Patent Publication Number: US-2010123668-A1

Title: Interactive and programmable media sign and graphical user interface for casino games

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/115,544 to Krise et al., entitled, “Interactive and programmable media sign and graphical user interface for casino games,” filed Nov. 18, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In many casinos and gaming establishments, visual information displays include candles, progressive jackpot meters, and signage attached to table games and sometimes slot machines. Sometimes the conventional signage consists of a fixed, non-electronic display with numbers that can be changed manually. Such signs are often front lit or backlit. 
     Other forms of conventional signage include a hybrid composed of a non-electronic sign and a few elements that have an electronic digital readout, e.g., for remotely changing betting limits. Still other forms of conventional signage include a video display, such as a cathode ray style tube or an LED display that can present content from a remote source. 
     What is needed is a sign that has sophisticated graphics and video abilities but also self-contained editing tools that allow displayable content to be securely edited on the spot, without needing additional apparatus for the editing interface. 
     SUMMARY 
     An interactive and programmable media sign and graphical user interface for casino games is described. In one implementation, the media sign provides displayable content, such as a game logo, casino banner, and betting limits that can be edited through the same touch screen display that provides the display surface. The media sign recognizes touch gestures to extend a graphical user interface (GUI) for secure entry into an editing mode. Once a user is authenticated, the media sign extends a hierarchy of logically linked GUI pages for editing displayable content and display settings, including importing content. In its multiple display panes, the media sign can present, for example, text, images, slideshows, video, and commercial broadcasts. In one implementation, a current profile of displayable content and display settings can be exported to other media signs, so that a single operator can edit information at one media sign and automatically propagate the edits to numerous media signs in a casino. 
     This summary section is not intended to give a full description of interactive and programmable media signs with graphical user interfaces for casino games, or to provide a list of features and elements. A detailed description of example embodiments of the electronic gaming system follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example interactive and programmable media sign with graphical user interface for casino games. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example media sign controller. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an example electronic game setup including the media sign. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of networked electronic game tables, including media signs that can communicate with a central server or with each other. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of example operations of the media sign. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of an example display layout of the media sign. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of an example security graphical user interface (GUI) for securing access to a hierarchy of editing GUIs. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of an example unsecured operation of the media sign. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of an example top level menu GUI of an editing mode of the media sign. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of an example editing GUI for selecting a type of banner to edit. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of an example editing GUI for modifying a text banner. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram of an example editing GUI for modifying a slideshow banner. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram of an example file operations GUI for importing images from a data source. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram of an example betting limits GUI for modifying display of maximum and minimum betting limits for a casino game. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram of an example file operations GUI for exporting a current profile of displayable content and display settings. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram of an example file operations GUI for naming an image, video, profile, or data file to export. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram of an example file operations GUI for importing display settings, displayable content, or a profile of displayable content and display settings. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram of an example media sign display layout; and of logical links between a hierarchy of GUI pages extended by the media sign. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     This disclosure describes an interactive and programmable media sign and associated graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for displaying and editing casino information and/or game information. The interactive and programmable media sign and GUIs will be referred to herein as a “media sign.” In one implementation, the media sign consists of a self-contained computing device unit with touch screen display. Programming of displayable content is carried out through the touch screen display. Images and video content for display can be uploaded through a port. As a computing device, the media sign includes a processor, memory, and data storage, as well as the touch screen video display. In another implementation, the media sign stores a profile of its displayable content and settings that can be transferred to other instances of the media sign. In yet another implementation, the media sign can be networked with an electronic game or a server to display a wide range of information in an electronic billboard manner, such as game state information, progressive jackpots, advertisements, announcements, schedules, and commercial television. 
     At a basic level of implementation, in which the media sign functions mostly as a self-contained sign for an individual casino table or game, the media sign can display an animated game logo, e.g., a custom logo or animation, and betting limits for a casino table game. Even as a standalone game table display, the media sign can also act as a promotion display and advertising device for the gaming establishment. The media sign uses its touch screen technology to allow the gaming establishment to access a system of GUIs that have logically related pages to enable a user to program the visuals displayed by the media sign without having to resort to extra user interface devices, such as keyboard and mouse, to program the display. In other words, the media sign displays information and animated graphics and is fully programmable “on its face,” that is, via a user operating the front facing touch screen display without requiring other equipment. 
