Abstract:
The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing a large number of games from a game library stored in an associated memory. The gaming machine overcomes prior inefficiencies by allowing the player to enter desired search criterion and thereby filter the number of available games to a manageable size from which to choose. The search criterion may be made up of a word or words entered by the player and/or the player may limit the search by selecting one of a variety of pre-defined limitations. Preferably the search criterion is compared to a database reflecting the games available in the game library. The game library may be maintained by a central game server that is connected to the gaming machine (and others like it) over a network.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a gaming system employing a plurality of gaming terminals where the gaming terminals are capable of playing one of several games stored in a vast game library preferably on a central game server. More particularly, the present invention provides a new and improved method for a player to select which game to play from the library of available games. Gaming terminals are devices which upon a player making a wager, the player may win an award. Gaming terminals include machines more commonly referred to as slot machines and video lottery terminals. There are many types of games that can be played on these gaming devices including but not limited to slots, video poker, keno, bingo, pachinko and blackjack.  
         [0002]     Conventional gaming terminals or gaming machines typically have a cabinet and a gaming display mounted inside the cabinet. The gaming display may be mechanical, such as a series of stepper reels that carry gaming symbols on the reels, or may be electronic such as a video display that is capable of generating video images of gaming symbols. Whether mechanical or electronic, the gaming display may be capable of generating images associated with a game, such as poker, blackjack, slots, keno, pachinko or bingo. The gaming machine is controlled by a processor with an associated memory.  
         [0003]     The gaming machine is configured for a player to input something of value used to make a wager, which can include a standard denomination of currency, a ticket, and/or any other representation of currency or credit. Once the player inputs a wager, the player may then activate the device. Upon activation, in the case of a slot machine, a plurality of reels which are either mechanical or represented on the video screen spin and ultimately stop to display a random combination of some form of symbol, for example, numbers or symbols. If the display contains one of a plurality of winning combinations, the machine issues an award. The amount of award will typically depend on the winning combination that is achieved. The gaming machine then either releases money into a payout chute, issues a ticket, issues credits onto a credit meter, or indicates and awards the winning amount to the player in any suitable manner. Often the award amount is related to the initial amount wagered.  
         [0004]     Similarly, with respect to video poker, once a player inputs a wager, a number of cards is displayed and ultimately the player&#39;s poker hand ranking is evaluated. With respect to other types of gaming devices discussed above, the appropriate display is shown to the player upon activation of the gaming device and awards are given based on the specific rules of each game. Regardless of whether the gaming machine is displaying reels, or cards or a keno game, the activation of the game will generally be referred to herein as a spin.  
         [0005]     Gaming machines that use a video display to display the game can easily be reprogrammed to display a different game or even a different game type by accessing a different program in the memory. For instance, it is a simple matter to change a video slot game into a video poker game—only the program being run by the processor of the gaming machine needs to be changed. Additionally, recent advances in technology now allow machines that use mechanical stepper motors to drive physical reels to change the symbols displayed on the reels via programming and therefore change the game being displayed.  
         [0006]     For several years, gaming machines using a video display have stored a number of games, sometimes as many as ten, on internal EPROMs. EPROMs provided a level of inherent security for the gaming machine because the data stored on the EPROM could not easily be changed. However, the storage capacity of EPROMs is very limited. Therefore, in order to store up to ten games, the graphics and sounds used for the games were generally simpler and less attractive than the games on gaming machines storing only a single game program. As encryption and authentication methods have become more sophisticated however, gaming regulators have approved the use of mass storage devices such as hard drives for use in gaming machines. Gaming machines equipped with such hard drives could store literally hundreds of simple games on a single hard drive. Further, by connecting such a gaming machine to a networked system, the gaming machine could download from a central server a single “complex” game from a library of hundreds or even thousands of such games.  
         [0007]     Obviously, when the gaming machine used EPROMs to store ten or fewer games, it was a relatively simple matter for the player to select which of the stored games he wished to play. Typically, the gaming machine would display ten icons, one corresponding to each available game, and the player would pick the desired game by selecting the associated icon. When the number of available games is far greater in number than ten, this system is inefficient and will largely result in the player wasting valuable time looking for a game to his liking. Additionally, the player may get frustrated and leave a machine if he cannot find his desired game. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art method for game selection.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In the present invention the player is provided an improved and new method of selecting one game from a library of several games that are available for play on a gaming machine. This is accomplished by first developing a database based on the library of available games. The database and/or the library of available games may be stored on the gaming machine, but preferably both the library and the database are stored on a central server that may be accessed by the gaming machine via a network. The database includes such things as the game type, the game&#39;s title, descriptive words associated with the game, general information about the game, such as the number of lines, reel layout, denomination, bonus game types, and may include mathematical information about the game such as bonus game frequency, jackpot frequency, hit frequency and volatility. The player may enter a search term or terms that will be compared to the database to display to the player a list of the available games that match the search term(s). Preferably the search term is entered by the player using a full-size QWERTY keyboard displayed on the video display of the gaming machine coupled to a touch screen. Alternatively, an auxiliary screen, such as a screen used for a player tracking system interface may be used. The player&#39;s search may also be limited using pre-defined search-limiting items preferably comprising some of the available general and/or mathematical information.  
