IP Library Granted Patent US 9,728,041
Granted Patent B2
US 9,728,041 · App. 14/298,712 · Granted Aug 8, 2017

Wagering game machine layout mapping

Inventors: Peter R. Anderson (Glenview, IL); David E. Detlefsen (Northfield, IL); Jacob C. Greenberg (Elgin, IL); Timothy T. Gronkowski (Chicago, IL); Victor V. Lerias, III (Morton Grove, IL); Timothy D. Wilson (Oak Park, IL)
Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
G07F17/3258G07F17/32G07F17/3216G07F17/3223G07F17/3232
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,728,041
App. No.
14/298,712
Granted
Aug 8, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A layout pattern of a plurality of possible layout patterns for wagering game machines is determined. An input indicating a location of a wagering game machine within the layout patter is received. A mapping of the wagering game machine to the location within the layout pattern is stored.

Claims (56)

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

providing, via an electronic gaming network, for presentation at a wagering game machine of a plurality of wagering game machines, a potential bank layout pattern for a bank of related wagering game machines, wherein the potential bank layout pattern presents, according to a configuration requirement, a number of graphics that represent a required number of wagering game machines laid out in a specific orientation relative to each other for play of one or more features of an electronic wagering game, and wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive physical money to increase a credit balance for placement of one or more wagers for the one or more features of the electronic wagering game;

highlighting, via the potential bank layout pattern, one of the number of graphics;

requesting, via the potential bank layout pattern, user input at one of the plurality of wagering game machines to indicate that the one of the number of graphics corresponds to the wagering game machine, wherein the one of the number of graphics represents a physical position of the wagering game machine in relation to physical locations of others of the plurality of wagering game machines within the potential bank layout pattern according to the specific orientation;

receiving, via an input device associated with the wagering game machine, the user input, which indicates that the one of the plurality of wagering game machines corresponds to the one of the number of graphics that is highlighted within the potential bank layout pattern; and

in response to the receiving, storing, in a memory device, a mapping of the physical position of the wagering game machine in relation to the physical locations of the others of the plurality of wagering game machines within the potential bank layout pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specific orientation comprises one of a member of the group consisting of a straight line of wagering game machines, a circle of wagering game machines, a back-to-back row of wagering game machines, or a curved line of wagering game machines.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the potential bank layout pattern is in response to automatically determining network addresses for the plurality of wagering game machines associated with the bank of related wagering game machines, and wherein the gaming system lacks sufficient information to automatically ascertain which one of the network addresses corresponds to the one of the plurality of wagering game machines that corresponds to the one of the number of graphics.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a perspective of a technician relative to the bank of related wagering game machines; and

highlighting, via the potential bank layout pattern, the one of the number of graphics based on the determined perspective of the technician.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining the perspective of the technician comprises:

recording, via a camera, an image the bank of related wagering game machines relative to the technician; and

determining, via digital optical recognition of the image, the perspective of the technician.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining, via the digital optical recognition of the image, the perspective of the technician comprises:

determining, based on the digital optical recognition of the image, one or more of a position or orientation of one or more unique identifiers physically visible on at least one of the bank of related wagering game machines, and

determining the perspective of the technician based at least in part on the determining the one or more of the position or orientation of the one or more unique identifiers.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the potential bank layout pattern is one or more of an unpopulated or incomplete representation of the bank of related wagering game machines, and wherein the requesting, via the potential bank layout pattern, the user input at one of the plurality of wagering game machines is a request to specify one or more of populated or complete representation of the bank of related wagering game machines.

8. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors of a gaming system cause the gaming system to perform operations comprising:

providing, via an electronic gaming network, for presentation at a wagering game machine of a plurality of wagering game machines, a potential bank layout pattern for a bank of related wagering game machines, wherein the potential bank layout pattern presents, according to a configuration requirement, a number of graphics that represent a required number of wagering game machines laid out in a specific orientation relative to each other for play of one or more features of an electronic wagering game, and wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive physical money to increase a credit balance for placement of one or more wagers for the one or more features of the electronic wagering game;

highlighting, via the potential bank layout pattern, one of the number of graphics;

requesting, via the potential bank layout pattern, user input at one of the plurality of wagering game machines to indicate that the one of the number of graphics corresponds to the wagering game machine, wherein the one of the number of graphics represents a physical position of the wagering game machine in relation to physical locations of others of the plurality of wagering game machines within the potential bank layout pattern according to the specific orientation;

receiving, via an input device associated with the wagering game machine, the user input, which indicates that the one of the plurality of wagering game machines corresponds to the one of the number of graphics that is highlighted within the potential bank layout pattern; and

in response to the receiving, storing, in a memory device, a mapping of the physical position of the wagering game machine in relation to the physical locations of the others of the plurality of wagering game machines within the potential bank layout pattern.

9. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 8 , wherein the specific orientation comprises one of a member of the group consisting of a straight line of wagering game machines, a circle of wagering game machines, a back-to-back row of wagering game machines, or a curved line of wagering game machines.

10. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 8 , wherein the providing the potential bank layout pattern is in response to automatically determining network addresses for the plurality of wagering game machines associated with the bank of related wagering game machines, and wherein the gaming system lacks sufficient information to automatically ascertain which one of the network addresses corresponds to the one of the plurality of wagering game machines that corresponds to the one of the number of graphics.

11. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 8 , wherein the potential bank layout pattern is one or more of an unpopulated or incomplete representation of the bank of related wagering game machines, and wherein the requesting, via the potential bank layout pattern, the user input at one of the plurality of wagering game machines is a request to specify one or more of populated or complete representation of the bank of related wagering game machines.

12. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 8 , said operations further comprising:

determining a perspective of a technician relative to the bank of related wagering game machines; and

highlighting, via the potential bank layout pattern, the one of the number of graphics based on the determined perspective of the technician.

13. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 12 , wherein the determining the perspective of the technician comprises:

recording, via a camera, an image the bank of related wagering game machines relative to the technician; and

determining, via digital optical recognition of the image, the perspective of the technician.

14. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the determining, via the digital optical recognition of the image, the perspective of the technician comprises:

determining, based on the digital optical recognition of the image, one or more of a position or orientation of one or more unique identifiers physically visible on at least one of the bank of related wagering game machines, and

determining the perspective of the technician based at least in part on the determining the one or more of the position or orientation of the one or more unique identifiers.

15. A gaming system comprising:

one or more electronic processors; and

a memory storage device configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic processors, cause the gaming system to perform operations to,

provide, via an electronic gaming network, for presentation at a wagering game machine of a plurality of wagering game machines, a potential bank layout pattern for a bank of related wagering game machines, wherein the potential bank layout pattern presents, according to a configuration requirement, a number of graphics that represent a required number of wagering game machines laid out in a specific orientation relative to each other for play of one or more features of an electronic wagering game, and wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive physical money to increase a credit balance for placement of one or more wagers for the one or more features of the electronic wagering game,

highlight, via the potential bank layout pattern, one of the number of graphics,

request, via the potential bank layout pattern, user input at one of the plurality of wagering game machines to indicate that the one of the number of graphics corresponds to the wagering game machine, wherein the one of the number of graphics represents a physical position of the wagering game machine in relation to physical locations of others of the plurality of wagering game machines within the potential bank layout pattern according to the specific orientation,

receive, via an input device associated with the wagering game machine, the user input, which indicates that the one of the plurality of wagering game machines corresponds to the one of the number of graphics that is highlighted within the potential bank layout pattern, and

in response to the user input being received, electronically store a mapping of the physical position of the wagering game machine in relation to the physical locations of the others of the plurality of wagering game machines within the potential bank layout pattern.

16. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the specific orientation comprises one of a member of the group consisting of a straight line of wagering game machines, a circle of wagering game machines, a back-to-back row of wagering game machines, or a curved line of wagering game machines.

17. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the memory storage device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic processors, cause the gaming system to provide the potential bank layout pattern in response to automatically determining network addresses for the plurality of wagering game machines associated with the bank of related wagering game machines, and wherein the gaming system lacks sufficient information to automatically ascertain which one of the network addresses corresponds to the one of the plurality of wagering game machines that corresponds to the one of the number of graphics.

18. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the potential bank layout pattern is one or more of an unpopulated or incomplete representation of the bank of related wagering game machines, and wherein the memory storage device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic processors, cause the gaming system to request to specify one or more of a populated or complete representation of the bank of related wagering game machines.

19. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the memory storage device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic processors, cause the gaming system to:

determine a perspective of a technician relative to the bank of related wagering game machines; and

highlight, via the potential bank layout pattern, the one of the number of graphics based on the determined perspective of the technician.

20. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the memory storage device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic processors, cause the gaming system to:

record, via a camera, an image the bank of related wagering game machines relative to the technician; and

determine, via digital optical recognition of the image, the perspective of the technician.

21. The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the memory storage device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic processors, cause the gaming system to:

determine, based on the digital optical recognition of the image, one or more of a position or orientation of one or more unique identifiers physically visible on at least one of the bank of related wagering game machines, and

determine the perspective of the technician based at least in part on determination of the one or more of the position or orientation of the one or more unique identifiers.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2025
From: LNW GAMING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071340/0404 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE NUMBERS 7963843, 8016666, 9076281, AND 9257001 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051642 FRAME: 0910. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063122/0307 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: SG GAMING, INC.
To: LNW GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 062669/0341 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2022
From: SG GAMING INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059793/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 19, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0910 →
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 Recorded Jul 29, 2015
From: WMS GAMING INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 036225/0464 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2014
From: ANDERSON, PETER R.; DETLEFSEN, DAVID E.; GREENBERG, JACOB C.; GRONKOWSKI, TIMOTHY T.; LERIAS, VICTOR V.; WILSON, TIMOTHY D.
To: WMS GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 033479/0896 →
Continuity (3)
Division 13508058
Provisional Application 61257980 · Nov 4, 2009
Related Publication 20140287823A1 · Sep 25, 2014