Patent Publication Number: US-8113935-B2

Title: System and method for presenting payout ranges and audiovisual clips at a gaming device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,688, filed May 23, 2005, published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0003830, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/417,758, filed Apr. 16, 2003, published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0005918, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/373,111, filed Apr. 16, 2002. The &#39;688 patent application also claimed the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/581,558, filed Jun. 21, 2004. 
     The present invention is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/395,529, filed Mar. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,219, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,310, filed Dec. 17, 1999, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,495, filed Mar. 12, 1997. The &#39;529 application also claimed the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/374,369, filed Apr. 19, 2002 
     The present invention is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/882,859, filed Jul. 1, 2004, published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0242304, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,341, filed Oct. 16, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,068, filed Mar. 2, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,896, filed Apr. 11, 1997. 
     The present invention is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/328,116 filed Dec. 20, 2002, published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0220133, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/373,751 filed Apr. 18, 2002. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,139,4311; 6,530,835; and 7,101,282. 
     The present application is also related to U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003-0211881 and 2006-0287068 as well as U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/824,344, filed Sep. 1, 2006 and PCT publication No. WO 2006/002194. 
     The disclosures of all the related applications listed above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to gaming devices and more particularly to gaming devices that provide audiovisual content to players of the gaming device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary gaming device suitable for use with some embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary gaming device suitable for use with some embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a mobile terminal usable as a gaming device according to at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a network of gaming devices with a controller according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary methodology according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary database that may be used in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 7 &amp; 8  illustrate exemplary complementary databases that may be used in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary screen shot of the reels with a range-indicative displayed; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary playback of an audiovisual clip with intimated actual outcome indicia. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments disclosed herein contemplate a gaming device that accepts wagers from players and presents a first set of symbols or information to the player in a primary game display. The gaming device further presents a paytable which correlates possible symbol combinations to ranges of possible outcome values. In at least one embodiment, after presentation of the first set of symbols or information, the gaming device presents an audiovisual clip. 
     It is particularly contemplated that the audiovisual clip contain audiovisual material originally prepared for use in a first context, but which has been repurposed from that use for use in the gaming device. Exemplary repurposed audiovisual clips include television shows, movies, motion pictures, animated television shows, recordings of sporting events, animated movies, and the like. For the purposes of the present disclosure, animations and audiovisual material made specifically for display on a gaming device are excluded from the definition of the term “audiovisual clip”. 
     After, or during, display of the audiovisual clip, the player is informed of the precise value of the outcome value from within the range of possible outcome values. In at least one embodiment, the relative importance of the audiovisual clip may be used to indicate where within the range of possible outcome values the precise outcome value lies. Thus, low value payouts may be associated with insignificant or frequent occurrences within the audiovisual material whereas high value payouts may be associated with infrequent or momentous occurrences within the audiovisual material. 
     For example, the gaming device may be a television show themed slot machine, and in particular, a slot machine based on ALL IN THE FAMILY™. The symbols on the reels (be they physical reels or video reels) may correspond to characters within the television show such as Gloria, Meathead, Archie, Edith, Lionel, Louise, and the like (of course, it is also contemplated that symbols may correspond to other elements used in the audiovisual clips such as props, objects, settings, words, or phrases spoken by the characters, and the like). These symbols may be interspersed with blanks and filler symbols such as images of fruit, bars, bells, inkblots, couches, dart boards, chairs, and the like. Likewise, range-indicatives such as a Laugh-O-Meter symbol or a symbol that causes entry into a bonus round or progressive jackpot may be mixed in with the character symbols. A player initiates a game start at the gaming device, and the reels spin. The reels may show a set of symbols such as Gloria-Gloria-Gloria. Looking at the paytable, the player sees that Gloria-Gloria-Gloria corresponds to a range of twenty to forty credits. The player is then presented a clip from the television show ALL IN THE FAMILY featuring Gloria. If the precise value is on the high end of the range, a clip showing Gloria and Sammie Davis Jr. might be shown, whereas if the precise value is on the low end of the range, a clip showing Gloria making an excuse for Archie might be shown. In the former case, Sammie Davis Jr. was an infrequent guest of the show, so a clip with him and Gloria is likely to be uncommon. In contrast, Gloria was always apologizing for her father, so such clips are relatively common. During or after display of the audiovisual clip, a message may appear on the gaming device informing the player of the precise value of the outcome. 
     Before addressing embodiments of the methodology of the present disclosure, a review of hardware adapted for use with the methods is presented. A discussion of the methodology for some embodiments that may be used on this hardware begins below with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front elevational view of a gaming device  10 , which is, as illustrated, a three-reel video slot machine. The gaming device  10  includes a housing  12  boasting game name indicia  14  and a primary display  16  on which the game action is presented. A secondary display  18  presents images and text to provide supplemental information or instructions to the player as practical or desired. Note that while this disclosure explicitly contemplates certain information being output by one display, it is within the scope of the present disclosure to have different displays output given information. 
     An input keypad  20  includes a plurality of buttons through which the player may provide input to the gaming device  10 . A credit meter  22  displays a current total of credits available to the player. Credits may be established by the player through the use of an equity input mechanism  24  or through game play as will be further described herein. 
     A player-tracking mechanism  26  may be used to identify a player at the gaming device  10 , which, in turn, may allow messages on the secondary display  18  to be personalized, comp points posted to the player profile, and the like. Belly glass paytable display  28  provides a listing of the paytable used by the gaming device  10 . 
     A ticket dispenser  30  may be used to dispense cashless gaming tickets. While only a slot is illustrated, it should be appreciated that a printer and appropriate paper feeding mechanisms are positioned behind the slot as is well understood. 
