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WO2009001072A1 - Dispositif de divertissement - Google Patents

Dispositif de divertissement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009001072A1
WO2009001072A1 PCT/GB2008/002164 GB2008002164W WO2009001072A1 WO 2009001072 A1 WO2009001072 A1 WO 2009001072A1 GB 2008002164 W GB2008002164 W GB 2008002164W WO 2009001072 A1 WO2009001072 A1 WO 2009001072A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
content
entertainment
plays
display
operable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2008/002164
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alistair Hopkins
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Inspired Gaming UK Ltd filed Critical Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Publication of WO2009001072A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009001072A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
    • G07F17/323—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to networked entertainment devices and in particular to entertainment machines or devices for use in public spaces such as bars, clubs, pubs, arcades and the like.
  • networked entertainment devices include video and/or audio jukeboxes, gambling machines such as slot machines including so-called 'one-armed bandits' and playing card game based systems, automated betting systems for both real and virtual events, video gaming machines and general arcade games.
  • a slot machine may provide an assortment of arcade games, quiz games and gambling games.
  • Some of the entertainment content may be universal, i.e. provided on all machines of that type, while some may be selected by the manager of the premises in which the machine is operated. Some of the entertainment content may be admissible only during certain hours of the day, e.g. in the case of family pubs.
  • the slot machine may be configured to display advertising material while in a standby mode of operation or during game play.
  • the slot machine may be configured to display information related to local activities or events such as a happy hour drink offer or pub quiz.
  • the local environment in which a machine operates both real (e.g. physical and geographical location) and virtual (e.g. legislative and business environment) will collectively be referred to in this specification as the domain of operation.
  • Such machines have some form of payment mechanism, being coin, token or card operated.
  • a problem with configuration of generic entertainment devices is the complexity of the task of ensuring that each device controlled within a large network is configured, maintained and operated in an appropriate manner for its current domain of operation. As suggested above, there are often a very large number of competing requirements that must be taken into account.
  • the owner or operator of such entertainment devices may require specific controls in respect of entertainment content, pricing, advertising content etc, while allowing the local business (e.g. pub) in whose premises the device resides some flexibility in determining content which is locally popular, relevant to local trade, or useful in specific promotions.
  • third parties such as licensees, sponsors, etc may have an interest in ensuring that advertising content appears in association with relevant entertainment content and possibly also at specific times and in specific formats.
  • strict legislation controlling the use of entertainment devices is often determined on both a national and a regional level, as well as being specific to the type of premises in which the device is being operated and the type of entertainment content being offered. For example, legislation may govern both the type of entertainment content (e.g.
  • a particular problem associated with the use of networks of entertainment devices with varying entertainment content is to ensure that all the entertainment devices have entertainment content suited to the customers at that venue.
  • Another problem is to ensure that each entertainment device has entertainment content which is suited to, and of interest to, the customers at that venue at the appropriate time of day.
  • Another particular problem associated with networks of entertainment devices is that they have a limited display area in which to show the content options which are available to the customer.
  • Another particular problem associated with entertainment devices are that there are many more content options available than can be displayed on the limited-size display panel of the device.
  • the present invention provides an entertainment device comprising: a payment mechanism; a processor module; an entertainment content handler and content interface executing on the processor module for executing entertainment content; an adjustment module operable to provide presentation of content for operation on the device in dependence of selected activity at the entertainment device.
  • the device comprises any one or more of the following features:-
  • the adjustment module is operable to provide the display of content in accordance with the number of plays of a content item and/or the frequency of plays of a content item in a predetermined time period.
  • the adjustment module is operable to provide the display of content such that a new content item is weighted to ensure display.
  • the adjustment module is operable to provide a display with the content items relating to the most plays, and/or the most frequent plays, in the most prominent positions on the display.
  • the adjustment module is operable to provide a display with the content items relating to the most plays, and/or the most frequent plays, most prominently displayed on the display.
  • a custom unit to record the number and/or frequency of plays of content items and to modify the presentation of content items on a display of the device in accordance with data held at the custom unit.
  • the adjustment module is operable in relation to plays of a video game and/or a gambling game on the device. • the plays of an audio track or video track on the device.
  • the adjustment module is operable in dependence of activity at a physically local or adjacent device, and/or at a device of the same and/or similar type of device.
  • the present invention also provides a network of entertainment devices which are interconnected, an entertainment device comprising: a payment mechanism; a processor module; an entertainment content handler and content interface executing on the processor module for executing entertainment content; an adjustment module operable to provide presentation of content for operation on the device in dependence of selected activity at the entertainment device.
