US Patent No: 7,749,077
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Method and apparatus for operating multiple games on a network of gaming devices
Stats
-
Jul 6, 2010
Issued date -
Apr 6, 2001
filing date -
09/827,870
serial no -
In Force
status
Importance
Loading Importance Indicators...
Abstract
A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.
Loading the Abstract Image...
First Claim
Related Publications
Loading Related Publications...
International Classification(s)
- [Classification Symbol]
- [Patents Count]
Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| 4,837,728 Multiple progressive gaming system that freezes payouts at start of game | 511 | 1984 | |
| 4,948,138 Device for maintaining game state audit trail upon instantaneous power failure | 74 | 1985 | |
| 5,344,144 Progressive jackpot gaming system with enhanced accumulator | 442 | 1990 | |
| 5,265,874 Cashless gaming apparatus and method | 438 | 1992 | |
| 5,280,909 Gaming system with progressive jackpot | 386 | 1992 | |
| 5,326,104 Secure automated electronic casino gaming system | 471 | 1992 | |
| 5,655,961 Method for operating networked gaming devices | 717 | 1994 | |
| 5,722,891 Slot machine having two distinct sets of reels | 543 | 1995 | |
| 5,702,304 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 273 | 1995 | |
| 5,741,183 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 392 | 1995 | |
| 5,820,459 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 388 | 1995 | |
| 5,758,875 Dynamic rate control method and apparatus for electronically played games and gaming machines | 149 | 1996 | |
| 5,876,284 Method and apparatus for implementing a jackpot bonus on a network of gaming devices | 394 | 1996 | |
| 6,244,958 Method for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer | 312 | 1996 | |
| 6,287,202 Dynamic tournament gaming method and system | 179 | 1996 | |
| 5,854,542 Flashing and diming fluorescent lamps for a gaming device | 78 | 1996 | |
| 5,848,932 Method of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicator | 901 | 1997 | |
| 6,257,981 Computer network for controlling and monitoring gaming devices | 197 | 1997 | |
| 6,162,122 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 279 | 1997 | |
| 6,375,567 Method and apparatus for implementing in video a secondary game responsive to player interaction with a primary game | 291 | 1998 | |
| 6,312,333 Networked credit adjust meter for electronic gaming | 138 | 1998 | |
| 6,607,441 Method for transferring credit from one gaming machine to another | 129 | 1998 | |
| 6,364,768 Networked gaming devices that end a bonus and concurrently initiate another bonus | 285 | 1999 | |
| RE37885 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 200 | 2000 | |
| RE38812 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 136 | 2000 | |
| 6,431,983 Method for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer | 197 | 2001 | |
| 6,800,030 Method for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer | 125 | 2002 | |
| 6,910,964 Selective indication of a bonus at a gaming device with player input | 101 | 2003 | |
| 6,832,958 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 121 | 2003 | |
| 2005/0032,573 Computer network and method for changing the pay schedules of gaming devices | 88 | 2004 | |
| 2006/0172,804 Method and Apparatus for Operating Networked Gaming Devices | 15 | 2006 | |
| 2006/0183,529 Method and Apparatus for Operating Networked Gaming Devices | 17 | 2006 | |
| 2007/0032,301 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 31 | 2006 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,238,127 Electronic gaming apparatus | 131 | 1977 | |
| 4,624,459 Gaming device having random multiple payouts | 580 | 1985 | |
| 5,179,517 Game machine data transfer system utilizing portable data units | 475 | 1988 | |
| 4,991,848 Gaming machine with a plateaued pay schedule | 454 | 1989 | |
| 5,123,649 Gaming machine with dynamic pay schedule | 256 | 1991 | |
| 5,429,361 Gaming machine information, communication and display system | 610 | 1991 | |
| 5,371,345 Gaming machine change system | 205 | 1992 | |
| 5,249,800 Progressive gaming control and communication system | 267 | 1992 | |
| 5,524,888 Gaming machine having electronic circuit for generating game results with non-uniform probabilities | 338 | 1994 | |
| 5,470,079 Game machine accounting and monitoring system | 349 | 1994 | |
| 5,494,287 Gaming machine having dynamic payout amounts | 134 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,242,163 Casino game system | 247 | 1992 | |
| 5,586,936 Automated gaming table tracking system and method therefor | 269 | 1994 | |
| 5,759,102 Peripheral device download method and apparatus | 174 | 1996 | |
| 5,766,076 Progressive gaming system and method for wide applicability | 271 | 1996 | |
| 5,902,983 Preset amount electronic funds transfer system for gaming machines | 304 | 1996 | |
| 5,851,148 Game with bonus display | 455 | 1996 | |
| 6,319,125 Method apparatus for promoting play on a network of gaming devices | 379 | 1997 | |
| 6,254,483 Method and apparatus for controlling the cost of playing an electronic gaming device | 324 | 1998 | |
| 6,565,434 Method and apparatus for promoting play on a network of gaming devices | 187 | 1999 | |
| 6,652,378 Gaming machines and systems offering simultaneous play of multiple games and methods of gaming | 242 | 2001 | |
