Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices

Abstract

A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a host computer having a user-operated input device comprising: 
       associating each gaming device with a unique address code;  
       preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to a user-effected action at the input device which identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;  
       using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices;  
       initiating a bonus play period;  
       issuing a command over the network to each of said preselected gaming devices responsive to initiation of the bonus play period; and  
       paying a bonus at each of said preselected gaming devices in accordance with the command.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to a user-effected action at the input device which identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes comprises creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device comprises sequentially adding each unique address code to the table. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein issuing a command over the network to each of said preselected gaming devices responsive to initiation of the bonus play period comprises reconfiguring each gaming device for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein paying a bonus at each of said preselected gaming devices in accordance with the command comprises paying a bonus at each preselected gaming device which produces a jackpot. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein paying a bonus at each preselected gaming device which produces a jackpot comprises paying a multiple of the jackpot. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein preselecting a plurality of the gaming devices responsive to a user-effected action at the input device comprises preselecting a first group of gaming devices and wherein said method further comprises: 
       preselecting a second group of the gaming devices responsive to a user-effected action at the input device which identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;  
       issuing a command over the network to one of said gaming devices in the second group responsive to occurrence of a predetermined event; and  
       paying at said one gaming device in the second group in accordance with the command.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein said method further includes using the network to track the activity of all of the gaming devices in the network substantially simultaneously with all of the preceding steps . 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein said gaming devices are each associated with a card reader which is operatively connected to said network and wherein said method further comprises: 
       detecting a player of the gaming devices responsive to entry of a unique player identification card into the card reader;  
       transmitting the amount of money played at each gaming device by the player from the gaming device to the host computer; and  
       creating a player account which tracks the activity of the player on the gaming devices.  
     
     
       10. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a host computer having a user-operated input device comprising: 
       associating each gaming device with a unique address code;  
       preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to a user-effected action at the input device which identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;  
       using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices;  
       issuing a command over the network to one of said preselected gaming devices responsive to a predetermined event; and  
       paying at said one gaming device in accordance with the command.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to a user-effected action at the input device which identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes comprises creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device comprises sequentially adding each unique address code to the table. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices comprises detecting the amount wagered at each of the preselected gaming devices and wherein issuing a command over the network to one of said preselected gaming devices responsive to occurrence of a predetermined event comprises issuing a command over the network to one of said preselected gaming devices when the cumulative amount wagered on all of the preselected gaming devices exceeds a predetermined amount. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  wherein preselecting a plurality of the gaming devices responsive to a user-effected action at the input device comprises preselecting a group of gaming devices and wherein said method further comprises: 
       preselecting a second group of the gaming devices responsive to a user-effected action at the input device which identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;  
       issuing a command over the network to one of said gaming devices in the second group responsive to occurrence of a predetermined event; and  
       paying at said one gaming device in the second group in accordance with the command.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein said method further includes using the network to track the activity of all of the gaming devices in the network substantially simultaneously with all of the preceding steps . 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein said gaming devices are each associated with a card reader which is operatively connected to said network and wherein said method further comprises: 
       detecting a player of the gaming devices responsive to entry of a unique player identification card into the card reader;  
       transmitting the amount of money played at each gaming device by the player from the gaming device to the host computer; and  
       creating a player account which tracks the activity of the player on the gaming devices.  
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10  wherein paying at said one gaming device in accordance with the command comprises paying coins from a hopper at said one gaming device. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10  wherein paying at said one gaming device in accordance with the command comprises applying credits to a credit meter at said one gaming machine. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method further comprises allocating a predetermined percentage of the cumulative amount wagered at all of the preselected gaming devices to a bonus pool and wherein paying at said one gaming device in accordance with the command comprises paying said pool at said one gaming device. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 1  wherein said command comprises data related to a payment amount.  
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 10  wherein said command comprises data related to a payment amount.  
     
     
       22. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising: 
       
         associating each gaming device with a unique address code;  
       
         preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the computer network responsive to host - computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;    
       
         using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices;  
       
       
         initiating a bonus play period;  
       
       
         issuing a command over the network to each of said preselected gaming devices responsive to initiation of the bonus play period; and  
       
       
         paying a bonus via each of said preselected gaming devices in accordance with the command.  
       
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the computer network responsive to host- computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes comprises creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device.    
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23  wherein creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device comprises sequentially adding each unique address code to the table.  
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22  wherein issuing a command over the network to each of said preselected gaming devices responsive to initiation of the bonus play period comprises reconfiguring each gaming device for a predefined period of time.  
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  wherein paying a bonus via each of said preselected gaming devices in accordance with the command comprises paying a bonus via each preselected gaming device that produces a jackpot.  
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26  wherein paying a bonus via each preselected gaming device which produces a jackpot comprises paying a multiple of the jackpot.  
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 22  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the computer network responsive to host- computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes comprises preselecting a first group of gaming devices and wherein said method further comprises:    
         preselecting a second group of the gaming devices responsive to host - computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;    
       
         issuing a command over the network to at least one of said gaming devices in the second group responsive to occurrence of a predefined event; and  
       
       
         paying via at least said one gaming device in the second group in accordance with the command.  
       
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28  wherein said method further includes using the network to track the activity of all of the gaming devices in the network.  
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29  wherein said gaming devices are each associated with a card reader that is operatively connected to said network and wherein said method further comprises: 
       
         detecting a player of the gaming devices responsive to entry of a unique player identification card into the card reader;  
       
       
         transmitting the amount of money played via each gaming device by the player from the gaming device to the host computer; and  
       
       
         creating a player account that tracks the activity of the player on the gaming devices.  
       