         [0009]     In addition, the improved method of game selection may be performed at a location remote from the gaming machine to be used. For instance, the player may use a specialized kiosk provided by the casino to access the database of available games. The casino may even allow players to access its database of available games over the Internet. In which case, the player can chose a game at home to play on a future trip to a specific casino. When the database is accessed remotely rather than from a gaming machine, the game selected by the player may be associated with a player&#39;s player ID number stored on the player&#39;s player tracking card such that when the player inserts his card into a gaming machine capable of playing the selected game, that game is automatically loaded for play. Alternatively, the player may be provided with a ticket that, upon insertion into a gaming machine, will load the desired game. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a gaming machine that may be used to employ the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the electronic configuration of an embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a network with a plurality of gaming machines and a central gaming server that may be used to employ the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a screen shot of a gaming machine employing the present invention to search a database for a library of available games.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a screen shot of a gaming machine employing the present invention to display available games that correspond to the search entered in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     One embodiment of the present invention may be deployed on a gaming machine or gaming device  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Gaming machine  100  has the features of a conventional slot machine. The gaming machine  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is what is commonly referred to as an upright slot machine and the player can operate it while standing or sitting. Most often the gaming machine  100  is preferably mounted on a cabinet. (Not shown.) Although an up-right slot machine  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 , it can be appreciated that the gaming machine  100  can be any other style of gaming machine known in the art including, but not limited to a pub-style table-top or slant-top game which a player can operate while sitting. The gaming machine  100  can be constructed with varying cabinet and display designs.  
         [0016]     Gaming machine  100  can incorporate a variety of game types including, but not limited to slots, video poker, blackjack, keno or bingo. The symbols used on and in gaming machine  100  may be displayed in mechanical, electrical, electronic or video form. Gaming machine  100  shown in  FIG. 1  has a video display  105  for displaying symbols.  
         [0017]     It should be appreciated that the display devices may display any visual representation or exhibition, including but not limited to video images or movement of physical objects such as mechanical reels and wheels. The display devices can be a video monitor or screen, a liquid crystal display or any other display mechanism. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that these display devices may preferably include touchscreens.  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , gaming machine  100  preferably includes one or more value accepting mechanisms. The primary value accepting mechanism on the gaming machine  100  shown in  FIG. 1  may be a bill validator  110 . The bill validator  110  may also accept other forms of payment including, but not limited to tickets, smart cards, debit cards and credit cards. Alternatively, some of these forms of payment may be accepted through a card reader  130 . The card reader  130  may include any type of card reading device, such as a magnetic card reader or an optical card reader. The player will insert a card, such as a player tracking card or a credit card into the card reader  130  which will then read data from the card. The card reader  130  may be used to read and/or write from and/or to the inserted card. There is also a coin slot  120  on the gaming machine  100  in which a player can insert coins or tokens.  
         [0019]     After a player inserts money in the gaming machine  100 , either via the coin slot  120 , the bill validator  110  or the card reader  130 , or other means a number of credits corresponding to the amount deposited is shown in a credit display  140 . After money is credited to the machine  100  and shown on the credit display  140 , the player then determines the wager amount. The machine  100  may have any number of mechanisms known in the art for allowing a player to determine his wager. For example, in the case of a multi-line slot game as shown in  FIG. 1 , the player may determine the amount of paylines he wishes to wager on by pushing a bet one line button  155  a number of times corresponding to the number of paylines he wishes to bet. Then the player may determine the wager amount per payline by pushing a bet one credit button  170  an appropriate number of times. The product is the player&#39;s total wager. As the player is selecting the wager amount, this wager amount is displayed on a bet display  160 . As the bet display  160  amount is incrementing, the credit meter  140  amount is decreasing by the corresponding amount.  
         [0020]     Although  FIG. 1  displays a five reel video slot machine with three rows of symbols, it can be appreciated that any configuration of video or mechanical reels can be used in the gaming machine  100  according to the invention as well as any corresponding number of paylines as known in the art. Each reel often displays symbols. The symbols may include cherries, sevens, bars and the like traditionally used on slot machines or any other symbol created by the manufacturer. The specific display of the symbols after each play determine the payout, if any made by the gaming machine  100 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the general electronic configuration that may be incorporated in the gaming machine  100 . The configuration preferably includes a processor  200 . The processor  200  is preferably a microcontroller-based platform or microprocessor which is capable of displaying images, symbols and other symbol such as images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards. One or more secondary processors may also be employed in conjunction with the primary processor  200  to control certain aspects of the game function.  
