International Game Technology

Hardy Lee Crumby

Ali M Saffari

Richard M Pennington

A gaming machine with a communication multiplexer device that allows communications between the gaming machine and one or more game service servers all within a single network interface is described. The single network interface may be a wireless or wired network interface. The communication multiplexer device converts messages in native communication protocols used by the gaming machine to a network communication protocol such as transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) for transmission over the single wired or wireless network interface. The communication multiplexer is designed such that the gaming machine may receive messages that have been transmitted using the native communication protocols without modifying regulated gaming software on the gaming machine.

Multi-system gaming terminal communication device

A gaming machine with a communication multiplexer device that allows communications between the gaming machine and one or more game service servers all within a single network interface is described. The single network interface may be a wireless or wired network interface. The communication multiplexer device converts messages in native communication protocols used by the gaming machine to a network communication protocol such as TCP/IP for transmission over the single wired or wireless network interface. The communication multiplexer is designed such that the gaming machine may receive messages that have been transmitted using the native communication protocols without modifying regulated gaming software on the gaming machine.

A gaming device which includes one or more outcome pools for providing outcomes to players. After a predetermined event occurs, the gaming device processor draws one or more outcomes from one or more pools. The gaming device provides the drawn outcomes to a player and prevents the drawn outcomes from being provided to any player again until the processor has provided players with all of the outcomes remaining in the pools of the drawn outcomes.

Gaming device including outcome pools for providing game outcomes

A gaming system is provided in which a plurality of gaming terminals have gaming outcomes that are provided in response to a game outcome seed sent, to the gaming terminals, from a central computer. The game outcome seeds are individualized in the sense that not all gaming terminals in the system use the same seed at the same time. Preferably, seeds are addressed to individual gaming terminals or groups of terminals. Seeds may be transmitted to terminals in response to seed requests output by terminals. In one approach, seeds are generated as needed and/or substantially continuously. In another approach, batches, pools or lists of seeds are generated and a seed request is responded to by drawing a seed from a pre-defined list, until the list is depleted, whereupon a new list or batch is generated. In one approach, one or more lists are generated for each type of game or pay table. Preferably game outcome seeds are associated with tags or other information which can be used for verifying game outcomes and/or avoiding errors or cheating.

Gaming system with individualized centrally generated random number generator seeds

A method and apparatus for establishing a data network between gaming devices is disclosed. In one embodiment a wireless communication system facilitates communication between gaming devices or communication between gaming devices and a server or central site. Wireless communication overcomes the drawbacks associated with wired networks that occur when the gaming devices are moved from one location to another by individuals not trained as computer network technicians. In one configuration the wireless network adopts a packet based communication protocol with transmit and receive processing layers. To achieve improved communication performance and reliability the transmitter may operate at about 2.4 GHz transmit frequency and adopt FSK type coding. In one embodiment a concentrator connects via a wireless or hardwired connection to a main server or hardwired LAN to thereby serve as a main hub to facilitate communication between a plurality of gaming devices and the server.

Gaming device network

A gaming system is provided which permits the hold value to be determined independently of the distribution of winning outcomes, e.g., to avoid or prevent volatility in the hold value. Preferably each time a wager is placed, a hold value (such as a predetermined and/or fixed percentage) is retained and the remainder is allocated to one or more prize pools. If a pool is too large or too small, or if a pool's rate of growth is too large or too small, the central computer sends a message to all terminals which contribute to the pool, causing the terminals to modify operations so as to bring the pool size or rate of growth to within desired target ranges. Preferably, the current prize amounts corresponding to various potential winning game outcomes are displayed when a game is won, the displayed amount corresponding to the type of win paid. Preferably, a portion of wages is retained as a background amount to at least partially replenish a paid-out prize.

Non-banked gaming system

In a gaming system, a central computer generates a plurality of game win-loss outcome stacks, each stack having at least one &ldquo;win&rdquo; (preferably, large-prize) outcome. Sub-stacks, from among the plurality of stacks, are transmitted to casino or other group controllers or computers, each casino controller being coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals. In response to placing a large-prize wager, in addition to normal, local game wager, a gaming terminal requests a large-prize outcome from the sub-stack which is stored in the casino controller. Whenever a casino controller's sub-stack is depleted, it requests a new sub-stack from the central computer. Preferably the central computer selects a new sub-stack for transmission according to a selection process which is weighted so as to maintain the ratio of winning outcomes to all outcomes in a predetermined range. When all sub-stacks of a given stack have been transmitted, the central computer generates a new stack to replace the depleted stack.

Growing community of inventors

Fernley, NV, United States of America

Hardy Lee Crumby