MXPA06007949A - Virtual glass for a gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Various virtual glasses for providing visual and audio displays in a gaming machine are disclosed. Such virtual glasses may replace traditional gaming machine displays such as silk-screened glasses and secondary video screens. A virtual glass system comprises at least a host adapted to provide video content, a host storage unit adapted to store video content for the host, and a virtual glass in communication with the host. A standard virtual glass comprises at least a logic device, a storage unit, and a video display device. Multiples of each item may be present in each virtual glass system and/or virtual glass. In particular, the combined capacity of all virtual glass storage units is substantially less than the combined video content capacity ofthe host storage units. Additional devices can include remote hosts, remote virtual glasses, multiple hosts, networked systems and advanced logic devices capable of providing prioritization and increased functionality.

Description

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VIRTUAL CRYSTAL FOR A GAME MACHINE Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for providing visual representations in an electronic device, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for generating and controlling audio and visual representations in a gaming machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Casinos and other forms of gambling comprise a growing multi-billion dollar industry where the available area is a prize amount, such that the most recent games and popular and increasingly sophisticated machines are preferred with respect to the oldest and least popular. For example, the gaming and casino industry has undergone a marked change from the last decades not only from the prevalence of table games to gaming machines, but also from the use of fully mechanical gaming machines to gaming machines. electronic and based on microprocessors. In a typical gambling magic, such as a video poker or slot machine, a game is first started through a player's money or credit bet, then the game machine determines a game result, presents the result of game to the player and then potentially grants a prize of some kind, including a monetary prize, depending on the outcome of the game. Although this process in general is valid for both mechanical and electronic gaming machines, electronic machines tend to be more popular with players and thus more lucrative for casinos for various reasons, such as increased gambling varieties, more attractive performances and dynamics and the ability to grant major prizes. Electronic and microprocessor-based gaming machines may include various hardware and software components (equipment and computer programs) to provide a wide variety of game types and game playing capabilities, such as hardware and software components that are well known in the art. A typical electronic game machine comprises a central processing unit ("CPU") or master game controller ("MGC") that controls various combinations of devices and hardware and software components that encourage play the game, allow a player Play a game on the gaming machine and control the profit distributions and other prizes. Software components may include, for example, boot and initialization routines, various programs for playing the game, and subroutines, credit routines and profit sharing, image and audio generation programs, various component modules and a number generator random, among others. Exemplary hardware devices may include bill validators, coin acceptors, card readers, keypads, buttons, levers, touch screens, coin hoppers, voucher printers, player tracking units and the like. In addition, each gaming magic can have several audio and visual representation components that can include, for example, speakers, visual panels, pumped and protruding crystals, exterior cabinet illustration, lights, and tall box dioramas, as well as various video representations of various types to display games and other classified information, with these types of video representations including, for example, a cathode ray tube ("CRT"), a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), a light emitting diode ("LED"), a flat panel screen and a plasma screen, among others. Apparatus and methods for providing visual representations in gaming machines and / or within a casino are well known in general, and examples of these apparatuses and methods can be found, for example in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,971,271; 6,135,884; 6,251,014; and 6,503,147, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes. Aungue these examples and the following analysis and illustrative examples refer mainly to visual representation systems and devices of gaming and casino machines, it should be kept in mind that these are only of an exemplary nature, and that these and other systems and devices of Similar representation can also be applied and used in other types of establishments, jurisdictions and articles. Continuing within the context of a gambling establishment or casino, the use of quality visual and audio components to encourage, increase and maintain interest in gambling is often an important consideration for a casino operator or establishment owner. game. Also important are the variety and capacity of exchange in games and visual representations of magic, since the interest in any given game or visual representation tends to decrease over time. Electronic gaming machines have traditionally been relatively simple, however, since the various visual representations, functions and peripheral devices associated with any particular gaming machine are usually limited to any given machine. In general, the functionality of a traditional gaming machine has been relatively constant since new visual representations, themes, peripheral devices and gaming software are added frequently to any particular machine once the machine has been deployed. In addition, the connections, communication protocols and software drivers for many peripheral devices are often customized and patented, varying from manufacturer to manufacturer and peripheral device to peripheral device, such that changing peripherals of different model is usually impractical. Although it may be desirable to change a game theme or add new capabilities or features to a particular gaming machine once that machine has been deployed, these changes can be costly and particularly