         [0022]     The gaming machine  100  also includes a memory device  210  for storing program code or other data. This memory device  210  can include both read only memory (ROM)  205  and random access memory (RAM)  207  and preferably includes a mass storage device that can be written to in situ, such as a hard drive  206 . In addition to the memory device  210 , the electronic configuration of the gaming machine  100  may also include one or more input devices  220 , one or more display devices  230 , a sound card  240 , and one or more speakers  250 .  
         [0023]     The input devices  220  may include but are not limited to a primary spin button  145 , a bet one credit button  170 , a max bet button  150 , a cash out button  180  and a bet one line button  155 . In situations where a touch screen  260  is used, a touch screen controller  265  and touch screen  260  are connected to a video controller  270  and the processor  200 .  
         [0024]     Although  FIG. 2  shows the processor  200  and memory device  210  residing on the gaming machine  100 , it should be appreciated that it is possible for both the processor  200  and memory device  210  to reside at a central location instead of at the gaming machine  100 . In such a situation, a network server may be used to communicate to the gaming machine over an Internet connection, local area network (LAN), or wide area network (WAN). The processor  200  and memory device  210  are generally referred to herein as the controller.  
         [0025]     Once the player has finalized his wager amount, the player may initiate play by pressing the primary spin button  145 . In response to play initiation, the gaming machine  100  randomly displays a plurality of symbols on the video display  105 . In the video configuration of the gaming machine  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , the symbols are displayed by simulating the spinning of the video reels as is known in the art. As used herein, “reels ” will thus include both mechanical and video reels unless one type is specifically referenced. The processor  200  evaluates the displayed symbols on the selected paylines to determine if any winning combinations occurred. For each winning combination the credit meter  140  is incremented a predetermined amount.  
         [0026]     In the preferred operation of the gaming machine, when a player no longer wishes to play, he activates the cash out button  180 , which results in any amount on the credit meter  140  being paid to the player either by crediting a player&#39;s account, issuing a ticket by a ticket printer  135  or by depositing coins or tokens into a coin tray  190  through a coin chute  195 .  
         [0027]     The gaming machine  100  may also include an auxiliary video screen such as a player tracking screen  40  and an associated player tracking keyboard  50 . These devices may be associated with the card reader  130 .  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a gaming system  305  with a number of gaming machines  100   a,    100   b,    100   c  and  100   d  operatively connected to a central gaming server  300  by a network connection  340  is shown. The central gaming server  300  is also operatively connected to a gaming database  310 . The central gaming server  300  preferably has an associated memory such as one or more hard drives and/or one or more associated memory devices such as DVDs, CDs or the like. The central gaming server  300  preferably maintains a library of game programs on its accessible memory that may be downloaded to the gaming machines  100   a,    100   b,    100   c  and  100   d.  The gaming database  310  may in fact be stored in the gaming server  300  or may merely be operatively connected to the gaming server  300 . Additionally, the gaming database  310  may be connected to the Internet  320 , such that a player may access the gaming database  310  using a personal computer  330 . The gaming database  310 , may also be accessed by a kiosk  315 . Preferably, the gaming machines  100   a,    100   b,    100   c  and  100   d,  the gaming server  300  and the kiosk  315  are all located on a single casino property. However, the gaming machines  100   a,    100   b,    100   c  and  100   d  may be located on several different casino properties and the gaming server  300  may be located at a secure location controlled by either the game maker, a casino or a state gaming control agency.  
         [0029]     In the alternative embodiment where each gaming machine  100  stores a library of games in its memory  210  and there is no network connection  340  to a central server  300 . The memory  210  of each gaming device  100  will also store a database  310  corresponding to the games on the specific memory  210 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the use of the present invention will now be described in greater detail.  FIG. 4  shows the video display  105  of a gaming machine  100 . The display has three main areas. First, there is a search bar  400 . Where one or more search terms may be displayed. On the example shown, the player has entered a search term  405  of “greek.” This search term  405  was entered using the second area on the video display  105 , a touch-screen operable keyboard  410 . Preferably, the keyboard  410  is a full size QWERTY key board displayed on the video display  105 . The touch screen  260  allows the player to use the key board  410  to enter search terms into the search bar  400 . The third section in the preferred embodiment is a pre-defined limitations section  420 , that the player may use to further limit his search. The pre-defined limitations section  420  may use drop down type menus, but more preferably, it will allow a player to select multiple limitations from a variety of categories. For instance, the pre-defined limitations section  420  shown allows a player to further limit his search by a “Game Type” category  430 , a number of “Lines” category  431 , a “Denomination” category  432 , and a “Bonus/Secondary Game” category  433 . Additionally, the pre-defined limitations section  420  includes a “Hit Frequency” category  435  and a “Volatility” category  436 . These categories relate to the specific mathematical qualities of the games in the library. Because these two mathematical qualities may be nearly infinite in variation, a pair of slider bars  437  and  438  may be used to relatively select a game with a high or low hit frequency. Alternatively, a player may enter a specific value for a desired hit frequency, e.g., 50%.  
