Granted Patent B2

US 8,777,731 · App. 13/368,472 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Inventors: William C. Miller (Reno, NV); Eucke W. Warren (Sparks, NV)

Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (100)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining one or more mathematical expressions in a non-programming code format from one or more data sources associated with a wagering game presentable via a wagering game machine, wherein the one or more mathematical expressions include game-related parameters that represent one or more gaming activities associated with a wagering game session;

detecting user input, via one or more input devices, to configure the wagering game;

converting the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to one or more equivalent programming code expressions in a programming code format in response to the detecting the user input, wherein the one or more programming code expressions comprise a function for an expected value of the wagering game;

determining one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

via use of one or more processors, evaluating the function for the expected value using the one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

generating the expected value for the wagering game in response to the evaluating the function for the expected value; and

configuring the wagering game using the expected value.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the converting comprises:

automatically generating a class in the programming code format that includes the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format,

wherein the evaluating and the generating include using the class.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the configuring the wagering game using the expected value comprises:

determining that the expected value comports with one or more jurisdictional rules in which the wagering game machine resides; and

determining one or more settings that are allowed for the wagering game in response to the determining that the expected value comports with the one or more jurisdictional rules.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more settings are associated with one or more of one or more allowable pay tables, one or more allowable maximum bet values, and one or more allowable denomination values for the wagering game based on the one or more jurisdictional rules.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the expected value is for a primary wagering game, and wherein the one or more programming code expressions further comprise an additional function for an additional expected value for a potential payout of a secondary wagering game, wherein the additional function for the additional expected value is based, at least in part, on the function for the expected value of the primary wagering game.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more data sources comprise one or more configuration files.

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

obtaining one or more mathematical expressions in a non-programming code format from one or more configuration files associated with a wagering game presentable via a wagering game machine, wherein the one or more mathematical expressions include game-related parameters that represent one or more gaming activities associated with a wagering game session;

detecting user input to configure the one or more wagering games;

converting the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to one or more equivalent programming code expressions in a programming code format in response to the detecting the user input, wherein the one or more equivalent programming code expressions comprise a function for an expected value of the wagering game;

determining one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

evaluating the function for the expected value using the one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

generating the expected value for the wagering game in response to the evaluating the function for the expected value; and

configuring the wagering game using the expected value.

8. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 7 , wherein the converting comprises:

automatically generating a class in the programming code format that includes the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format,

wherein the evaluating and the generating include using the class.

9. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 7 , wherein the configuring the wagering game using the expected value comprises:

determining that the expected value comports with one or more jurisdictional rules in which the wagering game machine resides; and

determining one or more settings that are allowed for the wagering game in response to the determining that the expected value comports with the one or more jurisdictional rules.

10. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the one or more settings are associated with one or more of one or more allowable pay tables, one or more allowable maximum bet values, and one or more allowable denomination values for the wagering game based on the one or more jurisdictional rules.

11. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 7 , wherein the expected value is for a primary wagering game, and wherein the one or more programming code expressions further comprise an additional function for an additional expected value for a potential payout of a secondary wagering game, wherein the additional function for the additional expected value is based, at least in part, on the function for the expected value of the primary wagering game.

12. A system comprising:

at least one input device configured to receive an indication of a wager to play a wagering game presentable via a wagering game machine;

at least one display device configured to display the wagering game, the display device being capable of stereoscopic, three-dimensional visual effects;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

obtain one or more mathematical expressions in a non-programming code format from one or more data sources associated with the wagering game, wherein the one or more mathematical expressions include game-related parameters that represent one or more gaming activities associated with a wagering game session;

detect user input to configure the wagering game;

convert the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to one or more equivalent programming code expressions in a programming code format in response to detection of the user input, wherein the one or more programming code expressions comprise a function for an expected value of the wagering game;

determine one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

evaluate the function for the expected value using the one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

generate the expected value for the wagering game in response to evaluation of the function for the expected value; and

configure the wagering game using the expected value.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to convert the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format comprise instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

automatically generate a class in the programming code format that includes the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format; and

wherein evaluation of the function for the expected value and generation of the expected value include use of the class.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to configure the wagering game using the expected value comprise instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine that the expected value comports with one or more jurisdictional rules in which the wagering game machine resides; and

determine one or more settings that are allowed for the wagering game in response to determination that the expected value comports with the one or more jurisdictional rules.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more settings are associated with one or more of one or more allowable pay tables, one or more allowable maximum bet values, and one or more allowable denomination values for the wagering game based on the one or more jurisdictional rules.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the expected value is for a primary wagering game, wherein the one or more programming code expressions further comprise an additional function for an additional expected value for a potential payout of a secondary wagering game, and wherein the additional function for the additional expected value is based, at least in part, on the function for the expected value of the primary wagering game.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more data sources comprise one or more configuration files.

