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.

1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a display for displaying a game;    a first input mechanism operable to receive money or indicia credit for wagers on a play of the game;    a second input mechanism operable to receive an input indicating a wager amount on the play of the game;    at least one processor operable to execute software for controlling the play of the game;    at least one memory for storing the software and a payout schedule wherein the software comprises; 
 a) logic for determining an outcome for the play of the game and a first award associated with the outcome wherein the first award and the outcome are related according to information stored in the payout schedule;  
 b) logic for monitoring a plurality of variables related to the play of the game on the gaming machine;  
 c) logic for determining whether to pay a second award in addition to the first award wherein the outcome determined for the play of the game is not used to determine whether to pay the second award; and  
   a communication interface for communicating with a remote host.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the logic for monitoring the plurality of variables includes logic for monitoring a number of wagers made on the gaming machine and wherein the logic for determining whether to pay the second award includes logic for using the number of wagers made.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein the second award is made in response to the number of wagers exceeding a threshold value.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the threshold value is determined randomly.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the logic for monitoring the plurality of variables includes logic for monitoring the wager amount made during the play of the game and wherein the logic for determining whether to pay the second award includes logic for using the wager amount from the play of the game.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the logic for monitoring the plurality of variables includes logic for monitoring the wager amount made during the play of the game and wherein the logic for determining whether to pay the second award includes logic for using a sum of wager amounts from the play of a plurality of games.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , wherein the wherein the second award is triggered when the sum amount of the wager amounts exceeds a threshold value.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , wherein the threshold value is determined randomly.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the logic for determining whether to pay the second award includes logic for using a randomly determined value.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is operable to determine a second award amount greater than zero for the second award when a first award amount for the first award is determined to be zero.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the logic for monitoring the plurality of variables includes logic for determining a rate of play and wherein the logic for determining whether to pay the second award includes logic for using the rate of play.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the rate of play is determined from a sum of wagers made on a plurality of games over a time period.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the rate of play is determined from a number of games initiated over a time period.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein a length of a time period used to determine the rate of play is randomly determined.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award is made after the play of the game is initiated.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second award is paid on a random basis.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second award is a progressive award.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 17 , wherein the gaming machine is operable to receive a progressive award amount for the progressive award from the remote host via the communication interface.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is operable to receive a second award amount for the second award from the remote host via the communication interface.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the software further comprises logic for selecting a second award amount for the second award from a plurality of award amounts.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine of  claim 20 , wherein the gaming machine is operable to receive the plurality of award amounts from the remote host via the communicate interface.  
   
   
       22 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine, said player tracking device comprising a second processor operable to execute the logic for monitoring the plurality of variables related to the play of the game on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine, said player tracking device comprising a second processor operable to execute the logic for determining whether to pay the second award in addition to the first award.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the display is one of a mechanical display or a video display.  
   
   
       25 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an output mechanism operable to output an indicia of credit.  
   
   
       26 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a display for displaying a game;    a first input mechanism operable to receive money or indicia credit for wagers on a play of the game;    a second input mechanism operable to receive an input indicating a wager amount on the play of the game;    at least one processor operable to execute software for controlling the play of the game;    at least one memory for storing the software and a payout schedule wherein the software comprises; 
 a) logic for determining an outcome for the play of the game and a first award associated with the outcome wherein the first award and the outcome are related according to information stored in the payout schedule;  
 b) logic for determining whether to pay a second award in addition to the first award wherein the outcome determined for the play of the game is not used to determine whether to pay the second award; and  
   a communication interface for communicating with a remote host.    
   
   
       27 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award is made on a random basis.  
   
   
       28 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends on a number of games initiated on the gaming machine by a particular user.  
   
   
       29 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends on a sum of wagers made during the play of a plurality of games by a particular user.  
   
   
       30 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein the determination of whether to play the second award depends on a randomly calculated value.  
   
   
       31 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein a second award amount for the second award is received from a remote host via the communication interface.  
   
   
       32 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein the second award is a progressive award.  
   
   
       33 . The gaming machine of  claim 26 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends on the wager amount.