     Collectively, the displays  16 ,  18 ,  28 , input keypad  20 , credit meter  22 , equity input mechanism  24 , player-tracking mechanism  26 , and ticket dispenser  30  may be thought of as a user interface  50  (see  FIG. 2 ) for the gaming device. 
     More particularly, the primary display  16  presents, in this exemplary embodiment, three reels  32  with images and symbols thereon. A payline  34  is illustrated stretching across the images on the reels  32 . While only three reels are shown, more or fewer reels may be used if desired. Likewise, while only one payline  34  is illustrated, more paylines may be used if desired. When not actively conducting game play, the gaming device  10  may present an attraction screen or video clip designed to draw attention to the gaming device  10  and entice a player to begin game play on the gaming device  10 . 
     The primary display  16  further includes, in this exemplary embodiment, an audiovisual display area  36 . Audiovisual display area  36  is adapted to present audiovisual clips to the player as dictated by the game play of the gaming device  10 . In embodiments where the primary display  16  is a glass panel with mechanical reels disposed therebehind, audiovisual display area  36  may be implemented through a separate video monitor positioned as appropriate. It should be appreciated that the audiovisual display area  36  may be repositioned so that it is below, beside, or otherwise oriented relative to the reels  32 . 
     During game play, the reels may be animated to simulate spinning reels and then resolve to show a series of images across the reels. More details on conducting game play are set forth below. 
     The primary display  16 , secondary display  18 , the credit meter  22 , the belly glass paytable display  28 , and the audiovisual display area  36  are “displays” as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation set forth below. In an alternate embodiment, the belly glass paytable display  28  is a static display and is merely indicia painted, colored, etched, or otherwise affixed to a glass or polymer panel. 
     Input keypad  20  may include credit wager buttons  38 . The gaming device  10  operates using units of wager as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation set forth below. Each credit herein corresponds to a unit of wager. The player may select how many units of wager are to be bet by pressing the corresponding credit wager button  38 . In this exemplary embodiment, one credit may be bet by pressing a “bet one” button. Additional units may be wagered through repeated activation of the “bet one” button as is well understood. Alternatively, the player may activate the “bet max” button, which activates maximum wagers for all available paylines. In other embodiments, more or fractional units of wager may be bet by the player as practical or desired. 
     Input keypad  20  may further include a cash out button  39 , which allows players to receive any credits that are currently available as indicated by the credit meter  22 . Such cash out buttons  39  are well understood in the industry. Note that input keypad  20  may be actual mechanical buttons or incorporated into a touch screen display as practical or desired. 
     Input keypad  20  may still further include a start mechanism. In a first embodiment, the start mechanism is a start button  40 . In a second embodiment, the start mechanism is a handle  42 . While not strictly a button, the handle  42  is, for the purposes of the present disclosure, defined to be part of an input keypad  20 . The player initiates a game start by pressing the start button  40  or pulling the handle  42 . Other start mechanisms may be used as practical or desired. 
     The equity input mechanism  24  may include a coin acceptor  44 , a magnetic card reader  46 , a paper acceptor  48  and/or the like. Magnetic card reader  46  may accept credit, debit or other form of card including a smart card or the like. The paper acceptor  48  may accept bills in appropriate denominations and/or be a cashless gaming receipt acceptor. Players may use any or all the input devices of the equity input mechanism  24  to establish equity in the gaming device  10  and fund wagers. When the player provides such equity, the amount appears on the credit meter  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, each credit is equal to a unit of wager. The credit meter  22  reflects the amount of electronic credits currently available to a player for any purpose. A player, for example, may use the electronic credits as wagers for games played on the gaming device  10 . The electronic credits may also be “cashed out” as further explained below. 
     While not shown, the equity input mechanism  24  could include a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator that interoperates with a player-controlled transponder (e.g., incorporated into a key fob, a “contactless” player card, or the like). The interrogator could retrieve an account number (e.g., a credit card account, a bank account, a player account, or the like) from the transponder and establish equity therethrough. As yet another alternative, the player may use a cellular phone (or other mobile terminal) and call a number displayed on the gaming device  10 . The gaming device  10  may then bill the cellular phone account of the player. As yet another option, the mobile terminal may communicate with the gaming device  10  through some other protocol (e.g., BLUETOOTH™ or WI-FI™) and provide account information to the gaming device  10  such that the account may be billed as practical or desired. A smart card or dongle with an electronic wallet stored thereon, or other similar structure could be used in conjunction with an appropriate dongle port. Still other mechanisms for establishing equity may be used if practical or desired. In place of providing a benefit through the coin hopper or a cashless gaming receipt, funds may be credited to an account that was used to establish equity (e.g., a credit applied to a cellular phone account, direct deposit to a bank, and the like) or other account associated with the player (e.g., such as an account associated with a player-tracking profile). 
     The player-tracking mechanism  26  may be a magnetic card reader into which the player inserts a magnetic stripe player-tracking card. While illustrated as a magnetic card reader, it should be appreciated that the player-tracking mechanism  26  could be a smart card reader, a bar code reader, a dongle port, or other mechanism such as a wireless interrogator that interrogates a RFID device such as a transponder positioned in a key chain fob or the like. In still another embodiment, the player-tracking mechanism  26  may be a biometric input such as a fingerprint reader, a retinal scanner, or the like. Such inputs may be accompanied by a keypad for PIN entry if practical or desired. Acknowledgement of use of a player-tracking device may be made on the secondary display  18  or other location as practical or desired. 