     In one implementation, the media sign identifies a specific gesture on the face of the touch screen display to reveal and enable access to a security GUI for entering a secret, such as a key, code, or password. The secret maintains security over the hierarchy of GUI pages that enable editing displayable content. In other words, in one implementation a user must be authenticated to change the programming. The gesture for revealing the security GUI need not itself be secure, and may consist of various finger motions, e.g., a sequence of finger motions along one or more sides of the touch screen display (for a single-touch implementation of the media sign), or a combination of finger contacts and movements (for a multi-touch implementation of the media sign). Once access is gained, the gaming establishment can modify table betting limits and edit message areas to be presented on the display, or import custom graphics, e.g., for a promotional slide show. 
     In another implementation, the media sign is interactive in real time with an electronic game. That is, the media sign can display game states and other information as the game is played in real time. For example, the media sign can display numbers drawn, cards dealt, card hands, dice rolled, bets wagered, winners and losers, stages of the game, jackpots, etc. In one implementation, the media sign can be programmed to display a progressive jackpot meter between multiple game devices. 
     In one implementation, a game/movie pane or area of the display presents a custom graphic, logo, video, or animation. For example, a video may be stored and played on continuous loop, or the video may be streamed from an external source. In one implementation, the media sign displays one or more television channels on at least a part of the touch screen area. Thus, game players may watch television and/or videos while playing the casino game, or between rounds. 
     In one implementation, the programming for a single media sign, which includes displayable content and associated settings, is exportable as a profile, and is ported for propagation to other instances of the media sign, so that the gaming establishment does not have to manually program numerous signs. The sharing of a profile may be achieved over a network connecting multiple media signs, or via a portable data storage drive. 
     Example Media Sign 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary media sign  100 , which includes a touch screen display  102  and a controller  104 . In one implementation, as introduced above, the media sign  100  may constitute a computing device with processor, memory, and data storage. In such a case, elements of the controller  104  can be implemented as software that is stored in the media sign  100  and resides in memory during operation. Or the components and functions to be described below can be committed to hardware, e.g., a controller  104  that is implemented via ASIC chips. The media sign  100  can be mounted at an individual casino game, for example, upon a vertical mount  106  connected to an electronic game table or in some cases, to a slot machine, or even to a wall. 
     The media sign  100  may have multiple display areas or panes, each with a different function or purpose. For example, a banner  108  may be reserved for information that relates specifically to the casino or establishment in which the media sign  100  is being used. A game/movie pane  110  can be used to display information about the casino game to which the media sign  100  is associated, such as “1-6-8 PAI GOW POKER” as illustrated, or “Blackjack,” “Roulette,” “Craps,” etc. The game/movie pane  110  may be the largest of the designated areas on the touch screen display, and so can be used for presenting video content, i.e., a movie. A betting limits area  112  describes minimum and maximum betting limits for the associated casino game, e.g., table limits. 
     Example Systems and Controller 
       FIG. 2  shows the controller  104  of  FIG. 1 , in greater detail. The illustrated controller  104  is presented as one example for the sake of description. Other configurations of the controller  104  can also be used in a given implementation of the media sign  100 . The exemplary controller  104  can be implemented in hardware, or in combinations of hardware, software, firmware, etc. Some of the illustrated components are built into the typical fabric of a conventional touch screen display  102 , but are called out in  FIG. 2  in order to show relations between controller components and functions. 
     The illustrated example controller  104  includes a display controller  202 , a touch screen interface  204 , a displayable content manager  206 , data storage for a current profile  208 , a security manager  210 , an editing manager  214 , a banner editor  216 , a game/movie pane editor  218 , a betting limits editor  220 , an import manager  222 , an export manager  224 , and a network interface  226 . 
     The display controller  202  drives the display functionality of the touch screen display  102 . The touch screen interface  204  accepts touch input from the display surface. A particular touch gesture, such as sliding a finger along multiple edges of the touch screen surface, may cause the security manager  210  to extend a security GUI, which prompts for a key, code, or password before allowing entry into program and content editing. Or, a given touch gesture may be allowed by the unsecured input manager  212 , as input to make changes in the content or state of currently displayed content without the security manager  210  having to extend the security GUI. The displayable content manager  206  keeps track of the content currently displayed and the current settings. The displayable content manager  206  stores the content, or links to the content, and the settings in a current profile  208 . 
     Once a user is authenticated via the security manager  210 , then the editing manager  214  may extend a hierarchy of editing GUIs. The editing manager  214  coordinates the banner editor  216 , game/movie pane editor  218 , and betting limits editor  220 ; as well as the import manager  222  and the export manager  224  to extend a hierarchy of logically linked GUI pages for changing displayable content, including importing and loading images and video clips, changing channel input, and editing text. The import manager  222  and export manager  224  have access to a port, such as a USB port for input/output of data, such as the current profile  208 . 
