Abstract:
A gaming machine has a display device; an input device; and a controller comprising a processor and a memory device. The memory device stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to display game data in the gaming window on the display device for each of a plurality of plays of a game. The gaming window has sides defining a geometrical shape and defining an enclosed area for presenting the game data on the display device. Upon a replay triggering event, the processor resizes the geometric shape of the gaming window and replays at least one of a plurality of plays of the game in the resized gaming window, wherein the game data displayed in the resized gaming window is accordingly scaled.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2013901348 filed on 17 Apr. 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Described embodiments generally relate to a gaming machine having improvements to replay functionality. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Gaming machines have jurisdictionally controlled standards with core requirements. One core requirement common to most slot machines is to replay or recall previously played games in an audit mode screen. In such a mode it is possible to view gaming machine meters at a particular point in time, view previously or last played games, and view game statistics, whilst also enabling a player to perform non-player related functions. 
     The last game play information held by a gaming machine shows the player the results of the play or plays as the player originally saw it. The manner in which the information is provided enables the observer to clearly identify the game sequences and the result or results that occurred. 
     Known methods of effecting replay or recall of a previously played game is to use keyboard buttons, also known as player key buttons, to select the desired game to display on the gaming machine&#39;s display device. The recalled game is then replayed as a full screen game. However a problem with this method is that it can confuse the operator and/or player as to whether the game displayed is a recall game or whether the game displayed is a fresh game, i.e one in which the player is paying for. 
     Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. 
     Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 
     SUMMARY 
     A gaming machine is provided comprising:
         a display device;   an input device;   a controller comprising a processor and a memory device, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to:
           (i) for each of a plurality of plays of a game, display game data in the gaming window on the display device, the gaming window having sides defining a geometrical shape and defining an enclosed area for presenting said game data on the display device; and   (ii) upon a replay triggering event, resize the geometric shape of the gaming window and replay at least one of said plurality of plays of the game in the resized gaming window, wherein the game data displayed in the resized gaming window is accordingly scaled.   
               

     The resized geometric shape of the gaming window may subsequently be referred in this specification as the gaming window in a ‘replay format’. 
     The at least one replayed play of the game may comprise the last played game. In embodiments where a plurality of plays of a game are replayed the replayed games may be replayed by a player/operator in no particular order. In an optional embodiment the number of replayed plays of the game may be determined based on at least one of the wagers placed by a player. 
     Preferably resizing the geometric shape of the gaming window comprises shrinking respective sides of the gaming window. Each side of the gaming window may be proportionally shrunk. The gaming window can be resized and positioned anywhere on an audit mode screen on the display device. 
     The processor may further operate with the display device and the input device to display a border associated with at least one side of the gaming window when the gaming window is in a replay format. The border may comprise functionality to enable a player/operator to do any one of more of play, pause, fast forward and rewind through one or more plays of a game. 
     The processor may further operate with the display device and the input device to control processes for defining the size and shape of a replay control window. The replay control window may be configured to provide a player/operator access to one or more of each of the plurality of plays of a game, machine information, accounting information and game play statistics. 
     The replay control window may be displayed adjacent the gaming window when the gaming window is in a replay format. 
     The display device may be a touch screen display. 
     The replay triggering event is preferably activated via the input device. The input device may be a soft key. 
     The replay triggering event may comprise a thumbnail image. The memory device may cause the processor to further operate with the display device and the input device to present on the display device a plurality of thumbnail images. The plurality of thumbnail images may be displayed within a window frame area on the display device. 
     It should be appreciated that thumbnail images are smaller copies of the original replayed games. Each thumbnail image may be of a game selection button or an image of the start of a previously played game. One of the plurality of thumbnail images which are displayed within a window frame area on the display device may be oversized relative to the remaining thumbnail images; wherein the oversized image highlights the active replayed game from the list. 
     The controller may be configured such that swiping of the thumbnail images rotates the respective games played from left to right of the screen and from right to left of the screen to show other replayed games. Selection of the oversized thumbnail causes the controller to replay the entire game. 
     The gaming machine may further comprise an audio module and audio output device such that when the window frame area is swiped and/or the oversized thumbnail picture is selected the controller, via the audio module generates a sound for output at the audio output device. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In order that the present invention may be more clearly ascertained, embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a gaming machine; 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a game logic circuitry of the gaming machine illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of functional components of a gaming system incorporating gaming machines illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows game data displayed in a gaming window on a display device of the gaming machine; 
         FIG. 5  shows a first navigation window and replayed game data which is displayed in a resized gaming window on a display device of the gaming machine illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a second navigation window and replayed game meter data which is associated with the replayed game playing in resized gaming window of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment of a navigation window. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Described embodiments generally relate to a gaming machine having improvements to replay functionality. 