     The belly glass paytable display  28  may include a payout schedule including a reel outcome column and a payout column. The payout schedule displays payouts that correspond to various outcomes obtainable on the reels  32 . In one or more embodiments, if an outcome on the payline  34  corresponds to a payout as indicated in the display  28 , the credit meter  22  may increase the balance displayed by an amount of electronic credits corresponding to the payout. As illustrated, the payout column lists ranges of values obtainable for particular reel outcomes. Thus, for example, if the reels  32  display Gloria-Gloria-Gloria, that game start may have an outcome value of between twenty and forty credits. While the payout schedule is illustrated with all winning reel outcomes being associated with a range of potential values, it should be appreciated that one or more reel outcomes may have a fixed value. Likewise, it possible that the gaming device  10  may operate in two or more modes. In a first mode, all payouts have a fixed value. In a second mode, all payouts have a range of values. In a third mode, payouts are a mix of fixed and ranged values. The gaming device  10  may switch between modes based on input from the player, a server, gaming establishment personnel, or other third party through any appropriate input mechanism as desired. Note further that while the reel outcome column illustrates only completely determined reel sets, partially determined reel sets may also be winners. For example, outcomes such as “Gloria-Gloria-Any” could be a winning outcome. Still further note that the order of the symbols may or may not have an impact on the payout schedule. 
     In a first embodiment, the belly glass paytable display  28  may persistently present the payout schedule. As noted above, this persistent presentation may be a function of painted glass or the like. Alternatively, the persistent presentation may be on a video monitor. Concerns about screen burn may make this latter option less desirable to some entities, but it remains within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In a second embodiment, the belly glass paytable display  28  may intermittently present the payout schedule. The intermittent presentation may be periodic or in response to certain commands issued by the controller  54  or the player. Still other triggering events may cause the presentation of the payout schedule. For example, various activity occurring on the gaming device  10  may trigger output of the payout schedule. Particularly contemplated activities include determination of a “prize-triggering” reel outcome. For example, if the reels resolve to “Edith-Archie-Laugh-O-Meter” then the payout schedule may be presented. For example, once the reels stop spinning, a window may open with the paytable displayed, in effect, explicitly presenting the range of values to the player. As a variation, the entry on the payout schedule corresponding to the displayed reel outcome may be highlighted or emboldened in some manner so as to draw the player&#39;s attention thereto. Such intermittent presentation is well suited for a “display” as that term is defined herein. Between presentations of the payout schedule, other information and/or graphics may be presented if desired. 
     While the belly glass paytable display  28  is described as being belly glass with the connotation that the display  28  is presented on the “belly” of the gaming device  10  below the primary display  16 , it should be appreciated that the display  28  may be repositioned on the gaming device  10  or positioned in a peripheral device and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The player may cash out by pressing the cash out button  39 . In such a circumstance, the ticket dispenser  30  may print a ticket which lists a cash value for the credits that had been displayed on the credit meter  22 . Thus, for a quarter denomination slot machine, the ticket dispenser would provide a dollar cash value of the number of credits divided by four. Alternatively benefits may be output through a coin hopper (not shown). Both the ticket dispenser  30  and such coin hoppers are well understood in the slot industry. 
     A block diagram of the gaming device  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In particular, the gaming device  10  includes the user interface  50 , which includes the displays  16 ,  18 ,  22 ,  28 , the input keypad  20 , the equity input mechanism  24 , the player-tracking mechanism  26 , and a benefit output device  52  (e.g., a coin hopper or ticket dispenser  30 ). The user interface  50  is operatively coupled to a controller  54 . The controller  54  may further be operatively coupled to a random number generator  56  and a communication port  58 . Memory  60  with programs  62  stored therein is further operatively associated with the controller  54 . The elements of the gaming device  10  may communicate over a wirebased bus (not shown explicitly) or wirelessly as practical or desired. The controller  54  with memory  60  and the programs  62  is a control system as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation. 
     Note that while the user interface  50  has been described in terms of discrete buttons and displays, it is possible, as alluded to above, that the buttons of the input keypad  20  may be incorporated into one or more displays through the use of a touch screen. Extending this concept, the touch screen may include menus and active buttons from which a player may select various options relating to her gaming experience. An exemplary option may be supplemental audio played through speakers on the gaming device  10 . This option may be selected from a menu. Such menus may be WINDOWS® style drop down menus that appear when a player touches a particular portion of the touch screen, selectively enabled through the actions of the player, or otherwise made available as practical or desired. Once the menu appears, the touch screen may make the menu active such that a player may make a selection from the menu by touching the area of the screen on which the option appears. While a WINDOWS® style menu option is possible, other presentations are also possible. As is readily understood, such a touch screen may require a touch screen controller with the menus stored in appropriate memory devices (e.g., memory  60 ) associated with the gaming device  10 . Likewise, the content that is selected from such menus must be available either locally or remotely so that the gaming device  10  may present such content. In some embodiments, the display of such menus may preempt the display of other information. For example, in one embodiment, the menus may appear on a display  28  and, when the menus are active, the paytable illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be obscured by the menus. Other arrangements are also contemplated. 
     The controller  54  may be positioned within the housing  12  of the gaming device  10 . Memory  60  may also be positioned within the housing  12  and may be a computer readable medium as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation. The software programs  62  include instructions for making the controller  54  operate. The software programs  62  may be stored in a compressed, uncompiled, and/or encrypted format. The software programs  62  may include program elements that are necessary for operation of the controller  54  such as an operating system, a database management system, device drivers, and the like. The software programs  62  may be uploaded into the memory  60  through any appropriate mechanism such as installation from a floppy, CD, or DVD drive, downloaded from a network through communication port  58 , or other mechanism as is well understood. While not explicitly illustrated, memory  60  may store a probability database and/or a payout database. The book “Winning At Slot Machines” by Jim Regan (Carol Publishing Group Edition, 1997) illustrates examples of payout and probability tables and how they may be derived. The entirety of this book is incorporated by reference herein. 