difficult if novel or updated gaming software is included and understood. / or new or updated peripheral devices. In still a simple example, the creation and installation of illustrations and information in various visual representations of gaming machines, such as a protruding crystal and a pumped glass, is a task of intensive resources. Typically, the illustration is printed in silkscreen on a protruding glass or pumped glass (which can be glass or plastic) by a controlled and expensive process. Because these visuals are usually illuminated from behind such that the light shines through the glass, the quality of the screen printing process must be high to ensure that there are no small holes or other defects in the painted areas. Even a simple modernization of a gaming machine provides a different theme that may include the replacement of a pumped glass, or protruding glass, and strips on a reel (in a spinning reel slot machine), among other points. Although it is often desirable, these modernizations result in at least costs of purchasing and installing new screen-printed glasses, even where no new software and / or other electronic components are needed. Therefore, the modernization of a machine to generate and maintain interest in the game can represent a significant expense to the casino. Another method of winning and maintaining interest in a game is to provide a gaming machine with a plurality of games. Although gaming machines have traditionally provided only one individual game per machine, recent innovations have resulted in machines that allow a player to select several different games in the same game. These multi-game machines typically have the same exterior artwork, outstanding glass and pumped glass for any game to be selected, however, these points of representation tend to be rather generic in these machines. It is completely impractical to have an individual multi-game machine with normal screen-printed glasses and other permanent visual representations that reflect, for example, both a game of the theme "Elvis" and a game of the theme "Star Wars" available in the same machine. Although the issue of variable visual representations has been partially addressed through recent introductions of secondary and still tertiary video screens, these video screens tend to be media devices, event-driven and relatively expensive, the use of the which results in the need for substantial associated memory or storage units and the additional energy and additional space required to accommodate these visual representations and units. Additionally, these added video screens are limited in that they are restricted to an individual video image source or "host" within the same game machine, such as the MGC or other associated video control slave chip, and can only display what has already been programmed in the host or any of its associated memory units. As a result, any new desired game change or visual representation on a deployed machine still results in the need for undesirable modernization and / or software upgrades and upgrades. In view of the above observations, it is desirable to provide a visual representation for a gaming machine that reduces the high price and inconvenience of updating schematic visual representations on the panes and gaming machines. It would also be desirable to provide a visual representation with increased flexibility, such that a variety of hosts and image sources can be associated with the visual representation. Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatuses and methods for providing visual representations associated with a gaming machine, and in particular improved apparatus and methods that allow for an increased variety of easily interchangeable visual representations with reduced energy and space requirements and less memory or storage incorporated in the current components of the visual representation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for generating and controlling visual and audio representations in a gaming machine. The method and apparatus provided comprise the use of one or more virtual glasses in association with a gaming machine, whereby several visual, traditional representations of gaming machines are replaced, such as secondary video screens and screen-printed glasses. . This is achieved by providing a video representation unit, low space requirement, low cost, low energy, aerodynamics that is capable of representing static and animated images using a minimum amount of internal storage and requiring minimal use of MGC . In one embodiment, a virtual crystal system has at least one host adapted to present video content to a virtual crystal, at least one host storage unit adapted to store video content accessible to the host, and at least one virtual crystal in communication with the host. A normal virtual crystal has at least one logic device, at least one storage unit, and a video rendering device, although the virtual crystal storage units are small so that the combined capacity of all the units of the virtual crystal is substantially smaller. virtual glass storage than the combined capacity of the video content of all the storage units of the host. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the provided apparatus and method comprises the use of remote hosts, remote virtual crystals, multiple hosts, networked systems and more advanced logic devices capable of providing necessary prioritization and increased functionality within a virtual glass . Other methods, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is proposed that all these additional methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention and be protected by the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Figures The figures included are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and steps of the process with respect to the use and implementation of a virtual crystal in or around a gaming machine. These figures do not in any way limit any change in the form and detail that can be made of the invention by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Figure 1 illustrates in perspective view an exemplary game machine. Figure 2 illustrates in perspective view an alternative gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example infrastructure of electronic components for generating and controlling video representations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a virtual glass example unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a