Gaming machine triggering system events

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus is provided for a system in which a gaming machine triggers system events. The gaming machine may send messages to a server. The server may then process messages, and may send messages back to the gaming machine. Additionally, the server may send messages to other gaming machines also coupled to the server. The messages may concern bonuses, announcements of gaming events, and opportunities for tournament play, among other information. Thus, a gaming event (such as a jackpot or a good poker hand) may trigger a bonus or a tournament, for example. Additionally, messages may be sent to other components, such as audio and/or video components, which may then announce gaming events, for example.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a server, the server including a business rules processing service, and a game interface;   and   a first gaming device coupled to the server, the first gaming device including: an electronic gaming machine, a game monitoring unit, a server interface coupled to the server, and a display;   wherein the first gaming device is configured to send messages responsive to gaming events to the server and to receive messages from the server.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second gaming device coupled to the server, the second gaming device including: an electronic gaming machine, a game monitoring unit, a server interface coupled to the server, and a display;   wherein the second gaming device is configured to send messages responsive to gaming events to the server and to receive messages from the server.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of gaming devices coupled to the server, each gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices including: an electronic gaming machine, a game monitoring unit, a server interface coupled to the server, and a display;   wherein the each gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices is configured to send messages responsive to gaming events to the server and to receive messages from the server.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gaming device further includes a printer. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gaming device further includes a card reader. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server further includes a processor, a memory, a bus coupled to the processor and the memory, and wherein the processor is to interact with the game interface and operate the business rules processing service. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gaming device further includes a processor, a memory, a bus coupled to the processor and the memory, and wherein the processor is to operate the game monitoring unit and the electronic gaming machine. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the messages from the server include messages providing for tournament games. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the messages from the server include messages providing for bonuses. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the messages from the server include messages announcing gaming events. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-gaming device coupled to the server, the non-gaming device selected from one of the group consisting of: a video display, an audio component, and an audio-visual system;   wherein the non-gaming device is configured to receive messages announcing gaming events and to provide information about messages to players.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the non-gaming device is further to receive messages announcing gaming opportunities.   
   
   
       13 . A system, comprising:
 a server, the server including: a business rules processing service, and a game interface;   wherein the server is configured to receive messages responsive to gaming events from gaming devices and to send messages from the server to gaming devices.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the messages to the server include messages announcing gaming events. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a gaming device coupled to the server, the gaming device including: an electronic gaming machine, a game monitoring unit, a server interface coupled to the server, and a display;   wherein the gaming device is configured to send messages responsive to gaming events to the server and to receive messages from the server.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the messages from the server include messages providing for bonuses. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the messages from the server include messages providing for tournament games. 
   
   
       18 . A system, comprising:
 a gaming device, the gaming device including: an electronic gaming machine, a game monitoring unit, a server interface, and a display;   wherein the gaming device is configured to send messages responsive to gaming events to a server and to receive messages from the server.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the messages to the server include messages announcing gaming events. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a server, the server including: a business rules processing service, and a game interface coupled to the gaming device;   wherein the server is configured to receive messages responsive to gaming events from gaming devices and to send messages from the server to gaming devices.   
   
   
       21 . A system, comprising:
 a server, the server including a business rules processing service, and a business rule configuration user interface;   a first gaming device coupled to the server, the first gaming device including:   an electronic gaming machine processor,   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display,   a system processor;   a second gaming device coupled to the server, the second gaming device including:   an electronic gaming machine processor,   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display,   a system processor;   wherein the first gaming device is configured to send a first message responsive to a gaming event to the server;   and   wherein the business rules processing service is configured to process the first message, the business rules processing service is configured to determine if pre-determined conditions are met, and the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more second messages to the system processor of the second gaming device responsive to the business rules processing service determining that pre-determined conditions are met.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a cabinet display coupled to the server and having a system processor, the cabinet display configured to display notification messages responsive to messages from the server.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the business rule configurator is configured to selectively direct the second message to a subset of gaming devices or players.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 a second message of the one or more second messages includes an offer to join a community gaming experience.   
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein;
 The second gaming device is configured to reconfigure the second gaming device upon acceptance of the offer by a player.   
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 a second message of the one or more second messages includes data to print a ticket or voucher.   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21  wherein:
 the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more third messages to one or more of the following: casino signage, casino web sites, and wireless handhelds, each of which is coupled to the server.   
   
