community event bonus game, a player may qualify for a portable pay table corresponding to a level of play of the player. Thus, instead of a multiplier, such as “2×,” “3×,” or the like, the players' pay table for the community event bonus game increases at each of a plurality of predetermined milestones and such pay table would be applied for that player in the community event bonus game.
With this general framework in mind, the example of one community event, Big Event Poker, will be described in relation to
The signage 60, where provided, includes a signage controller (not shown) that is hardwired to or wirelessly connected to a controller associated with individual gaming machine (e.g., 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) controllers 34 or with external systems 50 (e.g., a server, or a community event controller, etc.) associated therewith. The signage controller transmits information to and receives information from, for example, the controller 34 (see
In at least some aspects, the gaming system in accord with the present concepts includes a Big Event Client and an RNG Service, which may be embodied in a gaming machine (e.g., 10a), such as is disclosed in co-pending application WO 2007/030733 A2, filed on Mar. 15, 2007, and claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/715,991, filed on Sep. 9, 2005, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, and each of which is assigned to the present assignee. Thus, the Big Event Client may comprise, for example, an additional software component that is added to the system memory 36 and that is controlled by the controller 34 (
In some aspects, the external systems 50 include a server including a “Big Event Service” or “Big Event Coordinator,” a multiplayer game log, and a signage manager. The Big Event Coordinator resides, and executes, on, for example, the server or on one of the gaming machines 10a-10d. In operation, when the Big Event Game is triggered, the RNG (or pseudo-RNG), which may be located anywhere, such as within a designated or selected gaming machine (e.g., gaming machine 10b), dictates one or more of the outcomes in the Big Event Game. For example, the Big Event Coordinator may request random outcomes, e.g., random numbers, from the RNG when the Big Event Game is being played or prior to play of the Big Event Game. After receiving one or more of the random outcomes from the Big Event Client, the Big Event Coordinator distributes the received random outcomes to all participating machines of the gaming machines 10a-10d.
The exemplary, but non-limiting, player-selectable buttons depicted in
In accord with at least some aspects of the present concepts, the video poker display 200 also includes a community event eligibility meter 275 showing the community event for which eligibility may be obtained on the gaming machine 10. Optionally, the player may be permitted to associate an eligibility with a selected one of a plurality of available community event games or to distribute an eligibility across a plurality of such available community event games.
In some aspects, when the timer on the community event eligibility meter 275 reaches zero, the player is ineligible for the community event even though the player may have been, as shown, at a multiplier level of “5×”. In still other aspects, the displayed 9 seconds of eligibility may pertain only to the duration of eligibility for the community bonus event at a multiplier level of “5×,” and does not depict the time slices that might have been required for the player to reach the “5×” level. For example, if the player had to obtain (and maintain) 50 time slices for each level of community event bonus multiplier, the player would have needed at least 250 time slices to reach the “5×” community event bonus multiplier. If the time slices were each 250 ms., for example, the player would have accumulated about 62 seconds or one minute of eligibility. Therefore, in such example, the 9 seconds indicate, for example, 9 seconds of eligibility at “5×”, followed by 12½ seconds of eligibility at each of the community event bonus multipliers of “4×,” “3×,” “2×,” and “1×,” before eligibility is lost, barring no additional award of or purchase of time slices. Should the Big Event bonus be triggered while the player still has eligibility remaining, the multiplier will multiply the players' Big Event bonus.
The pay table 200, displayed on the primary display 14 in the present example, may also or alternatively be displayed on the secondary display 16. The pay table 200 includes a list of winning poker hand rankings 280 for the depicted example of “Jacks or Better,” consisting of “Royal Flush,” “Straight Flush,” “4 Aces,” “Full House,” “Flush,” “Straight,” “3 of a Kind,” “Two Pair,” and “Jacks or Better.” The pay table 200 also includes a number of payout columns 210a-210e labeled “Bet 1,” “Bet 2,” “Bet 3,” “Bet 4,” and “Bet 5” displaying payouts associated with each ranking relative to the player's wager. As is evident by a comparison of any one of the winning poker hand rankings 280 to each of the columns 210a-210e, it can be seen that the number of credits won is linearly proportional to the number of credits wagered for a given winning poker hand, except that a royal flush yields a bonus when achieved on a maximum wager. The winning poker hand rankings 280 includes standard poker hand rankings beginning at “Jacks or Better” up to and including a “Royal Flush.”
