Displaying bonus content on a mobile device

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, is described. In particular, an electronic gaming machine (EGM) can be configured to provide bonus content to be displayed on a portable electronic device carried by the patron. Bonus content that is provided to a portable electronic device can be easily and quickly updated as well as customized for the patron.

1 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a communication interface, integrated into the cabinet, for establishing communications between the electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device having a display;   a game controller including a processor and a memory coupled to the communication interface and secured within the cabinet configured to control a wager-based game; and   an interface controller configured to provide bonus content to an application being executed on the portable electronic device, wherein the provision of the bonus content is triggered during game play of a wager-based game on the electronic gaming machine, wherein the bonus content relates to a bonus game, an animation, or a sound to be presented on the mobile device through the application.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is provided in the game controller. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is separate from the game controller. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to notify the game controller when a portable electronic device is coupled to the communication interface. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to receive a cord coupled to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bonus content is a bonus game to be played on the portable electronic device, and wherein the interface controller is further configured to determine an outcome of the bonus game provided to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , wherein after the outcome is determined, the interface controller sends the outcome to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein game controller resumes the wager-based game after receiving a notification from the portable electronic device that presentation of the bonus content is complete. 
     
     
         9 . A method in an electronic gaming machine configured to provide bonus content to a portable electronic device having a display, the gaming machine including a communication interface, a game controller, and an interface controller, the method comprising:
 detecting, through the game controller, a triggering of a bonus event during game play of a wager-based game on the electronic gaming machine;   detecting, through the communication interface, a communication session between the portable electronic device and the electronic gaming machine; and   providing, through the interface controller, bonus content to an application being executed on the portable electronic device for display on the display of the portable electronic device, wherein the bonus content relates to a bonus game or an animation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining whether to display the bonus content on the portable electronic device before providing the bonus content to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining whether to display the bonus content on the portable electronic device comprises receiving notification from the portable electronic device that it will present the bonus content through the application. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the application has downloaded an updated bonus content based on a current event. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bonus content is a bonus game to be played through the portable electronic device, and the method further comprises determining an outcome of the bonus game. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining, by the game controller, an outcome of the bonus game and providing, through the interface controller. 
     
     
         15 . The method of claim, further comprising sending, through the interface controller, the outcome to the portable electronic device after the outcome is determined. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving notification from the portable electronic device that presentation of the bonus content is complete and resuming the wager-based game on the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wager-based game on the electronic gaming machine and the bonus content on the portable electronic device are presented simultaneously. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wager-based game on the electronic gaming machine is suspended while the bonus content is presented on the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising customizing the bonus content for an owner of the portable electronic device before providing the bonus content to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a game controller;   a secondary gaming device coupled to the cabinet including:
 a secondary processor, including a processor and a memory, separate from the game controller; 
 an interface assembly that allows communication between the gaming machine and a portable electronic device having a display, the interface assembly configured to provide bonus content to an application being executed on the portable electronic device in response to commands received from the secondary processor, wherein the bonus content relates to a bonus game, an animation, or a sound to be presented on the mobile device through the application; and 
   the game controller including a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the secondary gaming device and secured within the cabinet, the game controller configured to control a wager-based game and send information related to the game play activities to the secondary gaming device.   
     
     
         21 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 20 , wherein the secondary gaming device is one of a player tracking unit, a card reader, a bill validator or a printer. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 20 , wherein the secondary gaming device further comprises interface control logic that is configured to receive information from the game controller regarding at least one of idle state, player status, and the bonus content. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 22 , wherein the interface control logic can determine whether to provide the bonus content based on a player's status.