Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
  • G07F17/3204—Player-machine interfaces
  • G07F17/3209—Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
  • G07F17/3232—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the operator is informed

Definitions

• the present invention relates to electronic gaming systems and devices. More particularly, the present invention is a method and system in which an input
• User interface is a critical component to the success of an electronic gaming
• buttons close to one another to minimize the amount of hand or pointer movement the player has to make to move between the last selection and the next one.
• Another technique is to somehow brighten, color or highlight buttons that the game designer wishes to encourage the player to notice and use. Another technique is to place the
• the game buttons to control initial wagers may be configured to control multiple game states.
• the game buttons to control initial wagers may be configured to control multiple game states.
• the game buttons to control initial wagers may be configured to control multiple game states.
• a game may continually offer the most-used or most desirable function at the right
• this game button functions as REBET.
• the game button is PLAY.
• Other play decision game buttons are possible.
• expected sequence of game buttons to be selected may vary.
• cardinality e.g. 1-to-n or n-to-l.
• the present invention is a method for dynamically reconfiguring an input device for different input states depending upon game state.
• a single input device can have different effects during the
• an input device may
• a gaming device for conducting a game of chance with multiple game states includes an
• the electronic display an input device receiving user input, and a processor in communication with the display and the input device.
• the processor is adapted to
• the present invention may include multiple input devices, with each the input device
• a gaming device conducts at least
• the gaming device includes
• At least one input device receiving user input communicating with a processor.
• the input device has at least one input button adapted to dynamically reconfigure between at least two different input states.
• the input device may include
• buttons mechanical buttons, display buttons, or the like.
• buttons mechanical buttons, display buttons, or the like.
• the mechanical buttons may include indicia for each input state and an illumination device for each indicia, hi such an optional
• the processor is adapted to selectively illuminate indicia for an input
• the input device may include at least one
• the processor may store a display button image for each input state and the processor directs the display of a display button for an input state correlated to a game state during the
• buttons could take many different forms, hi one
• the display button image for each input state is substantially
• the data structure stores at least one large display button image and at least one
• a processor is in communication with the one input
• the data structure includes a data structure communicating with the processor.
• processor according to an input state correlated to that game state and user input
• the processor is remote from the input device, hi such an optional embodiment, the input device is in communication with a terminal
• the terminal processor communicates with a terminal communication
• the terminal communication device and host communication device communicate
• LAN local area network
• WAN wide area network
• Internet Internet
• the present invention also includes a method. According to an embodiment
• plurality of game states includes providing an input device receiving user input. At least two different input states are defined with each input state associated with
• Each input state is correlated to at least one
• the user input effects the
• the input device could take many different forms.
• the input device is a mechanical button including indicia for each input
• the method further includes selectively
• the input device is a display button. In such embodiment,
• the method further includes storing a display button image for each input state.
• a display button image is displayed for an input state correlated
• each input state is substantially the same dimensions when displayed on the display.
• At least one of the display button images is a large
• buttons that are substantially the same dimensions as the large display button
• FIG. 1 shows a state diagram of a game state transition from a single input
• FIG. 2 shows a state diagram of a game state transition from a multiple
• FIG. 3 A shows a game button configuration associated with a state according to an optional embodiment of the present invention
• JhICi. ⁇ shows a game button configuration associated with a different state of the game buttons of FIG. 3 A;
• FIG. 3 C shows a game button configuration associated with a different state of the game buttons of FIG. 3 A;
• FIG. 4 shows a front view of a game device according to an optional embodiment of the present invention with mechanical game buttons showing
• FIG. 5 shows a front view of a game device according to the optional
• FIG. 6 shows a front view of a game device according to the optional
• FIG. 4 embodiment of FIG. 4 with mechanical game buttons in an alternate game state
• FIG. 7 shows a front view of a game device according to an optional embodiment of the invention with mechanical and display game buttons in a game
• FIG. 8 shows a front view of a game device according to the optional
• FIG. 7 with mechanical and display game buttons in an alternate
• the present invention is a device and method for
• present invention encompasses any form of input device including the display and buttons illustrated in the figures, as well as any other form of input device including,
• keypads keyboards, pointers, joysticks, or any other device receiving input from a
• the present invention is a method and device directed for use for any game
• game states may be defined in any manner. At least two input states are defined and correlated to game
• Input states define how input received at an input device is to be interpreted
• the input device is reconfigured to receive input during the multiple steps of a game, using a single input device or
• an input device is adapted to reconfigure between at least two different input states. Each input state is correlated to a game state.
• each step of play would reconfigure at least one input game button
• the reconfiguration may redefine a set of n game buttons as a
• invention could include reconfiguring mechanical game buttons 737, 738 used for
• FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an optional embodiment
• FIGS. 4 - 6 illustrate an optional embodiment in which the input
• FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an optional embodiment in which the input device includes mechanical buttons and display