         [0031]     In addition to using search phrases and pre-defined limitations to locate a desired game or list of possible games, the gaming system  305  may provide the player the option of selecting from a pre-arranged group of games. For instance, if the player activates the “New Games” button  440  shown on  FIG. 4 , the player may be presented with a list of the ten games most recently added to the game library. While if the user selects the “My Old Favorites” button  441 , the player may be presented with a list of the five games the player has played most frequently in the past year. Such information may be tracked using the player&#39;s tracking card and stored either locally at an individual casino or at a central site accessible by multiple casinos. Additionally, if the player selects the “Top Ten” button  443 , the ten most popular games in the game library, as determined by the playing public, may be displayed. Finally, if the player selects the “Lucky Games” button  443 , the player may be presented with, for instance, the ten games that on this particular day have hit the most jackpots. This would allow the player to make sure he is always playing what is perceived as the “hot” or “loose” game. Of course, these are just a few of the pre-arranged group of games that may be offered at the player&#39;s request.  
         [0032]     Also shown on  FIG. 4  is a “Help” button  401 . Activating the Help button  401  may take the player to a second screen where the various features of the gaming system  305  may be explained. Also, this section may contain information that will be useful to the novice player such as definitions for terms like Hit Frequency that may be well understood by those familiar with the industry as well as by experienced slot players.  
         [0033]     As is evident on  FIG. 4 , the exemplar player has entered a search term  405  of “greek” using the keyboard  410  and has further limited the search using the pre-defined limitations section  420 . Specifically, the player has requested games with nine, fifteen or twenty or more lines using the “Lines” category  431  and has requested penny and nickel denomination games using the “Denomination” category  432 . In operation, these search term(s)/limitations may be communicated to the gaming server  300  via the network connection  340 . The gaming server  300  may then compare the search terms and limitations against the database  310 . Once the gaming system  305  determines the games in the library that match the search terms and limitations, the gaming server  300  communicates the results to the requesting gaming machine  100 .  
         [0034]     The results for the exemplar search are shown on  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows a plurality of descriptions  501 ,  502 ,  503  and  504  for four games that match the search criterion. Each game description shown includes the name of the game along with general information describing the reel layout, maximum number of lines played and denomination. The description also includes a brief description of the game theme, which may include information about any available bonuses or other features. Also included in the description is a graphical representation of some of the game&#39;s mathematical properties, specifically hit frequency and volatility. Other information may be included and some of the information shown may not be included in various embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0035]     It should be appreciated by those familiar with gaming machines that the description  501  for the game “Greek Heroes” differs from the description  502  for a game of the same name. One noted difference is that the first description  501  is for a nine-line game, while the second description  502  is for a twenty line game. Although these are shown as two different entries, in other embodiments, the gaming system  305  may be configured to display games of the same title as a single entry. The player may then select the entry and be presented with a sub-screen where he chooses between, for instance, the nine-line and twenty-line versions. Each description  501 ,  502 ,  503  and  504  in  FIG. 5  has a corresponding touch-screen “Play Now” button  601 ,  602 ,  603  and  604  that the player may activate to play the associated game. Alternatively, the player may just tap the description corresponding to the desired game to initiate play. Play initiation may require that the game program be downloaded from the central server  300  to the gaming machine  100  in order for the game to be played. Or, if the program for the selected game is already stored in the memory  210  of the gaming machine  100 , play may begin immediately.  
         [0036]     It should be appreciated that the last two game descriptions  503  and  504  shown on  FIG. 5  do not have the word “greek” in either the title or the description of the game. However, because both game descriptions  503  and  504  involve game themes involving the Olympic Games, the game database  310  may have associated the word “Greek” and/or “Greece” with the games. Thus the search returned these two game descriptions  503  and  504  as matches to the search term.  
         [0037]     Although it is preferable that the games in the game library are represented in a corresponding database of games, it would be possible for the same information stored in the database to be directly stored in the game programs themselves. Thus, in response to a search query, the gaming server  300  may search the game programs in its library rather than the corresponding database.  
         [0038]     While this invention has been described with respect to several specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather that the invention is intended to cover various combinations, modifications and equivalent arrangements which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is thus to be understood that the invention should not be limited by the description, and that modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of this invention as defined in the following claims.