     The payout database may be, in effect, a paytable database containing the information presented in the display  28  in such a manner that reels  32  may be compared thereto and a benefit for the player determined. Such a paytable database may include an attribute entry defining an attribute, a threshold for the attribute above which the player has qualified for a winning outcome, and a benefit entry which may include a number of credits, comp points, or other value to be awarded to the player. Other arrangements are also possible. Note that the benefit may be a cash value benefit, a comp point, a free game start, an element such as a token redeemable for a free game start, a bonus game start, access to an improved paytable, access to some form of premium play, a ticket to a show, a ticket for a discount at a restaurant, or the like. Note that the premium play may be selected from a menu, which may include forms of insurance, improved paytables, reduced wager requirements, and the like. More information on particularly contemplated databases is presented below with reference to  FIGS. 6-8 . 
     Memory  60  may further contain the audiovisual files that are presented in audiovisual display area  36 . These audiovisual files may be stored in any appropriate format such as .mpg, .wav, or the like. These audiovisual files may be segments or portions of a full audiovisual program. Alternatively, each file may be a complete program, but indices associated with the audiovisual file may be used to track audiovisual clips that are partial versions of the complete audiovisual file. For example, something analogous to a chapter or scene selection menu for a DVD may be used to identify subportions of the audiovisual file. For more information on storage, maintenance, and use of audiovisual files in a gaming device, the interested reader is referred to U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,896 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2004/0005918 and 2006/0003830, previously incorporated. 
     The random number generator  56  (as well as any other random number generator described herein), in accordance with at least one embodiment, may generate data representing random or pseudo-random values (referred to as “random numbers” herein). The random number generator  56  may generate a random number every predetermined unit of time (e.g., every second) or in response to an initiation of a game on the gaming device  10 . In the former embodiment, the generated random numbers may be used as they are generated (e.g., the random number generated at substantially the time of game initiation is used for that game) and/or stored for future use in the memory  60 . 
     The random number generator  56 , as used herein, may be embodied as a processor separate from but working in cooperation with controller  54 . Alternatively, the random number generator  56  may be embodied as an algorithm, program component, or software program  62  stored in the memory  60  or other device and used to generate a random number. 
     Note that, although the generation or obtainment of a random number is described herein as involving the random number generator  56 , other methods of determining a random number may be employed. For example, a gaming device owner or operator may obtain sets of random numbers that have been generated by another entity. HotBits™, for example, is a service that provides random numbers that have been generated by timing successive pairs of radioactive decays detected by a Geiger-Muller tube interfaced to a computer. A blower mechanism that uses physical balls with numbers thereon may be used to determine a random number by randomly selecting one of the balls and determining the number thereof. 
     The communication port  58  may connect the gaming device  10  to a communication network  64  ( FIG. 3 ) through any appropriate communication medium and protocol. An exemplary communication port  58  is an Ethernet port that connects the gaming device  10  to an internet protocol (IP) network. 
     While not illustrated, some of the components of the gaming device  10  may be embodied as a peripheral device that is operatively associated with the gaming device  10 . Such peripheral devices may be mounted on or positioned proximate to the housing  12  of the gaming device  10  as practical or desired. Such peripheral devices may be particularly useful in retrofitting functionality into the gaming device  10 . Alternatively, a retrofit package may be assembled including new belly glass and an EEPROM chip that is installed in the memory  60  with the new programs  62  that enable the functionality of one or more embodiments. 
     The gaming device  10  may be a stand-alone device or it may be connected to the network  64  as better illustrated in  FIG. 3 . For example, gaming devices  10 A- 10 N may be connected through the network  64  to a server  66 . Additionally a mobile terminal  68  may be connected to the network  64 . More information on the mobile terminal  68  and its operation within the network  64  is provided below with reference to  FIG. 4 . Network  64  is a network as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation. 
     The server  66  may include a communication port  70  adapted to couple operatively the server  66  to the network  64  and a processor  72 . The processor  72  may be operatively coupled to memory  74  with programs  76  stored thereon. A player database  78  and other databases  80  may further be stored on the memory  74  as practical or desired. The processor  72  coupled with the programs  76  is a control system as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation. 
     The server  66  may perform some of the functionality previously attributed to the gaming device  10 . That is, the gaming devices  10  may act as client devices for the server  66  with most of the processing and decision making occurring on the server  66 . In such an instance, the processor  72  is operatively coupled to the user interface  50  through the network  64  and acts as the control system for the gaming device  10 . The memory  74  may store additional databases, including, but not limited to: a game database that stores information regarding one or more games playable on and/or downloadable to one or gaming devices  10 , a bundled database that bundles reel symbols with audiovisual clips, and a scheduling and/or configuration database useful for determining which games are to be made available on which gaming devices  10  at what times. Such downloads may be used to switch between modes of operation of the gaming device  10  if desired. In another exemplary embodiment, the audiovisual files may be stored in memory  74  rather than memory  60 , and these audiovisual files may be selectively downloaded or streamed to the gaming device  10 . In other embodiments, some or all of these functions may be handled by a device distinct from the server  66 , but remotely positioned relative to the gaming devices  10 . 
