Method for configuring gaming devices via a network

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for configuring gaming machines in which configuration data packets are associated with a player's record in a player tracking system. The configuration data packets may have machine identification information in a header that may be associated with each data packet. When a player is recognized at a gaming machine, the player's record is retrieved from the network and data packets associated with the machine at which the player is recognized are read and used to configure the gaming device. Furthermore, data related to outcomes of games played by the player on multiple machines may be collected and used to award a bonus to the player, the bonus being awarded in response to collecting a predefined plurality of outcomes. Data related to bonuses accrued and used may also be associated with the player's record.

1 . A method of operating a plurality of gaming devices interconnected by a communications network comprising:
 creating at least one record corresponding to each of at least some of the players of the gaming devices;   accumulating data related to at least one of outcomes of games, selections made during game play and wagers of the players of the gaming devices;   associating the data for each player with the corresponding record;   storing the record on the communications network;   defining a set of rules for paying a bonus to a player of at least one of the gaming devices;   identifying a player of the one gaming device;   updating the record with data related to play at the one gaming device;   applying the rules to the updated data; and   awarding a bonus to the player in accordance with the rules.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein accumulating data related to at least one of outcomes of games, selections made during game play and wagers of the players of the gaming devices comprises accumulating data over multiple days. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein accumulating data related to at least one of outcomes of games, selections made during game play and wagers of the players of the gaming devices comprises accumulating data from a plurality of different gaming devices played by the player. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein defining a set of rules for paying a bonus to a player of at least one of the gaming devices further comprises defining a first set of rules for one of the gaming devices and a second set of rules different from the first set for another one of the gaming devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rules comprise awarding a bonus upon the occurrence of a defined gaming-device outcome. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rules comprise awarding a bonus upon the occurrence of a defined plurality of gaming-device outcomes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the defined plurality of gaming-device outcomes comprises successively achieved outcomes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the defined plurality of gaming-device outcomes comprises cumulatively achieved outcomes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gaming device generates an outcome comprised of a randomly selected sequence of symbols and wherein the bonus comprises:
 permitting the player to identify at least one of the symbols;   holding the at least one symbol; and   generating a new randomly selected sequence of symbols that incorporates the held symbol to produce a new outcome.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising permitting the player to determine when to use the bonus. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 storing the bonus in the player's record;   ending the current gaming session; and   using the bonus in a later gaming session.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 retrieving the player's record from the network; and   storing the retrieved record at the one gaming device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises storing the rules at the one gaming device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein storing the rules at the one gaming device comprises storing the rules in a player tracking unit associated with the one gaming device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein storing the rules at the one gaming device comprises storing the rules in the one gaming device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bonus comprises enabling the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on the gaming device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method further comprises permitting the player to chose a game outcome on which to use the bonus. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the method further comprises:
 waiting to determine whether the player has used the bonus; and   if the player has not used the bonus, preventing the player from using the bonus.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein waiting to determine whether the player has used the bonus comprises waiting until the player plays a selected number of games. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein waiting to determine whether the player has used the bonus comprises waiting until a selected time has passed. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing the bonus in the player's record;   ending the current gaming session; and   using the bonus in a later gaming session.   
     
     
         22 . A method of operating a plurality of gaming devices interconnected by a communications network comprising:
 tracking the outcomes of at least some of the games played;   defining a plurality of outcomes;   indicating to a player of at least one of the games that a bonus is awarded upon the occurrence of the defined plurality of outcomes in the player's tracked outcomes; and   awarding the bonus on the gaming device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein tracking the outcomes of at least some of the games played comprises:
 creating a record for the player;   storing at least some of the player's game outcomes in the record.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 associating the record with at least one of the gaming devices;   recognizing the player at one of the gaming devices; and   awarding the bonus if the game at which the player is recognized is a game with which the record is associated.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising:
 creating a plurality of gaming-device configuration data packets;   associating each of the packets with one or more identified gaming devices;   storing the packets in the record;   reading the packets each time the player is recognized at one of the gaming devices; and   configuring the gaming device according to one or more of the packets.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 creating a record for the player;   storing player preferences in the player's record; and   configuring a game played by the player according to the preferences.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein awarding the bonus comprises enabling the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on one of the gaming devices. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein enabling the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on one of the gaming devices comprises enabling the gaming device for at least one of a nudge, hold, and respin. 
     
     
         29 . A method of operating a plurality of gaming devices interconnected by a communications network comprising:
 storing a plurality of player records on the communications network;   tracking data related to game outcomes for games played by each player having a stored record;   storing the tracked data in the player's record;   determining whether the tracked data for a player meets a defined criterion for awarding a bonus; and   awarding a bonus when the tracked data for the player meets the defined criterion.   
     