| 2005/0209,005 Software downloadable on a network for controlling gaming devices | 10 | 2005 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,861,041 Methods of progressive jackpot gaming | 399 | 1988 | |
| 5,078,405 Apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming | 171 | 1989 | |
| 4,948,134 Electronic poker game | 195 | 1989 | |
| 5,288,077 Method of progressive jackpot twenty-one | 124 | 1991 | |
| 5,342,049 Gaming machine with skill feature | 334 | 1993 | |
| 5,364,104 Apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming | 96 | 1993 | |
| 5,364,105 Method of progressive jackpot twenty-one | 99 | 1993 | |
| 5,550,359 Time and attendance system and method therefor | 70 | 1994 | |
| 5,544,893 Apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming | 77 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,573,681 Slot machine with random number generation | 137 | 1984 | |
| 4,669,731 Slot machine which pays out upon predetermined number of consecutive lost games | 309 | 1986 | |
| 4,964,638 Control apparatus for game machines | 244 | 1989 | |
| 5,074,559 Slot machine | 107 | 1990 | |
| 5,152,529 Game machine | 259 | 1990 | |
| 5,178,390 Game machine | 349 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,116,055 Progressive jackpot gaming system linking gaming machines with different hit frequencies and denominations | 462 | 1991 | |
| 5,580,309 Linked gaming machines having a common feature controller | 311 | 1994 | |
| 6,012,982 Bonus award feature in linked gaming machines having a common feature controller | 404 | 1996 | |
| 6,168,523 Bonus award feature in a gaming machine | 326 | 1998 | |
| 6,984,173 Slot machine using a count valve to award bonus game | 53 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,611,730 Progressive gaming system tailored for use in multiple remote sites: apparatus and method | 484 | 1995 | |
| 5,772,509 Interactive gaming device | 408 | 1996 | |
| 6,077,162 Cooperative group gaming system: apparatus and method | 229 | 1997 | |
| 6,039,648 Automated tournament gaming system: apparatus and method | 251 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,494,197 Automatic lottery system | 491 | 1984 | |
| 5,292,127 Arcade game | 213 | 1992 | |
| 5,743,523 Multi-game system with progressive bonus | 108 | 1996 | |
| 5,816,918 Prize redemption system for games | 625 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,752,882 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 342 | 1995 | |
| 5,836,817 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 417 | 1995 | |
| 2001/0055,990 Method and apparatus for controlling the cost of playing an electronic gaming device | 88 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,764,666 On-line wagering system with programmable game entry cards | 415 | 1987 | |
| 4,842,278 Hierarchical lottery network with selection from differentiated playing pools | 321 | 1988 | |
| 4,882,473 On-line wagering system with programmable game entry cards and operator security cards | 384 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,038,022 Apparatus and method for providing credit for operating a gaming machine | 276 | 1989 | |
| 5,559,312 Gaming machine system operable with general purpose charge cards | 165 | 1995 | |
| 5,811,772 Gaming machine system operable with general purpose charge cards | 91 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,511,781 Stop play award wagering system | 358 | 1993 | |
| 5,401,023 Variable awards wagering system | 177 | 1993 | |
| 5,833,540 Cardless distributed video gaming system | 238 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,423,539 Slot machine with payout modifying symbols | 231 | 1993 | |
| 5,547,192 Display apparatus for gaming machine | 112 | 1994 | |
| 5,603,659 Gaming machine | 41 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,505,461 Method for meeting IRS reporting requirements related to an electronic gaming machine | 62 | 1994 | |
| 5,919,091 Combined cashless/cash gaming machine | 189 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,046,736 Imitative-opponent gambling games | 103 | 1988 | |
| 5,224,706 Gambling game and apparatus with uneven passive banker | 143 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,410,590 Monitoring system for remote devices | 34 | 1992 | |
| 5,651,057 Method of communicating data from remote devices to a central computer via a telecommunications link | 29 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,577,959 Game apparatus and game system | 82 | 1994 | |
| 5,839,956 Game play media lending machine and gaming house management system | 100 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,370,306 Coin-operated entertainment machine | 81 | 1993 | |
| 5,557,086 Game machine system with money-processing station | 75 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,674,128 Cashless computerized video game system and method | 304 | 1996 | |
| 5,800,269 Cashless computerized video game system and method | 184 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,582,324 Illusion of skill game machine for a gaming system | 593 | 1984 | |
| 4,652,998 Video gaming system with pool prize structures | 564 | 1984 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,472,194 Progressive gaming apparatus | 200 | 1993 | |
