Gaming machine system with shared display of game events

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing shared display of game events between a gaming machine and a secondary display server. Game events are initially displayed on a primary display of the gaming machine and, on the occurrence of a triggering event during play of the game on the gaming machine, a connection is established via a network protocol between the gaming machine and a secondary display server remotely located from the gaming machine. Display data is then transferred across the connection causing the game events to be displayed on the secondary display as well as the primary display.

1 . A gaming machine system for providing shared display of game events comprising: 
 a gaming machine that includes: 
 a primary display,  
 a processor, wherein the processor controls a plurality of game events of a game displayed on the primary display using a software program stored in a memory storage device associated with the gaming machine, and  
   a secondary display server in communication with the gaming machine over a network, wherein the secondary display server is remotely located from the gaming machine and wherein upon the occurrence of a triggering event during play of the game events on the gaming machine, data is transferred between the gaming machine and the secondary display server; and    a secondary display in communication with the secondary display server, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the secondary display receives data from the secondary display server and displays the game events displayed on the primary display of the gaming machine.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary display displays a plurality of attract graphics prior to displaying the game events displayed on the primary display of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine system of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the plurality of attract graphics are selected from the group consisting of advertisements, progressive jackpot information and graphics associated with a game displayed on the primary display.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary display server replays the games events on the secondary display pending occurrence of the next triggering event.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary display is a large screen monitor.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the game played on the gaming machine is selected from the group consisting of video bingo, video Blackjack, video poker, video keno and video slots.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one interface including a series of electromechanical buttons to control game events on the primary display of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one touch screen interface on the primary display of the gaming machine, wherein the touch screen interface accepts commands to alter at least one game event.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine further includes a wager input interface selected from the group consisting of a bill acceptor, a ticket reader and a magnetic card reader.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the data transferred between the gaming machine and the secondary display server is in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine system of  claim 1  wherein the network operates according to a network protocol selected from the group consisting of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).  
   
   
       12 . A method of providing shared display of game events between a gaming machine and a secondary display server comprising 
 accepting a wager at a gaming machine via a wager input interface;    displaying a plurality of game events on a primary display of the gaming machine in response to the initiation of game play via at least one user interface;    upon the occurrence of a triggering event during play of the game on the gaming machine, establishing a connection via a network protocol between the gaming machine and a secondary display server remotely located from the gaming machine;    transferring data across the connection, wherein the data includes the plurality of game events; and    displaying the plurality of game events on a secondary display.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the secondary display displays a plurality of attract graphics prior to displaying the game events displayed on the primary display of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the plurality of attract graphics are selected from the group consisting of advertisements, progressive jackpot information and graphics associated with a game displayed on the primary display.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the secondary display server replays the games events on the secondary display pending occurrence of the next triggering event.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the game displayed on the primary display is selected from the group consisting of video bingo, video Blackjack, video poker, video keno and video slots.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein displaying a plurality of game events on a primary display of the gaming machine in response to the initiation of game play via at least one user interface includes providing at least one interface that includes a plurality of electromechanical buttons.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein displaying a plurality of game events on a primary display of the gaming machine in response to the initiation of game play via at least one user interface includes providing at least one interface that includes a touch screen on the primary display.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wager input interface accepting a wager is selected from the group consisting of a bill acceptor, a ticket reader and a magnetic card reader.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the data transferred across the connection is in XML format.