As illustrated in
By selecting the “Deal/Draw” button 250, a player is dealt a user-playable hand 220. In a five-card draw poker game, such as a “Jacks or Better,” five cards 220a-e are displayed face-up to a player to form a first user-playable hand. The player is able to select none, one, or a plurality of the cards 220a-e in the user-playable hand to hold, such as by touching the cards that are desired to be held. Optionally, any cards that already contribute to a winning outcome may be highlighted to the player to assist the player in determining which cards to hold and/or discard.
At the end of any discard and dealing of a second user-playable hand, which may, but is not required to, include one or more held cards from the first user-playable hand, a player is awarded a pay out as displayed in the pay table 210 if the ranking of the hand meets one of the plurality of predetermined criteria displayed in the pay table. Likewise, a player is not awarded a pay out if the ranking of the hand does not meet one of the plurality of predetermined criteria displayed in the pay table 210.
In at least some aspects of embodiments of the present concepts, this random award of extra eligibility time could be used to equalize the different EVs for various poker games offered on the gaming machines 10a-10n. For example, if one player is playing “Deuces Wild” (higher EV) and another is playing standard “Jacks or Better” (lower EV), the “Jacks or Better” player may be given additional eligibility time more often than the “Deuces Wild” player.
When a Big Event poker bonus is triggered, such as is shown in
Although, in some embodiments, only one Big Event bonus may be available to a given bank of gaming machines 10a-n, 110a-n (e.g., 10a-10d, as shown in
In
In alternative embodiments, each player may carry into the “4 to a Royal”™ bonus game, or other community event bonus game, his or her own pay table corresponding to a pay table played by the player on the gaming machine 10, 110 at the time of triggering of the “4 to a Royal”™ bonus game.
In “4 to a Royal,”™ each eligible players' base games will use its own deck(s) of cards, so it is possible for all eligible players to get a Royal Flush. In other words, in a presently preferred aspect of this bonus game, each eligible player playing “4 to a Royal,”™ have an independent chance of receiving any of the awards, including the maximum award for the “Royal Flush.” However, in an alternative aspect of the present concepts, each eligible player playing “4 to a Royal,”™ receives a randomly selected outcome from a limited population of potential outcomes, such as each eligible player selecting a draw from the same deck of x cards (e.g., a multi-deck “shoe”), wherein the number of cards in the deck(s) may be scaled up or down based on the number of eligible players.
The pay table 530, as depicted, is blank to represent the variability of the pay table in the illustrated aspect of the community event bonus game. In such aspect, the pay table that the player uses in the community event bonus game, here “Free Hands Wild,”™ is the same pay table that the player selected and/or used as the pay table in their base poker at the time that the community event bonus game was triggered. Alternatively, the pay table used by the player in the community event bonus game may be selected by other criteria or in other manners. In one aspect, the pay table could be randomly selected. In another aspect, the pay table could represent a weighted average of the players' historical play of the base wagering game preceding the triggering of the community event bonus game. For example, if the player had been placing “Max Bet” wagers consistently for 30 minutes and happened to place a “Bet 1” wager immediately prior to the triggering of the community event bonus game, the community event bonus game eligible player may be given a “Max Bet” pay table to play in the community event bonus game, despite one or more incidental low wager plays. In such aspects, a “Pay Table” meter on the display could provide an indication to the player of the pay table for which he or she is qualified at any given moment. In still further aspects, the pay table selected for use by the player in the community event bonus game could be related not to any particular wager placed by the player, but by the number of time slices obtained or maintained by the player at the time of triggering of the community event bonus game. Weighting factors could also be levied to reward desired aspects of game play (e.g., consistency, high wagers, etc.).
