Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/6110043
Timestamp: 2020-01-27 06:48:00
Document Index: 324268233

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 248', 'art 248', 'art 248', 'arts 248', 'art 248', 'art 248']

US Patent for Controller-based progressive jackpot linked gaming system Patent (Patent # 6,110,043 issued August 29, 2000) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Pool Carryover (e.g., Progressive Jackpot, Etc.)US Patent for Controller-based progressive jackpot linked gaming system Patent (Patent # 6,110,043)
Oct 24, 1997 - Mikohn Gaming Corporation
As fully discussed in the '909 patent, the controller 11 increments JP.sub.c with contributions from each machine 2-5 as monetary values are inserted. When JP.sub.c >JP.sub.w, a win exists and the particular gaming machine whose incremental contribution caused the win is identified as the winner and wins the jackpot.
Under the teachings of the present invention, a timer function 350 in controller 200 (which can be computer generated) receives the play start signal S from the interface board 330 over network 202b. The timer function 350 continually determines player eligibility and activates indicator 300 as a player starts S play at a gaming machine and for a .DELTA.T time period thereafter. FIG. 4 is an illustration of several game play sequences corresponding to the players P at machines G illustrated in FIG. 2. The timer 350 could also be located at the I/O board 370 to control eligibility.
It is to be understood that under the teachings of the present invention, the controller 200 determines the eligibility of the gaming machine by continually sensing a predetermined time frame .DELTA.T after game play has started S. The game play referred to herein is the game at the gaming machine such as, for example, slots.
As shown in FIG. 3a, when a gaming machine G generates the play start signal S, the interface board 330 in a conventional manner (such as when polled) delivers this to the controller. A timer function 350 in controller 200 is activated which causes a predetermined time period .DELTA.T to time out after game start S. This .DELTA.T time period is predetermined and is fixed, although the amount of time can be set by the operator of the controller 200 of the present invention to any predetermined value. In the preferred embodiment, this time period is typically in the range of 8-15 seconds. Typically, a reel-type slot game is played in four seconds. Referring back to FIG. 3a, the game start signal S from the gaming machine activates the timer function 350. Controller 200 over network 202a causes indicator 300 to be activated over line 372 thereby informing the player that the player is eligible for the bonus mode. The eligibility indicator 300 continues to stay on for a .DELTA.T time period after the game start signal S is detected. During the .DELTA.T time period 410, as shown in the example of FIG. 4, the start signal S is detected by the controller 200 from player P6 as the player P6 starts playing game 402 which restarts the .DELTA.T time period. Player P6 then completes game 402. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the player P6 does not start S the next game 406 within the prior .DELTA.T time period so that the start signal S for game 406 occurs after the prior .DELTA.T time period expires. Hence, at time 407, the eligibility indicator 300 is deactivated by the controller 200 and player P6 is no longer eligible. Eligibility for player P6 occurs only when the controller 200 receives the start signal S for the next game 406 within the prior .DELTA.T time period. This did not occur for player P6. As shown in FIG. 4, player P6 has a period of time (i.e., between time 407 and the start S of game 406) in which the player P6 is ineligible to play in the bonus mode of the present invention.
Player P8 is shown in FIG. 4 playing four games, 412, 414, 416, and 418 on gaming machine G8. Player P8 remains eligible during games 412 and 414 since player P8 starts S game 414 within the predetermined .DELTA.T time period after the prior game 412 is started S. However, as shown in FIG. 4, player P8 fails to start S game 416 within the .DELTA.T time frame after game 414 is started S. Hence, at time 417, the eligible indicator 300 for gaming machine G8 is deactivated by the controller 200. This immediately informs player P8 that he or she is no longer eligible to play in the bonus mode time period should it occur. Player P8 starts S game 416 at time 420. This restarts the .DELTA.T time period. At time 420, the eligible indicator 300 is reactivated and the player is again eligible for the bonus mode. Note that player P8 starts S game 416 at time 420. Under this example, it is the entry of the monetary value by player P8 into gaming machine G8 for game 416 that causes the current value 220 to be equal 246 to the bonus mode activation trigger 218. The receipt of the monetary value bet by player P8 at gaming machine G8 is sensed by the contribution function 240 of the controller 200 and the controller 200 increments 244 the current value 220 which now causes the start 248 of the bonus mode time period at time 430. The bonus mode start 248 function causes an eligibility lock 262 to occur which locks in those machines that are eligible. An eligible machine is a machine that is within the .DELTA.T time period at the time of bonus mode start 248. When the bonus mode starts 248, the controller 200 determines eligibility and those machines that have their eligible indicators 300 activated are eligible when the bonus mode time period is started 248. Player P6, in this example, is not eligible at time 430 and is locked-out of the bonus mode play although he or she can still play a number of conventional games on machine G6 such as game 406.
