AU2011101359A4 - Gaming system, method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

GAMING SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS The present invention relates to gaming systems, methods and apparatus 5 in which features such as jackpots are awarded. Embodiments of an electronic gaming system comprise one or more electronic gaming machines coupled to be in communication with a feature controller external to the electronic gaming machines. However, the electronic gaming machines are not coupled to be in communication with each other. A feature is awarded on one of the electronic 10 gaming machines when the following criteria are satisfied: a level of play on the respective electronic gaming machine recorded by the feature controller and an external trigger condition for the respective electronic gaming machine. ( Sta rt )32 Record level of play on EGMs Level of play criterion satisfied? Trigger N condition criterion satisfied? Award feature on EGM for which criteria satisfied Display image/animation on EGM for which feature awarded

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "GAMING SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 TITLE GAMING SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to gaming systems, methods and apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to gaming systems, methods and apparatus that award features, such as jackpots. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are enjoyed by millions of players worldwide. In addition to providing a recreational pursuit, players have the opportunity to win money. EGMs also provide a revenue stream for venues, whether they be casinos, bars or clubs and for governments. A wide range of EGMs are available having many different themes and 15 features with the aims of providing players with an improved gaming experience. One common feature is a jackpot feature wherein typically an increased monetary award is paid when certain criteria are satisfied. One popular type of EGM is known as a Stand Alone Progressive (SAP) jackpot machine. With such EGMs, the jackpot can only be won on that particular 20 EGM and the award of the jackpot is determined by an internal jackpot controller (JC) and an internal jackpot trigger device (JTD) within the particular EGM. The jackpot is progressive because the quantum of the jackpot increases as a function of the money wagered on the EGM. This can be contrasted with non-progressive EGMs where the jackpot is a fixed amount.

2 In other known gaming systems, multiple EGMs are linked together such that they are in communication with each other rather than stand alone. Such systems comprise an external jackpot controller and an external jackpot trigger device linked to the multiple EGMs which are competing with each other for the 5 jackpot. Such linked systems are appealing to players because the pooled jackpot that can be won is typically higher, and sometimes significantly so, compared with the jackpots that can be won on stand alone EGMs. However, one problem of such linked systems as perceived by some players is that even after playing on an EGM for a period of time, the jackpot can 10 be won by another player paying a different EGM. There are also a range of limitations and restrictions that must be adhered to by such linked systems that limit their appeal and add to the cost of implementation. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms 15 part of the common general knowledge. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is a preferred object of the invention to provide an improved gaming system, method and/or apparatus that addresses or at least ameliorates one or 20 more of the aforementioned problems.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, the present invention relates to gaming systems, methods and apparatus that award features, such as jackpots. In one form, although not necessarily the broadest form, the present 5 invention resides in an electronic gaming system comprising: one or more electronic gaming machines coupled to be in communication with a feature controller external to the electronic gaming machines, wherein the electronic gaming machines are not coupled to be in communication with each other; 10 wherein a feature is awarded on one of the electronic gaming machines when the following criteria are satisfied: a) a level of play on the respective electronic gaming machine recorded by the feature controller; and b) an external trigger condition for the respective electronic gaming 15 machine. Hence, the electronic gaming machines are not linked to each other and therefore players of the electronic gaming machines are not competing with each other for the feature, such as a jackpot. Suitably, the system comprises a trigger device coupled to be in 20 communication with the feature controller and each electronic gaming machine for determining a trigger condition. Suitably, the feature controller and the trigger device are the same device. In another form, although not necessarily the broadest form, the present 25 invention resides in a method of awarding a feature in an electronic gaming 4 system comprising one or more electronic gaming machines coupled to be in communication with a feature controller external to the electronic gaming machines, wherein the electronic gaming machines are not coupled to be in communication with each other, the method including: 5 the feature controller recording a level of play on the electronic gaming machines; and awarding a feature on one of the electronic gaming machines when a level of play on the respective electronic gaming machine and an external trigger condition for the respective electronic gaming machine are satisfied. 10 In a further form, although not necessarily the broadest form, the present invention resides in an electronic gaming machine for awarding a feature when: the electronic gaming machine is not coupled to be in communication with another electronic gaming machine; 15 a level of play on the electronic gaming machine recorded by a feature controller external to the electronic gaming machine is satisfied; and an external trigger condition for the electronic gaming machine is satisfied. Suitably, the electronic gaming machine comprises an output device for 20 displaying one or more of the following: confirmation that the electronic gaming machine is enrolled in a feature awarding scheme; details of one or more features that can be awarded on the electronic gaming machine; an image or animation when a feature is awarded on the electronic gaming machine.