     A network interface  226  may communicate with a network interface card (NIC) in versions of the media sign  100  that network with each other; or with an electronic game, the Internet, a remote server, etc.  FIG. 3  shows an example electronic game processing system  300  that interacts with the media sign  100 . When used in a networked implementation in which an electronic game is also involved, the media sign  100  is a passive recipient of game information for purposes of display only so that the security of the electronic game is not compromised. The illustrated configuration of the example electronic game processing system  300  is meant to provide only one example arrangement for the sake of overview. Many other arrangements of the illustrated components, or similar components, are possible. 
     The exemplary game processing system  300  includes a server computing device  302 , which can be a computer or other device that has processor, memory, and data storage. The illustrated server computing device  302  thus includes a processor  304 , memory  306 , data storage  308 , and an interface, such as a network interface card (NIC)  310 , to communicate over a network  312  with remote computing devices, such as computing device “1”  314  that hosts the participant “1” user interface  316 ; computing device “2”  318  that hosts the participant “2” user interface  320 ; . . . ; and computing device “N”  322  that hosts the participant “N” user interface  324 . The game processing system  300  includes a gaming engine  326  and game rules  328 , shown as software loaded into memory  306 . 
     The participant computing devices  314 ,  318 , and  322  may be desktop or notebook computers, or may be workstations or other client computing devices that have processor and memory, but may or may not have onboard data storage. Typically, a player station does not have data storage. Such modules may be “dumb” in that they have no bootable device, but generally receive images and instructions from the server  302 . Thus, in one implementation, a player computing device  330  is a visual display with graphics processing power and user interface components. 
     The media sign  100 , which may include its own computing device  330  to host the controller  104 , is networked with the server  302  (and the client computing devices) to display a wide range of information from such a game processing system  300 , such as game state information, and also other additional information, such as progressive jackpots, advertisements, announcements, schedules, custom images, animation, video; commercial broadcasts, etc. 
       FIG. 4  shows another game processing system, in which instances of the media sign  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ are associated with electronic game tables  400 ,  400 ′,  400 ″ and communicate with each other and with a server  302  over a network  312 . Each electronic game table  400 ,  400 ′,  400 ″ may have “n” players. Each media sign  100  can communicate with the server  302  to display, as above, a wide range of information, such as game state information, progressive jackpots, advertisements, announcements, schedules, custom images, animation, video; commercial broadcasts, etc. Additionally, the media signs  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ can communicate with each other over the network  312 . Each media sign  100  can share its current profile  208  with the other media signs, e.g.,  100 ′,  100 ″. This allows a single technician or operator interacting with the touch screen surface of a single media sign  100  to simultaneously program and/or update the current profiles  208  of numerous media signs  100 , such as hundreds of instances of the media sign  100  in a large casino. 
     Example Operations and GUIs 
       FIG. 5  shows an example process flow  500  between logically linked pages of a GUI hierarchy that can be presented to an operator by the media sign  100 . In the flow diagram, operations are summarized in individual blocks. The exemplary process flow  500  may be performed by hardware, or combinations of hardware and software, for example, by components of the exemplary controller  104 . 
     At block  502 , the media sign  100  is in a display mode  502 . An example display mode  502  is shown in the example display mode layout of  FIG. 6 , and as shown in the displayed content of  FIG. 1 , in which the banner  108 , the game/movie pane  110 , and the betting limits area  112  are being displayed to the public or at least to players and bystanders near the action of a casino game. 
     Returning to  FIG. 5 , at block  504 , after sensing a touch gesture on the touch screen display  102  of the media sign  100 , the media sign  100  may enter a secure access mode  504 , as shown in the example security GUI of  FIG. 7 , when a touch gesture signals for a program editing menu. Or, the touch gesture may execute an action immediately on the media sign  100  when the touch gesture and associated action are pre-authorized as not needing security clearance to execute the action. An example of an action that can be summoned by a touch gesture and that does not require authorization, is toggling the media sign  100  to turn on and turn off an innocuous message, such as “table closed,” as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In secure access mode  504 , the media sign  100  extends a security GUI (e.g., as in  FIG. 7 ) for inputting a password or other secret information. When authorization is successful, the process flows to a main editing menu, but an option to quit or exit back to display mode  502  is also available. 
