IP Library Granted Patent US 7,905,780
Granted Patent B2
US 7,905,780 · App. 11/307,528 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

User interface system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,905,780
App. No.
11/307,528
Granted
Mar 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embedded user interface system 10 includes a web page display screen 20 and an embedded processor 30 , and is incorporated into a gaming machine 40 that in turn includes a gaming presentation 50 and a gaming processor 60 . The embedded processor 30 employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor 60 . The display screen 20 presents information to a user via the display screen. The dictionary extension 100 receives an incoming text string, parses the text string to identify a navigation command and pull a uniform resource locator from the text string, loads the uniform resource locator pulled from the text string into a variable, and indirectly navigates the web content capable display screen to the uniform resource locator in the variable. This provides a dramatic improvement over traditional system components 70 (input/output peripherals) that have been used in the past to access service and system information, such as a 2-line, 20-character VF display and a 12-digit keypad.

Claims (66)

1. An embedded user interface system associated with a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a web content capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives a text data message directed to be displayed to a player upon a display screen, translates the message into an XML, HTML, or DHTML enhanced player message directed to be displayed to the player upon the display screen, and initiates a command that launches a pop-up dialog box over a browser presented on the display screen without altering the browser presented on the display screen;

wherein the pop-up dialog box enables a temporary message to be sent to a user without changing a state of the browser behind the pop-up dialogue box.

2. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

3. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I2C bus.

4. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the web content capable display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

5. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

6. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

7. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

8. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

9. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the certification process provides auditability and traceability.

10. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

11. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

12. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1 , wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

13. An embedded user interface system for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a web content capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen;

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text data message directed to be displayed to a player upon a display screen, and translates the message into an XML, HTML, or DHTML enhanced player message directed to be displayed to the player upon the display screen; and

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor reads an incoming text data message sent from a game monitoring unit to the player, calls the dictionary component, returns a set of actions upon which a display manager performs, and displays the enhanced player message to the player on the display screen.

14. The embedded user interface of claim 1 , wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

15. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I2C bus.

16. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the animation capable display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

17. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

18. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

19. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

20. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

21. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the certification process produces signed content that is auditable and traceable.

22. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

23. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

24. The embedded user interface of claim 13 , wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

25. An embedded user interface system for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a player via the display screen, and wherein the web page display screen is divided into a plurality of frames that are each capable of displaying a different uniform resource locator;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text data message directed to be displayed to a player upon a display screen, translates the message into an XML, HTML, or DHTML enhanced player message directed to be displayed to the player upon the display screen, and initiates a command that launches a pop-up dialog box over a browser presented on the display screen without altering the browser presented on the display screen;

wherein the pop-up dialog box enables a temporary message to be sent to a player without changing a state of the browser behind the pop-up dialogue box.

26. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

27. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I2C bus.

28. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the web page display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

29. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

30. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

31. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

32. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

33. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the certification process provides auditability and traceability.

34. The embedded additional user interface of claim 25 , wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

35. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the web authoring language is HTML.

36. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the web authoring language is DHTML.

37. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the web authoring language is XML.

38. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

39. The embedded user interface of claim 25 , wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

40. A gaming machine having a gaming presentation, the gaming machine comprising:

a gaming processor; and

a user interface separate from the gaming presentation, the user interface comprising:

a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen;

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text data message directed to be displayed to a player upon a display screen, and translates the message into an XML, HTML, or DHTML enhanced player message directed to be displayed to the player upon the display screen; and

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor reads an incoming text data message sent from a game monitoring unit to the player, calls the dictionary component, returns a set of actions upon which a display manager performs, and displays the enhanced player message to the player on the web page display screen.

41. A method for increasing user excitement relating to a gaming machine by providing a richer gaming experience via an embedded user interface system that is incorporated into the gaming machine, wherein the embedded user interface system includes an embedded processor, a web page display screen, and a dictionary extension, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming text data message directed to be displayed to a player upon a web content capable display screen of the embedded user interface system;

translating the message into an XML, HTML, or DHTML enhanced player message directed to be displayed to the player upon the web content capable display screen using the embedded processor and the dictionary extension; and

initiating a command that launches a pop-up dialog box over a browser presented on the web content capable display screen without altering the browser presented on the web content capable display screen;

wherein the pop-up dialog box enables a temporary message to be sent to a user without changing a state of the browser behind the pop-up dialogue box.

42. A gaming machine that includes an embedded user interface system for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a web content capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen, wherein the web content display screen is separate from the gaming presentation of the gaming machine;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives a text data message directed to be displayed to a player upon a display screen, translates the message into an XML, HTML, or DHTML enhanced player message directed to be displayed to the player upon the display screen, and initiates a command that launches a pop-up dialog box over a browser presented on the display screen without altering the browser presented on the display screen;

wherein the pop-up dialog box enables a temporary message to be sent to a user without changing a state of the browser behind the pop-up dialogue box.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051642 FRAME: 0164. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063460/0211 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 18, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0164 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045909/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044889/0662 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 24, 2017
From: BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 042490/0875 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031745/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2006
From: MORROW, JAMES W; DIMICHELE, CARMEN
To: BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 017214/0364 →