Each player P at a gaming machine G during time T.sub.1 always knows whether or not they are eligible since their eligible indicator 300 is activated. With respect to the example in FIG. 4, player P6 knows that she has lost eligibility since her eligible indicator 300 is not activated at time 407 well prior to time 430. Even though player P6 starts S game 406 by entering a monetary value, her gaming machine G6 will be locked out from the bonus mode by function 262. This is an important feature of the present invention since it is a goal of the present invention to reward eligible players who promptly continue play of their gaming machines within the predetermined .DELTA.T time frame 410 after each game is started S. Eligibility is important since it allows those players who promptly play their machines to be entitled to the bonus jackpots during the bonus mode time period. Eligibility is also important to stop slot cheats. Hence, player P6 and with reference back to FIG. 2, player P12 at time 430 are rendered ineligible at time T.sub.2 even though they can continue to play the conventional game on their machines. The other unplayed gaming machines are also locked out such as G5 and G7. Players can sit and commence play at those machines during the bonus mode time period, but are not eligible for the bonus jackpots. The eligible players at time T.sub.2 in FIG. 2 are termed E1, E3, E4, E8, E9 and E10 and only their respective gaming machines G1, G3, G4, G8, G9, and G10 are allowed to participate in the bonus mode time period. All of the other gaming machines can be conventionally played in the configuration 230 but are locked-out and cannot participate for bonus jackpots.
Player P9 plays gaming machine G9 as shown in FIG. 4. Player P9 starts S her first game 422 and then starts S the play of her second game 424 before the expiration of the .DELTA.T time period. The eligible indicator 300 for machine G9 remains activated for the .DELTA.T time period for the second game 424 even though player P9 has not started S game 426 until after time 430. Player P9 becomes an eligible player and her gaming machine G9 is locked-in.
To summarize at time 430, gaming machine G6 is not eligible and is locked-out whereas machines G8 and G9 are eligible and locked-in. During the bonus mode time period T.sub.2, all eligible machines in the preferred embodiment remain eligible whether or not a player starts the next game within a predetermined time frame .DELTA.T after the prior game. Hence, player P9 could walk away from gaming machine G9 at time 450. Another person can sit down at eligible machine G9 and continue to play in the bonus mode time period. During the bonus mode time period (from start 248 to end 260), both indicators 300 and 310 are activated. Other embodiments of the present invention could require eligibility to be maintained during the bonus time period. For example, the .DELTA.T time periods could be maintained so that if a player did not start S a game within the .DELTA.T time, the machine would lose the right to continued participation in the bonus mode. Or, in another example, the eligible players could be required to always place maximum bets and should other than a maximum bet be placed the right to continued participation in the bonus mode would be lost. Or, the aforesaid examples could be combined.
Once the bonus mode time period has been started 248 at time 430, all eligible machines are locked in and only those machines are entitled to bonus jackpots during the bonus mode time period. Both eligible and ineligible gaming machines can be played conventionally. It is to be expressly understood that this is a preferred embodiment of using .DELTA.T to determine eligibility at bonus mode start 248 and that variations to determining eligibility could take place. Eligibility can be based upon other conventional conditions at the gaming machine such as the insertion of a player tracking card, in which case eligibility is lost when the card is removed. Hence, at bonus mode start all machines having player tracking cards inserted are eligible. Eligibility could also be determined by requiring all players bet maximum bets during the .DELTA.T time frame.
In summary, gaming machine eligibility (therefore, player eligibility) is determined by the controller 200 of the present invention by locking-in only those gaming machines that are currently within a predetermined time period .DELTA.T after a game is started S. This determination could also be made by locking out those gaming machines that are ineligible.
It is to be expressly understood that the preferred embodiment provides a .DELTA.T time period commencing from the start S of a game. However, the .DELTA.T time period could also be measured starting from when a game is over O. In which case, eligibility is determined from sensing O to the end of the .DELTA.T time period. Furthermore, the timing function could be located in the interface board 330 at each gaming machine G rather than in the controller 200.
J.times.N.times.max coin setting.
K.times.N.times.max coin setting.
When the increment current function 580 commences to start counting the unit bets from the eligible machines is set by the operator of the system of the present invention. Typically, a delay 264 (also termed .DELTA.D), such as 5-10 seconds is incorporated. This is an optional feature. It is to be expressly understood that the increment current function 580 can commence immediately without delay or have a fixed delay 264 set by the operator, or any other suitable determination. The .DELTA.D time period 264 allows the casino to extend the bonus mode time period without costing the house. The .DELTA.D time period 264 also provides a "relaxation period" for the players.
