Mobile operation of video gaming machines

Abstract

Mobile operation of a video gaming machine is achieved through the use of a controller box that interfaces to the control circuitry of the video gaming machine and a mobile device. The mobile device is associated with a video gaming machine and provides an activation request or signal to the controller box. The controller box verifies that the access is available, then operates to bridge the control and operation of the video gaming machine to the mobile device platform.

1 . An apparatus for enabling access and operation of video gaming machines by a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
 a video gaming machine control circuit interface;   a wireless transceiver;   a memory storage unit;   a processing unit, communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver, the memory storage unit, and the video gaming machine control circuit interface, and being operable in response to instructions stored in the memory storage unit, to:   detect activation of a mobile device associated with the video gaming machine;   interface with the mobile device using the wireless transceiver;   provide a signal to the video gaming machine control circuit interface indicating that mobile operation is active; and   bridge the video gaming machine and the mobile device so that the mobile device operates as the user interface for the video gaming machine.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the video gaming machine control circuit interface includes an interface to the user interface of the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the video gaming machine control circuit interface includes an interface to control the display of the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the video gaming machine control circuit interface includes an interface to control the operation of the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is operable to detect activation of a mobile device associated with the video gaming machine by receiving a signal from the mobile device over the wireless transceiver. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the received signal uniquely identifies the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the received signal uniquely associates the mobile device with the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal provided to the video gaming machine control circuit interface indicating that mobile operation is active results in a message indicator being displayed on the display of the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further operable to:
 detect deactivation of the mobile device;   provide a signal to the video gaming machine control circuit interface indicating that mobile operation is inactive; and   terminating the bridge of the video gaming machine and the mobile device so that the video gaming machine returns to normal operation.   
   
   
       10 . A method for providing access to a video gaming machine from a mobile device, the video gaming machine including a controller box that operates as an enabler for the access, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving an activation signal from a mobile device;   in response to the receiving the activation signal, causing the video gaming machine to operate in a mobile device operated mode;   receiving operational actuations from a remote device;   providing the operational actuations to the video gaming machine so as to control the operation of the video gaming machine;   receiving user interface signals from the video gaming machine; and   providing the user interface signals to the mobile device for presentment to a user.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of receiving an activation signal from a mobile device further comprises receiving a signal that uniquely identifies the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the video gaming machine hosts a plurality of games and the step of receiving an activation signal from a mobile device further comprises receiving a signal that uniquely identifies one of the plurality of hosted games on the video gaming machine. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of causing the video gaming machine to operate in a mobile device operated mode further comprises preventing further user access to the uniquely identified one of the plurality of hosted games but maintaining available access the other hosted games. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the video gaming machine hosts multiple instances of a game and the step of receiving an activation signal from a mobile device further comprises receiving a signal that uniquely identifies the video gaming machine and the step of causing the video gaming machine to operate in a mobile device operated mode further comprises assigning one instance of the game to the mobile device while maintaining access to other instances of the game. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of causing the video gaming machine to enter a mobile device operated mode further comprises the steps of:
 rendering the user controls of the video gaming machine as impotent; and   displaying a message indicator on the display of the video gaming machine.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mobile device is provisioned to be associated with a particular video gaming machine and the step of receiving an activation signal from a mobile device further comprises receiving a signal indicating the identity of the mobile device and the associated video gaming machine. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mobile device can be provisioned to be associated with any one of a plurality of video gaming machines and the step of receiving an activation signal from a mobile device further comprises receiving a signal indicating the identity of the associated video gaming machine. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the video gaming machine is positioned in a public area and is available for use by the pubic, further comprising the steps of:
 allowing a normal mode of operation for the video gaming machine; and   in response to the receiving the activation signal, causing the video gaming machine to enter a mobile device operated mode by exiting the normal mode of operation.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a deactivation signal from a mobile device;   in response to receiving the deactivation signal, causing the video gaming machine to return to the normal mode of operation.   
   
   
       20 . A system for enabling a mobile device to operate as a user interface and controller of a video gaming machine, the system comprising:
 a controller box including a processing unit, a wireless transceiver, a video gaming machine control circuit interface and a memory storage unit;   a mobile device including a wireless transceiver, display and actuators;   the processing unit in the controller box, in response to executing instructions in the memory storage unit, being operable to:   receive an activation signal from the mobile device;   determine that the activation signal is associated with a particular video gaming machine;   causing the operation of the video gaming machine to be controlled by the mobile device; and   capturing user feedback information produced by the video gaming machine and provide the information to the mobile device.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the mobile device includes a display and actuators, and is operable to:
 display user feedback information received from the controller box;   detect actuation of one or more actuators; and   transmit a signal to the controller box indicative of the detected actuation.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the mobile device is operable to:
 receive a video gaming machine identifier; and   transmit an activation signal to the controller box, the activation signal including the video gaming machine identifier.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the mobile device is operable to receive an indicator from the controller box that a winning event has occurred and to display this information.