Although a number of potential poker related community event bonus games have been shown, the present concepts are not limited to the depicted examples and may include any poker-themed game or, more generally, card-based game.
In the transition from the base wagering game to the Big Event, where a plurality of community event bonus games may be selected, such as by, but not limited to, random selection, the signage (e.g., 60,
Since players at different gaming machines 10, 110 may be permitted to play different poker-based base wagering games, each having a different EV, it is desirable to equalize the EVs between the base wagering games using the Big Event. For example, the “Jacks or Better” player may be given, in the Big Event bonus, a more beneficial award (e.g., a higher credit value) than the “Deuces Wild” player. As another example, if the Big Event bonus game is a “Free Hands” game, discussed in relation to
In another aspect of the present concepts, EVs among a bank of gaming machines 10, 110 playing different poker-based base wagering games and having different EVs may be equalized by awarding different numbers of and/or durations of time slices. For example, where extra eligibility time is automatically granted for an extra wager above the “Max Bet” wager, the “Jacks or Better” player may be given more time slices or time slices of a greater duration for a given extra wager equating to, for example, an extra half second, second, two seconds, etcetera, than the “Deuces Wild” player. As another example, where extra eligibility time is randomly awarded during game play, the “Jacks or Better” player may be given more time slices or time slices of a greater duration equating to, for example, an extra half second, second, two seconds, etcetera, than the “Deuces Wild” player, or alternatively may be given the same number and/or duration of time slice at a greater frequency than the “Deuces Wild” player.
In any of the above aspects, a player may also optionally be permitted to save a state of his or her play on the base wagering game, in association with a suitable player identification (e.g., player club ID number, biometric input, etc.) to save for a subsequent use the player's accumulated eligibility time and/or community event bonus multipliers. The state of play may further be saved in association with an originating gaming machine or alternatively, an EV of the particular base wagering game, to permit ready conversion of or integration of the accumulated eligibility time and/or community event bonus multipliers into another gaming machine, of the same type of the originating gaming machine or of a different type, supporting the same community game.
The state of play may further be saved in association with an EV of the community event bonus game(s) for which the player is maintaining an eligibility qualification state. Thus, if a player is originally playing a first wagering game (e.g., video poker) on a handheld gaming terminal 110 to qualify for a first community event (e.g., Big Event Poker™), saves a state of play including a first value for a bonus-time eligibility counter and a first value for a community event bonus multiplier, and the player later decides to play a second wagering game (e.g., Monopoly® Super Grand Hotel™) on a gaming machine 10 to qualify for and play a second community event (e.g., Big Event Monopoly™) the player's saved state from the first wagering game could be readily converted to a second value for a bonus-time eligibility counter and a second value for a community event bonus multiplier, if required, in accord with any variances in the base wagering game EVs and/or the community bonus EVs. In accord with the present concepts, the player's eligibility state for the community event is not only portable, but eminently fungible.
Accordingly, the present concepts include a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines 10, 110 comprising the act of conducting a community event bonus game and awarding one or more awards to each eligible player. In this method, consistent with the above disclosure, the act of awarding one or more awards comprises awarding, a first value of awards to players who obtained eligibility for the community event bonus game on a first base wagering game having a first EV and awarding a second value of awards to players who obtained eligibility for the community event bonus game on a second base wagering game having a second EV lower than the first EV wherein the first value of awards is statistically lower than the second value of awards.
In another aspect, a method in accord with the present concepts comprises the acts of conducting a community event bonus game and awarding one or more awards to each eligible player, wherein the act of awarding one or more awards to each eligible player comprises discriminating between players of base wagering games having different EVs, applying a first community event bonus EV to players of base wagering games having a first EV, and applying a second community event bonus EV to players of base wagering games having a second EV. In this method, the first community event bonus EV is lower than the second community event bonus EV, the first EV is higher than the second EV, and the sum of the EVs of the first community event bonus EV and the first EV is at least substantially the same as the sum of the EVs of the second community event bonus EV and the second EV. The first and second community event bonus EVs may be adjusted by any practicable mechanism including, but not limited to, adjustment of pay tables, award values, award frequency, extra plays of the community event bonus game, extra time for playing the community event bonus game, extra picks in a picking-based community event bonus game, multiplier values, or the like. Thus, a player benefiting from a slightly higher base wagering game EV may enjoy a slightly lower community bonus event EV than a player at another gaming machine having a slightly lower base wagering game EV. On average, players of the base wagering games having different EVs will have substantially equal payback or return percentages.