     The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand-alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. 
     In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player. 
     However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in standalone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. 
     One or more of the method steps described in this disclosure may be implemented by executable instructions and parameters  232 ,  234  (See  FIG. 2 ), stored in the memory  204 ,  206 ,  230  (See  FIG. 2 ), that may form software embodiments of the system  100 . These instructions  232 ,  234  that form the system  100  may be executed by the CPU  202  (See  FIG. 2 ) or any other processor. Further, the processor  202 , the memory  204 ,  206 ,  230 , the instructions  232 ,  234  stored therein, or a combination thereof may serve as a means for performing one or more of the method steps described herein. 
     Irrespective of the form, the gaming system  100  has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface in the form of a touch screen  108  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a game controller  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter instructions and play the game. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  100  generally designates a stand-alone gaming system including a game. Hereinafter, the stand-alone gaming system  100  will be referred to as a gaming machine. 
     The gaming machine  100  includes a console  102  which contains all or most components required to implement a game play whereby a player wins or loses a wager. Access to the components is by way of a hinged door  105 . Moulded to the exterior of the console  102  is a display means in the form of at least one visual display unit  104  on which one or more games is played. The video display unit  104  may be implemented as a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, as a cathode ray screen device or the like. Whilst the console  102  illustrated in  FIG. 1  shows a single visual display unit  104 , there can be more than one visual display unit on a typical machine. What is displayed on the visual display unit  104  will depend on what the intended goal of the unit is in relation to the player and any other potential participants in the gaming system. 
     The gaming machine includes a tactile input for a player to interact via touch with the gaming machine  100 . In this example, the tactile input is in the form of a combination of pushbuttons  106  and a touch screen  108  for enabling a player to play one or more games. The touch screen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The touch screen  108  is used during the game play between start of a game and the end of a game. A game is considered to have started once a wager is placed and considered complete once the wager has been lost or won. Certain functions of the pushbutton are: initiation of game play, credit output, gameplay selection, completion of gameplay etc. A midtrim  112  of the machine  100  houses the pushbuttons  106 . 
     The tactile input may optionally or further include a joystick comprising of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. The tactile input may optionally or further include a trackpad/touchpad being a pointing device featuring a tactile sensor to translate the motion and position of a user&#39;s fingers to a relative position on screen. 
     It should be appreciated that tactile input may include any suitable device that enables the player to produce an input signal that is received by the processor. Tactile input in the form of pushbuttons  106  and/or regions on touch screen  108  may include a one bet button, a max bet button, or a repeat the bet button. With a one bet button for instance, the player places a bet by pushing the one bet button. The player may increase the bet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button. 
     The midtrim  112  also houses credit input device including a bill collector  114 . The credit input device may further include a coin input chute, a card and/or ticket reader, a magnetic reading head for reading a magnetic stripe card, an electronic reader for a proximity card, a near field communications reader or any other form of electronic, wireless or contact that can input credit to the gaming machine. 
     A credit dispenser in the form of a coin tray  116  is mounted beneath the console  102  and is provided for cash payouts from the machine  100  to the player. A hopper device (not shown) is provided which dispenses coins, or tokens equal to the amount of credit currently on the machine, into the coin tray  116 . Aside from the coin tray  116 , the credit dispenser may also include a ticket dispenser for issuing a ticket dispensed by a printer which the user can redeem for cash, a note dispenser, a near field communications transmitter or means to enable remote credit transfer. It should be appreciated that any suitable payout mechanisms, such as funding to the player&#39;s electronically recordable identification card or smart card, may be implemented in accordance with the gaming machine disclosed herein. 
     The gaming machine  100  includes a top box  118  on which artwork  120  is carried in the form of electronic visual display units. The artwork  120  could also be made from physical materials such as paper, plastic banners or posters. The artwork  120  may have generic information related to the machine or gaming system or the artwork  120  be specifically made for a particular game to be played on the machine  100 . Whilst the artwork  120  is shown as being carried on the top box  118  the art work  120  can also be positioned in or on the bottom panel of the door  105 , or any other part of the gaming machine  100  visible to the player. 
