Patent Publication Number: US-2005124415-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for playing a gaming machine with a secured audio channel

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for conducting games of chance and, in particular, apparatus and methods for conducting games of chance with enhanced audio capabilities.  
      2. State of the Art  
      Game units and their methods and apparatus for use are well known in the art. Game units may include games of chance, games of skill, and games involving both skill and chance. Examples of patents describing various game units include U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,536 to Davids et al. (Nov. 10, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,716 to Saffari et al. (Jun. 23, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,460 to Fulton (Oct. 13, 1998) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,820 to Morro et al. (Sep. 7, 1999).  
      Electronic game units typically are coupled to a microprocessor or another computer having a central processing unit (CPU) and memory. The game unit conventionally includes a number of peripheral devices such a display screen having a touch screen input (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,397 to Dickinson (Sep. 14, 1999)) for display of graphics associated with one or more games playable on the game unit. Buttons, keys or other user input devices are also operatively coupled to the CPU for initiating game play and for other functions associated with play of the game unit. Typically, a coin, currency or card acceptor (to accept a credit card, gaming card, smart card and the like) permits a player to enable play of a game by placing one or more wagers. The electronic game may also include separate displays to indicate a player&#39;s success or display the player&#39;s accumulated winnings. A coin and/or currency dispenser may also be included to “cash-out” a player&#39;s winnings or remaining credits, or a player&#39;s winnings credited back to him or her using the card acceptor.  
      Electronic games may also be coupled to one or more other computers such as a central controller or central computer of a casino, e.g. via a network card and link, modem or the like. The game parameters, such as how, when and where particular images will appear on the display screen, how the game works and how to operate the various elements operatively coupled to the computer, are stored in the memory. Often, the electronic game may be housed in a structural and/or decorative housing. Such housing will typically include audio speakers for assisting the play of a game or to provide noise that corresponds to winning or noise corresponding to various aspects of a particular game.  
      In addition to the manner described above, it is also possible to participate in a game of chance via the Internet. This is typically accomplished through a casino or game host site offering displays similar to those found in conventional electronic games. Generally, to play a game of chance via the Internet, a software file is downloaded to a player&#39;s computer or terminal, which may then be used to install the necessary software for the game and/or access the casino or game host Internet site. However, such gaming may also be “streamed” across the Internet as with video and audio streaming techniques. As with a conventional electronic game, Internet electronic games may be accessed using an identification code or name to identify a specific player and retrieve that player&#39;s credit total or play history.  
      Gaming technology is also utilizing wireless Internet technology to facilitate participating in a game of chance or to wager on various events, such as video poker, video slot machines, horse races and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,808 to LaDue discloses a compact personal computer, allowing a player to make wagers on such compact personal computers most anywhere so long as the location the player chooses to wager receives wireless Internet coverage. Such gaming technology will typically already include the required software to play the various games of chance and works similar to typical Internet technology gaming as discussed above.  
      With the advances in gaming technology, casino gaming machines have proliferated in recent years. As the number of casinos and gaming outlets has increased, the competition to attract and retain new customers has intensified. This competition for patrons requires the continual development of new games that are exciting and entertaining. To meet this need, many casino gaming machines have incorporated music, voice, and other sound effects into their gaming machines. These sound effects are used to attract patrons to play the game, and to make the game more fun and exciting during game play. With ever increasing emphasis, sound effects are also being employed as an interactive mechanism to prompt players as part of the game play. These interactive games are becoming increasingly more popular and dramatically increase the need for a patron to clearly hear the game to play it effectively.  
      As the number of machines with sound effects proliferates, casino noise levels have significantly increased. As the ambient noise level increases, the sound level of individual gaming machines has been increased to be heard and, as a result, ambient casino noise levels continue to escalate. Competition between game manufacturers has also manifested itself in gaming machines that produce longer and louder audio clips in an effort to attract players. As a result, players have long complained that they cannot hear the machines that they are playing and that the ambient casino noise is too high to provide a pleasant gaming experience.  
      Casino noise levels are becoming even more problematic because of the recent trend towards sophisticated interactive gaming machines, which generally require the delivery of clear audio messages for successful game play. Such interactive games may require a player to respond to audio prompts. In other cases, these machines provide audio instructions that a player needs to hear to effectively participate in the game. The inability to understand or hear the messages makes it difficult for these types of games to be successful in casinos. Without significant noise suppression, use of an entire class of games may be precluded.  
      One example of a gaming machine providing audio capabilities is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,613 to Marnell. The Marnell patent is a casino gaming machine with a video monitor and a microphone/speaker combination. The microphone/speaker combination is used to communicate with an operator at a central control station. The speaker of such combination is installed in the cabinet to openly provide noise to the casino environment. As such, the speakers only reinforce the problems with the current standard casino gaming machines by increasing the ambient noise level in the casino.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,271 to Wynn discloses a communication link with concierge services during play of a gaming machine, such as hand pay jackpots, coin refills, etc. Such a communication link is employed with a speaker and microphone at the gaming machine. U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,431 to Walker et al. discloses a gaming machine that provides free long distance telephone calls or audio entertainment as a reward for the continued playing of the gaming machine. Such audio entertainment includes audio for comedy, music, news and the like.  
      Based on the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a method, apparatus and system that allows players to clearly hear the audio output element emanating from the casino gaming machine that they are playing.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to apparatus, methods and systems for providing substantially isolated sound from a game unit to an individual player. The present invention is directed to an audio output element in a game unit operatively coupled to an audio headset. The game unit includes at least one game unit having at least one display thereon. The at least one game unit is configured to effect play of a game, such as a game of chance, in which a central processing unit of the game unit generates a random outcome comprised of a plurality of random outcomes and the at least one display is configured to display at least the random outcome. Each game unit includes an audio card and an audio output element attached thereto. According to the present invention, the audio output element is configured to provide substantially isolated sound to the individual player via the operatively coupled audio headset.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the audio output element includes at least an audio port configured to interconnect with a connection port of the audio headset. The audio headset may include at least an audio ear device with an audio wire extending therefrom and the connection port at an end of the audio wire. With this arrangement, an individual player may removably engage the connection port of the audio headset with the audio port in the audio output element. The individual player positions the audio ear device adjacent one or both of his or her ears such that the audio ear device may then transmit the sound of the game unit to the individual player in a substantially isolated and secure manner.  
      The audio output element may also include one or more speakers. Such speakers are configured to provide game play audio, which contributes to the ambient noise in the casino. According to one aspect of the present invention, the audio output element may provide game play audio through the audio headset and through the one or more speakers. In this manner, the speakers provide game play audio to attract bystanding potential players while the audio headset provides isolated sound to the individual player. Such isolated sound provides a means for the player to clearly hear the game the player is playing.  
      In another aspect of the present invention, the sound card is interconnected to a multi-channel mixer circuit. Such a mixer circuit provides the option to choose multiple channels which may be listened to sequentially or simultaneously through the audio headset. The channels to choose from may include at least one of game play audio, music channels, promotional channels, and informational channels. Thus, it is through the isolated and secure sound of the audio headset that an individual player may listen to multiple channels during the course of game play.  
      In a variant of this exemplary embodiment, the audio output element includes at least a transmitter member configured to transmit or broadcast the sound to a wireless audio headset. The wireless audio headset utilized in this variant includes at least an audio ear device interconnected with a receiver member and an antenna. The wireless audio headset may be adjusted to correspond with the transmitting channel that the transmitter member is broadcasting at so that an individual player may receive the broadcasted audio transmission through the audio ear device of the wireless audio headset in a substantially isolated and secure manner. Such wireless audio headset of the present invention may be utilized with multiple channels facilitated by the mixer circuit and/or the one or more speakers in providing isolated sound to the individual game player.  
      In a second embodiment, the game unit of the present invention comprises a portable game unit. Such portable game unit also includes an audio output element that includes one or more of an audio port, one or more speakers, and a transmitter. The portable game unit of the second embodiment provides that the audio headset with a wire hookup or the wireless audio headset may be utilized therewith. Such portable game unit may be utilized with the audio headset most anywhere so long as the portable game unit can communicate wirelessly with a game server.  
      Another aspect of the present invention includes a gaming system. Such a gaming system may include a plurality of game units, with each game unit comprising a game terminal or other device at which a game of chance may be played. Each game unit includes, among other things, a sound card and an audio output element in communication therewith. Each game unit may communicate with a central controller. By way of example only, the game units may be conventional game units that communicate with a central controller.  
      Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art through a consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
      While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming that which is regarded as the present invention, the advantages of this invention may be ascertained from the following description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic of an electronic game unit including an audio output element according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a simplified frontal view of an electronic game unit including an audio output element according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a simplified perspective view of an audio headset for using with an electronic game unit according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram of the sound card  140  and multi-channel mixer circuit  142  in the game unit of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a simplified perspective view of a wireless audio headset for using with an electronic game unit according to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 6  is a simplified frontal view of a portable electronic game unit having an audio output element according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It would be understood that these illustrations are not to be taken as actual views of any specific apparatus or method of the present invention, but are merely exemplary representations employed to more clearly and fully depict the present invention than might otherwise be possible. Additionally, elements and features common between the drawing figures retain the same numerical designation.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary game unit  100  used in conjunction with the present invention is illustrated. Such game unit  100  may be any type of device known in the art for use in wagering on and playing games of chance, which game unit may also be referred to herein as a game unit, gaming terminal, electronic game, gambling unit, or combinations thereof.  
      The game unit  100  may comprise a computer  104  with a central processing unit (CPU)  106  and memory  108  which may serve, in part, as a random number generator. The computer  104  may be coupled to a number of peripheral devices such as, by example only, one or more display elements  110  (e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma display, liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) display, etc., or some combination thereof) for display of graphics associated with one or more games stored in memory  108  and executable by CPU  106  for play on game unit  100 . Buttons, keys, touch sensitive regions  112  of a display element  110 , and/or other user input devices  114  may also communicate with CPU  106  for initiating and effecting game play and for other functions associated with play of a game.  
      A credit input device  116  of a known type, such as a coin, currency or card acceptor device (to accept a credit card, gaming card, smart card, or the like) is on game unit  100  so that a player may insert coin, currency or a card therein to obtain credits on the game unit  100  so that game play may be initiated by the player placing one or more wagers. The electronic game may also include a separate scoreboard display  118  to indicate a player&#39;s success, such as displaying the player&#39;s accumulated winnings or losses. A credit dispenser  120 , such as a coin or currency dispenser of a known type or the aforementioned card reader, may also be included on game unit  100 .  
      The game unit  100  may also be coupled to one or more other computers, such as a central controller  130  of a casino, for example, via a network card  122  and a link  124  coupled thereto, a modem  126 , or the like, for configuration and monitoring of the game unit  100  by the central controller  130  or by a casino employee using the central controller  130 . Alternatively, multiple game units  100  may communicate with one another through the central controller  130  or directly by communication elements, such as network card  122  and link  124  or modem  126  for tournament style gaming.  
      The game parameters  128 , such as how, when and where particular images will appear on the display screen  110 , how the game works and how to operate the various elements operatively coupled to the computer  104 , may be stored in the memory  108 , which may comprise a hard disc, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), firmware, or programmed or programmable hardware. The game unit  100  may be housed in a structural and/or decorative housing  102  (shown in broken lines), as is well known and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.  
      According to the present invention, the game unit  100  includes a sound card  140  in communication with the CPU  106  of the game unit  100 . The sound card  140  is configured to provide audio signals generated by CPU  106  to an audio output element  150 . The audio output element  150  is configured to provide an audio link from the game unit  100  directly to the player. Such an audio output element  150  provides substantially secure and/or isolated audio signals to the player so that player can effectively hear and play the game unit without the obstruction of looming ambient noise. The audio signals additionally provide a substantially secure link to the player so that confidential information or information particular to the player&#39;s game play may be successfully passed to the player. In some instances, such substantially secure and/or isolated audio signals transmitted to the player may be advantageous to allow a player to enjoy game play most anywhere without such audio signals being overheard by others proximate to the player.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates one example of a game unit  100 , such as a typical slot machine, including audio output element  150 . As shown, the audio output element  150  may include one or more speakers  152 , an audio port  154  and a transmitter  156 . The audio port  154  is preferably a female audio port made to receive a male port  164  (see,  FIG. 3 ), such as a female audio jack or banana port. The transmitter  156  may be provided with the audio output element  150  for broadcasting by wireless transmission described in further detail below.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an audio headset  160  for use with game unit  100 . The audio headset  160  may be any typical audio headset as known in the art. Such audio headset  160  typically may include a head band  162  with two ear pieces  172  that comprise audio speakers at each end thereof and an audio wire  166  extending from the audio headset  160 . The head band  162  preferably is configured to adjustably extend around an upper periphery of a player&#39;s head so that the ear pieces  172  sit proximate the player&#39;s ears. However, the audio headset  160  may be any known audio sound device that provides substantially isolated and/or secure audio signals to one or both ears of a player, such as a single ear piece, without the head band, with the audio wire  166  or the like extending from the single ear piece. The audio wire  166  extending from the headset  160  includes a connection port  164  at an end thereof, such as a male audio jack or banana port.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first embodiment of the present invention utilizes the audio output element  150  in conjunction with the audio headset  160 . Specifically, the connection port  164  at the end of the audio wire  166  of the audio headset  160  is configured to removably engage and interconnect with the audio port  154  in the audio output element  150  of the game unit  100 . In this manner, a player may removably engage or insert the connection port  164  in the audio port  154  so that the player may position the audio headset  160  to his or her ears to thereby allow the player to more clearly hear and, thereby, play the game unit  100  without the obstruction of looming ambient noise. The audio headset  160  receives audio signals from the audio output element  150 , allowing the player to receive substantially secured and/or isolated audio for game play.  
      Each game unit  100  or portable game unit  300  may be supplied with the audio headset  160 . Alternatively, a player may be provided with their own audio headset  160  to play any of the game units  100  in a casino configured with the audio output element  150  and the sound card  140 .  
      Such an audio headset  160  not only provides secured and/or isolated audio signals to the player; it also helps prevent a player from hearing the ambient casino noise. The volume of the audio signals may be increased or decreased as desired by the player via a volume control on either the audio headset  160  or a volume control at the audio output element  150  on the game unit  100 . Such adjustability is particularly helpful to those players that may have difficulty hearing. As such, a player may be immersed in game play without being distracted by the ambient noise of the casino, thereby, allowing the extensive audio effects and the information of any particular game unit to be more fully appreciated and utilized by a player.  
      Furthermore, the audio capabilities of the present invention prevents players from becoming confused due to the complex nature of some of the games. As such, audible explanations may be provided by a game unit  100  as to how to play the game, with additional audio prompts being given during game play to assist the player in understanding the events as they unfold, as well as various choices that may be available to the player. The enhanced audio capabilities increases player participation in new games that may be hard to understand to some players and also helps speed game play by prompting the player to make decisions in regards to and during game play at a quicker pace. In addition, such audio capabilities may increase the marketability and entertainment value of the game and reduce player frustration.  
      In addition to the above noted audio capabilities, it may be desirable to have a secure line of communication that cannot be easily compromised between the casino or a central controller thereof and players. For example, it is often desirable to communicate gaming or casino information confidentially to a specific player. This information may include amounts won, or available credits, or other monetary information relative to the player&#39;s success on the game unit. This information may also include special awards or other complimentary prizes awarded to players based on player tracking cards or game play that the casino (or the player) may not want communicated to or seen by others.  
      In one aspect of the present invention, the game unit  100  may include a multi-channel mixer circuit  142  in communication with the sound card  140 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram of the sound card  140  and multi-channel mixer circuit  142  is illustrated. The block diagram also illustrates a power supply  103  for powering the game unit. Power from the power supply is converted from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current through an AC interface  105 . The AC interface  105  is coupled to the sound card  105  and a circuit board  107  to communicate power to the CPU  106 , memory  108 , network card  122 , etc., associated with the circuit board  107 . The sound card  140  may in turn be coupled to the multi-channel mixer circuit  142 , which provides multiple audio lines to speakers  152 , audio port  154 , etc.  
      Such multi-channel mixer circuit  142  may provide an option for a player to choose from multiple audio channels in addition to the audio signals of the particular game being played. The multiple audio channels to choose from may include various music channels, news channels, sports channels, general informational channels, promotional channels, confidential information, etc. Such a mixer circuit  142  may cause the audio output element associated with game play to be mixed with audio signals from a channel that has been selected by the player. As known in the art, the sound card  140  may be controlled by CPU  106 , as directed by an appropriate program to allow the audio signals for the particular game to be mixed with or overlaid with another audio channel. In this manner, a player may listen to both the audio for game play and audio for one or more other types of audio channels that may, or may not, be associated with the play of the particular game.  
      In a further aspect of the present invention, in addition to audio capabilities through a head set  160 , as discussed above, the audio signals may also be conveyed through speakers  152  of the game unit  100 . Such speakers  152  may provide audio signals simultaneous to the audio signals provided through the audio headset  160 . These may be the same audio signals, different audio signals, or some combination thereof. Of course, the CPU  106 , the sound card  140  and/or a multi-channel mixer circuit  142  may select the appropriate destination or destinations for each audio signal. The audio port  154  and audio headset  160  need not entirely supplant the speakers  152 . Instead, the speakers  152  may still be used to promote the game unit  100 , to attract game interest of bystanding potential players previous to or as the game is being played, and to add to the overall ambience of the casino gaming floor by providing an audio output element at an appropriate sound level. Simultaneously, the player has an undistorted audio feed directly from the game unit via the audio port  154  and audio headset  160 . As such, there may be multiple distinct and separate audio lines, wherein one audio feed may extend to the audio headset  160  and another audio feed may extend to the speakers  152  of game unit  100 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a wireless audio headset  260  for use with game unit  100 . The wireless audio headset  260  is similar to the previously discussed audio headset, except the wireless audio headset  260  does not include an interconnecting wire to transmit audio signals therethrough. Rather, the audio headset  260  may include a receiver member  264  and an antenna  266  in addition to a head band  262  and ear pieces  272 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a variant of the first embodiment of the present invention utilizes the audio output element  150  in conjunction with the wireless audio head set  260 . In particular, the audio output element  150  may include a transmitter member  156  for transmitting or broadcasting the game play of its respective game to the receiver member  264  on the wireless audio headset  260 . As such, the audio output element  150  may provide audio capabilities for both an audio headset  160  having an interconnecting wire and a wireless audio headset  260 . Alternatively, a transmitter member  156  may be coupled to the audio output element  150  of a game unit  100 . The transmitting member  156  and receiver member  264  may both operate over a variety of mutually cooperative frequencies or channels or a manually or automatically programmed frequency or channel that is unique to a particular game unit  100 . The wireless audio headset  260  may be advantageous over the audio headset  160  requiring an interconnecting wire in that the wireless audio headset  260  substantially frees the player from the clumsiness and restraint of headphones interconnected by a wire to the game unit  100 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a portable game unit  300  having an audio output element  350  as another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The portable game unit  300  may be a personal data assistant (“PDA”) or similar apparatus configured to communicate by way of a known wireless connection protocol with a central controller  130  ( FIG. 1 ). Such a portable game unit  300  may include a display  310 , such as a liquid crystal display, directional/enter buttons  312  and on/off power buttons  314 , a transmitter/receiver member  360 , and an audio output element  350 . The directional/enter buttons  312  may be used to select and implement menu-driven game play for wagering on the portable game unit  300 . The transmitter/receiver member  360  may be configured to wirelessly receive information, including game information, account information, etc., and wirelessly transmit information such as game responses, wager information, credit card information, etc., via the directional/enter buttons  312  or a touch-sensitive region  311  of the display  310 . Such a transmitter/receiver member  360  receives information from and transmits information to a remote central controller  130  ( FIG. 1 ). A processor of the portable game unit  300  may be updated with any received information. Such updates may be shown to the player on the display  310 , as known in the art. The portable game unit  300  may operate as known in the art, such as with gaming software and/or circuitry configured for game play on the portable game unit  300 .  
      The audio output element  350  of the portable game unit  300  may include an audio port  354 , such as a female member of an audio jack or a banana port. In addition to the audio output element  350 , the portable game unit  300  may include one or more speakers  352 . The audio output element  350  is similar to the first embodiment in that the speakers  352  may provide sound to the player at a volume for the player to hear and any other person nearby to hear, while other audio signals may be heard only by a player wearing an audio headset  160 ,  260  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ).  
      The portable game unit  300  provides the versatility of essentially being able to gamble anywhere a wireless communication with a central controller  130  ( FIG. 1 ) is possible with the audio capabilities of the present invention. Thus, a player is able to wager on a game of chance most anywhere in a discreet manner while also enjoying substantially and secured sound to the player through the audio output element  350  of the unit  300 .  
      While the present invention has been disclosed in terms of certain preferred embodiments and alternatives thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that the invention is not so limited. Additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosed embodiments may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed herein. Similarly, features from one embodiment may be combined with those of another while remaining within the scope of the invention.