gaming machine example network for providing virtual network crystals according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates a block diagram of an alternative gaming machine example network for providing virtual network crystals according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention An application of "example of an apparatus and method according to the present invention is described in this section, this example being provided only, to add context and assist in the understanding of the invention.It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced with some or all of these specific details. In other cases, well-known characteristics and process steps have not been described in detail, in order to unnecessarily obstruct the present invention. Other applications are possible, such that the following example should not be taken as definitive or limiting of the scope or adjustment. In the following detailed description, references are made to the appended figures, which form part of the description and in which specific embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustration. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention, it is understood that these examples are not limiting.; such that other modalities can be used, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, and as referred to above, while the inventive virtual glass apparatus and methods described herein are described primarily with reference to illustrations of gaming establishments and gaming machines, these apparatuses and methods are readily adaptable for use in other types of businesses and environments, such that their use is not restricted exclusively to gambling machines or within a casino or gambling establishment. Continuing with the illustrative example of the apparatuses and methods employed within a casino or other game establishment, a game example machine is illustrated in a perspective view in figure 1. The game machine 10, which is a gaming device which is generally adapted to accept bets and award monetary prizes, includes an upper case 11 and a main case 12, which generally surrounds the interior (not shown) of the machine and It is visible by the users. The main cabinet 12 includes a main door 20 in front of the machine, which opens to provide access to the interior of the machine. Attached to the main gate are typically one or more player input buttons 21, one or more money or credit acceptors, such as a coin acceptor 22, and a ticket or ticket verifier 23, a coin tray 24 , and a crystal 25 pumped. Visible through the main door 20 is a primary video display monitor 26 and one or more informal side panels or side panel glasses 27. The primary video rendering monitor 26 can be used in general to present a main game or other relevant information, and will typically be a CRT, a high resolution flat panel LCD, a plasma / LED screen or other conventional monitor, electronically controlled video. The upper case 11, which typically rests above the main case 12, may contain a ticket printer 28, a numeric keypad 29, one or more additional visuals 30, a card reader 31, one or more speakers 32 and a crystal In addition, the upper case 11 may also contain items located within the protruding glass 33, such as one or more cameras 34, and one or more secondary video display monitors 35, which may be used in general to present a game. "secondary or bonus, auxiliary information, payment tables, illustrations and / or advertising, and may also be a CRT, a high resolution flat panel LCD, a plasma / LED screen or other conventional electronically controlled video monitor. example of a use and description for an additional secondary visual representation associated with a gaming machine is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,315,666, c Mastera, et al., entitled "Gaming Machines Having Secondary Display for Providing Video Content", a patent that is incorporated in the present in its entirety and for all purposes. While the above example places several items and peripherals of the gaming machine in specific locations for purposes of illustration, it is generally understood that all illustrated items may not be present in each gaming machine, that all of these items may be located in different places in or around the machine and other articles and peripherals, such as a box top diorama, may also be present, by way of example. With reference to Figure 2, an alternative gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in perspective view. Similar to the previous game machine 10 of Figure 1, the alternative game machine 50 is also a game device that is generally adapted to accept bets and award monetary prizes. Although the alternative game machine 50 is in general more box type than the previous game machine 10 of Figure 1, this difference is considered insubstantial for purposes of the present invention. In fact, it is specifically contemplated that each inventive virtual glass embodiment, described herein, may be used in conjunction with all gaming machines of any size or shape, with appropriate adaptations or adjustments made as necessary. As in the previous example, the gaming machine 50 includes an upper case 111 and a main case 112, both of which have several characteristics substantially similar to those found in the previous gaming machine, such as a primary display 126 video and one or more loudspeakers 132. The game 50 also includes one or more virtual crystals, which are essentially peripheral auxiliary video representation units in communication with one or more hosts, such as the MGC or some other CPU. These virtual crystals are not under the direct control of MGC or any other host, and as such are not a key component of the MGC or another host. In particular, the main cabinet 112 presents a pumped, virtual crystal 125 and a side panel or virtual glass 127, instead of a side glass and pumped glass, statically traditional, stamped by silkscreen or statically marked otherwise. Additionally, the upper case 111 has a virtual protruding glass 133 instead of a traditional protruding glass stamped by screen printing or other static etching. If virtual crystals are shown in three separate places, it is specifically contemplated that fewer or more virtual crystals may be used in any combination as desired in any given case, and any other locations in and around the realm. of game or other device can be adapted for use with a virtual glass. Additionally, each virtual crystal may vary in size and shape as needed