Distributed Progressive Prize Control in Gaming Machines

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need in wagering games for systems that enhance player experience and maintain excitement while reducing the cost of administering progressive games, particularly in systems without a centralized progressive game controller.

Innovation Solution

A method for providing progressive prizes in a distributed fashion across multiple gaming machines, where each machine calculates and increments a local progressive register value, communicates contribution values, and maintains a total progressive value, allowing players to opt in or out of progressive games and adjust payout rates, with an optional group display controller managing calculations and displaying the total progressive value.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a centralized progressive game controller is used to administer progressive prizes, then the progressive prize administration is more controlled and monitored, but the system complexity and cost of administration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogressive prize administration controlVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the progressive prize administration function into separate modules distributed across multiple gaming machines. Each gaming machine maintains its own progressive register and contributes to the total progressive value independently, eliminating the need for a single centralized controller while maintaining coordinated operation through communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each gaming machine autonomously calculates its progressive contribution value, maintains its own progressive register, and participates in the distributed progressive prize administration without requiring constant centralized control. The system enables self-managed progression while ensuring fairness through transparent communication of contribution values among machines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a centralized progressive game controller is used, then progressive prize distribution is more managed, but the cost of administering the progressive game increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogressive prize distribution managementVSAvoidadministration cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The administrative function is segmented across multiple gaming machines rather than concentrated in a single centralized controller. Each machine handles its own progressive calculations and contributes to the overall system, distributing the administrative burden and reducing the cost of specialized centralized administration infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gaming machines perform multiple functions: they operate the primary wagering game, calculate progressive contribution values, maintain progressive registers, and participate in prize distribution. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated progressive administration hardware, reducing overall system cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If progressive contribution values are communicated to all gaming machines, then the total progressive value can be maintained accurately across the system, but the communication overhead and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal progressive value accuracyVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system communicates progressive contribution values only to the extent necessary for accurate total progressive value maintenance, rather than implementing comprehensive real-time synchronization. Gaming machines receive and process contribution values from other machines only when needed to update their local progressive registers, reducing unnecessary communication traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

Each gaming machine maintains a local copy of the total progressive value and individual progressive registers. Instead of requiring constant centralization and redistribution of all progressive data, each machine independently stores and processes the necessary information locally, reducing communication overhead while maintaining system-wide accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9704337B2Wagering game method, gaming machine, gaming system, and program product providing progressive prize control

Publication Date: 2017.07.11 EVERI GAMES INC

AI summary

A progressive gaming method may be conducted in a distributed fashion without a progressive controller. In such a method game play inputs are received through a respective player input system of each of two or more gaming machines. Each game play input defines a wager for a respective play of a wagering game. A progressive contribution value for each respective wager is calculated and a local progressive register value is incremented by that calculated amount. Calculating the progressive contribution value and incrementing the local progressive register value may each be performed at the gaming machine at which the respective wager is defined, and these calculated progressive contribution values are then communicated to each other gaming machine of the two or more gaming machines. Each gaming machine maintains a total progressive value based on the locally calculated progressive contribution values and the values communicated from other gaming machines.