27197results about "Apparatus for meter-controlled dispensing" patented technology

A gaming apparatus and method including a primary game and a player interactive bonus game actuated by a qualifying outcome of the primary game and including a bonus award display showing a multiplicity of images displayed on a video monitor from which a player selects until achieving a pair of matched bonus awards.

A distributed electronic entertainment method and apparatus are described. In one embodiment, a central management resource is coupled to multiple out-of-home venues through a wide area network (WAN). The central management resource stores content and performs management, monitoring and entertainment content delivery functions. At each venue at least one entertainment unit is coupled to the WAN. Multiple entertainment units in a venue are coupled to each other through a local area network (LAN). In one embodiment, an entertainment unit includes a user interface that comprises at least one graphical user interface (GUI). The entertainment unit further comprises a local memory device that stores entertainment content comprising music, a peripheral interface, and a user input device. A plurality of peripheral devices are coupled to the at least one entertainment unit via the peripheral interface, wherein a user, through the user input device and the user interface, performs at least one activity from a group comprising, playing music, playing electronic games, viewing television content, and browsing the Internet.

Documents and other items can be delivered electronically from sender to recipient with a level of trustedness approaching or exceeding that provided by a personal document courier. A trusted electronic go-between can validate, witness and/or archive transactions while, in some cases, actively participating in or directing the transaction. Printed or imaged documents can be marked using handwritten signature images, seal images, electronic fingerprinting, watermarking, and/or steganography. Electronic commercial transactions and transmissions take place in a reliable, "trusted" virtual distribution environment that provides significant efficiency and cost savings benefits to users in addition to providing an extremely high degree of confidence and trustedness. The systems and techniques have many uses including but not limited to secure document delivery, execution of legal documents, and electronic data interchange (EDI).

A disclosed gaming machine provides methods and apparatus for operating a wireless game player that presents a game of chance executed on a gaming machine in communication with the wireless game player. In one embodiment, the wireless game player is a hand-held mobile device, electronically linked to a licensed gaming machine via a wireless connection. All random number generation (RNG) events, game outcomes, meter information, game related information, and all cash transactions are maintained in the licensed (controlled) gaming machine and not the wireless game player. The wireless game player may be used anywhere within the legal areas of the casino and it has the capability of identifying who is using it. For example, a biometric input device, such as a finger print reader may be used on the wireless game player to identify the player. Thus, the issue of under-age or excluded players is addressed.

A gaming system provides a main game and a bonus feature with the bonus feature providing for user interaction. In one aspect, user interaction involves allowing a player to select at least some of a plurality of selectable items. When a selectable item is selected, a prize, multiplier or other item associated with the selectable item is revealed and a total bonus prize is based on the prizes, multipliers or other items associated with the selectable items selected by the player.

An apparatus and method for an automated tournament gaming system (10) comprising a central server computer (20) operatively coupled to, inter alia, a plurality of gaming machine G1, G2 . . . GN for automatically harnessing any of the gaming machines for automatically inciting and running a tournament where a group of players are participating for a period after which prizes are awarded to the winning tournament play participants. In addition, the system (10) includes a host site computer (200) operatively coupled to a plurality of the central servers (20) at a variety of remote gaming sites C1, C2 . . . CN for providing a multi-site progressive automated tournament gaming system (210). The multi-site system (210) is integrated into the system (10) to increase the winnings, progressive amounts and the total buy-ins.

A method and apparatus which allows player gaming to transpire over a series of sessions without a player losing credit for performances in earlier sessions. A player card carries thereon the current status of the player's performance during the course of previous sessions and it updated during subsequent sessions. Milestones are recognized as opportunities for providing the player with awards as these milestones are achieved.

A smart electronic receipt system that provides intelligent receipts, called Smart Receipts, that electronically document a transaction between two parties and maintains a persistent connection between the two parties following a successful online transaction. A Trusted Agent on the Buyer's client system creates an order record which is stored in a database on a Trusted Agent Server and starts the transaction process with the merchant. A Smart Receipt is delivered by a Smart Receipt Agent over a secure connection from the merchant to the Trusted Agent Server upon successful completion of a purchase and reflects the details of the transaction. It is stored in a secure database on the Trusted Agent Server and is made available to the Buyer (user) through a Trusted Agent located on his machine. The Trusted Agent Server compares the order record Limited Edition Digital Objects (LEDOs) stored in database with the Smart Receipt's LEDO to find the corresponding order record. The Smart Receipt provides the customer with detailed information about an online purchase in a standardized format. Hyperlinks embedded in the Smart Receipt enable the customer to access customer service and order status. The merchant may also embed addition-al services within the Smart Receipt, including special offers for future purchases. Offers provided in a Smart Receipt can be personalized to a user's preferences which are stored on the Trusted Agent Server. Each Smart Receipt is comprised of a chain of LEDOs with each LEDO object having a unique owner. A Smart Receipt is a dynamic entity and is continuously updated until the Buyer deletes it from the Trusted Agent Server.

