Gaming System Customer Service Techniques

Abstract

A gaming system ( 100 ) includes gaming locations ( 102, 104, 106 ) that each comprise an interactive communication unit ( 119 ), including a display 118 visible from the gaming location. A network ( 126 ) is arranged to transmit data between the communication units. A touch screen liquid crystal display ( 118 ) unrelated to the operation of a gaming machine ( 102 ) generates graphics images.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a gaming system comprising a service station and at least a first gaming location enabling play of a game by a player, apparatus for enabling communication with the service station and the first gaming location comprising:
 a first touch screen display visible from the first gaming location displaying a message unrelated to play of the game without interrupting the game depending on a preference of the player before the message is displayed at the first gaming location, wherein the message comprising a first menu of services available for selection by the player, and a second menu responsive to selection of one of the services available by the player, the second menu displaying a plurality of second menu items available for selection by the player, and wherein the first communication unit responding to a selection by the player to enable an order of a selected item from the service station;   a second touch screen display visible from the service station arranged to display the order and an identification of the gaming location requesting the order, said identification of the gaming location comprising a map; and   a network arranged to transmit data so that messages are displayed on the first touch screen display and the second touch screen display.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming location comprises a gaming machine and wherein the first touch screen display is coupled to the gaming machine. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising a keypad operable from the gaming location wherein the second touch screen display displays a message comprising data entered by the keypad. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first communication unit displays an image on the first touch screen display suitable for entry of at least one of numeric data and alphabetic data by touching the first touch screen display. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second communication unit displays an image on the second touch screen display suitable for entry of at least one of numeric data and alphabetic data by touching the second touch screen display. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a central authority and a card reader, the card reader being operable from the first gaming location and arranged to read a code from a card entered by the player at the first gaming location, wherein the preference is stored in the central authority, wherein the preference is accessed in response to the code, wherein the preference comprises a preference authorizing the player to be located, and wherein the second touch screen display is arranged to display an identification of the location of the player in response to the code. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the preference comprises a preference authorizing the player to be located by another player. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first menu displays a plurality of types of personal service available according to the preferences of the player. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second menu displays a plurality of reservation services available. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first touch screen display displays a message enabling the player to enter at least one of a name of a person, an identification of a second gaming location and a player code of a person and a message and wherein the network transmits the message to the intended person or the second gaming location. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first touch screen display displays the first and second menus sent to the first touch screen display. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming location is arranged to accommodate a first player and wherein the first communication unit enables entry by the first player of at least one of a name of a second player, an identification of a second gaming location and a second player code and enables entry of a first message, the apparatus further comprising a central authority, a second gaming location arranged to accommodate a second player, an interactive third communication unit operable from the second gaming location, including a third display visible from the second gaming location, the third communication unit enabling entry by the second player of at least one of a name of the first player, an identification of a first gaming location and a first player code and enabling entry of a second message, wherein the central authority is arranged to identify the first gaming location in response to at least one of the name of the first player, the identification of the first gaming location and the first player code and is arranged to identify the second gaming location in response to at least one of the second player name, the identification of the second gaming location and the second player code, and wherein the network is arranged to transmit data resulting in display of the first message on the third display and is arranged to transmit data resulting in display of the second message on the first touch screen display. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the code comprises a player ID number. 
     
     
         14 . In a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming locations, apparatus for enabling communication between a first and a second gaming locations comprising:
 a first touch screen display visible from the first gaming location and arranged to accommodate a first player, enabling entry of at least one of a name of a second player and a second player code and enabling entry of a first message for the second player even when the second player is not at any gaming location;   a second touch screen display visible from from the second gaming location and arranged to accommodate a second player, enabling entry of at least one of a name of the first player and a first player code and enabling entry of a second message for the first player even when the first player is not at any gaming location;   a network arranged to transmit data resulting in display of a first menu including the first message and the name of the first player on the second touch screen display, the first menu enabling selection of a reply menu allowing the second player to enter a reply message to the first player even when the first player is not at any gaming location, the network also being arranged to transmit data resulting in display of a second menu including the second message and the name of the second player on the first touch screen display, the second menu enabling selection of a reply menu allowing the first player to enter a reply message to the second player even when the second player is not at any gaming location; and   a central authority to locate the second touch screen display associated with the second player identified as the recipient of the first message and to locate the first touch screen display associated with the first player identified as the recipient of the second message, the central authority also being arranged to save the first message until the second touch screen display is located and forwarding the first message to the second touch screen display associated with the second player, the central authority also being arranged to save the second message until the first touch screen display is located and forwarding the second message to the second touch screen display associated with the first player.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the central authority is arranged to identify the first gaming location in response to at least one of the name of the first player and the first player code and arranged to identify the second gaming location in response to at least one of the name of the second player and the second player code. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  and further comprising a first card reader operable from the first gaming location and a second card reader operable from the second gaming location, the first and second card readers being operable to read a code from a card entered by a player and wherein the central authority identifies the first gaming location based on the code read at the first location and data entered at the second location and identifies the second gaming location based on the code read at the second location and data entered at the first location. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the code comprises a player ID number. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising an alphanumeric keypad operable from the first gaming location wherein the second message comprises data entered by the keypad. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein each of the first touch screen display and second touch screen display displays an image suitable for entry of at least one of numeric data and alphabetic data by touching one of the first touch screen display and second touch screen display. 
     
     
         20 . In a gaming system comprising a service station, and at least a first gaming location enabling play of a game by a first player, a method of enabling communication with the service station and the first gaming location comprising:
 storing a preference of the first player;   generating messages at the first gaming location and displaying messages unrelated to play of the game without interrupting the game, the messages being visible from the first gaming location interactively, the messages comprising a first menu of services available for selection by the player, a second menu responsive to selection of one of the services available by the player, the second menu displaying a plurality of second menu items available for selection by the player depending on the preference to enable an order of a selected item from the service station;   generating messages at the service station and interactively displaying messages visible from the service station that show the order and an identification of the gaming location requesting the order, said identification of the gaming location comprising a map; and   transmitting the generated messages.