     The gaming machine  100  further includes an auditory unit in the form of speakers (not shown) to provide auditory feedback to the player of the gaming machine  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, game logic circuitry  200  is illustrated. The game logic circuitry  200  includes a gaming controller  201  (otherwise referred to as a logic cage) designated by the dashed lines. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the gaming industry, the logic cage  201  includes a box-like mechanical structure that has slots to guide logic cards into the proper location for electronically plugging into a backplane mounted at the rear of the cage structure. The backplane has connectors for accepting mating connectors on the logic cards. The logic cage and associated cards form one of the basic components of the gaming machine  100  and is securely housed within the cabinet of the gaming machine  100 . 
     Central to the logic cage is a central processing unit  202  such as a processor, a microcontroller-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit, or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC&#39;s). The processor  202  is in communication with or operable to access or to exchange signals with at an outcome evaluator  203 , RAM  204 , ROM  206 , a non-volatile memory in the form of a compact flash  230 , an audio output  208  via an audio control module  209 , and a random number generator  210 . The audio control module  209  has its own digital signal processor, analogue to digital converters, amplifiers and other circuitry necessary to broadcast the output from the speakers. RAM  204  may include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and other forms as commonly understood in the gaming industry. 
     Compact flash memory  230  is physically secured within a slot in the logic cage  201 . In one embodiment, the compact flash memory  230  is physically secured inside the logic cage within game logic circuitry  200  by a mechanical locking mechanism. Compact flash memory  230  is partitioned  231  into two parts. A first part comprises a game software module  232  and a second part comprises a metering information module  234 . 
     The processor  202  runs executable code residing in game software module  232  of compact flash  230  that facilitates play of the game by a player through the display device and/or push buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen of the display. Metering information module  234  contains the gaming machine parameters which include values that would usually be stored on a hard meter. The values in metering information module  234  are only ever incremented, and cannot be reset or decremented. The only way to alter the values stored is by running the executable code stored in game software module  232 , which is executed by processor  202 . The executable code further interacts with the credit dispenser  116  via a payout mechanism  224  and the auditory output  208 . The game software module  232  contains the rules of the game, the sequence of gameplay, communicates with external systems, monitors peripheral equipment, maintain integrity of the software code, etc. The processor  202  continually checks for error conditions. 
     A program which implements the game logic circuitry  200  and the user interface is further run by the central processing unit  202 . The processor  202  forms part of a controller  216  that drives the screen of the video display unit  104  and that receives input signals from sensors  218 . The sensors  218  include sensors associated with the push buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen of the video display unit  104 . The controller  214  also receives input pulses from mechanisms  220  and  224  to determine whether or not a player has provided sufficient credit from either payment device  114  or payment device  116  to commence playing. 
     In one embodiment, a player may insert an identification card into a card reader (not shown) of the gaming machine  100 . Such an identification card may be a smart card having a programmed microchip, a coded magnetic strip, or coded rewritable magnetic strip, wherein the programmed microchip or magnetic strips are coded with a player&#39;s identification, credit totals (or related data), and/or other relevant information. In another embodiment, a player may carry a portable device, such as a mobile phone, a radio frequency identification tag, or any other suitable wireless device, that communicates a player&#39;s identification, credit totals (or related data), and other relevant information to the gaming device. 
       FIG. 3  shows a gaming system  300  in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system  300  includes a network  302 , which for example may be an Ethernet network. The network  302  may also comprise a wide area network (“WAN”), the plain-old-telephone-system (“POTS), a local area network (“LAN”), a wireless LAN, the Internet, or any combination of these and other types of networks. Gaming machines  304  are connected to the network  302 . The gaming machines  304  provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines  100  shown in  FIG. 1  or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. 
     In a thick client embodiment, game server  308  implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine  304  and the gaming machine  304  implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server  308  and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server  310  may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices  304  in a database  318 . 
     In a thin client embodiment, game server  308  implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine  304  and the gaming machine  304  essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server  308  provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components. 
     Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network  300 , including for example a gaming floor management server  320 , and a licensing server  322  to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal  324  is provided to allow an administrator to run the network  302  and the devices connected to the network. 
     The gaming system  300  may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall  330 . 
     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server  308  could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a gaming window  400  is a rectangular area on the display device  108  of the gaming machine  100  that is used to display gaming data. Gaming data of an actual game being played is displayed in the gaming window  400 . A computer program is responsible for generating the gaming window  400  and for responding to user interactions with the display screen  108 . 
     The gaming window  400  contains an area  450  across the top of the window  400  to enable the player to continue play of the game. As is shown, at the relevant point in time, line 30 of 30 has yielded a win of $4.00 ( 410 ) and the player has a credit of $145.34 ( 420 ). 