Thus, as noted above, the awards in the community event bonus game may differentially treat the players who achieved eligibility for the community event bonus game on base wagering games having different EVs. This differential treatment is a mechanism by which the overall EV for differing base wagering games may be at least substantially equalized through the general act of awarding awards in the community event bonus game. Preferably, this equalization will bring the overall EV of the combination of the base wagering game and the community event bonus game, as between the first base wagering game and the second base wagering game, to within 2% of one another and, still more preferably, within 1% of one another and, still more preferably, within 0.25% of one another, when viewed over a statistically significant period of time. Naturally, the equalization may strive to bring the overall EV of the combination of the base wagering game and the community event bonus game, as between the first base wagering game and the second base wagering game, to absolute parity.
Moreover, the variances permitted by the present concepts in eligibility time for a community event, qualification for community event bonus multipliers, and community event awards (e.g., extra time granted during play of the community event, higher multipliers granted during play of the community event, higher awards granted during play of the community event in relation to an EV of an originating gaming machine, etc.) permit equalization of the EV not only as between gaming machines 10, 110 playing different base wagering games, but also permit equalization of EVs between different community events.
In the example of
As with some of the aforementioned aspects, community bonus game symbols 730 may be enabled or displayed only responsive to a minimum threshold wager or to an additional wager further to the maximum standard wager. For example, the community bonus game symbols 730 may be enabled or displayed only when the player makes a “Max Bet” wager and places an additional 1 or 2 credit extra wager. In another example, the number of community bonus game symbols 730 may itself be influenced by the amount of the base wager and/or any required extra wager. In such aspects, the odds of attaining one or more special community bonus game symbol(s) 730 may be improved with larger wagers and extra wagers.
It is to be noted that, although a single community bonus game symbol 730 is shown in
Any realized community bonus game symbol 730 providing increased awards (e.g., multiplier, etc.) or increased odds at winning an award or awards in the community bonus game, such as the “BIG EVENT MULTIPLIER BOOST” symbol shown in
In still additional aspects, the player may receive the indicated benefit of a community bonus game symbols 730 only if the community bonus game symbols 730 forms a part of a winning outcome that exceeds a predetermined win threshold. For example, the win threshold may be a winning outcome that is 30× the player's wager or some other multiple of the player's wager. Another precondition may also operate to additionally require a minimum wager, such as a “Max Bet” wager. In any of these aspects, the benefit associated with the community bonus game symbol 730 may be optionally awarded even if the community bonus game symbol 730 does not form a part of a winning outcome along an active pay line. In other words, in such aspects, so long as the winning outcome along an active pay line exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold, a community bonus game symbol 730 anywhere in the symbol array is realized and is awarded to the player.
The community bonus game symbol 730, as shown, may accrue the stated benefit if the symbol is shown, in isolation, in any symbol position on any reel, regardless of whether or not the symbol position bearing the community bonus game symbol forms a part of a winning combination along a selected payline. Alternatively, it may be required that the stated benefit is only realized by the player if the symbol position bearing the community bonus game symbol 730 forms a part of a winning combination along a selected payline or only if the community bonus game symbol falls on a specified symbol position or range of symbol positions (e.g., a specified reel). Further, to achieve the stated benefit, the player may optionally be required to wager a minimum threshold amount on that payline.
