Controlled Bonus Timing in Networked Gaming Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Casinos lack control over the timing of bonus awards in networked gaming systems, leading to unpredictable player excitement and reduced opportunities during off-peak hours.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows casino operators to select a winning time and increment bonus amounts within a maximum time period, enabling controlled bonus awards and increased player engagement during off-peak hours.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If bonuses are awarded at random times in networked gaming systems, then player excitement can be increased, but casinos lose control over the timing of bonus awards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecasino control over bonus timingVSAvoidbonus award system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-determines a maximum bonus cycle time period before the bonus award process begins. This preliminary setting establishes control boundaries that ensure bonuses are awarded within predictable time frames, giving casinos strategic control over when bonuses occur while maintaining system simplicity through predetermined parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If bonuses are awarded randomly, then jackpots can reach high accumulated values, but bonuses cannot be strategically timed to increase play during off-peak hours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine usage during off-peak hoursVSAvoidunpredictable bonus timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts bonus award timing within the constrained maximum cycle time, allowing bonuses to be strategically awarded during off-peak hours to stimulate play. The dynamic nature enables casinos to respond to operational needs while the time constraint ensures predictable control, resolving the conflict between strategic timing and unpredictable random awards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the bonus cycle time is unlimited, then bonuses can be awarded at any random moment, but casinos cannot exercise control over bonus frequency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonus timing controlVSAvoidbonus cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the critical parameter of bonus cycle time by imposing a maximum duration constraint. This parameter change transforms the bonus system from completely random timing to controlled timing, allowing casinos to regulate bonus frequency and timing strategically while maintaining operational simplicity through a single time parameter setting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7976390B2Awarding a bonus based on a maximum bonus cycle time

Publication Date: 2011.07.12 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

By awarding bonuses during predetermined bonus periods, gaming establishments can exercise greater control over bonus wins and, in doing so, can create player excitement and increase play during historically off-peak times, realizing greater revenue for the casino. The time based bonus begins when a maximum time for the bonus period is selected and divided into time increments, with each time increment having its own weight. A winning increment is randomly selected and a bonus is awarded when the time increment has been reached.