     
         30 . A method of configuring a plurality of gaming devices interconnected by a communications network comprising:
 creating a record for each of at least some of the players of the gaming devices;   associating at least one of the records with at least one of the gaming devices;   storing gaming-device configuration data in the at least one record;   identifying a player of one of the gaming devices;   determining whether the player's record is associated with the at least one gaming device; and   if the player's record is associated with the at least one gaming device, configuring the gaming device in accordance with the gaming-device configuration data in the player's record.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the gaming-device configuration data comprises a gaming-device configuration data packet, and associating at least one of the records with at least one of the gaming devices further comprises associating the gaming-device configuration data packet with the at least one gaming device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 creating a plurality of gaming-device configuration data packets;   associating a plurality of the data packets with the at least one gaming device;   storing the packets in the player's record; and   configuring the at least one gaming device in accordance with each of the packets with which it is associated.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the record includes a packet that is not associated with the at least one gaming device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the configuration data includes data related to the outcomes of games played by the player. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the gaming-device configuration data comprises configuring the gaming device as a function of the data related to the outcomes of games played by the player. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein at least one of the data packets is associated with a class of gaming devices. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the class of gaming devices comprises video slot machines. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the gaming-device configuration data comprises enabling the gaming device for at least one of a nudge, hold, and respin. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the gaming-device configuration data comprises awarding the player a bonus that is a function of the player's history of playing the gaming devices. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the gaming-device configuration data comprises enabling the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on the gaming device. 
     
     
         41 . A method of configuring gaming devices interconnected by a computer network comprising:
 creating a record for at least one player of the gaming devices;   associating gaming-device configuration data with the record;   associating the configuration data with at least one of the gaming devices;   storing the record in a storage device that is accessible by the network;   recognizing the player at one of the gaming devices;   reading the record; and   configuring the gaming device in accordance with the configuration data if the configuration data is associated with the gaming device at which the player is recognized.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein associating the gaming-device configuration data with the record further comprises entering a gaming-device configuration data packet into the record, and wherein the method further comprises:
 associating a plurality of gaming-device configuration packets with the at least one gaming device;   storing the packets in the player's record; and   configuring the gaming device in accordance with each of the packets with which it is associated.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the record includes a packet that is not associated with the at least one gaming device. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the configuration data includes data related to the outcomes of games played by the player. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the configuration data comprises configuring the gaming device as a function of the data related to the outcomes of games played by the player. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein at least one of the packets is associated with a class of gaming devices. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the class of gaming devices comprises video slot machines. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the configuration data comprises enabling the gaming device for at least one of a nudge, hold, and respin. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the configuration data comprises awarding the player a bonus that is a function of the player's history of playing the gaming devices. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41  wherein configuring the gaming device in accordance with the configuration data comprises enabling the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on the gaming device. 
     
     
         51 . A method of configuring gaming devices interconnected by a computer network in a casino comprising:
 creating a record for at least one player of the gaming devices;   associating the record with at least one of the gaming devices;   creating a first gaming-device configuration data packet that is a function of at least one of player preferences and casino preferences;   entering the first gaming-device configuration packet into the record;   storing the record in a storage device that is accessible by the network;   recognizing the player at one of the gaming devices;   reading the record;   configuring the gaming device in accordance with the preferences if the record is associated with the gaming device at which the player is recognized;   creating a second gaming-device configuration data packet that is a function of the outcomes of games played by the player;   entering the second gaming-device configuration packet into the record; and   configuring one of the gaming devices in accordance with the second gaming-device configuration packet.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein associating the record with at least one of the gaming devices comprises associating at least one of the gaming-device configuration data packets with the at least one gaming device. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising:
 creating a plurality of additional gaming-device configuration data packets;   associating each packet with at least one of the gaming devices;   entering the additional packets into the record;   recognizing the at least one player at one of the gaming devices; and   configuring the gaming device at which the player is recognized in accordance with each packet that is associated with the gaming device.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the record includes at least one packet that is not associated with the gaming device at which the player is recognized. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51  wherein configuring one of the gaming devices in accordance with the second gaming-device configuration packet comprises awarding a bonus to the player. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein awarding a bonus to the player comprises permitting the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on one of the gaming devices. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein permitting the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on one of the gaming devices further comprises:
 storing the bonus in the player's record; and   permitting the player to use the bonus on a different gaming device.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56  wherein permitting the player to change the outcome of one of the games played on one of the gaming devices comprises enabling the gaming machine for one of a hold, nudge, and respin.