System and method for providing a bonus with multiple remote inputs
An apparatus for providing a bonus system with remote inputs devices, where each remote device may have a purpose independent of the bonus machine. A bonus machine having a game of skill, a bonus, and a processor receives a message indicating the occurrence of an event. The message may be initiated by an event occurring at a game of skill or a remote device. Upon receiving the message, the bonus machine processes the message. The bonus is incremented for various events. If the event is achieving a task in the game of skill, the bonus is partially or completely rewarded to the player who achieved the task.
This application claims priority to provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/305,453 filed on Jul. 13, 2001 by Brian Kelly.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to arcade and redemption games, and more particularly to systems and methods for providing a bonus system having multiple remote input devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONArcade games have existed for many years. They are most common at amusement parks, arcades, and other entertainment centers. Many of these arcade games require a player to accomplish some task within a game of skill to earn a reward. The task is usually simple in theory but difficult enough to retain a player's interest through several attempts at playing the game.
With the development of computers and computer processing, entertainment centers have added video games and other forms of computer-based entertainment to their inventories. Despite this evolving trend, many arcades and entertainment centers have continued to offer arcade games for their game-playing customers. However, the video games have attracted many players away from playing traditional arcade games. Thus, continued profitability of arcade games requires that they possess characteristics that draw modern game players' interest and business.
The prior art discloses a system where multiple arcade games are networked together. As shown in
Another system disclosed in the prior art is a networked bonus system. As shown in
The prior art has several disadvantages. The networked arcade game system of
What is needed is an arcade game system that attracts players to play the arcade games, especially in environments having both arcade games and video game, while still encouraging players to play the other games.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides a system and method for providing a bonus system with multiple remote inputs. The invention allows users to increment a bonus by playing a bonus machine, by engaging remote devices in communication with the bonus machine, or by other methods. A player may win rewards, including the entire bonus, by playing the bonus machine. A preferred embodiment of the present invention take the form of an arcade game linked to various other devices around the arcade though a bonus system. These devices may be other games, vending machines or other features. Each time these peripheral devices are used, the reward increment for the arcade game increases. Thereby the value of the reward is not determined by the use of the arcade game alone.
A bonus system with multiple remote inputs in accordance with the present invention includes a bonus machine and at least one remote device that may transmit information. The bonus machine includes a game of skill, a processor, and a bonus. The game of skill allows a player to achieve a task and earn a reward. The processor has memory, is coupled to the game of skill, and is configured to receive information. The bonus is coupled to the processor and changes value upon the occurrence of certain events. The remote device may transmit information to the bonus machine's processor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the bonus is affected by an event occurring at the bonus machine. Preferably, the event occurs at a game of skill located at the bonus machine. Upon receiving information indicating the occurrence of a particular event, such as a credit applied to the device, the bonus is incremented. Upon receiving information indicating the occurrence of another event, such as the achievement of a task in the game of skill, all or part of the bonus is awarded to the player achieving the task.
In another embodiment, the bonus is affected by an event occurring at a remote device. Preferably, an event is detected at a remote device, the remote device transmits information to the bonus machine, and the bonus is increased upon the bonus machine receiving the information. The event may be any type of event including when motion is detected or applying a credit to a device. In one embodiment, the information is transmitted as a serial data stream and may include channel identification information or device identification information. The device may be any device operable to have a countable event including a video game, vending machine, redemption game, motion detector, and timer. The information may be transmitted by any method, including discrete wires, RF transmission, a network, or an X10 standard system.
A method for providing a bonus with multiple remote inputs includes providing a bonus machine coupled to a game of skill, a processor, and a bonus, providing a remote device in communication with the bonus machine, communicating information to the processor in response to an event, and processing the information A player may achieve a task in the game of skill and earn all or a portion of the bonus. Both the game of skill and the remote device are operable to provide information to the bonus machine.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the event occurs at the bonus machine. The event may indicate the bonus is to be increased or decreased by awarding a portion or all of it to a player. In a preferred embodiment, the bonus is decreased if the event is a completed task in a game of skill. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the event occurs at a remote device. The remote device then transmits information to the bonus machine and the bonus. In one embodiment, the bonus is incremented upon processing the transmitted information. The event may be the detection of motion, applying a credit to a device, the lapse of a period of time, or any other countable event. In one embodiment, communicating the information includes sending a serial data message. The serial data message may contain channel identification information and device identification information. Processing the message may include verifying the message. The device may be any device capable of having a countable event including a video game, redemption game, vending machine, motion detector, or timer. The message may be transferred by any means operable to transmit serial messages including RF transmission, discrete wires, an X10 standard system, or a network.