Of course, these same concepts apply equally to other community bonus game symbol 730 that may be optionally or additionally provided in the set of available symbols for a particular wagering game or a particular bonus game. For example, a special symbol or a plurality of special symbols may be provided in a base wagering game or associated bonus game for any aspect(s) of enhanced eligibility for a community bonus game, such as the “BIG EVENT BONUS,” or increased awards (e.g., multiplier, etc.), or increased odds at winning an award or awards in the community bonus game. To illustrate, the base wagering game represented in
Additionally or alternatively, the base wagering game represented in
Any manner of presentation of the community bonus game symbol 730 is possible in accord with the present concepts and is not limited to the depicted presentation with the community bonus game symbol 730 as a separate symbol. In other aspects, the community bonus game symbol 730 could comprise a watermark to one or more other symbols or could comprise a symbol superimposed on or partially superimposed on another symbol. As one example, the superposition could include, for example, a superposition of a small community bonus game symbol 730 to partially overlap another displayed symbol on a traditional display. In another example, a transmissive video display could be provided in front of a primary display 14 comprising a mechanical-reel display, a video display, or a combination thereof such that the transmissive video display portrays a video image superimposed over the mechanical-reel display. An example of a transmissive display is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,433 to Loose et al. entitled “Reel Spinning Slot Machine With Superimposed Video Image,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The transmissive display may permit still further variants on the incorporation of the community bonus game symbol or associated function into a slots based wagering game, such as by providing a community bonus game symbol 730 in a second chance spin of one or more reels displayed on the transmissive display.
In one embodiment, a gaming system for playing a wagering game a gaming machine 10 comprises a controller coupled programmed to increment, only during bonus game play, a bonus-time eligibility counter for a community bonus game and/or a benefit associated with the community bonus game (e.g., multiplier, awards, odds, etc.) responsive to an occurrence of a community bonus game symbol during play of the bonus game. In such an embodiment, the player's only avenue to the community bonus game is through the accumulation of time slices in the bonus game. The number and/or duration of the size of the time slices awarded in such an embodiment would sufficiently large so that a player achieving a benefit of bonus-time eligibility in the bonus game would retain eligibility for the community bonus game for an appreciable time during play of the base wagering game. The amount of bonus-time eligibility available in the bonus game may be less than, equal to, or may exceed, the time statistically required for the player to again trigger the bonus game. In various aspects of this embodiment, the bonus game could comprise one or more free spins of a plurality of symbol-bearing reels, one or more spins of an award wheel, one or more player selections of player-selectable elements concealing associated awards, a deal of one or more hands of cards to a player, or one or more turns moving a token along a game board having stations bearing award indicia. In these various aspects, a community bonus game symbol 730 or corresponding indicia of a community bonus game benefit may be associated with a reel symbol, a wheel award, a revealed award for a player-selected player-selectable element, a card dealt to or drawn by a player, or an indicia associated with a station on a game board. Moreover, a plurality of opportunities to obtain a community bonus game symbol 730 or corresponding indicia of a community bonus game benefit may be provided. For example, where a player is presented with an array of player-selectable elements, a plurality of these player-selectable elements may be associated with a community bonus game symbol 730 or corresponding indicia of a community bonus game benefit. Thus, a player may select in the bonus game player-selectable elements revealing a credit award, followed by a “3 minute boost” and a “5× multiplier”.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof, such as any combination of any of the concepts, aspects, or embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. By way of example, the present concepts include a computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform a method comprising any of the acts recited herein or in the following claims, in any combination. As another example, the present concepts further include equalizing an EV across a plurality of gaming machines configured to execute wagering games having different EVs by requiring different extra wagers from different gaming machines to obtain the same level of enhancements relative to eligibility for and/or benefits in the community event bonus game (e.g., a “Jacks or Better” player may be given x time slices for a two credit extra wager (above a “Max Bet” wager), whereas a “Deuces Wild” player may be given the same x time slices for a three credit extra wager.
This application is a U.S. national stage filing of International Application No. PCT/2008/082222, filed Nov. 3, 2008 claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/002,350, filed Nov. 8, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/124,693, filed Apr. 18, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/188,126, filed Aug. 6, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/108,970, filed Oct. 28, 2008, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2008/082222 | 11/3/2008 | WO | 00 | 5/7/2010 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009/061696 | 5/14/2009 | WO | A |
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