18. An apparatus comprising:

at least one input device configured to receive an indication of a wager to play one or more wagering games presentable via a wagering game machine;

at least one display device configured to display the one or more wagering games, the display device being capable of stereoscopic, three-dimensional visual effects;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

obtain one or more mathematical expressions in a non-programming code format from one or more configuration files associated with one or more wagering games, wherein the one or more mathematical expressions include game-related parameters that represent one or more gaming activities associated with a wagering game session, and wherein the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format indicate a first expected value for a potential payout for a first of the one or more wagering games based, at least in part, on an second expected value for a second one of the one or more wagering games;

detect user input to configure the one or more wagering games;

convert the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to one or more equivalent programming code expressions in a programming code format in response to detection of the user input, wherein the one or more equivalent programming code expressions comprise a first function for the first expected value and a second function for the second expected value;

determine one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

evaluate the first function for the first expected value and the second function for the second expected value using the one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

generate the first expected value and the second expected value for the wagering game in response to evaluation of the first function and the second function; and

configure the one or more wagering games using the first expected value and the second expected value.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions to convert the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to the one or more equivalent programming code expressions in the programming code format using the first expected value and the second expected value comprise instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

automatically generate a class in the programming code format that includes the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format; and

wherein evaluation of the first function for the first expected value, evaluation of the second function for the second expected value, generation of the first expected value, and generation of the second expected value include use of the class.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions to configure the one or more wagering games using the first expected value and the second expected value comprise instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine that one or more of the first expected value and the second expected value comports with one or more jurisdictional rules in which the wagering game machine resides; and

determine one or more settings that are allowed for the one or more wagering games in response to determination that the one or more of the first expected value and the second expected value comports with the one or more jurisdictional rules.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the one or more settings are associated with one or more of one or more allowable pay tables, one or more allowable maximum bet values, and one or more allowable denomination values for the one or more wagering games based on the one or more jurisdictional rules.

22. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining one or more mathematical expressions in a non-programming code format from one or more configuration files, wherein the one or more configurations files are associated with primary wagering game and with a second wagering game presentable via a wagering game machine, wherein the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format include game-related parameters that represent one or more gaming activities associated with a wagering game session, and wherein the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format indicate a first expected value for potential payout of the secondary wagering game based, at least in part, on a second expected value of the primary wagering game;

means for detecting user input to configure the primary wagering game and the second wagering game;

means for converting the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to one or more programming code expressions in a programming code format in response to detection of the user input, wherein the one or more programming code expressions are equivalent to the non-one or more mathematical expression, and wherein the one or more programming code expressions comprise a first function for the first expected value and a second function for the second expected value;

means for evaluating the first function for the first expected value and the second function for the second expected value using the one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

means for generating the first expected value and the second expected value for the wagering game in response to evaluation of the first function and the second function; and

means for configuring the primary wagering game and the second wagering game using the first expected value and the second expected value.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the means for converting comprises:

means for automatically generating a class in the programming code format that includes the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format; and

wherein the means for evaluating and the means for generating include means for using the class.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the means for configuring the primary wagering game and the secondary wagering game using the first expected value and the second expected value comprise:

means for determining that one or more of the first expected value and the second expected value comports with one or more jurisdictional rules in which the wagering game machine resides; and

means for determining one or more settings that are allowed for the primary wagering game and the secondary wagering game in response to determining that the first expected value and the second expected value comports with the one or more jurisdictional rules.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the one or more settings are associated with one or more of one or more allowable pay tables, one or more allowable maximum bet values, and one or more allowable denomination values for the primary wagering game and the secondary wagering game based on the one or more jurisdictional rules.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format comprise a string of symbols and operators organized into a first format that is not compatible with syntax of a programming language, and wherein the converting the one or more mathematical expressions to the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format comprises changing the string of symbols and operators into the programming code format, wherein the programming code format is compatible with the syntax of the programming language.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format are stored in a configuration file, wherein the configuration file comprises extensible markup language format, and wherein the converting the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to the one or more programming code expressions comprises converting the extensible markup language format to a programming language format, wherein the programming language comprises one or more of C#, Javascript, Java, C++, the Adobe® Flash® programming language, the Microsoft® Silverlight™ programming language, the Adobe® Air™ programming language, and hyper-text markup language.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising compiling the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format after the converting the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to the one or more programming code expressions in the programming code format.

29. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory storage devices configured to store instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to:

obtain one or more mathematical expressions in a non-programming code format from one or more data sources associated with the wagering game, wherein the one or more mathematical expressions include game-related parameters that represent one or more gaming activities associated with a wagering game session;

detect user input to configure the wagering game;

convert the one or more mathematical expressions in the non-programming code format to one or more equivalent programming code expressions in a programming code format in response to detection of the user input, wherein the one or more programming code expressions comprise a function for an expected value of the wagering game;

determine one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

evaluate the function for the expected value using the one or more values for the one or more game-related parameters;

generate the expected value for the wagering game in response to evaluation of the function for the expected value; and

configure the wagering game using the expected value.

Assignments (13)

Continuity (1)