  • the network may have any one or more of the following features:
  • the adjustment module of a device is operable in dependence of selected activity at another entertainment device in the network.
  • the adjustment module is operable in dependence of selected activity at another entertainment device in the network which is a local or adjacent entertainment device, and/or the same or similar type of entertainment device.
  • the present invention provides a method of operating an entertainment device comprising: a payment mechanism; a processor module; an entertainment content handler and content interface executing on the processor module for executing entertainment content; the method comprising providing presentation of content for operation on the device in dependence of selected activity at the entertainment device.
  • the method may include any one or more of the following features: • providing the display of content in accordance with the number of plays of a content item and/or the frequency of plays of a content item in a predetermined time period.
  • the present invention also provides a program computer product, or a computer program, directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, comprising software code portions for performing the method of operating an entertainment device or network of the present invention when said product is run on a computer.
  • the present invention also provides a carrier, which may comprise electronic signals, for a computer program of the present invention, and also electronic distribution of a computer program product of the present invention.
  • an entertainment device may display content items which have been recently most popular. Also, those content items which have recently been selected most frequently may be displayed most prominently and/or in the best locations of the display.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic overview of a network of entertainment devices embodying the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the display panel for an entertainment device in the network of Figure 1 ;
  • FIGS 3 and 4 are schematic block diagrams of the entertainment device of Figure 2.
  • the expression 'entertainment device' is used to encompass all forms of 'pay-to-play' type machines including gaming machines, gambling machines, audio and video jukeboxes and any other machine adapted to provide digital data content to a user, in return for payment via a payment mechanism.
  • the expression 'entertainment device' may also encompass a machine adapted to deliver digital entertainment content (such as audio or video data) directly to a user device, such as an MP3 player.
  • the digital content delivered to the user may be of the form of an interactive program requiring continuous or periodic input from the user (e.g. a game or a quiz) via a user interface (e.g. keyboard, button set, touch screen, control console etc) or may be a non-interactive program requiring no input from the user once the program is initiated (e.g. the playing of music, a movie clip, advertising or other display content). More generally, the program which runs on the entertainment device to deliver digital content may be referred to herein as 'payload'.
  • the expression 'payment mechanism' is intended to encompass any form of physical and/or electronic payment mechanism receiving from the user a form of payment token including any one or more of a coin acceptor mechanism, a banknote reader, a credit card reader, a credit token, a proprietary card reader and the like.
  • a network 1 of entertainment devices ED 1 to 4 are operated from a central network server 2.
  • the devices ED 1 to 4 may be located in different commercial environments for example ranging between family pubs, nightclubs, and so on, with a variety of local requirements, legalisation and so on. They may have different types of customers, and, indeed, the customers for a particular device and location may vary widely at different times of the day.
  • Figure 2 shows the display panel 220 of a gaming machine 221.
  • Display panel 220 has a display 222 with three major regions being: • "Popular” section 223 which shows the nine most popular games for that machine 221 at the relevant time period, the three most popular being “Shootem” 224, "Trick Shot” 225 and “Big Match” 226; • "New Games” section 227, which shows a new game “Pool” 228 introduced on the machine in the last week; • “Regulars” section 229, which shows “Gotcha” 230 which is always available for play at that machine 221 at the relevant time of day.
  • the "Popular" section 223 is the most prominent position of the display panel 220, namely at the top right part of the panel; also, the text is the most prominent, being the largest size, and coloured to be most visually striking and a strong contrast with the background.
  • the “New Games” section 227 is the next most prominent in location, being in the top left part of the panel, in size of section, and in size and colour contrast of text; finally followed by the "Regulars” section 229, which is the bottom region across the full width of the panel 220.
  • Figure 3 shows gaming machine 221 with content configuration files 236 relating to the configuration of content items 238, an adjustment module 240 with custom unit 242 which records each occasion on which a content item is selected, noting details of the content item selected, the actual time of day and any other data considered appropriate (for example, in relation to games or gambling, the result and/or winnings).
  • This information is held in store 244 of custom unit 242, and used by adjustment module 240 as a self learning routine to modify the content items and their position as appropriate as displayed on the display panel 220 in order to promote the items in any or all of the sections 223, 227 and 229 which are most frequently selected.
  • the content display is adjusted additionally and/or alternatively in relation to the number of plays of another entertainment device in the network, for example another local or nearby device (e.g. at the same location or premises) or another device for example which is the same or of similar type.
  • Figure 4 shows details of one implementation of the display panel 220 of Figure 2, in which a showtime core accesses the logical control software over a XMPP interface.
