Abstract: A method and arrangement for communicating with a gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a first wireless transceiver. A portable data unit includes a second wireless transceiver. In response to positioning the portable data unit in proximity to the gaming machine, without inserting the portable data unit into any portion of the gaming machine, a wireless transmission link is established between the first and second wireless transceivers. The wireless transmission link may, for example, be a radio (RF) link or an infrared (IR) link. Information is transmitted between the portable data unit and the gaming machine via the wireless transmission link for such purposes as cashless gaming, player tracking, game customization, and data transfer.

Abstract: A PDA telephone comprises a wireless headset and a main hand-held unit. The wireless headset includes a first wireless transceiver, a speaker, and a microphone. The speaker and the microphone are coupled to the first wireless transceiver. The hand-held unit receives, processes, and displays personal organizer information. The hand-held unit includes a second wireless transceiver, an antenna, and wireless telephony circuitry coupled to the second wireless transceiver and the antenna. The hand-held unit is free of a telephone speaker and a telephone microphone. The second wireless transceiver transmits incoming audio signals to and receives outgoing audio signals from the first wireless transceiver. By eliminating the speaker and the microphone from the hand-held unit and instead incorporating these items in the wireless headset, the size, weight, cost, complexity, and convenience and efficiency of use of the PDA telephone are optimized.

Abstract: A method of managing digital rights comprises the following steps. First, a physical electronic key containing a first activation code is provided to a requesting user. Second, locked digital content is provided to the requesting user. The digital content is encoded with a second activation code associated with the first activation code. Third, the locked digital content is received in a playing device that reads the first activation code and determines whether the first activation code is associated with the second activation code. Fourth, the playing device is enabled to unlock and play the digital content if the first activation code is associated with the second activation code. A digital right management system for implementing the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A centralized gaming system comprises a central server system and a plurality of display terminals remote from and linked to the central server system The central server system includes a master game server, a game execution server, and a database server. The master game server stores a plurality of games of chance. Each game includes respective game play software and respective audiovisual software. In response to one of the games being selected for play at one of the display terminals, the game play software for the selected game is loaded from the master game server into the game execution server and is executed by the game execution server to randomly select an outcome The audiovisual software for the selected game is selectively executed at the display terminal to visually represent the outcome on a display of the display terminal.

Abstract: A method of managing digital rights comprises the following steps. First, a physical electronic key containing a key code is provided to a requesting user. Second, locked digital content is provided to the requesting user. The digital content is marked with an unlock code associated with the key code. Third, the locked digital content is received in a playing device that reads the key code and determines whether the key code is associated with the unlock code. Fourth, the playing device is enabled to unlock and play the digital content if the key code is associated with the unlock code. A digital right management system for implementing the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A game of chance is played on a gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game includes an array of locations displayed on a video display and individually selectable by a player and the processor. The player and the processor make alternating selections of unoccupied ones of the locations in the array for placement of respective first and second symbol types. The probability of using a winning strategy for the selections by the processor increases with successive ones of the selections by the processor so that the processor appears to become more intelligent as the game progresses. A payout is awarded to the player based on an outcome of the game.

Abstract: A maze-based game of chance for a gaming machine is controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The maze-based game includes an award-generating indicator movable along a plurality of different intersecting paths. The plurality of paths contain a plurality of consumable elements. The award-generating indicator generates an award based on a randomly selected outcome as the award-generating indicator visually consumes the elements.

Abstract: A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a spinning reel display showing a plurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels. The reels are rotated and stopped to place the symbols of each reel in visual association with a pay line. A winning combination of displayed symbols triggers a payoff. The distribution of payoff values and probabilities results in a high volatility index, so that the distribution is similar to a state-run lottery.

Abstract: An electronic video gaming machine for playing multiple games substantially at the same time is set forth. The gaming machine includes a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack and displayed on a touch screen. The stack includes a top end and a bottom end and each game board has a face on which a single game is displayed. A plurality of game control buttons and game control indicators are provided for operating the game and selecting game elements, such as lucky numbers, random numbers, and bingo patterns, to be applied to each game board in the stack. A number of game boards to be played in the stack is selectable by the player and a winning game board is indicated to the player such that the winning game board appears to pop-up from the stack in cash-register-like fashion such that the face of the winning game board is more visible relative to prior said game board popping up. The face of any game board is viewable by the player by touching the touch screen at a location of the game board to be viewed.

Abstract: An electronic video gaming machine for playing multiple games is set forth. The gaming machine includes a first set of game elements for playing a game having a plurality of possible game outcomes. A first game outcome is selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes including at least one predetermined carry-over outcome. The carry-over outcome occurring in the first game outcome is automatically duplicated by the processor into at least one other game outcome. Game elements of the first game outcome are also manually selectable by a player and the selected game elements are duplicated by the processor into at least one other game outcome. Multiple game elements are shown on game boards arranged in a stack and displayed on a touch screen. The stack includes a top end and a bottom end and each game board has a face on which a single game is displayed.

Abstract: A gaming machine for playing a basic game and bonus game is set forth. The basic game is generated by a processor in response to a wager amount selected in multiples, called credits, of a minimum wager up to a maximum wager. The basic game includes a basic game pay schedule and at least one start-bonus outcome. The bonus game is entered upon the occurrence of a start-bonus outcome in the basic game. The bonus game has a bonus game payout percentage that is variable with the wager amount such that the bonus game payout percentage changes in response to variations in the wager amount.

Abstract: A cordless peripheral pointing apparatus selects a position for transmission to a processing system. The apparatus comprises a hand-held pointer including a transmitter continually transmitting a through-the-air signal. A fixed base unit is positioned in proximity to the pointer and includes a receiver receiving the through-the-air transmitted signal, a processor for processing the received signal to determine position of the pointer relative to the fixed receiver in response to the received signal, and transmitter for transmitting information representing the determined position to a processing system.