     At block  506 , the media sign  100  extends a top level menu GUI, such as shown in the example top level editing menu GUI of  FIG. 9 , which allows the user to select editing modes. For example, the editing modes may include changing betting limits, changing the banner, changing content of the game/movie pane, and importing image content, video content, settings, or an entire profile from another media sign  100 , or exporting content and settings to another media sign  100 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 5 , at block  508 , after selection of a “change banner” mode in the top level editing menu ( FIG. 9 ), the media sign  100  extends a submenu GUI, as shown in  FIG. 10 , for selecting which type of banner content to edit: a text banner or a slideshow banner. 
     At block  510 , if text banner is selected at block  508 , the media sign  100  extends a text banner editing GUI, as shown in the example GUI of  FIG. 11 . The text banner editing GUI may include an onscreen keyboard, navigation controls and icons, and text editing tools for modifying font, color, style, spacing, etc., of text to be used in a banner. The text banner editing GUI may also impart special effects, such a color effects, sparkle effects, moving text, scrolling, rolling, animated text, etc. 
     At block  512 , if slideshow banner is selected at block  508 , the media sign  100  extends a slideshow banner editing GUI, as shown in the example GUI of  FIG. 12 . The slideshow banner editing GUI may include fields for entering images stored locally to be included in the slideshow to be displayed in the banner, the length of time that each image is to be displayed, and fields for adding and deleting images. 
     At block  514 , upon selection of an appropriate icon or button on the slideshow banner editing GUI ( FIG. 12 ), the media sign  100  extends a file import GUI, as shown in the example GUI of  FIG. 13 , for loading a selected image file from an external source (or from local data storage) into the slideshow. 
     Returning to the top level menu at block  506  of  FIG. 5 , if the user selects a change betting limits mode, then at block  516  the media sign  100  extends a GUI for modifying betting limits, such as the example GUI shown in  FIG. 14 . The betting limits editing GUI allows the operator to change minimum and maximum betting limits, usually in integral units of the selected currency. 
     Likewise, as described above, similar editing GUIs for changing content and settings of the game/movie pane  110  are generally included in the flow of program operations, but not shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     At block  518 , given selection by the user of an export option on the top level editing menu ( FIG. 9 ), the media sign  100  extends an export GUI, such as the example GUI shown in  FIG. 15 . The export GUI may enable the user to export current settings and/or content as a file, that is, as a data file that includes the current profile  208 . The GUI may enable export to a USB port, a network interface  226 , or to other connected ports when a computing device  330  is included in the media sign  100 . 
     At block  520 , if the user desires to store the current profile  208  as a new file, the media sign  100  extends a file naming GUI, such as the example GUI shown in  FIG. 16 . The file naming GUI has a field for entering a file name, and an onscreen keyboard for keying-in the file name. 
     At block  522 , given selection by the user of an import option on the top level editing menu ( FIG. 9 ), the media sign  100  extends an import GUI, such as the example GUI shown in  FIG. 17 . The import GUI allows the operator to manually load (import, download) a current profile  208  that has displayable content, or at least links to displayable content, and settings, such as display settings and visual parameters, from another instance of the media sign  100 . The import GUI can allow the operator to load a current profile  208  from a USB port, from a network connection, or from another port as implemented on the particular media sign  100 . 
     In one implementation, as described above, a current profile  208  at one media sign  100  can be automatically sent to other instances of the media sign  100  via a network  312  to automatically update the other media signs  100 . This enables editing of a gaming establishment&#39;s displayable content at one media sign  100 , with automatic propagation of the edits to each of the other media signs  100  in the house. 
     In one implementation, multiple media signs  100  each have local attributes that can only be edited on the media sign itself, or by authorized remote control, and each media sign  100  also has common attributes that can be updated across multiple media signs  100  by automatic synchronization of a transmitted current profile  208  from another media sign  100 . For example, the game/movie pane  110  is generally an area of the display that is reserved for displaying information about the casino game to which the media sign is associated, i.e., about the actual game table to which the media sign  100  is physically connected. Likewise, the betting limits area  112  is also reserved for information associated with the local casino game at hand. Other display areas, including the banner  108 , borders, display attributes, and additional areas, such as message tickers, clocks, etc., can be common areas that are automatically updated by transmission of a current profile  208  edited at one media sign  100  and propagated to numerous media signs  100 . 
       FIG. 18  shows an example display layout  1800  of the media sign; example display content  1802  of the media sign; and example logical links  1804  between an example hierarchy of GUI pages extended by the media sign. Other layouts, display content, logical links, and GUI pages are also contemplated within the scope of the subject matter described herein. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Although exemplary systems have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed systems, methods, and structures.