The bonus machine is incremented from events occurring at several different devices. This provides for a higher bonus, which is more likely to entice players to play the game at the bonus machine. The bonus machine encourages business at other games, machines, and devices by providing patrons a second chance to win credits that were spent at other machines. For example, if a user spends a token at a remote video game coupled to the bonus machine, the user may win the credit back if the user accomplishes a task at the bonus machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The remote devices 32-35 may be any type of machine or apparatus that is operable to provide a detectable event. Each device may have its own use and purpose independent of the bonus machine it is connected to. In one embodiment of the present invention, the devices may be machines that are commonly found in entertainment centers and arcades. In particular, the devices may be video games 32, redemption games 33, or vending machines 34. In a video game or redemption game, the detectable event may be a user achieving a task in the game. For a vending machine, the event may be a user purchasing a designated product. In a preferred embodiment, the detectable event for devices such as video games, redemption games, and vending machines is detecting a credit applied to the device. In a more preferred embodiment the credit applied to the device is a token inserted into an opening of the device.
In another embodiment of the invention, a counter 35 may be used as a remote device in communication with the bonus machine. Similar to remote devices 32-34, the counter 35 may be any device operable to provide a detectable event that occurs at the device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the counter 35 is a device such as a revolving door, admittance ticket counter, or other device for counting the number of patrons that enter a designated area. In another embodiment, the counter may monitor motion in some area, such as a designated area near a new or featured product. In yet another embodiment, the counter may be a timer that creates an event on a temporal basis. In this mode, the counter device may be a remote device as discussed above or implemented within the bonus machine. For example, the timer may create an event every minute. The time period required for an event to occur may be set by a user arbitrarily or according to some formula. For example, the counter may be set to produce an event corresponding to the average number of tokens spent per hour at an arcade, entertainment center, or other business the previous week. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, there are innumerable possibilities for utilizing a machine, counter, or other device to create a detectable event. All such possibilities are considered within the scope of the present invention.
The remote devices 32-35 may communicate with the bonus machine 31 in a variety of methods. In one embodiment of the present invention, a remote device sends a serial data stream to the bonus machine. The serial communication may be sent over discrete wires, a system using an X10 standard, a network, or an RF transmitter-receiver system. A communication system using discrete wires may utilize telephone lines or any other type of wire such that each remote device may transmit a signal to the bonus machine. A system using an X10 standard sends a serial signal over the power line wiring within a structure. Thus, the remote devices plugged into a power outlet could transmit to a bonus machine plugged into a power outlet though the power wiring within a building. An X10 communication system is useful in that no additional wiring is required. However, poor power line wiring at some locations would provide for poor quality signals. In a preferred embodiment, the communication from a remote device to the bonus machine is a serial data stream transmitted through RF transmission.
Terminals 82 and 83 of the event detection circuitry may be connected to diode 77 and terminal 80 through connection system 81. Within the event detection circuitry, terminal 82 is connected to reverse protection diode 84, which in turn is connected to resistor 85. Resistor 85 and terminal 83 are then connected to terminals 87 and 86, respectively. In one embodiment of the invention, the connection is achieved by placing jumpers 89 between the resistor 85 and terminal 87 and between terminal 83 and terminal 86. In a preferred embodiment, this is achieved with an opto-isolation system 88 as shown. This is desirable in order to provide electro-static discharge protection. The event detection circuitry is connected to the processor circuitry where terminal 87 is connected to buffer 90. Terminal 86 is connected to ground. Within the processor circuitry, buffer 90 is connected to a control logic system 91. Also connected to the control logic 91 is ID address circuitry 92. Finally, the control logic outputs a serial signal to the transmitter 93. In the embodiment shown, transmitter 69 is an RF transmitter 93. Obviously,
With reference to
In one embodiment illustrated in
In one embodiment of the present invention, the signal produced by the processor and control logic 91 is a serial data stream. The serial data stream is composed of several messages having several bytes. These bytes may include a channel identification byte, a byte code, a message identification byte, and a checksum byte. The channel identification code indicates what channel the remote device is transmitting a signal on. In one embodiment of the present invention, the channel identification byte is set by the ID address circuitry 92. The ID address circuitry 92 sends channel identification information to the control logic and processor 91 when enabled by a signal from the buffer 90. The processor and control logic 91 incorporate the ID address information provided by the ID address circuitry 92 into the serial data stream sent to transmitter 93. In a preferred embodiment, a user is able to select the channel ID by adjusting a DIP switch or similar device within the ID address circuitry 92.