     In place of the payout and probability databases being present in the gaming devices  10 , such databases and/or data may instead be stored in the databases  80  of the memory  78 . Likewise, the databases may be distributed and/or duplicated between various devices within the network  64 . 
     The programs  76  may allow the server  66  to track gambling, gaming, or other activity performed at the gaming device  10 , track gaming or other activities of individual players, instruct a gaming device  10  to perform one or more functions (e.g., output a message to a player, interrupt play, or the like), assign or otherwise determine a unique identifier for a player, and/or control access to stored funds and/or a credit line. In some embodiments the server  66  may be operable to configure a gaming device  10  remotely, update software stored on a gaming device  10 , and/or download software or software components to a gaming device  10 . For example, the server  66  may be operable to apply a hot fix to software stored on a gaming device  10 , modify a payout and/or probability table stored on a gaming device  10 , and/or transmit a new version of software and/or a software component to a gaming device  10 . The server  66  may be programmed to perform any or all of the above functions as practical or desired and may do so based on, for example, an occurrence of an event (e.g., a scheduled event), receiving an indication from authorized gaming establishment personnel, an authorized third party (e.g., a regulator) and/or receiving a request from a player. In other embodiments, some or all of these functions may be handled by a device distinct from the server  66 . 
     While the previous paragraph describes the server  66  configuring the gaming device  10 , it is also possible that the server  66  stores games thereon, and these games are requested from the gaming device  10 . The gaming device  10  may be programmed to check periodically if updates are available, and, if an update is available, download and install the update. Alternatively, the gaming device  10  may check on occurrence of an event, an indication from authorized gaming establishment personnel, an indication from an authorized third party, or the like. It is particularly contemplated that the gaming device  10  may be a thin client controlled by the server  66 , although such is not required for operation. 
     In some embodiments, game play may be conducted on a mobile terminal  68  instead of a gaming device  10 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a variety of techniques through which the mobile terminal  68  may be so used. The illustrated techniques are intended to be exemplary and non-limiting. The mobile terminal  68  may be a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (such as a PALM® or BLACKBERRY™ device), a two way pager, a portable computer, a personal computer, a handheld gaming device (such as a NINTENDO GAMEBOY, the LS800 Tablet PC by Motion Computing Inc of Austin Tex., the iPAQ hw6920 by Hewlett Packard of Palo Alto Calif., or a wireless device marketed by DIAMOND I, INC.), or the like as practical or desired. In short, the mobile terminal  68  may be a device dedicated to gambling or a multipurpose device such as a cellular phone on which games may be played as practical or desired. The mobile terminal  68  includes a user interface including a keypad, microphone, speaker, and display. The mobile terminal  68  further includes a controller or processor with corresponding software stored in a local memory that acts as a control system as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation. Alternatively, the user interface of the mobile terminal  68  may be controlled by a remotely positioned control system such as the processor  72 . 
     In one embodiment, the mobile terminal  68  may communicate through a wireless network  82  (e.g., such as the public land mobile network (PLMN)) to the internet  84 , and through the internet  84  to an online casino server (not shown explicitly) or other server  66 . In such an embodiment, the mobile terminal  68  may be equipped with a web browser (e.g., FIREFOX, MOZILLA, NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR, INTERNET EXPLORER, etc.) to interoperate with the online casino. While the internet  84  is contemplated, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or other communication network may be used in place thereof as practical or desired. Alternatively, the mobile terminal  68  may download the game from such a server, and the game may be played locally. 
     As yet another option, the mobile terminal  68  may instead communicate with elements of the network  64 . In one embodiment, the mobile terminal  68  communicates with the server  66  through an antenna  86  coupled to the server  66  using an appropriate wireless protocol. In a second embodiment (not shown), the mobile terminal  68  may dock directly with the server  66  using appropriate docking technology. Note that this embodiment may require appropriate security and firewalls since the player will have essentially direct access to the server  66 . In another embodiment, the mobile terminal  68  may communicate with a gaming device  10  through an antenna  88 . Note that the antenna  88  may be coupled to the gaming device  10  through a peripheral device. In still another embodiment, the mobile terminal  68  may dock with the gaming device  10  through a docking cradle  90 . Again, the docking cradle  90  may be incorporated into a peripheral device. In yet another embodiment, a dedicated docking station  92  may be provided, and the mobile terminal  68  may be coupled to the network  64  through the docking station  92 . In yet another embodiment, a cellular microstation  94  may be communicatively coupled to the network  64  and the mobile terminal  68  may interoperate with the microstation  94 . Other arrangements are also contemplated. 
     Instead of conducting game play on the mobile terminal  68 , the mobile terminal  68  may form part of a user interface. For example, a player may use the display  16  of a gaming device  10 , but issue commands related to game play through the mobile terminal  68 , or the play may use input keypad  20  to issue commands, but see results on a display of the mobile terminal  68 . Again, the mobile terminal  68  may communicate with the gaming device  10  using any appropriate mechanism. 
     While the discussion above focuses on the gaming device  10  being a video or reeled slot machine, it should be appreciated that the concepts disclosed herein are readily adapted to video poker terminals, video blackjack terminals, video roulette terminals, video keno terminals, video lottery terminals, pachinko terminals, or the like, and all are contemplated within the present disclosure. 
     Against this backdrop of hardware, the present disclosure now turns to exemplary methods of using this hardware. In particular,  FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method for using the gaming device  10 . Initially, a player establishes equity (block  100 ) through any of the means described above. The player bets one or more units of wager (block  102 ) through the input keypad  20  and initiates game play (block  104 ) such as by pulling the handle  42  or pressing the spin button  40 . 
