Player tracking module system and method

Abstract

A system and method are set forth for providing a configurable player tracking module display for a gaming device which is controlled to change colors/text/graphics to indicate the condition of (1) the gaming device, (2) the interface between the player of the gaming device or (3) the player tracking system.

1 . A system for use with a plurality of gaming devices comprising:
 a central system;   a color display housed within each one of said plurality of gaming devices, said color display controllable by said central system;   a communication network connecting each of said plurality of gaming devices to said central system for communicating display control data from said central system to said plurality of gaming devices; and   said central system for controlling a said color display in a selected one of said gaming devices to display a predominant first color to indicate a first condition and for controlling said color display in said selected one of said gaming devices to display a predominant second color to indicate a second condition.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said central system commands display of at least one of said first and said second colors in combination with a text message on said color display. 
   
   
       3 . A system for use with a plurality of gaming devices comprising:
 a central system;   a color display housed within each one of said plurality of gaming devices, said color display controllable by said central system;   a communication network connecting each of said plurality of gaming devices to said central system for communicating display control data from said central system to said plurality of gaming devices; and   said central system for controlling a said color display in a selected one of said gaming devices to display a first color image to indicate a first condition and for controlling said color display in said selected one of said gaming devices to display a second color image to indicate a second condition.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said central system commands display of at least one of said images in combination with a text message on said color display. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said central system displays at least one of said images as a background for said text message. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said central system displays at least one of said images so as to circumscribe said text message. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said central system commands display of an infrared display on said color display. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said central system commands display of an ultraviolet display on said color display. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said one gaming device includes a player interface for the player to interface with the central system, said player interface transmitting first data to said central system when said interface is enabled and transmitting second data to said central system when said interface is disabled; and wherein said central system commands display of said first color image in response to said first data and commands display of said second color image in response to said second data. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 3  and further including a data structure storing data corresponding to a plurality of device display modes including a graphic display mode, said central system recalling data from said data structure to control said display to display said graphic display mode. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said central system recalls data from said data structure to control said display to simultaneously display a plurality of said device display modes. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said color display is an LCD display; and wherein said central system controls said LCD display to display images selected from a group consisting of: (i) a plurality of varied color panels to convey information, (ii) graphically changing images to convey information, (iii) text to convey information, (iv) graphic skins to convey information, or (v) flashing colors, text or images to convey information. 
   
   
       13 . A system for a plurality of game devices, the system including a central processor, a communication network for communication of data between the central processor and each game device and a data structure storing player data corresponding to each player to be tracked, the improvement comprising:
 said central processor configured to access said data structure;   a color display associated with a game device;   an interface between the player and said central processor for communication of data, said interface having a first state in which communication between the player and said central processor is enabled, and having a second state in which communication between the player and said central processor is disabled; and   wherein said data structure storing data corresponding to a video display mode Xi and a video display mode X 2 , said video display mode Xi configuring said display to display at least one of color, text, or graphics to indicate said first state and said video display mode X 2  for configuring said display to display at least one of color text or graphics to indicate said second state.   
   
   
       14 . In a system for a plurality of gaming devices, said system including a central processor, an operator-system interface for each gaming device and a communication network providing communication between the central processor and each interface, a method comprising:
 providing a digital color display associated with each interface;   processing data from said device and interface at said processor to determine one or more system communication states X 1 -X n  and   controlling the display to display in one or more visual modes.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of controlling the display to display in one or more visual modes includes displaying one or more from a group consisting of: (i) a plurality of varied color panels, ii) graphically changing images, (iii) text, (iv) graphic skins, or (v) flashing colors, text or images.