Further aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by way of example only, wherein: 10 FIG 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a gaming system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and FIG 2 is a general flow diagram illustrating a gaming method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are 15 illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG 1, an electronic gaming system 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises one or more electronic gaming machines (EGMs) 12 coupled to be in communication with a feature controller 14, such as a jackpot controller, external to the EGMs 12. (EGMs) 12 can be coupled 25 to be in communication with feature controller 14 by any suitable channels known in the art, such as wired, wireless or optical communication channels. In one embodiment, EGMs 12 and feature controller 14 are coupled to a fibre optic loop installed in a venue. Whilst the EGMs 12 are coupled to be in communication with feature 5 controller 14, and possibly other devices within the gaming system, for example via a fibre optic loop, EGMs 12 are not coupled to be in communication with each other such that data relating to a feature awarding scheme in which the EGMs 12 are enrolled is not exchanged between the EGMs 12. EGMs 12 comprise one or more output devices 16, 18, such as any type of 10 display screen known in the art. Output devices 16, 18 can be integral to the EGM 12 or coupled thereto. For example, in some embodiments, output device 16 can integral to the EGM and output device 18 can be coupled to the EGM 12 by any suitable communication channel, such as a VGA cable. Output devices 16, 18 can display a range of information relating to the game(s) played on the EGM 12 to 15 which the output device is coupled. For example, output device 16 and/or 18 can display confirmation that the EGM 12 is enrolled in a feature awarding scheme. Output device 16 and/or 18 can display details of one or more features, such as jackpots, that can be awarded on the EGM 12. For example, in some 20 embodiments, as shown in FIG 1, output device 16 can display features in the form of two jackpot pools 20, 22 that can be won on that particular EGM. Jackpot pools 20 are for lower amounts that can typically be won more frequently and jackpot pools 22 are for higher amounts that can typically be won less frequently than the lower jackpots. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a I feature in the form of a single jackpot can be displayed or multiple features in the form of more than two jackpots that can be won on a respective EGM 12. Output device 16 and/or 18 can display an image or animation, typically accompanied by celebratory audio, when a feature is awarded on the respective 5 EGM 12. With further reference to FIG 1, gaming system 10 comprises a trigger device 24 coupled to be in communication with the feature controller 14 and each EGM 12 for determining a trigger condition. In some embodiments, trigger device 24 is coupled to be in communication with the feature controller 14 and each EGM 10 12 via a network switch or hub 26. In the embodiment shown in FIG 1, feature controller 14 and trigger device 24 are coupled to be in communication with output device 18 of EGMs 12 via hub 26. Whilst feature controller 14 and trigger device 24 are shown in FIG 1 as being separate devices, in some embodiments, the feature controller 14 and the 15 trigger device 24 are provide in the same single device. In the system 10 according to embodiments of the present invention, a feature, such as one of the jackpots displayed by output device 16 and/or 18, is awarded on one of the EGMs 12 when the following criteria are satisfied: a level of play on the respective EGM 12 recorded by the feature controller 12 and an 20 external trigger condition for the respective EGM 12. For example, according to some embodiments, the level of play on the respective EGM 12 can be based on the turnover provided to the jackpot pool by that particular EGM 12. Other parameters can also be factored into the level of play requirements, such as an amount bet per play and/or a rate of play (number 25 of pays per unit time).

