Handheld gaming system having dynamically adjusting interfaces and displays
View Patent ↗A gaming system comprises a handheld gaming device having a first display for displaying a wagering game. The system further comprises a wager input device in communication with the handheld gaming device. The system includes a detector for detecting at least one external input device connected to the handheld gaming device. The system further comprises a controller operative to cause the first display to display a first format of the wagering game if connection with the at least one external input device is not detected by the detector, and cause the first display to display a second format of the wagering game if connection with the at least one external input device is detected by the detector.
1. A gaming system comprising:
a handheld gaming device comprising a first display for displaying a wagering game;
a wager input device in communication with the handheld gaming device;
a detector for detecting at least one external input device connected to the handheld gaming device; and
a controller operative to cause the first display to display a first format of the wagering game if connection with the at least one external input device is not detected by the detector, and cause the first display to display a second format of the wagering game if connection with the at least one external input device is detected by the detector.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the first format comprises the wagering game displayed on a first portion of the display and a plurality of input selections displayed on a second portion of the display.
3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the second format comprises the wagering game displayed on the first and second portions of the display.
4. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the external input device comprises a docking station, the docking station including a plurality of buttons.
5. The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of buttons correspond to input selections in the wagering game.
6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the external input device comprises a docking station, the docking station including a plurality of buttons, wherein the handheld gaming device is connected to the docking station.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the external input device comprises a freestanding gaming machine, the freestanding gaming machine including a second display.
8. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further operative to
(i) cause the first display to display a third format of the wagering game and
(ii) cause the second display to display one of:
(a) the second format of the wagering game or
(b) a fourth format of the wagering game.
9. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the third format of the wagering game comprises a pay table.
10. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the handheld gaming device is physically connected to the freestanding gaming machine.
11. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the connection between the external input device and the handheld gaming device is wireless.
12. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising:
receiving a wager via a wager input device;
displaying a first format of the wagering game on a display of a handheld gaming device;
detecting at least one external input device connected to the handheld gaming device; and
in response to the detection, reconfiguring the display to display a second format of the wagering game.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing a touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display, the touch screen for receiving user selections.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first format of the wagering game includes a plurality of input selections on the display of the handheld gaming device.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reconfiguring step comprises removing at least a portion of the plurality of input selections from the display.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reconfiguring step comprises one of relocating, resizing, highlighting, or rearranging at least a portion of the plurality of input selections on the display.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second format is visually distinct from the first format.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the external input device is one of a docking station, a freestanding gaming machine, or a second handheld gaming device.
19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing a server in communication with at least one of the handheld gaming device or the external input device;
transmitting to the server the detection of the communication; and
receiving at the handheld gaming device instructions from the server for reconfiguring the display to display the second format of the wagering game.
20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the method of claim 12 .