Granted Patent B1

US 8,808,088 · App. 13/276,816 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Abstract

Claims (59)

1. One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media including instructions which, when executed on one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

detecting an indication to begin a coordinated media show, wherein the coordinated media show is associated with a wagering game being presented in a wagering game system;

selecting a primary playlist and accompanying playlists associated with the coordinated media show;

transmitting, over a network, the accompanying playlists to components in the wagering game system;

executing a first program code that processes a first media content and presents a first media effect in the wagering game system, wherein the first program code is associated with the primary playlist;

detecting a synchronization trigger in the first media content;

transmitting, over the network, a synchronization marker to the components of the wagering game system; and

executing, in response to receipt of the synchronization marker, a second program code that processes a second media content and presents a second media effect in the wagering game system, wherein the second program code is associated with the primary playlist.

2. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media including instructions of claim 1 , wherein the network is a multi-drop network.

3. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media including instructions of claim 1 , wherein the media content includes audio content, and the detecting the synchronization trigger includes monitoring the audio content for changes in one or more of volume, pitch, tone, and tempo.

4. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media including instructions of claim 1 , wherein the components include a plurality of emotive lighting controllers.

5. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media including instructions of claim 1 , wherein the media content includes one or more of audio content, video content, and content for lighting effects.

6. A system comprising:

a wagering game server configured to

determine results for wagering games,

detect events associated with the wagering games,

select media shows associated with the events, wherein the media shows include audio content and video content, and

initiate presentation of the media show;

a plurality of emotive lighting controllers configured to

detect initiation of the media shows;

detect synchronization triggers in the audio content and the video content,

transmit, to one or more of the plurality of emotive lighting controllers over a multi-drop network, synchronization markers that indicate transitions between lighting effects in the media show, and

execute a first group of one or more scripts to produce media effects for the media shows;

receive one or more of the synchronization markers;

execute a second group of one or more scripts to produce different media effects in response to receipt of the synchronization markers; and

media devices configured to present the media effects.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the media devices include lighting devices, and wherein the media effects include lighting effects.

8. The system of claim 6 further including:

wagering game machines configured to present the wagering games, and wherein one or more of the media devices are mounted on the wagering game machine.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the media devices include one or more of light emitting diode arrays, light bars, spot lights, slot reel illuminators, and overhead sign lights.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the synchronization markers include ASCII text.

11. A method for synchronizing lighting effects and audio effects among wagering game machines arranged in a bank, the method comprising:

presenting a wagering game on a wagering game machine in the bank;

detecting an event in the wagering game for which to present the lighting effects and the audio effects;

selecting playlists that define the lighting effects and the audio effects;

notifying lighting controllers in the bank about the playlists;

presenting a first group of the lighting effects and a first group of the audio effects via lighting and audio devices mounted on the wagering game machine in the bank;

detecting a synchronization trigger associated with the audio effects; and

transmitting, to the lighting controllers in the bank, a synchronization marker that prompts the lighting controllers to present a second group of the lighting effects.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the detecting the synchronization trigger includes monitoring the first group of the audio effects for an end of a sound effect.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lighting controllers are configured to facilitate presentation of the audio effects and the lighting effects.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transmitting of the synchronization marker occurs over an a multi-drop network that substantially simultaneously delivers the synchronization marker to the lighting controllers in the bank.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the presenting a first group of the lighting effects and a first group of the audio effects via lighting and audio devices mounted on the wagering game machine in the bank further comprises:

executing scripts identified in one of the playlist, wherein the scripts include instructions for controlling the lighting devices and audio devices.

16. An apparatus configured to synchronize lighting effects and audio effects among wagering game machines arranged in a bank, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a machine-readable memory configured to store program code executable on at least one of the one or more processors, the program code including,

program code for presenting a wagering game on a wagering game machine in the bank;

program code for detecting an event in the wagering game for which to present the lighting effects and the audio effects;

program code for selecting playlists that define the lighting effects and the audio effects;

program code for notifying lighting controllers in the bank about the playlists;

program code for presenting a first group of the lighting effects and a first group of the audio effects via lighting and audio devices mounted the wagering game machine in the bank;

program code for detecting a synchronization trigger associated with the audio effects; and

program code for transmitting, to the lighting controllers in the bank, a synchronization marker that prompts the lighting controllers to present a second group of the lighting effects.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the program code for detecting the synchronization trigger includes program code for monitoring the first group of the audio effects for an end of a sound effect.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the lighting controllers are configured to facilitate presentation of the audio effects and the lighting effects.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein transmission of the synchronization marker occurs over an multi-drop network that substantially simultaneously delivers the synchronization marker to the lighting controllers in the bank.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the program code for the presenting a first group of the lighting effects and a first group of the audio effects via lighting and audio devices mounted the wagering game machine in the bank further comprises:

program code for executing scripts identified in one of the playlist, wherein the scripts include instructions for controlling the lighting devices and audio devices.

Assignments (13)