The byte code portion of the message may contain data such as event information or machine identification. In a preferred embodiment, the byte code contains information indicating the bonus machine should be incremented. However, the byte code may also indicate identification information for the machine the event occurred at for event tracking purposes. The message identification byte is for ensuring a message is properly received by a bonus machine. In one embodiment, the message within the serial stream is sent from a remote device to a bonus machine several times to ensure the message is properly received. To avoid processing the same message more than once, the message identification byte provides identification information for the message sent. In one embodiment, a message is sent four times and the message identification byte indicates which of the four transmittals that particular message is. In another embodiment, the message identification byte is a random number identifying the message. In any case, if a message is processed before the last transmission of that message, the message identification byte enables the bonus machine to ignore subsequent transmissions of that message. Finally, a checksum byte is included for error detection. The checksum byte is usually placed at the end of a serial stream and indicates the addition of a previous number of bytes. In one embodiment of the present invention, the checksum indicates the sum of the previous three bytes.
After the event is processed in operation 103 of
If an event is detected, the process proceeds to operation 113 where the event is processed. The games of skill on the bonus machine are operable to transmit a signal upon the occurrence of the event. In one embodiment, the games of skill send signals to an event processor that then sends a signal to a game play processor within the bonus machine. In this embodiment, upon receiving a message from a game of skill indicating an event has occurred, the event processor then determines whether the event calls for the bonus to be incremented, reduced, or some other function should occur. For example, the game of skill may require five tasks to be completed by a player. For each attempt at a task, the event processor may send an “increment bonus” signal to the game play processor. For each task completed, the event processor may send a “reward player” signal indicating that a portion of the bonus should be rewarded to a player. The size of the reward may depend on the difficulty of the task or the number of tasks completed thus far. If all five tasks are completed, the event processor may send a message indicating the entire bonus should be rewarded to the player who accomplished the tasks. In yet another embodiment, the games of skill send signals directly to the game play processor. In this embodiment, the message need not be processed before it is sent. This may be achieved by including event identification information within the event detection message indicating what event occurred or which task was completed. Alternatively, each event in a game of skill may have a separate input line to the game play processor within the bonus machine. Thus, if a bonus machine has four stations or games of skill, each having five tasks to complete, then the game play processor would receive a total of twenty separate inputs from the games of skill. This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
With reference to
In operation 146, the game play processor determines if the bonus amount should be reduced. In one embodiment of the present invention, the game play processor is reduced if a player completes a task or several tasks in a game of skill located at the bonus machine. In such case, a portion of the bonus or the entire bonus may be rewarded to a player for completing a task or group of tasks. In a preferred embodiment, a pulse of 250 ms indicates the bonus should be rewarded to a player at a particular game station. If the message indicates the bonus should be rewarded and decreased, the process continues to operation 147. In operation 147, the bonus is reduced. Next, in operation 148, the game play processor performs various operations associated with reducing the bonus and rewarding the player. In one embodiment of the invention, these operations include configuring the bonus machine electronic display and providing a reward. Then, in operation 149, the game play processor sends a synchronization message to any bonus machines that the rewarding bonus machine is connected to. This ensures that the bonus on all connected bonus machines is synchronized. The process then continues to operation 150. If the message indicates the bonus is not to be decreased in operation 146, then operation proceeds to operation 150.
In operation 150, the message may be processed further by the game play processor. In one embodiment, the processor extracts information from the message indicating what remote device transmitted the message. The processor may log the device at which the event occurred and the date and time the information was received. The processor may also extract other information related to the remote device or the event that occurred. Further, the processing of this information may occur at different stages in the process. Thus, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the machine identification information need not be recorded only after the bonus machine is incremented or decreased. After the message processing is complete in operation 150, the process ends at operation 151.
In operation 164, the status of a player playing the bonus machine may be changed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a player must complete several tasks in a game of skill at the bonus machine to earn a portion or all of a bonus. For example, a player may be required to guide several playing pieces into separate apertures, one at a time. A first player may accomplish some of the required tasks, but not all of them. Thus, in order to prevent a second player from reaping a reward that the first player partially earned, the game play processor may is ‘reset’ the status of the game after a period of time has elapsed. This will help ensure that consecutive players achieve all the required tasks themselves and make earning the reward more difficult. Operation 164 determines if the status of the game should be reset. If the game play processor determines the play status should be reset, then the process proceeds to reset the game status in operation 165. In operation 166, the corresponding tasks and operations related to resetting the play status are performed. If the play status should not be reset, then the process proceeds to operation 167. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the time based operations may be executed within the game play processor or by other processors in communication with the game play processor.
