Wagering game machines and methods for printing information in a self-erasing format
View Patent ↗Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive information associated with a wagering game machine capable of engaging in the process of presenting a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered, print a first portion of the information in human perceivable form on a tangible object, such as a wagering game machine ticket, and record a second portion of the information in a wireless memory device to be attached to the wagering game machine ticket. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
1. A wagering game machine, comprising:
a processor operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered; and
a printer to receive information from the processor and to print the information in human perceivable form on a tangible object as printed information in a self-erasing format, wherein the tangible object comprises a wagering game machine ticket, and wherein the printed information is to be printed as portions that disappear at different times so that obscured information can be revealed in a sequence not selected by a player of the wagering game.
2. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the tangible object in the self-erasing format comprises common paper printed with disappearing ink.
3. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the tangible object in the self-erasing format comprises self-erasing paper printed with light waves.
4. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the tangible object in the self-erasing format comprises e-paper having a display printed with timed electrical signals.
5. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the tangible object comprises a smart card including a display to display the information.
6. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the portions comprise a first portion of the printed information that is to disappear after a first selected time, and a second portion of the printed information that is to disappear after a second selected time different than and later than the first selected time.
7. A wagering game machine system, comprising:
a server;
a client wagering game machine to communicate with the server and comprising a processor operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered; and
a printer to receive information from at least one of the server or the processor, and to print the information on a tangible object as printed information in a self-erasing format, wherein the tangible object comprises a wagering game machine ticket, and wherein the printed information is to be printed as portions that disappear at different times so that obscured information can be revealed in a sequence not selected by a player of the wagering game.
8. The wagering game machine system of claim 7 , wherein the server is to communicate with the client wagering game machine via one of a wired network and a wireless network.
9. The wagering game machine system of claim 7 , wherein the printer is configured to operate as a peripheral of at least one of the server or the client wagering game machine.
10. A method, comprising:
receiving information associated with a wagering game machine engaged in a process of presenting a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered;
printing the information in human perceivable form on a tangible object as printed information in a self-erasing format, wherein the tangible object comprises a wagering game machine ticket, and wherein the printed information is printed as portions that disappear at different times so that obscured information can be revealed in a sequence not selected by a player of the wagering game.
11. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
printing the obscured information using substantially permanent ink on the tangible object.
12. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
printing an erasure time associated with the self-erasing format as part of the printed information.
13. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
printing bonus feature access instructions associated with the wagering game as part of the obscured information.
14. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
printing a bar code as part of the obscured information.
15. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
printing an image associated with the wagering game, combined with an award, as part of the obscured information.
16. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
attaching a memory device coupled to a wireless transceiver to the tangible object.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portions comprise a first portion and a second portion, comprising:
printing the first portion of the printed information to disappear after a first selected time; and
printing the second portion of the printed information to disappear after a second selected time different than and later than the first selected time.