A system and method providing for communication and reolution of utility functions between participants, wherein the utility function is evaluated based on local information at the recipient to determine a cost value thereof. A user interface having express representation of both information elements, and associated reliability of the information. An automated system for optimally conveying information based on relevance and reliability.

A gaming device and method that allows a primary display and secondary display to be correlated to the extent that symbols of the primary display have vectors which direct that symbol associated with the vector onto the secondary display. The secondary display remains constant through successive games except to the extent modified by the provision of a symbol vector which mandates a change in the symbol depiction on the secondary game. A bonus screen is provided based on the certain outcome of the primary game.

A cooperative group gaming apparatus and method therefore including a plurality of gaming machines including means for individual play, means for communal play and communal payout means influenced by any gaming machine participating in cooperative group play, said plurality of gaming machines operatively coupled to at least one controller which, inter alia, communicates with at least one display means for displaying the effects of cooperative group play to game players.

A method and apparatus for an interactive video game to be displayed on a video display device. The gaming apparatus includes a game controller adapted to control the outcome of a game played on the gaming machine for display on the display device. A player interface is coupled to the gaming apparatus and is configured to input information data personally identifying a player operating the gaming machine. This personal identification data, such as a players name, birthdate, digitized facial pictures of player, etc., is then integrated into the game for integral display in the game outcome on the display device. Thus, player interaction is increased by customizing the game screen presentation to include their personal information.

A method of and system for finding and serving consumer product-related information on the Internet comprising a database serving subsystem which stores: a plurality of manufacturer identification numbers (MINs) assigned to a plurality of manufacturers of consumer products; a plurality of home-page specifying URLs symbolically linked to the plurality of MINs; a plurality of universal product numbers (UPN) assigned to a plurality of consumer products made by the plurality of manufacturers; and a plurality of product-information specifying URLs symbolically linked to the plurality of UPNs. During operation, a client subsystem transmits to the database serving subsystem, a request for information which includes the UPN assigned to the consumer product on which product-related information is being sought. The database serving subsystem automatically compares the UPN against the stored plurality of MINs, and automatically returns to the client subsystem, one or more of URLs symbolically linked to the UPN, if URLs have been symbolically linked to the UPN within the database serving subsystem. However, if no URLs have been symbolically linked to the UPN, then the database serving subsystem automatically returns the home-page specifying URL symbolically linked to the MIN contained within the UPN in the request. By virtue of this novel MIN-based search mechanism embodied within the database serving subsystem, client subsystems are automatically provided with the home-page of the manufacturer's World Wide Web (WWW) site in situations where product-information specifying URLs have not yet been symbolically linked with the UPN on any one of the manufacturer's products.

A system for interfacing with a third-party application is described. The system includes a third-party device, a server-based system configured to communicate with the third-party device, and a gaming device configured to communicate with the server-based system to display content of the product or service. The gaming device is configured to generate an outcome of a wager-based game independent of the content that is displayed.

Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing techniques for securing a gaming machine for a player of the gaming machine using a mobile device such as a cell phone associated with the player. A player input requests securing of the gaming machine. Responsive to the player input, an access code and a security code are retrieved. The access code defines an access point of a communication system. The security code is specific to a game play session for the player at the gaming machine. The retrieved access code and security code are provided for the player. When the mobile device accesses the communications system and submits the security code, a secure signal is sent to the gaming machine, instructing the gaming machine to enter a remote game play state. The gaming machine can be released from the remote game play state responsive to a releasing event. In one implementation, a wireless interface enables communication between the mobile device and gaming machine according to a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth.

Methods and devices are described that allow a casino to dynamically service patrons. The dynamic systems and methods collect data related to the behavior of multiple people in a gaming establishment, and collect data for entertainment resources in the gaming establishment, such as gaming devices and services. The data may be flexibly used. In one embodiment, a person is at least partially identified in the casino. The gaming establishment uses a model that selects tailor offerings for a person, such as advertisements for services that the person may enjoy or games on gaming machines that the person may enjoy. The model selects a tailored offering for the person based on the at least partial identification and the data previously obtained for multiple people and entertainment resources. The identification, selection and offering may be performed in real time. In another embodiment, the gaming establishment uses the data to reconfigure its entertainment resources to better deploy its resources relative to the behavior of people in that specific gaming establishment.