     The control system uses the random number generator  56  to generate a random number (block  106 ). The control system then uses the generated random number in conjunction with the probability and/or payout databases to determine a reel outcome (block  108 ). The control system determines if there is an associated audiovisual clip for the reel outcome (block  110 ). 
     If there is no associated audiovisual clip, then the gaming device  10  outputs the reel outcome and provides the payout, if any (block  112 ). The reel outcome may be displayed on display  16  and the payout may be provided by dispensing coins with the benefit output device  52  or by incrementing the credit meter  22  as is well understood. Game play may continue with the player placing wagers and initiating game play as is well understood. 
     If there is an associated audiovisual clip (i.e., block  110  has been answered affirmatively), then the gaming device  10  determines which audiovisual clip is to be played (block  114 ). In a first embodiment, the determination of which audiovisual clip is to be played may be merged with the determination of the reel outcome. That is, the random number generated indicates what reel outcome and what audiovisual clip are to be presented. In a second embodiment, the determination of which audiovisual clip is to be played may be a separate step. That is, the random number generated at block  106  determines the reel outcome and sets the range of values within which the final outcome lies. A second random number, generated by the random number generator  56 , then determines what actual value within the range of possible values is the final outcome. 
     The gaming device  10  outputs the reel outcome (block  116 ) such as through the display  16 . In effect, the reel outcome is the first information provided to the player indicative of the outcome. The reel outcome coupled with the information on the payout schedule informs the player that the actual outcome lies within a particular range of values. The gaming device  10  outputs the determined audiovisual clip (block  118 ). The audiovisual clip is thus second information provided to the player and indicates (albeit sometimes indirectly) an exact amount of the outcome. As noted above, the determination of the audiovisual clip may be done through one or more random numbers. In an exemplary embodiment, the significance of the audiovisual clip may provide an indication as to the size of the payout. That is, more important or less frequent occurrences may be used to show higher value payouts. For example, a winning shot in a basketball game may be used to show a high value payout, whereas a made free throw may show a low value payout. 
     The gaming device  10  outputs the final payout (block  120 ). As noted above, the final payout may be output via a benefit output device  52  or added to the credit meter  22 . 
     While the above process has been discussed in terms of the control system of the gaming device  10  performing the methodology, it should be appreciated that where the gaming device  10  is a thin client, the control system of the server  66  may perform these functions. Likewise, in embodiments where functionality is shared between different devices, an appropriate control system may implement the method. Information provided to the player may be through the user interface  50 , through the user interface of the mobile terminal  68  or other user interface as desired. 
     As alluded to above, the control system may use the random number generator  56  and random numbers with a database to determine the reel outcome and the audiovisual clip. An exemplary database is presented in  FIG. 6 . In particular,  FIG. 6  illustrates payout database  150  with random number entries  152 , reel outcome entries  154 , audiovisual clip entries  156 , payout range entries  158 , and payout entries  160 . Payout database  150  is well suited for the embodiment where a single random number determines the reel outcome, the audiovisual clip, and the final payout. 
     Random number entries  152  are entries corresponding to numbers output by a random number generator, such as random number generator  56 . As such, the control system may receive the random number, look up the random number in the database  150  and use the corresponding entries to make the relevant determinations. 
     The reel outcome entries  154  list the images on the reels. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the gaming device  10  is a three reel slot machine, so three images are listed. The reels  32  will be moved until an appropriate image is presented to the player as is well understood. If the gaming device  10  is a video reel slot machine, then a video file that is the animation for the video reels may be included in this or another reel video file entry (not shown). 
     The audiovisual clip entries  156  list the appropriate audiovisual clip to be played for the given random number. The payout range entries  158  list the particular ranges within which the payout lies. The payout entries  160  list the actual payout. 
     If, instead of a single random number being determinative of the reel outcome, the audiovisual clip, and the final payout, two random numbers are used to make the relevant determinations, then two or more databases may be used, exemplary versions of which are illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 7  illustrates first stage outcome database  162 , which includes first random number entries  164 , reel outcome entries  166 , and payout range entries  168 . When the control system receives the first random number, it determines the reel outcome and the payout range through the corresponding entries. Then, the control system uses the second random number with a second stage database  170  ( FIG. 8 ) to determine which audiovisual clip to play and what the final payout is to be. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the second stage database  170  may include reel outcome entries  172 , payout range entries  174 , second random number entries  176 , audiovisual clip entries  178 , and payout entries  180 . There may be a second stage database  170  for each reel outcome that has an associated payout range. Alternatively, these second stage databases  170  may be amalgamated into a single database with appropriate designations to keep the data distinct. As yet another alternative, the first stage outcome database  162  and the second stage databases  170  may be combined into a single database with appropriate designations to keep the data distinct. 
     As an example, if the first random number is 211, corresponding to a reel outcome of Edith-Archie-Laugh-O-Meter and a payout range of three to twelve credits, the control system then receives the second random number from the random number generator  56  and determines, through second stage database  170 , an audiovisual clip and the actual payout. Thus,  FIG. 8  notes that for the given Edith-Archie-Laugh-O-Meter reel outcome and the given payout range of three to twelve coins, the second random number will determine which audiovisual clip and which payout are to be provided. 
     While the databases of  FIGS. 6-8  are exemplary tools that may be used to help determine what is to be presented to the player in terms of the reel outcomes, the audiovisual clip and the actual outcome, other tools and techniques may be used as well. 