Under the teachings of the present invention, during a first .DELTA.D delay time 264, any unit bets made by eligible players E are ignored. Hence, player E4 at machine G4 has placed a three-dollar bet 601 and the unit bets of three are not counted. Counting commences after the .DELTA.D delay and the first three-dollar bet 602 by player E1 is counted and is shown on the current value 530 line as 3. Next player E8 places a three-dollar bet 603 so the current value 530 is now 6 due to the operation of the increment function 580. Next, player E3 places a two-dollar bet 604 and the current value 540 equals 8, and so on. One player, E9, subsequently at time 610, makes a three-dollar bet 600, the current value 530 now equals 38 which equals or exceeds 540 the award trigger value of thirty-seven, thereby causing a signal 542 to be issued from the random player selector 270 to the jackpot winner selection process. The eligible machine G9 is identified 544 by the controller 200 as being responsible for the issuance of signal 542. As will be described subsequently, gaming machine G9 will automatically 254 receive a bonus jackpot.
The system 200 enters the second bonus jackpot round at time 610. During the .DELTA.D delay period unit bets from eligible players E3, E4, and E8 are not counted. Counting starts with eligible player E9, making a three-dollar bet 611. In this second bonus jackpot round, the high and low limits 500 and 510 remain the same. The controller 200 selects a new random value for the award trigger 520, which, in this example, is forty-two. The current value 530 is reset to zero. Hence, the process repeats with the increment current function 580 continually adding each unit bet to the current value 530. When machine E10 at time 630 inserts two dollar coins, the current value 530 equals the award trigger 520, signal 542 issues, and the system 200 identifies eligible gaming machine G10 as winning the second bonus jackpot.
PAY   WEIGHT
$5    50.40%
$10   25.00%
$25   12.50%
$50   6.25%
$75   3.12%
$100  1.56%
$250  0.78%
PAYOUT       CURRENT
BONUS    VALUE        VALUE
AWARD    298          JACKPOT 220
ROUND    (DOLLARS)    (DOLLARS)  258
1         5           195
2        50           145
3         5           140
4         5           135
5        10           125
6        25           100
7         5            95
8         5            90
9        10            80
10        5            75
11       10            65
12        5            60
13        5            55
14       50            5
15       10            -5        0
1         5           145
2         5           140
3        25           115
4         5           110
5        10           100
6        10            90
7        100          -10
1        1000         -825       0
START        PAY WINNER END
MODE      248          254        260
ATTRACT   OFF          OFF        ON
BONUS     ON           OFF        OFF
JACKPOT   ON           ON         OFF
In FIG. 11, the shaded operational areas 1190 indicate that the bonus mode is activated (i.e., bonus mode has started 248). The controller 200 then enters stage 1128. Here the bonus mode is started 248 and the controller 200 sets the bonus mode into the active state, the bonus jackpot pool is set equal to the value of the bonus mode trigger 218, the bonus mode timer .DELTA.D 264 is started and the next current value 220 is set equal to the base value 216 (which is zero in the preferred embodiment) plus (the current value 220 minus the bonus mode trigger value 218). The value in parenthesis represents the excess discussed earlier, which corresponds to the contribution over the trigger value 218. For example, the current value 220 may exceed the trigger value 218 by $2 when the bonus mode is started 248, so the next current value 220 equals $2. The process then returns to stage 1112 wherein new contributions made during the current bonus mode time period are added 1116 to the next current value 220. Stage 1120 is then entered and since the bonus mode is active, stage 1132 is now entered. In stage 1132, a determination is made whether a particular gaming machine G being polled is eligible. If the gaming machine is not eligible, then stage 1112 is re-entered to poll for next machine. It is to be expressly understood that the controller polls 255 each machine G. If the gaming machine being polled is eligible, then stage 1136 is entered. In stage 1136, a determination is made as to whether the award trigger 520 has been made. If the answer is no, then stage 1140 is entered wherein (and as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 5), the random value of the award trigger 520 is set between the high limit 500 and the low limit 510 by the controller 200 as shown in FIG. 5. At the same time the value of the current 530 is set equal to 0. Stage 1144 is then entered wherein any unit bets for that gaming machine G are counted and added to the current value 530 (as illustrated and discussed with respect to FIG. 6). It is to be understood that if in stage 1136, the next award trigger 520 had already been set then stage 1144 would have been directly entered.
5941773 August 24, 1999 Harlick
36472/95 May 1996 AUX
2 151 054 July 1985 GBX
John Acres, Gaming Innovations Concept III, circa Mar. 1993, 18 pages. Form SB-2 Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933, Sep 20, 1993, 51 pages--Acres Gaming.
Patent number: 6110043
Inventor: Eric Burton Olsen (Henderson, NV)
Application Number: 8/957,076