  • the logical control software contains those components necessary to support the set of commands in the XMPP interface.
  • the content management modifies the process which builds the entertainment device user interface so that it calls the XMPP tier and uses the response.
  • the menu layout for the content items on display panel 220 is partially determined by the frequency of play of a particular content item in a venue, by creating a "wrapper" round the default xmlV2.ScheduleHandlerImpl which modifies the weightings of content. To the rest of the logical control software, it is immaterial which implementation of the schedule handler is in place. A schedule handler which is also a message listener is generated; the schedule handler notes in a private local file whenever a local content item is played. It then uses this local data to adjust the weighting of the content and widgets which are offered by the standard, ConfigDb driven ScheduleHandler.
  • the adjustment module 240 effects a weighing change in either direction and can be capped so that the overall effect is limited. This allows for an item which is new to be given a sufficiently high weighting that it is not driven off the menu by locally popular content.
  • Table 1 shows a worked example within a single CategoryWidget: Action Games. Note that only four games are shown, so games with rank 5 are not offered to the customer. Note the following effects:
  • the FlashMenu 242 is built on the basis of weighting data retrieved via a XMPP iface.
  • the ShowtimeXmpplface 244 reuses existing commands in the standard iface as well as having special ones to send LMT messages.
  • the GeneticScheduleHandler 246 delegates most methods to the existing XmlScheduleHandler, simply modifying the weight of content using a simple formula and data from the ContentMeters.
  • the XmlScheduleHandler 248 flattens multiple intersecting schedules to a single class of content.
  • Schedule.xml 250 is generated from the Config.Db scheduling scheme on the basis of the set of schedules which a unit belongs to.
  • the GeneticScheduleHandler 254 subscribes to event messages and updates the local store of performance data as it requires.
  • the ShowtimeContentLoader 252 loads the content cache on the basis of Showtime file layouts.
  • server and messaging server may be provided by multiple servers, e.g. distributed around a network or provided by a hierarchical network of smaller servers.
  • Each entertainment device is preferably based on a generic processor running a suitable operating system, e.g. Windows XPTM Embedded.
  • Each entertainment device includes a kernel process executable on the operating system for managing content, controlling peripherals and communication on the device.
  • the entertainment device includes a plurality of different content executables each relating to a different entertainment content item.
  • a content item may be any item of pay-to-play content, e.g. a game, a quiz, a music player or music track to be played thereon, a video player or video sequence to be played thereon, as well as any advertisement or display sequence to attract attention to the device, a menu for presentation of options to a user, or any executable causing output or transfer of digital content from the entertainment device as a service to the user.
  • the content executables may be referred to as payload.
  • the content managing process preferably includes a set of components such as: content interfaces which the content executables use to connect to the kernel process; service components for providing functions such as paying in, paying out, cash handling and connectivity; a message hub for distributing event messages created within the device, e.g. relating to payments in, payment out, play counts, error messages, alarms etc; and other functional components e.g. a credit handler, as will be explained in greater detail later.
  • One content interface may connect to many different content executables, and each content interface may support one or more different types of content executable.
  • the content managing process uses the configuration data to retrieve content items either from its own local storage.
  • the kernel process then displays or otherwise implements a menu selection according to the prevailing attributes as determined by the schedules.
  • the domain of operation may be a public bar which is (i) run by a local management, (ii) owned by a specific brewery, (iii) in a relationship with certain advertisers, (iv) targeting family clientele during the daytime and adult clientele in the evenings, (v) operating under local authority licensing regulations and (vi) operating under national licensing and gaming laws. It will be understood that each of these six factors in the domain of operation may influence the way in which the entertainment device is to be operated. Generally speaking, a significant number of such factors determine the allowable or preferred attributes of the entertainment device.
  • the expression 'attributes' is intended to encompass the content items or 'payload' available on a device, and the mode of operation of those content items.
  • the expression 'mode of operation' is intended to encompass rules governing the way in which the content is delivered, restrictions on its input / output parameters and restrictions on the services available to the content.
  • the pub owner, or brewery may wish to dictate that a certain range of promotional games and offers are available;
  • the local landlord may recognise that certain games are locally more popular than others and prefer that these are presented with a higher profile;
  • local management may wish to introduce special offers in conjunction with content delivered by the entertainment device, e.g. an offer to "play game X to win a pint of guest ale";
  • a contract between the brewery and another commercial organisation may dictate that predetermined advertising material should appear on the entertainment device display for predetermined periods of time, e.g.
  • Each entertainment device may be assigned to belong to one or more 'groups' of such devices.
  • Each group has an associated schedule that defines a set of attributes (e.g. content, mode of operation) for all the devices belonging to that group.
  • Those attributes in the schedule may include desired attributes in an order of preference and may include mandatory attributes to comply with regulations.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