• buttons it is contemplated that other types of inputs could be used in the present invention, including, specifically, an optional embodiment using only display buttons.
• a gaming device having mechanical game buttons that have indicia to identify the
• an illumination device such as a lamp, light, light emitting diode
• LED LED
• FIGS. 5 and 6 the input
• buttons could include one or more mechanical buttons with different indicia (text
• a mechanical game button may change its display of indicia, or of illumination of indicia, under computer control.
• mechanical game button may be changed to reflect a reconfiguration of input
• buttons maybe indicated on a display device in such a way that
• the player may readily determine the purpose and effect of such game buttons.
• the display area may be proximal to the game buttons. It is contemplated
• an embodiment may include two or more input devices, such as multiple game buttons, which share a similar text or display to indicate that any of these input
• FIG. 1 illustrates a state diagram of a game state transition from a single
• the input game button could be any one of the present invention.
• the input game button could be any one of the present invention.
• the input game button could be any one of the present invention.
• the input game button could be any one of the present invention.
• a single input game button could be
• the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button may be reconfigurable to cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice versa.
• FIG. 2 shows a state diagram of a
• corresponding input states may be cyclical, i.e. cycle between or among two or more
• states or may be non-cyclical, i.e. linear, branching, or the like, depending upon the game of chance.
• FIGS. 3A-3C an optional embodiment of dynamic
• an input device in the form of a display button panel 301 associated with that state
• This embodiment includes a prewager state (shown in FIG. 3A), a
• predeal state shown in FIG. 3B
• game play state shown in FIG. 3C
• the states features a Help game button 305 in a fixed location.
• the Help game button 305 undergoes no reconfiguration.
• a reconfigurable REBET game button 307 which occupies an area substantially equivalent to the area occupied by multiple input
• the prewager state of FIG. 3 A also includes two smaller input game buttons, HELP 305 and BET 1 306. hi this example, according to the underlying game of
• the BET 1 game button 306 is only used in the prewager state of FIG. 3 A,
• the predeal state of FIG. 3B has a DEAL game
• the HELP game button 305 is carried over from the prewager state shown in FIG. 3 A, and the DEAL game button
• game button 317 may be displayed in a highlighted form to be more noticeable to the
• the HELP game button 305 which is not reconfigured between game states. That is,
• the HELP game button 305 is carried over through each game state in this example.
• FIG. 3 C together occupy the same space as the REBET game button 307 of the
• FIGS. 3A-3C show the reconfigured game buttons occupying the same size and shape in each reconfiguration, this limitation is
• the game illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 includes two game states, a predeal state,
• FIG. 4 illustrates an optional embodiment consisting of a gaming device 402 comprising a processor 406,
• a display 404 optionally a video display, an input device comprising a mechanical game button panel 430, and one or more areas for identifying other game
• the input device communicates with the data processor 406 and the data processor 406 interprets user input received at the input device
• the processor 406 may be in communication with a data structure
• the mechanical game button panel 430 may include non-reconf ⁇ gurable
• buttons 431, 432 i.e. game buttons that do not have different input states
• 437, 438 display visual attributes, in this case indicia, associated with a predeal game state while another portion 452, 454 of the reconfigurable game buttons 437, 438 display indicia associated with a different post-play game state.
• indicia associated with a predeal game state
• another portion 452, 454 of the reconfigurable game buttons 437, 438 display indicia associated with a different post-play game state.
• the input state could be determined by the player based upon
• identifying the input state is illuminated, highlighted, or otherwise signified during each game state associated with that input state.
• reconfigurable game button 437, 438 includes an illumination device, or other
• illumination means to highlight the indicia identifying the input state 551, 553, 652,
• buttons 437, 438 for REDEAL 652, 654 are highlighted while the disabled FOLD
• the game state of FIG. 6 includes redundant game buttons
• buttons 437, 438 would be interpreted as different user input, a FOLD or a CALL, respectively, in this example. It is noted that each of these game state-input state
• FIGS. 7 and 8 An alternate optional embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 that includes reconfigurable mechanical game buttons 737, 738 and reconfigurable
• buttons 727, 728, 827 such as mouse fields, touchscreen buttons, or
• the display area 704 may include an area 708 in which to display standard video game
• a display button panel 720 for the display and operation of
• buttons 727, 728, 827 are part of the input device and
• buttons 727, 728, 827 may be displayed along with the reconfigurable display game buttons 727, 728, 827.
• display game buttons may be utilized, and such game buttons may include only reconfigurable display game buttons, only non-reconfigurable display game buttons,
• FOLD game button 727 and the CALL game button 728 are displayed and actuating the FOLD button 727 or CALL button 728 would be interpreted in accord with those
• FIG. 8 a different game state is illustrated in which the FOLD button 727 and CALL button 728 has been reconfigured as a REDEAL game button 827.
• This REDEAL game button 827 occupies the same screen area in the game state of FIG. 8 as would be occupied by both the FOLD game button 727 and the CALL
• REDEAL game button 827 maybe displayed to occupy the area of only the FOLD

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (34)

• 2006
  • 2006-05-03 MX MX2007013695A patent/MX2007013695A/es unknown
  • 2006-05-03 US US11/417,442 patent/US20060252542A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-05-03 CN CN2006800151912A patent/CN101247866B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-05-03 EP EP06759125A patent/EP1896149A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-05-03 CA CA002606189A patent/CA2606189A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-05-03 WO PCT/US2006/017344 patent/WO2006119483A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-05-03 RU RU2007144346/12A patent/RU2007144346A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-05-03 JP JP2008510241A patent/JP2008539892A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-05-03 AU AU2006243628A patent/AU2006243628B2/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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