| 5,536,016 Progressive system for a match number game and method therefor | 393 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,007,649 Gaming system with system base station and gaming boards | 156 | 1989 | |
| 5,043,887 Automatic electronic downloading of bingo cards | 51 | 1989 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,488,411 Interactive system for a closed cable network | 148 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,839,640 Access control system having centralized/distributed control | 98 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,636,951 Poker machine communication system | 437 | 1984 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,197,094 System for remotely crediting and billing usage of electronic entertainment machines | 143 | 1990 | |
|
|
|||
| RE37414 Poker machine communication system | 82 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,775,937 Combined fixed price and expected dividend betting system | 70 | 1986 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,335,809 Entertainment machines | 393 | 1980 | |
|
|
|||
| 7,148,307 Water-dilutable polyesters with cyclic imide and isocyanurate structure | 43 | 2003 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,146,270 Auxiliary game with random prize generation | 119 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,668,381 Three dimensional camouflage garment | 12 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,332,219 Apparatus and method for playing an electronic poker game | 189 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,321,241 System and method for tracking casino promotional funds and apparatus for use therewith | 195 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,246,068 Semiconductor article with porous structure | 41 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,287,269 Apparatus and method for accessing events, areas and activities | 323 | 1990 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,230,265 Adaptive threshold optical reader | 41 | 1979 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,351,970 Methods and apparatus for playing bingo over a wide geographic area | 329 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,586,937 Interactive, computerised gaming system with remote terminals | 340 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,575,622 Electronic access control system for coin-operated games and like selectively accessible devices | 154 | 1983 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,669,596 Vending machine accessory permitting dual mode machine operation with either money or coded cards | 129 | 1985 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,096,195 Electronic gaming apparatus | 150 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,345,379 System for controlling access to subsystems | 57 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,668,950 Network service system and communication unit for game machine and game machine capable of using said network service system | 45 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,103,081 Apparatus and method for reading data encoded on circular objects, such as gaming chips | 118 | 1990 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,476,259 Pari-mutuel electronic and live table gaming | 233 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,580,310 Games machine with mechanical counters as laid down by regulations, and with electronic payment mechanism | 66 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,760,247 Optical card reader utilizing area image processing | 174 | 1986 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,761,647 National customer recognition system and method | 444 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,409,656 Serial data bus communication system | 105 | 1981 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,202,549 Transaction machine having lighted user prompts | 36 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,184,709 Coin selector | 79 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,917,725 Tournament data system | 159 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,507,489 Electronic game-of-chance device | 132 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,393,057 Electronic gaming apparatus and method | 687 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,359,510 Automated universal tournament management system | 101 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,275,400 Pari-mutuel electronic gaming | 452 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,926,996 Two way communication token interrogation apparatus | 94 | 1987 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,048,269 Coinless slot machine system and method | 434 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,852,306 Flash memory with nanocrystalline silicon film floating gate | 119 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,324,035 Video gaming system with fixed pool of winning plays and global pool access | 394 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,332,780 Preparation of cis-diammine diodo platinum (II) | 5 | 1981 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,257,179 Audit and pricing system for coin-operated games | 120 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,135,224 Pattern