IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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| 출원번호 |
US-0985131
(2004-11-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Walker,Jay S.
- Sparico,Thomas M.
- Jorasch,James A.
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| 출원인 / 주소 |
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| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
59 인용 특허 :
18 |
초록
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The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price para
The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. In another embodiment, price parameters further incorporate operator selected price parameters. Should the player decide to pay the flat rate price, the player simply deposits the necessary funds into the gaming device or makes a credit account available for the gaming device to debit. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed. During the play, payouts are made either directly to the player in the form of coins or indirectly in the form of credits to the player's credit account.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A method of conducting a flat rate play session at a gaming device, comprising: receiving, at a gaming device, a payment for a single play; initiating, in response to the payment, the single play; initiating, at the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat
What is claimed is: 1. A method of conducting a flat rate play session at a gaming device, comprising: receiving, at a gaming device, a payment for a single play; initiating, in response to the payment, the single play; initiating, at the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session is a period of play of the gaming device during which a player need not make funds available for any play, the period encompassing a plurality of plays; determining, via a processor, a beginning time for the flat rate play session; determining an end time for the flat rate play session upon a satisfaction of a predetermined condition, thereby determining a duration of the flat rate play session, such that the duration is a first duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a first time and the duration is a second duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a second time; and stopping the flat rate play session upon determining the end time. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an end time for the flat rate play session comprises determining that a predetermined number of plays have occurred. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the duration is a first duration if a first period of time elapses from the beginning time before the predetermined number of plays have occurred, and the duration is a second duration if a second period of time elapses from the beginning time before the predetermined number of plays have occurred. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an end time for the flat rate play session comprises determining that a predetermined number of winning plays have occurred. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the duration is a first duration if a first period of time elapses from the beginning time before the predetermined number of winning plays have occurred, and the duration is a second duration if a second period of time elapses from the beginning time before the predetermined number of winning plays have occurred. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a flat rate play session comprises: determining that the player has selected a flat rate play feature of the gaming device, and initiating the flat rate play session in response to the player's selection. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the player has selected the flat rate play feature comprises: determining that the player has pressed a button corresponding to flat rate play session feature, the button being a button on the gaming device. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a flat rate play session comprises: determining which of a plurality of flat rate price packages a player has purchased, the flat rate price package defining one or more parameters of the flat rate play session, and initiating a flat rate play session in accordance with the one or more parameters. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an end time comprises: determining that the predetermined condition has occurred; and setting the end time based on the satisfaction of the predetermined condition. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a flat rate play session comprises: configuring the gaming device to allow, during the flat rate play session, initiation of plays without requiring payment between the plays. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein initiating the flat rate play session further comprises: setting a maximum time that is allowed to elapse, during the flat rate play session, between plays. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a beginning time of the flat rate play session comprises: storing the beginning time of the flat rate play session in memory. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein stopping the flat rate play session comprises: outputting to the player a message indicating that the flat rate play session has ended. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein stopping the flat rate play session comprises: configuring the gaming device to require payment between plays. 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: controlling, during the flat rate play session, a time between plays. 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: extending the flat rate play session beyond the end time. 17. A device, comprising: a processor; and a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to: receive, at a gaming device, a payment for a single play; initiate, in response to the payment, the single play; initiate, at the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session is a period of play of the gaming device during which a player need not make funds available for any play, the period encompassing a plurality of plays; determine, by the processor, a beginning time for the flat rate play session; determine an end time for the flat rate play session upon a satisfaction of a predetermined condition, thereby determining a duration of the flat rate play session, such that the duration is a first duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a first time and the duration is a second duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a second time; and stop the flat rate play session upon determining the end time. 18. A system, comprising: a controller operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, the controller being further operable to: receive an indication of receipt, at a gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices, a payment for a single play; determine an initiation at the gaming device, in response to the payment, of the single play; initiate, at the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session is a period of play of the gaming device during which a player need not make funds available for any play, the period encompassing a plurality of plays; determine a beginning time for the flat rate play session; determine an end time for the flat rate play session upon a satisfaction of a predetermined condition, thereby determining a duration of the flat rate play session, such that the duration is a first duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a first time and the duration is a second duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a second time; and stop the flat rate play session upon determining the end time; the system further comprising the plurality of gaming devices. 19. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising: receiving, at a gaming device, a payment for a single play; initiating, in response to the payment, the single play; initiating, at the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session is a period of play of the gaming device during which a player need not make funds available for any play, the period encompassing a plurality of plays; determining a beginning time for the flat rate play session; determining an end time for the flat rate play session upon a satisfaction of a predetermined condition, thereby determining a duration of the flat rate play session, such that the duration is a first duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a first time and the duration is a second duration if the predetermined condition is satisfied at around a second time; and stopping the flat rate play session upon determining the end time. 20. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising: initiating, at a gaming device that otherwise requires pre-payment for each play of the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a plurality of plays may be initiated by a player without the player having to make funds available between plays, and further wherein the flat rate play session is of a variable duration, such that an end time for the flat rate play session is not determinable at initiation of the flat rate play session; tracking, via a processor, plays initiated on the gaming device during the flat rate play session; determining, based on the plays, that the flat rate play session is to be terminated; and terminating the flat rate play session. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: determining the time at which the flat rate play session is terminated based on the plays, thereby determining the duration of the flat rate play session upon termination of the flat rate play session. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein determining that the flat rate play session is to be terminated comprises: determining that a maximum number of plays has been initiated on the gaming device. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein determining that the flat rate play session is to be terminated comprises: determining that a characteristic of at least one outcome of at least one play satisfies a predetermined condition. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein initiating the flat rate play session comprises: receiving, from a player of the gaming device, a selection of the flat rate play session; and initiating the flat rate play session in response to the selection. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the selection comprises a selection of an option from a menu of options output to the player via the gaming device. 26. A device, comprising: a processor; and a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to: initiate, at a gaming device that otherwise requires pre-payment for each play of the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a plurality of plays may be initiated by a player without the player having to make funds available between plays, and further wherein the flat rate play session is of a variable duration, such that an end time for the flat rate play session is not determinable at initiation of the flat rate play session; track, by the processor, plays initiated on the gaming device during the flat rate play session; determine, based on the plays, that the flat rate play session is to be terminated; and terminate the flat rate play session. 27. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising: initiating, at a gaming device that otherwise requires pre-payment for each play of the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a plurality of plays may be initiated by a player without the player having to make funds available between plays, and further wherein the flat rate play session is of a variable duration, such that an end time for the flat rate play session is not determinable at initiation of the flat rate play session; tracking, via a processor, plays initiated on the gaming device during the flat rate play session; determining, based on the plays, that the flat rate play session is to be terminated; and terminating the flat rate play session. 28. A system, comprising: a controller operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, the controller being further operable to: initiate, at a gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices that otherwise requires pre-payment for each play of the gaming device, a flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a plurality of plays may be initiated by a player without the player having to make finds available between plays, and further wherein the flat rate play session is of a variable duration, such that an end time for the flat rate play session is not determinable at initiation of the flat rate play session; track plays initiated on the gaming device during the flat rate play session; determine, based on the plays, that the flat rate play session is to be terminated; and terminate the flat rate play session; the system further comprising the plurality of gaming devices.
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