Digital Button Deck Integrating Player Tracking for EGMs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) face challenges with increased peripheral deck height due to player tracking modules, leading to discomfort for players and high manufacturing costs, as well as graphic distortion when incorporating player tracking features using picture-in-picture technology, which affects game performance and player engagement.

Innovation Solution

Integrating player tracking and reward capabilities into a touch screen LCD button deck that communicates with casino systems, reducing the need for separate displays and lowering the peripheral deck height, allowing for larger displays and reduced processing demands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If player tracking modules are mounted on the peripheral deck, then player tracking functionality is provided, but the peripheral deck height increases causing player discomfort and orthopedic issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer tracking functionalityVSAvoidperipheral deck height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the player tracking module display with the existing button deck display, integrating two separate functions into a single display unit. This eliminates the need for a separate player tracking display on the peripheral deck, thereby reducing the peripheral deck height while maintaining both game control and player tracking functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The button deck display is designed to serve multiple functions: game control operations and player tracking information display. By making the display universal, the system eliminates the need for dedicated separate displays for each function, reducing overall device height and component count.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If larger portrait mount displays are used, then player engagement is enhanced, but the viewing angle changes causing orthopedic complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidorthopedic complications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a portrait-oriented display to a landscape-oriented display. This dimensional change allows the display to be positioned at a lower height while maintaining a large viewing area, thereby enhancing player engagement without forcing players to look upward at steep angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If picture-in-picture technology is used to incorporate player tracking, then player tracking is integrated, but graphic distortion occurs affecting game performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer tracking integrationVSAvoidgraphic display quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using picture-in-picture overlay that distorts game graphics, the patent merges the player tracking interface with the main game display in a unified layout. This allows both game content and player tracking information to be displayed clearly without graphical distortion or compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11735000B2Electronic gaming machine with digital button deck device incorporating player tracking capabilities

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 GAMING ARTS LLC

AI summary

System and methods for providing a digital touch screen button display device incorporating player tracking and player rewards capabilities for an electronic gaming machine including game play functionality via a touch screen LCD thereby eliminating the need for a separate player tracking module. The digital button display device is located on the button deck of an electronic gaming machine and cooperates and communicates with the slot accounting system of a casino and may contain one or more interoperability modules to cooperate and communicate with differing slot accounting systems.