matching game machine of prepaid card system | 70 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,922,420 Video game software selection data processing system | 132 | 1987 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,185,798 IC card system having a function of authenticating destroyed data | 38 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,533,727 Audit and pricing system for coin-operated games | 63 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,159,549 Multiple player game data processing system with wager accounting | 139 | 1987 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,926,327 Computerized gaming system | 367 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,398,932 Video lottery system with improved site controller and validation unit | 354 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,871,171 Game device including means simulating release of a ball | 245 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,335,560 Semiconductor device having a mark section and a dummy pattern | 25 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,258,838 Automatic phonograph bonus award system | 59 | 1979 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,551,692 Electronic game promotion device | 141 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,700,296 Electronic access control system | 101 | 1985 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,645,486 Gaming system that pays out a progressive bonus using a lottery | 271 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,286,023 Video lottery game | 197 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,805,907 Slot machine | 379 | 1986 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,679,143 Control device for game machine | 156 | 1983 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,079,055 Protective shoulder pad | 11 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,370,399 Game apparatus having incentive producing means | 104 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,283,709 Cash accounting and surveillance system for games | 284 | 1980 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,315,299 Apparatus and method of forming a tension resistant O-ring | 3 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,851,149 Distributed gaming system | 442 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,042,810 Roulette apparatus | 84 | 1990 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,216,613 Segmented asynchronous operation of an automated assembly line | 41 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,733,394 Radial agricultural tire with a pitched tread | 9 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,564,700 Proportional payout method for progressive linked gaming machines | 418 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,542,669 Method and apparatus for randomly increasing the payback in a video gaming apparatus | 498 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,762,552 Interactive real-time network gaming system | 476 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,401,024 Keno type video gaming device | 265 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,072,381 Automatic electronic downloading of bingo cards with algorithm for generating bingo cards | 58 | 1990 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,856,787 Concurrent game network | 681 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,467,424 Remote gaming system | 343 | 1982 | |
| 4,572,622 Direct opposite reverse refractor | 4 | 1984 | |
| 4,669,730 Automated sweepstakes-type game | 317 | 1984 | |
| 4,621,188 Data card and data strip measuring means | 17 | 1985 | |
| 4,760,527 System for interactively playing poker with a plurality of players | 338 | 1986 | |
| 4,815,741 Automated marketing and gaming systems | 338 | 1987 | |
| 4,844,464 Coin-released gaming machine | 51 | 1987 | |
| 4,880,237 Tokenless slot machine system | 222 | 1987 | |
| 5,016,880 Coin or token-released gaming machine | 97 | 1990 | |
| 5,048,833 Apparatus for detecting a series of game outcomes | 152 | 1990 | |
| 5,129,652 Casino drawing/lottery game and case/prize management system | 125 | 1991 | |
| 5,217,224 Prize award system for coin laundry | 83 | 1991 | |
| 5,259,616 Roulette-type coin-operated gaming machine | 260 | 1992 | |
| 5,290,033 Gaming machine and coupons | 259 | 1992 | |
| 5,635,696 Currency acceptor with magnetic card reader | 42 | 1993 | |
| 5,770,533 Open architecture casino operating system | 656 | 1994 | |
| 5,477,040 Structure for a method of facilitating charge transactions | 197 | 1994 | |
| 5,473,144 Credit card with digitized finger print and reading apparatus | 96 | 1994 | |
| 5,816,917 Floppy-disk entertainment and gambling system for personal computers | 111 | 1995 | |
| 6,080,062 Lotto gaming apparatus and method | 150 | 1996 | |
| RE35864 Pari-mutuel electronic and live table gaming | 163 | 1996 | |
Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Year Payment | $1600.00 | $800.00 | $400.00 | Jan 6, 2014 |
| 7.5 Year Payment | $3600.00 | $1800.00 | $900.00 | Jan 6, 2018 |
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Jan 6, 2022 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 3.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 7.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |