Method and apparatus for alternate display information

Abstract

The present invention provides alternative displays for gaming devices. An alternative display provides players with a reformatted, simplified, supplemented, and/or otherwise modified representation of outcomes. In a multiple payline slot machine for example, the invention provides a second display with horizontal, non-overlapping, non-crossing, linear representations of the outcomes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a processor;    a first display coupled to the processor and operable to display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions;    a second display coupled to the processor and operable to display a representation of the outcomes wherein the set of reel positions of each outcome is each displayed disposed along a straight line without crossing any other displayed line of reel positions.    
     
     
         2 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a processor;    a first display coupled to the processor and operable to display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions, each reel position including at least one symbol, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that the set of reel positions overlap each other; and    a second display coupled to the processor and operable to display a representation of the outcomes, wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of symbols from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed without overlapping any other set of symbols of any other displayed outcome representation.    
     
     
         3 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a processor;    a first display coupled to the processor and operable to display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions, each reel position including at least one symbol, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that the set of reel positions of each outcome shares at least one reel position of at least one other outcome; and    a second display coupled to the processor and operable to display a representation of the outcomes, wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of symbols from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed separately from any other displayed outcome representation.    
     
     
         4 . A slot machine comprising: 
 a processor;    a first display coupled to the processor and operable to display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions disposed along a payline, each reel position including at least one symbol, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that each of the paylines cross at least one other payline; and    a second display coupled to the processor and operable to display a representation of the outcomes, wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of symbols along a payline,    wherein the set of symbols of each outcome includes at least one symbol from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed without the payline of any set of symbols crossing any other payline of another set of symbols of any other displayed outcome.    
     
     
         5 . The slot machine of  claim 4  wherein the set of symbols displayed on the second display are disposed along a linear payline.  
     
     
         6 . The slot machine of  claim 4  wherein the second display further displays an indication of which outcomes are winning outcomes.  
     
     
         7 . The slot machine of  claim 4  wherein the second display further displays an indication of which outcomes are non-winning outcomes.  
     
     
         8 . The slot machine of  claim 4  wherein the second display further displays an indication of outcomes upon which a wager was placed.  
     
     
         9 . The slot machine of  claim 4  wherein the second display further displays an indication of a payout amount per each outcome that would have been won had a wager been placed upon each outcome.  
     
     
         10 . The slot machine of  claim 4  wherein the second display only displays winning outcomes.  
     
     
         11 . The slot machine of  claim 4  wherein the second display displays winning outcomes separately from non-winning outcomes.  
     
     
         12 . A method comprising: 
 displaying on a first display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions;    displaying on a second display a representation of the outcomes wherein the set of reel positions of each outcome is displayed disposed along a straight line without crossing any other displayed line of reel positions.    
     
     
         13 . A method comprising: 
 displaying on a first display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions, each reel position including at least one symbol, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that the set of reel positions overlap each other; and    displaying on a second display a representation of the outcomes, wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of symbols from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed without overlapping any other set of symbols of any other displayed outcome representation.    
     
     
         14 . A method comprising: 
 displaying on a first display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions, each reel position including at least one symbol, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that the set of reel positions of each outcome shares at least one reel position of at least one other outcome; and    displaying on a second display a representation of the outcomes, wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of symbols from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed separately from any other displayed outcome representation.    
     
     
         15 . A method comprising: 
 displaying on a first display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions disposed along a payline, each reel position including at least one symbol, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that each of the paylines cross at least one other payline; and    displaying on a second display a representation of the outcomes, wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of symbols along a payline,    wherein the set of symbols of each outcome includes at least one symbol from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed without the payline of any set of symbols crossing any other payline of another set of symbols of any other displayed outcome.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the set of symbols displayed on the second display are disposed along a linear payline.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further including displaying an indication of which outcomes are winning outcomes.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further including displaying an indication of which outcomes are non-winning outcomes.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further including displaying an indication of outcomes upon which a wager was placed.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further including displaying an indication of a payout amount per each outcome that would have been won had a wager been placed upon each outcome.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein only winning outcomes are displayed on the second display.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein winning outcomes are displayed separately from non-winning outcomes on the second display.  
     
     
         23 . A supplemental display comprising: 
 an interface for communicating with a slot machine; and    a display screen coupled to the interface,    wherein when a display of the slot machine displays a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions, the display screen of the supplemental display is operable to display a representation of the outcomes wherein the set of reel positions of each outcome is each displayed disposed along a straight line without crossing any other displayed line of reel positions.    
     
     
         24 . A supplemental display comprising: 
 an interface for communicating with a slot machine; and    a display screen coupled to the interface,    wherein when a display of the slot machine displays a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions, each reel position including at least one symbol, and the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that the set of reel positions of at least two outcomes overlap each other, the display screen of the supplemental display is operable to display a representation of the outcomes, 
 wherein each outcome is displayed on the supplemental display as a set of symbols from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and  
   wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes on the supplemental display is displayed without overlapping any other set of symbols of any other displayed outcome representation.    
     
     
         25 . A supplemental display comprising: 
 an interface for communicating with a slot machine; and    a display screen coupled to the interface,    wherein when a display of the slot machine displays a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions, each reel position including at least one symbol, and the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that the set of reel positions of each outcome shares at least one reel position of at least one other outcome, the display screen of the supplemental display is operable to display a representation of the outcomes, 
 wherein each outcome is displayed on the supplemental display as a set of symbols from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and  
   wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes on the supplemental display is displayed separately from any other displayed outcome representation.    
     
     
         26 . A supplemental display comprising: 
 an interface for communicating with a slot machine; and    a display screen coupled to the interface,    wherein when a display of the slot machine displays a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions disposed along a payline, each reel position including at least one symbol, and the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that each of the paylines cross at least one other payline, the display screen of the supplemental display is operable to display a representation of the outcomes,    wherein each outcome is displayed on the supplemental display as a set of symbols along a payline and the set of symbols of each outcome includes at least one symbol from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes on the supplemental display is displayed without the payline of any set of symbols crossing any other payline of another set of symbols of any other displayed outcome.    
     
     
         27 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the set of symbols displayed on the supplemental display are disposed along a linear payline.  
     
     
         28 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the supplemental display further displays an indication of which outcomes are winning outcomes.  
     
     
         29 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the supplemental display further displays an indication of which outcomes are non-winning outcomes.  
     
     
         30 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the supplemental display further displays an indication of outcomes upon which a wager was placed.  
     
     
         31 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the supplemental display further displays an indication of a payout amount per each outcome that would have been won had a wager been placed upon each outcome.  
     
     
         32 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the supplemental display only displays winning outcomes.  
     
     
         33 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the supplemental display displays winning outcomes separately from non-winning outcomes.  
     
     
         34 . The supplemental display of  claim 26  wherein the supplemental display displays an explanation why a an outcome is a winning outcome or a non-winning outcome.  
     
     
         35 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for executing instructions;    means for displaying a plurality of outcomes coupled to the means for executing instructions wherein each outcome includes a set of outcome elements;    means for displaying a representation of the outcomes coupled to the means for executing instructions wherein the set of outcome elements of each outcome is each displayed disposed along a straight line without crossing any other displayed line of outcome elements.    
     
     
         36 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for executing instructions;    means for displaying a plurality of outcomes coupled to the means for executing instructions wherein each outcome includes a set of outcome positions, each outcome position including at least one outcome element, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that the set of outcome positions overlap each other; and    means for displaying a representation of the outcomes coupled to the means for executing instructions wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of outcome elements from the set of outcome positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed without overlapping any other set of outcome elements of any other displayed outcome representation.    
     
     
         37 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a processor;    a first display coupled to the processor and operable to display a plurality of outcomes, each outcome including a set of reel positions disposed along a payline, each reel position including at least one symbol, wherein the plurality of outcomes are displayed in a manner such that each of the paylines intersect at least one other payline; and    a second display coupled to the processor and operable to display a representation of the outcomes, wherein each outcome is displayed as a set of symbols along a payline,    wherein the set of symbols of each outcome includes at least one symbol from the set of reel positions of each outcome, and    wherein the representation of each of the plurality of outcomes is displayed without the payline of any set of symbols intersecting any other payline of another set of symbols of any other displayed outcome.