   
       28 . A system, comprising:
 a server, the server including a business rules processing service, and a business rule configuration user interface;   a first gaming device coupled to the server, the first gaming device including:   an electronic gaming machine processor,   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display;   a second gaming device coupled to the server, the second gaming device including:   an electronic gaming machine processor,   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display;   wherein the electronic gaming machine processor of the first gaming device is configured to send a first message responsive to a gaming event to the server;   and   wherein the business rules processing service is configured to process the first message, the business rules processing service is configured to determine if pre-determined conditions are met, and the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more second messages to the electronic gaming machine processor of the second gaming device responsive to the business rules processing service determining that pre-determined conditions are met.   
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a cabinet display coupled to the server and having a system processor, the cabinet display configured to display notification messages responsive to messages from the server.   
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the business rule configurator is configured to selectively direct the second message to a subset of gaming devices or players.   
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein:
 a second message of the one or more second messages includes data to print a ticket or voucher.   
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more third messages to one or more of the following: casino signage, casino web sites, and wireless handhelds, each of which is coupled to the server.   
   
   
       33 . A system, comprising:
 a server, the server including:   a business rules processing service,   a business rule configuration user interface,   a first electronic gaming machine processor;   a first gaming device coupled to the server, the first gaming device including:   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display,   a system processor;   a second gaming device coupled to the server, the second gaming device including:   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display,   a system processor;   wherein the first electronic gaming processor is configured to send a first message responsive to a gaming event to the business rule processing service;   wherein the first electronic gaming processor is configured to send data to the system processor of the first gaming device;   wherein the first gaming device is configured to display images related to data received by the system processor of the first gaming device from the first electronic gaming machine processor;   and   wherein the business rules processing service is configured to process the first message, the business rules processing service is configured to determine if pre-determined conditions are met, and the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more second messages to the system processor of the second gaming device responsive to the business rules processing service determining that pre-determined conditions are met.   
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the server further includes:   a second electronic gaming machine processor;   wherein the second electronic gaming processor is configured to send a third message responsive to a gaming event to the business rule processing service;   wherein the second electronic gaming processor is configured to send data to the system processor of the second gaming device;   wherein the second gaming device is configured to display images related to data received by the system processor of the second gaming device from the second electronic gaming machine processor;   and   wherein the business rules processing service is configured to process the third message, the business rules processing service is configured to determine if pre-determined conditions are met, and the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more second messages to the system processor of the first gaming device responsive to the business rules processing service determining that pre-determined conditions are met.   
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the server further includes:   a second electronic gaming machine processor;   wherein the second electronic gaming processor is configured to send the first message responsive to a gaming event to the business rule processing service;   wherein the second electronic gaming processor is configured to send data to the system processor of the second gaming device;   wherein the second gaming device is configured to display images related to data received by the system processor of the second gaming device from the second electronic gaming machine processor;   and   wherein the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more second messages to the system processor of one or more gaming devices responsive to the business rules processing service determining that pre-determined conditions are met.   
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a third gaming device coupled to the server, the third gaming device including:   an electronic gaming machine processor,   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display,   a system processor;   wherein the third gaming device is configured to send a fourth message responsive to a gaming event to the server;   and   wherein the business rules processing service is configured to process the fourth message, the business rules processing service is configured to determine if pre-determined conditions are met, and the business rules processing service is configured to send one or more second messages to one or more gaming devices responsive to the business rules processing service determining that pre-determined conditions are met.   
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a third gaming device coupled to the server, the third gaming device including:   a server interface coupled to the server,   a display,   a system processor;   wherein the first electronic gaming processor is configured to send data to the system processor of the third gaming device;   wherein the third gaming device is configured to display images related to data received by the system processor of the third gaming device from the first electronic gaming machine processor.   
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the data received by the third gaming device is distinct from the data received by the first gaming device.   
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the data sent to the third gaming device is the same as the data sent to the first gaming device.