Wagering Game Machine Multi-Provider Funds Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wagering game machines struggle to seamlessly integrate and manage transactions for content from multiple providers, requiring players to log in and out of separate machines, which limits player flexibility and operator revenue due to the need for entertaining and exciting machines.
Innovation Solution
A system that tracks transactions using an account-based funds tracking mode, allowing a single wagering game machine to process and display content from multiple providers, synchronizing balances between the machine and an account server, and enabling simultaneous play of primary and secondary games with different tracking modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wagering game machine processes content from multiple providers with different funds tracking modes, then player flexibility and operator revenue increase, but transaction management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bill credit system as an intermediary layer between different funds tracking modes. The bill credit mechanism translates cash-based transactions into a standardized credit format that can be universally processed, allowing the system to handle multiple providers' content without direct integration complexity between different tracking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments transaction management into distinct modules: cash-based tracking, ticket-based tracking, and account-based tracking. Each provider's content operates with its native funds tracking mode, while a unified bill credit system coordinates between them, reducing overall system complexity by avoiding full integration of all tracking modes.
2Ease of operation
If players can play multiple games on a single machine, then player experience improves and frequent play increases, but the need to integrate different funds tracking modes creates operational challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The wagering game machine is designed with multi-functional capability to accept and process multiple types of funding methods (cash, tickets, accounts) simultaneously. The system can switch between different funds tracking modes depending on which game content is active, allowing players to seamlessly play multiple games without manual intervention for fund transfers.
Solution Approach 2:
The funds tracking mode is made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically transitions between cash-based, ticket-based, and account-based tracking modes based on the active game content and player preferences, enabling flexible multi-game play without requiring fixed integration architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system transitions between different funds tracking modes, then multi-provider content compatibility improves, but transaction processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-transferring funds to a bill credit balance before game play begins. When switching between providers, the bill credit system already has allocated funds ready for immediate use, eliminating the need for real-time fund transfers during mode transitions and reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The bill credit mechanism acts as a cushion buffer between different funds tracking modes. By pre-establishing credit balances and maintaining reserved funds, the system absorbs the time delay that would otherwise occur during mode transitions, ensuring seamless switching without noticeable processing delays to the player.
Data Source
AI summary
“Described herein are processes and devices that perform operations that, in some embodiments, include receiving a request for concurrent presentation of a first wagering game and a second wagering game via a display device of a wagering game machine. The first wagering game includes first content that originates from a first content source, and the second wagering game includes second content that originates from a second content source. The operations further include accessing funds associated with the first wagering game. The operations further include funding one or more wagers for the second wagering game using at least a portion of the accessed funds associated with the first wagering game.”