While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims include all such alternatives, modifications, permutations and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1-28. (canceled)
29. A bonus redemption system for use with an arcade game comprising:
- an arcade game wherein said arcade game is primarily a mechanical game of skill and wherein said arcade game is capable of at least one level of victory;
- a bonus system linked to said arcade game, wherein said bonus system has a variable number of bonus points;
- a remote device capable of measuring an event, wherein said remote device is linked to said bonus system;
- wherein upon an occurrence of said event, said remote device influences said bonus points, and
- wherein obtaining said at least one level of victory gains at least one prize based on said bonus points.
30. The bonus redemption system as in claim 29, wherein said arcade game is further capable of influencing said bonus points without obtaining said at least one prize.
31. The bonus redemption system as in claim 29, wherein a plurality of remote devices are linked to said bonus system.
32. The bonus redemption system as in claim 31, wherein a plurality of arcade games are linked to said bonus system.
33. The bonus redemption system as in claim 29, wherein a second bonus system is linked to said bonus system.
34. An arcade game comprising:
- at least one station;
- a mechanical game of skill at each of said at least one station;
- a bonus system having a bonus number linked to said arcade game;
- at least one remote device linked to said bonus system;
- wherein an event occurring at said at least one remote device increases said bonus number;
- wherein a first victory at said at least one station increases said bonus number;
- wherein a second victory at said at least one station decreases said bonus number; and
- wherein a prize is awarded in conjunction with said second victory.
35. A bonus redemption system for use with a game, comprising:
- a game wherein the game is primarily a mechanical game of skill and wherein the game is capable of at least one level of victory;
- a bonus system linked to the game, wherein the bonus system has a variable number of bonus points;
- a remote device capable of detecting an event, wherein the remote device is linked to the bonus system;
- wherein upon an occurrence of the event, the remote device influences the bonus points; and
- wherein obtaining the at least one level of victory gains at least one prize based on the bonus points.
36. The bonus redemption system as in claim 35, wherein the game is further capable of influencing the bonus points without obtaining the at least one prize.
37. The bonus redemption system as in claim 35, wherein a plurality of remote devices are linked to the bonus system.
38. The bonus redemption system as in claim 37, wherein a plurality of games are linked to the bonus system.
39. The bonus redemption system as in claim 35, wherein a second bonus system is linked to the bonus system.
40. The bonus redemption system as in claim 35, wherein a plurality of remote devices are linked to the bonus system, and a plurality of games are linked to the bonus system.
41. The bonus redemption system as in claim 35, wherein obtaining a second level of victory gains at least a second prize based on the bonus points.
42. A game, comprising:
- at least one station;
- a mechanical game of skill at each of the at least one station;
- a bonus system having a bonus number linked to the game;
- at least one remote device linked to the bonus system;
- wherein an event occurring at the at least one remote device causes the bonus system to increase the bonus number;
- wherein a first victory at the at least one station increases the bonus number;
- wherein a second victory at the at least one station decreases the bonus number;
- wherein a prize is awarded in conjunction with the second victory.
43. The game of claim 42, further comprising:
- a plurality of stations, with a mechanical game at each station of the plurality of stations;
- wherein a first victory at any station of the plurality of stations increases the bonus number;
- wherein a second victory at any station of the plurality of stations decreases the bonus number; and
- wherein a prize is awarded in conjunction with the second victory.
44. The game of claim 42, further comprising:
- a plurality of remote devices linked to the bonus system.
45. The game of claim 44, wherein an event occurring at any of the remote devices of the plurality of remote devices causes the bonus system to increase the bonus number.
46. The game of claim 44, wherein an event occurring at any of the remote devices of the plurality of remote devices causes the bonus system to change the bonus number.
47. A bonus redemption system for use with a game, comprising:
- a plurality of games wherein each game of the plurality of games is primarily a mechanical game of skill and wherein each game is capable of at least one level of victory;
- a bonus system linked to each game of the plurality of games, wherein the bonus system has a variable number of bonus points and wherein each game is further capable of influencing the bonus points without respect to obtaining a prize;
- a plurality of remote devices each capable of detecting an event, wherein each of the remote devices is linked to the bonus system;
- wherein upon an occurrence of the event, a remote device of the plurality of remote devices influences the bonus points; and
- wherein obtaining the at least one level of victory gains at least one prize based on the bonus points.
48. A game, comprising:
- a plurality of stations;
- a mechanical game of skill at each station of the plurality of stations;
- a bonus system having a bonus number linked to the game;
- a plurality of remote devices linked to the bonus system;
- wherein an event occurring at a remote device of the plurality of remote devices causes the bonus system to increase the bonus number;
- wherein a first victory at a station increases the bonus number;
- wherein a second victory at a station decreases the bonus number; and
- wherein a prize is awarded in conjunction with the second victory.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 13, 2008
Inventor: Bryan Kelly (Alamo, CA)
Application Number: 11/982,255
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);