Self configuring progressive jackpot award controller
View Patent ↗A self configuring progressive jackpot award system includes a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs). The plurality of EGMs respectively include a plurality of EGM configuration options, and operate in accordance with the EGM configuration options. A subset of the plurality of EGM configuration options relates to participating in a progressive jackpot award game. A progressive controller is coupled to the plurality of EGMs and controls the operation of a progressive jackpot award game. The progressive controller includes a plurality of progressive jackpot award game configuration options. A subset of these progressive jackpot award game configuration options correspond to the subset of EGM configuration options related to participating in the progressive jackpot award game. The progressive controller automatically sends data representing this subset of progressive jackpot award game configuration options to the plurality of EGMs. The plurality of EGMs receives the progressive jackpot award game configuration option representative data from the progressive controller, stores the subset of EGM configuration options related to participating in the progressive jackpot award game represented by the data, and participates in the progressive jackpot award game in accordance with the EGM progressive jackpot award game configuration award game options.
1. A progressive jackpot feature controller for a plurality of electronic devices each adapted for operating a wagering game selected from an available plurality game configuration options and each connected for communication over a network, said progressive jackpot feature controller comprising:
apparatus for said controller to communicate over said network with said devices;
a data structure storing data representing a plurality of progressive jackpot feature configuration options at least one of which is compatible with an available game configuration option for at least a subset of said devices;
said controller configured to send a message to said subset of devices to invoke said compatible game configuration option to link said subset of devices for a progressive award feature.
2. The progressive controller of claim 1 wherein a device is added to the network comprising said controller configured to send said message to said added device to invoke said compatible game configuration option to link said added device for said progressive jackpot feature if said added device includes said compatible game configuration option.
3. The progressive controller of claim 1 comprising said data structure stores data representing a second progressive jackpot feature which is compatible with a second subset of said available game configuration options, said controller configured to send a message to said second subset of devices to invoke said compatible game configuration option to link said second subset of devices for a second progressive jackpot feature.
4. A progressive jackpot feature controller for a plurality of electronic devices each adapted for operating a wagering game selected from an available plurality game configuration options and each connected for communication over a network, said progressive jackpot feature controller comprising:
apparatus for said controller to communicate over said network with said devices;
a data structure storing data representing a plurality of progressive jackpot feature configuration options at least one of which is compatible with an available game configuration option for at least a subset of said devices;
said controller configured to send a message to said devices to request game configuration options, to compare said game configuration options to said progressive jackpot feature configuration options to determine at least a subset of said devices where a game configuration option is compatible to a progressive jackpot feature configuration option and to link said subset of devices for said at least one progressive jackpot feature.
5. The progressive jackpot controller of claim 4 comprising said controller configured to detect a device of said subset operating under a game configuration option incompatible with said at least one progressive jackpot feature and to send a message to said gaming device operating under said incompatible game configuration option to cause said device to invoke said compatible game configuration option.
6. The progressive jackpot controller of claim 1 configured to issue an message to said devices not is said subset indicative of their exclusion from said progressive jackpot feature.
7. The progressive controller of claim 5 comprising said data structure storing data representing a second progressive jackpot feature, said controller configured to compare said game configuration options to said second progressive jackpot feature configuration options to determine at least a second subset of said devices where a second game configuration option is compatible to said second progressive jackpot feature configuration and to link said second subset of devices for said second progressive jackpot feature.
8. The progressive jackpot controller of claim 5 comprising said controller configured to detect a device of said second subset operating under a second game configuration option incompatible with said second progressive jackpot feature and to send a message to said gaming device operating under said incompatible game configuration option to cause said device to invoke said compatible second game configuration option.
9. The progressive jackpot controller of claim 5 configured to issue an message to said devices not is said subsets indicative of their exclusion from said progressive jackpot feature.