US2007129143A1PendingUtilityA1

Methods and apparatus employing audio/video programming to initiate game play at a gaming device

58
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 16, 2002Filed: Feb 13, 2007Published: Jun 7, 2007
Est. expiryApr 16, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jay S. WalkerStephen C. TulleyJames A. JoraschDavid F. Zucker
G07F 17/322G07F 17/32G07F 17/3267G07F 17/3227
58
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

In a first aspect, a method of operating a gaming device is provided. The method includes the steps of (1) receiving an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to a player of the gaming device; and (2) in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, initiating game play at the gaming device. The audio/video programming may comprise, for example, a television show, a movie, an animated show, a live event, or the like. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A system comprising: 
 a gaming device;    a display adapted to present audio/video programming, wherein the display is proximate the gaming device;    a memory unit associated with the gaming device adapted to store the audio/visual programming; and    a controller adapted to: 
 present the audio/video programming on the display;  
 determine whether a game initiation trigger within the audio/video programming has occurred; and  
 initiate game play at the gaming device in response to the game initiation trigger.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the memory unit comprises an additional memory unit.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the memory unit is positioned remotely from the gaming device and the controller accesses the audio/video programming using a pointer.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the controller is operative to access a database to retrieve the pointer.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the memory unit comprises at least one of: a dvd, a cd-rom, a hard disk, a dedicated server, a set top box, a digital video recorder (DVR), or a web server.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the audio/video programming comprises at least one of: a television show, a movie, an animated show, and a live event.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the game initiation trigger comprises at least one of: a laugh track, a character speaking a line, a character using a prop, a character entering a scene, and a scene being displayed.  
     
     
         8 . A method comprising: 
 storing audio/video programming in a memory device, wherein the audio/video programming is associated with at least one game initiation trigger;    presenting the audio/video programming on a display associated with a gaming device;    initiating game play on the gaming device in response to an occurrence of the at least one game initiation trigger; and    providing a game outcome to a player of the gaming device.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein storing the audio/video programming comprises storing the audio/video programming in a memory device remotely positioned from the gaming device.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein storing the audio/video programming in the memory device comprises storing the audio/video programming via at least one of: a dvd, a cd-rom, a hard disk, a dedicated server, a set top box, a digital video recorder (DVR), or a web server.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein storing the audio/video programming comprises storing at least one of: a television show, a movie, an animated show, and a live event.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising associating the at least one game initiation trigger with the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein providing the game outcome to the player comprises providing a payout to the player.  
     
     
         14 . A method comprising: 
 receiving, at a server, an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to a player of a gaming device; and    in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, transmitting an instruction to the gaming device to initiate game play at the gaming device.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising storing the audio/video programming at the server.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising transmitting the audio/video programming to the gaming device so that the gaming device may provide the audio/video programming to the player.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising detecting the occurrence of the game initiation trigger.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising monitoring for the occurrence of the game initiation trigger.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the game initiation trigger comprises a time code that identifies a time during the audio/video programming to initiate game play.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the game initiation trigger comprises an audio trigger that occurs during the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the game initiation trigger comprises a visual trigger that occurs during the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the game initiation trigger comprises a track change that occurs during the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         23 . A system comprising: 
 a gaming device comprising a user interface comprising a display adapted to present audio/video programming to players of the gaming device; and    a server communicatively coupled to the gaming device and comprising a control system adapted to: 
 receive an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to a player of the gaming device; and  
 in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, transmit an instruction to the gaming device to initiate game play at the gaming device.  
   
     
     
         24 . A computer readable medium comprising software with instructions to: 
 receive, at a server, an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to a player of a gaming device; and    in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, transmit an instruction to the gaming device to initiate game play at the gaming device.    
     
     
         25 . A method comprising: 
 providing from a server to a gaming device audio/video programming;    providing, on the gaming device, the audio/video programming;    receiving an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to a player of the gaming device; and    in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, initiating game play at the gaming device.    
     
     
         26 . A method comprising: 
 operatively coupling a controller to a user interface for a gaming device;    creating audio/video programming with the controller;    providing, through the user interface, the audio/video programming to a player of the gaming device;    receiving an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to the player; and    in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, initiating game play at the gaming device.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein creating audio/video programming comprises creating animated audio/video programming.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein creating audio/video programming comprises embedding the game initiation trigger into the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein embedding the game initiation trigger into the audio/video programming comprises embedding an audio trigger into the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein embedding the game initiation trigger into the audio/video programming comprises embedding a visual trigger into the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein embedding the game initiation trigger into the audio/video programming comprises embedding a track change operatively functioning as the game initiation trigger.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein embedding the game initiation trigger into the audio/video programming comprises embedding a tag into the audio/video programming.  
     
     
         33 . A computer readable medium comprising software with instructions to: 
 operatively couple a controller to a user interface for a gaming device;    create audio/video programming with the controller;    provide, through the user interface, the audio/video programming to a player of the gaming device;    receive an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to the player; and    in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, initiate game play at the gaming device.    
     
     
         34 . A system comprising: 
 a gaming device comprising a user interface; and    a controller operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to: 
 create audio/video programming with the controller;  
 provide, through the user interface, the audio/video programming to a player of the gaming device;  
 receive an indication of an occurrence of a game initiation trigger associated with audio/video programming being provided to the player; and  
 in response to the occurrence of the game initiation trigger, initiate game play at the gaming device.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2007129143A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.