     Along the bottom of the gaming window  400  are a number of features available to the player. For instance the player is able to access information  430  about the particular game being played, change the volume  435  of the game, review information in the pay-table  440  and continue play  450  of the game if subsequent plays are available. 
     To trigger a replay event an operator touches a soft key provided on the gaming window. A program run by the game controller&#39;s processor  202  handles the details of resizing the window  400 , and the game program running under control of the gaming controller  200  responds to the function of resizing the window  400 . The processor  202  “knows” when the gaming window is resized because a message is passed to it indicating that the resizing operation is complete, and the game program responds by repositioning the text/images within the resized window. Gaming window resizing is code driven by the controller and stored to RAM  204 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a navigation window  510  and replayed game data which is displayed in a resized gaming window  520  on the display device of the gaming machine. Together navigation menu  510  and the resized gaming window  520  are referred to as the audit screen. The navigation window  510  enables the operator to access machine information  530 , accounting information  535  and select the last ten played games by touching the drop down menu  540 . As illustrated the resized gaming window  520  is positioned to the right of the audit menu. However a player/operator is able to resize and drag the gaming window  520  anywhere on the display device. 
     The gaming window  520  has a control panel  550  with soft key touch screen buttons that include rewind control  555 , play control  560  and fast forward control  565 . These controls enable the operator to simplify the replay mode. When play of a game is being replayed in the resized gaming window  520  the operator can accordingly fast forward and rewind through the game at his or her leisure. Soft key touch button  570  enables a player/operator to see detailed replay game meters for the particular game that has been recalled. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a further audit mode screen  600  which is displayed after a player/operator activates the soft key touch button  570  in  FIG. 5 . As with  FIG. 5 , audit mode screen  600  has a navigation window  610  which is the same as the navigation window  510  and game meter data  620  which is associated with the replayed game in resized gaming window  520  of  FIG. 5 . When the player/operator wishes to revert to the replayed game, soft key  630  is activated. 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative arrangement to effect game recall. In this arrangement, rather than a drop down menu  540  as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , thumbnail images ( 710 ,  715 ,  720 ,  725  and  730 ) of each of the last played games (only five of which are illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) are displayed. Each thumbnail image ( 710 ,  715 ,  720 ,  725  and  730 ) represent smaller copies of the original played games and the thumbnail images are presented in a window frame area at the bottom of the display screen. The image is a static image of perhaps the start of a previously played game, however selection of an image will replay that entire game. The operator is then able to finger swipe through previously played games and select any one of the thumbnails. In  FIG. 7 , thumbnail  720  in  FIG. 7  has been selected for larger viewing. 
     An advantage of at least one embodiment of the invention is that the occurrence of a player confusing a replay game as being a live game for which money is being placed, is likely to be reduced. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 
     While the foregoing description has been provided by way of example of the preferred embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated, which utilise gaming machines of the type found in casinos, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention also may have application to internet gaming and/or have application to gaming over a telecommunications network, where mobile handsets are used to display game outcomes and receive player inputs. Such mobile devices include smart phones, notebooks, tablets, iPads and laptop computers. For instance free mobile device games may be offered for download and play on a players personal mobile device as a bonus game play. In such an embodiment the gaming machine may comprise a power interface to enable interaction between the respective devices and/or a communication or wireless interface to enable data transfer. During game play, the gaming machine may be configured to send information to the player&#39;s personal mobile device. 
     Further embodiments may enable a player to upload the outcome of a game or bonus game to a social media site(s), post tournament scores etc. 
     Certain steps in the processes or process flows described in this disclosure naturally precede others for the invention to function as described. However, the invention is not limited to the order of the steps described if such order or sequence does not alter the functionality of the invention. That is, it is recognized that some steps may performed before, after, or parallel (substantially simultaneously with) other steps without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In some instances, certain steps may be omitted or not performed without departing from the invention. Further, words such as “thereafter”, “then”, “next”, etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps. These words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the exemplary method. 
     Additionally, one of ordinary skill in programming is able to write computer code or identify appropriate hardware and/or circuits to implement the disclosed invention without difficulty based on the flow charts and associated description in this specification, for example. 
     Therefore, disclosure of a particular set of program code instructions or detailed hardware devices is not considered necessary for an adequate understanding of how to make and use the invention. The inventive functionality of the claimed computer implemented processes is explained in more detail in the above description and in conjunction with the figures which may illustrate various process flows. 
     In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. 
     A storage media may be any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer. 
     Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (“DSL”), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. 
     Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (“CD”), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (“DVD”), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
     Although selected aspects have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that various substitutions and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.