8 The trigger condition determined by trigger device 24 can be any trigger condition known in the art and in accordance with the regulations in the jurisdiction in which the present invention is implemented. For example, the trigger condition can be based on a random number generated by a pseudo random number 5 generator or a predetermined mystery threshold trigger condition. In another form, embodiments of the present invention reside in a method of awarding a feature, such as a jackpot, in the electronic gaming system 10 described above, i.e. the system 10 comprises one or more EGMs 12 coupled to be in communication with feature controller 14 external to the EGMs 12, wherein 10 the EGMs are not coupled to be in communication with each other. With reference to the general flow diagram shown in FIG 2, according to some embodiments, for each EGM 12, the method 30 includes at 32 the feature controller 14 recording a level of play on the EGMs 12. At 34, the method 30 includes determining whether a level of play on the 15 EGMs 12 has been satisfied, such as a level of turnover provided to the jackpot pool by that particular EGM 12. If not, the method 30 repeats step 34. If so, at 36 the method 30 includes determining whether an external trigger condition for the EGMs 12 has been satisfied. If not, the method 30 repeats step 36. 20 If so, at 38 the method 30 includes awarding a feature, such as a jackpot payout, on the EGM 12 which satisfies the criteria. The jackpot paid out the jackpot, or one of the jackpots, displayed on that EGM 12. The method 30 can include at 40 output device 16 and/or 18 displaying an image or animation, typically accompanied by celebratory audio via a loudspeaker, 25 when a feature is awarded on the respective EGM 12.

9 Hence, in a further form, embodiments of the present invention reside in an electronic gaming machine (EGM) 12 for awarding a feature when: the EGM 12 is not coupled to be in communication with another EGM; a level of play on the EGM 12 recorded by the feature controller 14 external 5 to the EGM is satisfied; and an external trigger condition for the EGM 12 is satisfied. It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using one or more processors operatively coupled to respective storage media in the form of computer memory. Computer memory comprises a 10 computer readable medium having computer readable program code components stored thereon, at least some of which are selectively executed by the one or more processors and are configured to cause the execution of the embodiments of the present invention described herein. Hence embodiments of the present invention address or at least ameliorate 15 one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art and provide a useful commercial alternative. The EGMs 12 are not linked to each other and therefore players of the EGMs 12 are not competing with each other for the feature, such as a jackpot. A first player can see the one or more features, such as jackpots, that can be won on the EGM 12 that they are playing comfortable in the knowledge 20 that another player on a different EGM 12 cannot win the feature(s) on the EGM 12 being played by the first player. The player can also see the jackpot(s) on their EGM 12 grow according to the contributions made by the player on that EGM 12. Hence, an enhanced gaming experience is enjoyed by the player. Embodiments of the present invention also provide benefits to operators of 25 the EGMs. The present invention can be retrofitted using portable hardware to 10 existing EGMs as well as implemented in new EGMs. Therefore, multiple new EGMs do not need to be purchased to implement the present invention. The feature(s) can be run on any denomination allowing for mixing denominations within a theme and multiple parameters can be set by operators of the EGMs, thus 5 providing greater flexibility compared with the prior art. The enhanced player experience leads to longer playing times and therefore improved revenues for operators. In this specification, the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprising" or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system, 10 method or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. It is to be appreciated by those of skill in the art 15 that various modifications and changes can be made in the particular embodiments exemplified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. An electronic gaming system comprising: one or more electronic gaming machines coupled to be in 5 communication with a feature controller external to the electronic gaming machines, wherein the electronic gaming machines are not coupled to be in communication with each other; wherein a feature is awarded on one of the electronic gaming machines when the following criteria are satisfied: 10 a) a level of play on the respective electronic gaming machine recorded by the feature controller; and b) an external trigger condition for the respective electronic gaming machine. 15

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a trigger device coupled to be in communication with the feature controller and each electronic gaming machine for determining the trigger condition.

3. A method of awarding a feature in an electronic gaming system 20 comprising one or more electronic gaming machines coupled to be in communication with a feature controller external to the electronic gaming machines, wherein the electronic gaming machines are not coupled to be in communication with each other, the method including: the feature controller recording a level of play on the electronic 25 gaming machines; and 12 awarding a feature on one of the electronic gaming machines when a level of play on the respective electronic gaming machine and an external trigger condition for the respective electronic gaming machine are satisfied. 5

4. An electronic gaming machine for awarding a feature when: the electronic gaming machine is not coupled to be in communication with another electronic gaming machine; a level of play on the electronic gaming machine recorded by a 10 feature controller external to the electronic gaming machine is satisfied; and an external trigger condition for the electronic gaming machine is satisfied. 15

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 4, comprising an output device for displaying one or more of the following: confirmation that the electronic gaming machine is enrolled in a feature awarding scheme; details of one or more features that can be awarded on the electronic gaming machine; an image or animation when a feature is awarded on 20 the electronic gaming machine.