     In several locations, the present disclosure has mentioned a “Laugh-O-Meter” symbol. The Laugh-O-Meter symbol, or other comparable symbol, is a symbol that may be used to indicate that a range of payouts are possible for a given reel outcome. That is, in some embodiments, if the range-indicative such as the Laugh-O-Meter is not present, then the reel outcome indicates the actual outcome without obfuscating the actual outcome with a range of values. For example, instead of Gloria-Gloria-Gloria being a range of values as indicated in  FIG. 1 , Gloria-Gloria-Gloria may always correspond to a payout of thirty coins. However, any time the range-indicative shows up, the player knows that a range of payouts is possible. The other symbols on the other reels  32  provide further indication to identify which particular range of possible payouts is available. In an exemplary embodiment, the presence of the Laugh-O-Meter symbol on the payline  34  is a prize triggering event. 
     An exemplary screen shot illustrating the Laugh-O-Meter is presented in  FIG. 9 . In particular, the display  16  includes the three reels  32  each with images  200  disposed thereon. Many of the images  200  are character images  200 A or blank images  200 B, but some images may be the range-indicatives  200 C such as the Laugh-O-Meter symbol. 
     The range-indicative  200 C may be thematically tied to the audiovisual clip that is presented. For example, the “Laugh-O-Meter” symbol may be tied to the volume of the laugh track that is used in the audiovisual clip that is presented. That is, the more laughter, the higher the payout within the range of possible payouts. This concept is in keeping with the concept that the importance of the clip may be used to hint at the actual value as described above. The range-indicative may be animated in conjunction with the presentation of the audiovisual clip to further highlight this distinction and to give the player a better indication of the actual payout. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the audiovisual clip is being presented in audiovisual display area  36 . As the audiovisual clip plays, speakers  96  may provide the audio component including the laugh track associated with the audiovisual clip. As the volume of the laugh track grows, an indicator bar  202  may have a sliding bar  204  grow within the indicator bar  202 . Indicia  206  may be indicative of how many credits are to be paid out. In this manner, a player may compare the bar  204  to the indicia  206  and have an idea of the actual payout for the particular audiovisual clip. 
     Further toward the goal of using the “importance”, historical significance or other connotation associated with the audiovisual clip to intimate the final value of the actual payout, the present disclosure contemplates various methods for analyzing audiovisual clips and indexing them based on various metrics. For example, all the words spoken by characters may be tracked (e.g., seventeen occurrences of the word “the”, fourteen occurrences of the word “love”, etc.), such that a plurality of clips may be index based on such rankings. In another example, various other metrics, such as the number of appearances of particular characters, objects, and the like may be tracked. A paytable may then be derived in association with the plurality of clips based on the index (e.g., clips wherein a particular element occurs/appears frequently are associated with low payouts or losing outcomes, whereas clips indicating “rare” occurrences may be associated with large payouts). Further, in an exemplary embodiment, a large contiguous portion of an audiovisual clip may be “spliced” into clips of smaller lengths based on such analytics/indexing, such that the smaller length clips may be utilized in conjunction with the present disclosure. The present disclosure further contemplates a software application that performs such analytics, indexing, and/or splicing automatically, perhaps with some degree of human involvement (e.g., a human selects a “maximum clip length” value that the application then considers when splicing clips, a human inputs a total number of spliced “nothing” clips during which no tracked events occur, or the like). 
     Note that while the above discussion has perhaps intimated that each audiovisual clip has a set value, such is not necessarily true. Audiovisual clips may be reused with different values as desired. For example, the same audiovisual clip may be used for Archie-Edith-Laugh-O-Meter and for Edith-Archie-Laugh-O-Meter, but have different payouts in each instance because of the difference in the order of the symbols. Other variations are also within the scope of the present invention. 
     As an alternate embodiment well suited for use in a video slot machine, the reel outcome and the audiovisual clip may be merged into a single audiovisual file. In this manner, the audiovisual file is played and initially presents the reel outcome. Then, without requiring a new audiovisual file to be loaded, the audiovisual clip is presented. Such an approach may save load times and eliminate delays associated with buffering the audiovisual files. 
     Rules of Interpretation 
     Numerous embodiments are described in this disclosure, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The present disclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments nor a listing of features of the invention that must be present in all embodiments. 
     Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of this disclosure) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of this disclosure) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). 
     The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition of matter as contemplated by 35 U.S.C. §101, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “one embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) disclosed embodiments”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “the invention” and “the present invention” and the like mean “one or more embodiments of the present invention.” 
     A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The term “herein” means “in the present disclosure, including anything which may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination of one or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the phrase at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel means either (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and a wheel. 
     The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describes both “based only on” and “based at least on”. 
     Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as well as more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least one widget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where in a second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses a definite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”), this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature, and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of the feature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than one widget). 
     Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise) inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a “step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in the mere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficient antecedent basis. 
     When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unless expressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a “first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a “second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in importance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit to the features identified with the ordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate that there must be no more than two widgets. 
     When a single device or article is described herein, more than one device or article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device or article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than one device or article (whether or not they cooperate). 
     Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device or article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described as being possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device or article. 
     The functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices that are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality and/or features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality/features. 
     Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine in communication with another machine via the Internet may not transmit data to the other machine for weeks at a time. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. 
     A description of an embodiment with several components or features does not imply that all or even any of such components and/or features are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no component and/or feature is essential or required. 
     Further, although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes may be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred. 
     Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not indicate that all or even any of the steps are essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required. 
     Although a product may be described as including a plurality of components, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, that does not indicate that all of the plurality are essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality. 
     An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, a PDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are mutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are comprehensive of any category. 
     Headings of sections provided in this disclosure are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way. 