Novel gaming networks, devices, and systems for enabling game play on wireless, mobile gaming devices based on the location of the device are described. A mobile gaming device can be used for wagering game play when the device is physically present in an authorized game play zone in a gaming environment and is used by an authorized and verified user. A gaming environment is divided into zones wherein a zone either allows wagering game play on a device or does not. A zone has multiple transmitters that transmit security signals that are detectable by a mobile device at all times while the device is in the zone. An appropriate wireless communication standard can be used to transmit the security signal, such as near-field magnetic communication. The device has at least one user identification and authentication mechanism to ensure that only an authorized user is using the device.

A use enabling method and mechanism to enable use of a disabled game resident on multiple platform gaming machines. When a gaming operator elects to enable a particular disabled game, an enabling device of generates an encrypted Request Code (27) having components identifying the specific gaming machine and the specific game to be enabled. This Request Code (27) is then communicated through a communication coupling (55) to a compatible, mating encoder device (28) operated by the licensing game vendor or game manufacture. In response, the encoder device (28) generates an encrypted Enabling Code (31) which enables use only for the selected game or games, and only in the gaming machine (21) upon which the corresponding Request Code originated. Upon inputting the corresponding Enabling Code (31) into the enabling device (32) incorporated on the particular gaming device, the selected disable game or games may be subsequently enabled for use.

A gaming machine has a symbol display arrangement that displays a variation action of a variable plurality of symbols that are necessary for playing a game. A predictive display arrangement performs a predictive display that informs the player of the likelihood of the appearance of a specific symbol display state when the variation action is stopped. A determination whether or not the symbol variation action is to be stopped with the appearance thereon of the specific symbol display state is made by a controller that also determines which predictive display mode from among a plurality of predetermined predictive display modes is to be displayed. In one embodiment, the controller controls the predictive display arrangement so that the probability of the appearance of a specific symbol display state is changeable in conjunction with the change in the game with the passage of time. The player will expect the appearance of the predictive display having a high likelihood, and therefore the player's expectation of the appearance of the specific symbol display state can be sustained from the start of the variation display to the stopping thereof. The player's expectation for the "big hit" is enhanced by changing the predictive display in which the likelihood of the "big hit" is increased.

A seamless ledger-based wagering system is provided wherein a secure, flexible and automated database method and apparatus is used for retrieving information and accounting for wagers in an electronic wagering format. The accounting system can be a ledger wherein funds are accounted for by a financial structure (e.g., financial institution such as a bank, credit union, savings and loan, deposit account, and the like) so that funds may be transferred through an intermediate transaction (e.g., the electronic wager entered onto the account) on the ledger and committed to payment at the ultimate target of the transfer (e.g., the pari-mutuel site, and ancillary recipients of wagering monies, such as horseman's associations, totalisator companies, automated machine lessors, track association, governmental agencies and the like). As the financial records from the financial structure never ‘sees’ the wagering facility in the transaction, transferring funds or guaranteeing funds to the intermediate transaction on a ledger, the entire transaction is in compliance with state and national regulations prohibiting or limiting or rendering illegal the availability of funds in the wagering transaction or transferring funds into a wagering account.

The apparatus and methods described herein facilitate fair peer-to-peer gambling. Generally, the system receives bet statement(s) from authorized player(s) and/or game administrator(s). Authorized players(s) then enter whole number percentages representing their beliefs that the outcome of the bet statement will be true. The players entering the risk percentages are encouraged to be as fair as possible, because players may be forced into undesirable bet positions. The amount of points or money wagered are then automatically determined based on the risk percentage(s). Once the actual outcome is determined, the winning player is rewarded in inverse proportion to his risk percentage.

Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a method, apparatus and system for lottery gaming, wherein a simple, objective, verifiable and reliable method of selecting the winning lottery numbers is provided. In preferred embodiments, a user accesses the game via a wide area network or by some other remote means and inputs required information, including payment information and the user's selections for the game. Prior to any user participating in the game, the game provider selects elements that comprise a winning combination. Preferably, the elements that comprise the winning combination are objective and verifiable elements, such as, for example, a portion of the closing stock market price on a given day for a specified set of markets. As such, the elements comprising the winning combinations are objective and can be verified by all of the users. The definition of the winning combination can be redefined for each new game, or as it is generated from a indicia providing source, can remain the same for all games or a set number of games.