Les machines ou dispositifs de divertissement payants pour jouer, miser et d'autres fonctions de divertissement utilisés dans les espaces publics, tels que les bars, les clubs, etc., sont mis en réseau et commandés de manière centralisée. Chaque dispositif de divertissement comporte au moins un mécanisme de paiement tel qu'un récepteur de monnaie ou un lecteur de carte. Le divertissement disponible sur la machine est montré sur un panneau d'affichage (220) qui comporte une section « Populaires » (223), une section « Nouveaux jeux » (227) et une section « Ordinaires » (228). Les éléments de contenu montrés dans certaines ou la totalité des sections sont choisis en fonction du nombre de jeux ou des sélections effectuées, par exemple dans une période de temps donnée.
PCT/GB2008/002164 2007-06-27 2008-06-24 Dispositif de divertissement Ceased WO2009001072A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0712456.3 2007-06-27
GB0712456A GB0712456D0 (en) 2007-06-27 2007-06-27 Entertainment device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009001072A1 true WO2009001072A1 (fr) 2008-12-31

Family

ID=38420794

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2008/002164 Ceased WO2009001072A1 (fr) 2007-06-27 2008-06-24 Dispositif de divertissement

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB0712456D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2009001072A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005101228A2 (fr) * 2004-04-07 2005-10-27 Igt Gestion du contenu global via un reseau destine a un appareil de jeu de hasard
US20060084488A1 (en) * 2000-09-19 2006-04-20 Igt Bonusing digital media
US20060287098A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2006-12-21 Morrow James W System and method for gaming-content configuration and management system

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060084488A1 (en) * 2000-09-19 2006-04-20 Igt Bonusing digital media
US20060287098A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2006-12-21 Morrow James W System and method for gaming-content configuration and management system
WO2005101228A2 (fr) * 2004-04-07 2005-10-27 Igt Gestion du contenu global via un reseau destine a un appareil de jeu de hasard

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0712456D0 (en) 2007-08-08

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