     A player “wagers” at least a single “unit of wager” to pay for a game start. In many gaming devices, a unit of wager may be referred to as a credit. Many gaming devices allow multiple credits to be wagered concurrently in exchange for an improved paytable or more paylines. A unit of wager may be equivalent to a full dollar amount ($1, $5), a fractional dollar amount, a coin (e.g., $0.05 (nickel) or $0.25 (quarter)), or specified amount of another currency (e.g., a specified number of comp points). Some paytables may be expressed as a number of coins won relative to a number of coins wagered. In such instances, the term coin is the same as a unit of wager. Because gaming devices are embodied in different denominations, it is relevant to note that a coin, credit, or unit of wager on a first device may not be identically valued as a coin, credit, or unit of wager on a second device. For example, a credit on a quarter slot machine (on which the credit is equivalent to $0.25) is not the same as a credit on a five dollar slot machine (on which the credit is equivalent to $5.00). Accordingly, it should be understood that in embodiments in which a player may cash out credits from a first gaming device that operates based on a first denomination (e.g., a quarter-play slot machine) and establish, using only the cashed out credits, a credit balance on a second gaming device that operates based on a second denomination (e.g., a nickel-play slot machine), the player may receive a different number of credits on the second gaming device than the number of credits cashed out at the first gaming device. An interesting discussion of this concept can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,424, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     “Determining” something can be performed in a variety of manners and therefore the term “determining” (and like terms) includes calculating, computing, deriving, looking up (e.g., in a table, database or data structure), ascertaining, recognizing, and the like. 
     A “display” as that term is used herein is an area that conveys information to a viewer. The information may be dynamic, in which case, an LCD, LED, CRT, LDP, rear projection, front projection, or the like may be used to form the display. The aspect ratio of the display may be 4:3, 16:9, or the like. Furthermore, the resolution of the display may be any appropriate resolution such as 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p or the like. The format of information sent to the display may be any appropriate format such as standard definition (SDTV), enhanced definition (EDTV), high definition (HD), or the like. The information may likewise be static, in which case, painted glass may be used to form the display. Note that static information may be presented on a display capable of displaying dynamic information if desired. 
     The present disclosure frequently refers to a “control system”. A control system, as that term is used herein, may be a computer processor coupled with an operating system, device drivers, and appropriate programs (collectively “software”) with instructions to provide the functionality described for the control system. The software is stored in an associated memory device (sometimes referred to as a computer readable medium). While it is contemplated that an appropriately programmed general purpose computer or computing device may be used, it is also contemplated that hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation of the processes of various embodiments. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. 
     A “processor” means any one or more microprocessors, CPU devices, computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or like devices. Exemplary processors are the INTEL PENTIUM or AMD ATHLON processors. 
     The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include DRAM, which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during RF and IR data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, a USB memory stick, a dongle, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read. 
     Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying sequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may be formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols. For a more exhaustive list of protocols, the term “network” is defined below and includes many exemplary protocols that are also applicable here. 
     It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithms described herein may be implemented by a control system and/or the instructions of the software may be designed to carry out the processes of the present invention. 
     Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to those described may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations or descriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrative arrangements for stored representations of information. Any number of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g., tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content of the entries can be different from those described herein. Further, despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-based models, hierarchical electronic file structures, and/or distributed databases) could be used to store and manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implement various processes, such as those described herein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from a device that accesses data in such a database. Furthermore, while unified databases may be contemplated, it is also possible that the databases may be distributed and/or duplicated amongst a variety of devices. 
     As used herein a “network” is an environment wherein one or more computing devices may communicate with one another. Such devices may communicate directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium such as the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), Token Ring, or via any appropriate communications means or combination of communications means. Exemplary protocols include but are not limited to: Bluetooth™, TDMA, CDMA, GSM, EDGE, GPRS, WCDMA, AMPS, D-AMPS, IEEE 802.11 (WI-FI), IEEE 802.3, SAP, SAS™ by IGT, OASIS™ by Aristocrat Technologies, SDS by Bally Gaming and Systems, ATP, TCP/IP, gaming device standard (GDS) published by the Gaming Standards Association of Fremont Calif., the best of breed (BOB), system to system (S2S), or the like. Note that if video signals or large files are being sent over the network, a broadband network may be used to alleviate delays associated with the transfer of such large files, however, such is not strictly required. Each of the devices is adapted to communicate on such a communication means. Any number and type of machines may be in communication via the network. Where the network is the Internet, communications over the Internet may be through a website maintained by a computer on a remote server or over an online data network including commercial online service providers, bulletin board systems, and the like. In yet other embodiments, the devices may communicate with one another over RF, cable TV, satellite links, and the like. Where appropriate encryption or other security measures such as logins and passwords may be provided to protect proprietary or confidential information. 
     Communication among computers and devices may be encrypted to insure privacy and prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art. Appropriate cryptographic protocols for bolstering system security are described in Schneier, APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY, PROTOCOLS, ALGORITHMS, AND SOURCE CODE IN C, John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. 2d ed., 1996, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, an enabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some of these embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the present disclosure, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuing applications that claim the benefit of priority of the present disclosure. 
     Devices in communication with each other need not be continually transmitting to each other. On the contrary, such computers and devices need only transmit to each other as necessary, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. 
     Communication among computers and devices may be encrypted to insure privacy and prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art. Appropriate cryptographic protocols for bolstering system security are described in Schneier, APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY, PROTOCOLS, ALGORITHMS, AND SOURCE CODE IN C, John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. 2d ed., 1996, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, an enabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some of these embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the present disclosure, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuing applications that claim the benefit of priority of the present disclosure.