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 22  wherein said method further comprises: 
       
         allocating a predefined percentage of money played to a bonus pool;  
       
       
         detecting the level of the pool; and  
       
       
         initiating the bonus play period after the bonus pool exceeds a predefined amount.  
       
     
     
       32. The method according to  claim 22  wherein said command comprises data related to a payment amount.  
     
     
       33. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising: 
       
         associating each gaming device with a unique address code;  
       
         preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the computer network responsive to host - computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;    
       
         using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices;  
       
       
         initiating a bonus play period;  
       
       
         generating a message including data related to a payment amount;  
       
       
         transmitting the message over the network to at least one of said preselected gaming devices responsive to a predefined event; and  
       
       
         paying via at least said one gaming device during the bonus play period in accordance with the message.  
       
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the computer network responsive to host- computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes comprises creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device.    
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 37  wherein creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device comprises sequentially adding each unique address code to the table.  
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 33  wherein using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices comprises detecting the amount wagered at each of the preselected gaming devices and wherein transmitting the message over the network to at least one of said preselected gaming devices responsive to occurrence of a predefmed event comprises transmitting the message over the network to at least one of said preselected gaming devices when the cumulative amount wagered on all of the preselected gaming devices exceeds a predefined amount.  
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 33  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the computer network responsive to host- computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes comprises preselecting a first group of gaming devices and wherein said method further comprises:    
         preselecting a second group of the gaming devices responsive to host - computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;    
       
         transmitting a message over the network to at least one of said gaming devices in the second group responsive to occurrence of a predefined event; and  
       
       
         paying via at least said one gaming device in the second group in accordance with the message.  
       
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 34  wherein said method further includes using the network to track the activity of all of the gaming devices in the network.  
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38  wherein said gaming devices are each associated with a card reader that is operatively connected to said network and wherein said method further comprises: 
       
         detecting a player of the gaming devices responsive to entry of a unique player identification card into the card reader;  
       
       
         transmitting the amount of money played via each gaming device by the player from the gaming device to the host computer; and  
       
       
         creating a player account that tracks the activity of the player on the gaming devices.  
       
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 33  wherein paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the message comprises paying coins from a hopper via at least said one gaming device.  
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 33  wherein paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the message comprises applying credits to a credit meter at least said one gaming machine.  
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 33  wherein said method further comprises allocating a predefined percentage of the cumulative amount wagered at the preselected gaming devices to a bonus pool and wherein paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the message comprises paying from said pool via at least said one gaming device.  
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 42  wherein said bonus pool comprises a progressive jackpot.  
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 43  wherein paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the message further comprises paying the progressive jackpot via at least said one gaming device responsive to a jackpot on the gaming device.  
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 33  wherein said method further comprises transmitting the message over the network to a plurality of said preselected gaming devices responsive to the predefined event.  
     
     
       46. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a host computer having a user- operated input device comprising:    
       
         associating each gaming device with a unique address code;  
       
         preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to host - computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;    
       
         using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices;  
       
       
         issuing a command over the network to at least one of said preselected gaming devices responsive to a predefined event; and  
       
       
         paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the command.  
       
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to host- computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes comprises creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device.    
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 47  wherein creating a table having a list of the unique address codes for each gaming device comprises sequentially adding each unique address code to the table.  
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 46  wherein using the network to track activity of the preselected gaming devices comprises detecting the amount wagered at each of the preselected gaming devices and wherein issuing a command over the network to at least one of said preselected gaming devices responsive to occurrence of a predefined event comprises issuing a command over the network to at least one of said preselected gaming devices when the cumulative amount wagered on all of the preselected gaming devices exceeds a predefined amount.  
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 46  wherein preselecting less than all of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to host- computer action comprises preselecting a first group of gaming devices and wherein said method further comprises:    
         preselecting a second group of the gaming devices interconnected by the host computer responsive to host - computer action that identifies the preselected gaming devices with the respective associated address codes;    
       
         issuing a command over the network to at least one of said gaming devices in the second group responsive to occurrence of a predefined event; and  
       
       
         paying via at least said one gaming device in the second group in accordance with the command.  
       
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 50  wherein said method further includes using the network to track the activity of all of the gaming devices in the network.  
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 51  wherein said gaming devices are each associated with a card reader that is operatively connected to said network and wherein said method further comprises: 
       
         detecting a player of the gaming devices responsive to entry of a unigue player identification card into the card reader;  
       
       
         transmitting the amount of money played at each gaming device by the player from the gaming device to the host computer; and  
       
       
         creating a player account which tracks the activity of the player on the gaming devices.  
       
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 46  wherein paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the command comprises paying coins from a hopper at least said one gaming device.  
     
     
       54. The method of  claim 46  wherein paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the command comprises applying credits to a credit meter at least said one gaming machine.  
     
     
       55. The method of  claim 46  wherein said method further comprises allocating a predefined percentage of the cumulative amount wagered at the preselected gaming devices to a bonus pool and wherein paying via at least said one gaming device in accordance with the command comprises paying said pool via at least said one gaming device.  
     
     
       56. The method according to  claim 46  wherein said command comprises data related to a payment amount.  
     
     
       57. The method according to any of the preceding claims wherein said gaming devices comprises electronic gaming devices.