to secure any physical specification that may be necessary.In general, each virtual crystal comprises at least one video representation device that can be used to present a potentially valid classification. infinite of virtual representations, such as, for example, a main game, a copy of a main game, a bonus game, animated or static images or illustrations that include themes related to the game, videomusical short films, advertising, pay tables, or other Relevant information and any other visual representation presentation The current video rendering device may be selected from any of several different types of video representation, including, by way of example, any LED, LCD or CRT, a "derived" CRT. ", a high resolution flat panel LCD, a plasma screen, a screen field emission, a digital micromirror device, and any other electronically controlled video monitor, as well as a hologram or any other three-dimensional projected image formation device. In addition, any display device used in a virtual glass can be adapted for use as an input acceptance device, such as a touch screen, if desired. An example of this touch screen or other interactive display device used in conjunction with a gaming machine is described in commonly assigned and co-pending US Patent Application Serial No. 10 / 139,801 to Winans, et al. , filed on May 3, 2002, and entitled "Light Emitting Interface Displays for a- Gaming Machine", application that is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes. Each virtual crystal can also comprise or be associated with one or more additional speakers, microprocessors or other electronic components, as discussed in more detail below. Different from the video representations, secondary or other auxiliary gaming machines described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 6,315,666, the various embodiments of the virtual crystal in the present invention are not devices of the slave type to the medium or driven by events that require a substantial amount Separate independent memory, or separate or independent storage. Rather, each virtual crystal is preferably driven by means, such that all the presented images, sounds and other representation materials are not permanently stored in the virtual crystal, but are distributed by a host associated with the virtual crystal for representation visual In this way, it is not necessary for a virtual crystal to have a substantial amount of ROM, flash RAM, dynamic RAM or other associated electronic storage, as would be required for a video representation device, slave to the media, triggered by the events. Because a virtual crystal is driven by the media instead of being triggered by events, a control MGC or other associated host is also unnecessary to regularly communicate status information and event orders to the virtual glass. In fact, in one embodiment it is specifically contemplated that a given static image that substantially resembles a traditional glass stamped by screen printing will be sent once to a virtual crystal by an associated host, after which the static image is stored in the virtual crystal by a relatively small flash RAM or dynamic RAM unit, and then it is represented or repeatedly displayed in the virtual glass, thus becoming a virtual image stamped by screen printing. Turning now to Figure 3, a block diagram of an example infrastructure of electronic components for generating and controlling video representations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The virtual glass display system 100, which generally resides within and / or around the game machine 50, comprises a plurality of components, each of which are separate and distinct from the main CPU or MGC101. This main CPU or MGC 101 can be, for example, a CPU model I960, developed by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California, model that is present in many gaming machines manufactured by IGT of Reno, Nevada, as many of those under the Game King and Vision brands, as well as several different electronic gaming machines. Actually, the i960 type and similar types and CPU variations are present in many types of electronic gaming machines, and the inclusion not only of the i960 but of all types and variations of CPU are contemplated for the use of the present invention . The CPU 101 is generally responsible for controlling and / or processing all the elements of the game, money or credit entries, profit sharing, auxiliary peripheral drive, any network communication (if applicable), and other machine functions, as is generally known in the art. The CPU 101, which is the MGC for the gaming machine 50, is preferably placed in communication with one or more associated storage units 102, storage units which may comprise ROM, RAM, static RAM or any other practicable type of storage. memory or data storage, or any combination thereof. In addition, one or more memory units 102 can reside directly on or inside the CPU 101, or they can be separated without communication with the CPU, and may comprise, for example, a hard disk, a disk drive, a flash drive or any other type of data storage computing unit. Since it is the MGC of the gaming machine, the CPU 101 is also preferably the controller of a primary video representation monitor 126 ("PVD"), with this primary representation monitor that is used to present at least one game or main result, among other visual representation information and articles. Although it is possible in some cases, the PVD 126 is generally considered not to be a good candidate for a virtual crystal, due to its nature substantially different from other visual representations with respect to at least some contents of the visual representation and in its relationship to the MGC and I play in general. Accordingly, the PVD 126 is not a virtual crystal in the present example and is not considered to be a part of the virtual crystal display system 100 as illustrated.

As described above, the CPU 101 (i.e., the MGC) is preferably associated with one or more virtual crystals, within the gaming machine 50, such as the virtual pumped glass ("VBG") 125, crystal 5. virtual side panel ("VSG") 127 and virtual protruding crystal ("VTG") 133. In the present example, the CPU 101 is in communication with each virtual crystal 125, 127, 133, and under this arrangement this MGC is considers that it is a host for each virtual crystal, with the host that 0 is responsible for sending, any and all images, animations, videomusical short, sounds and other materials that the host wishes to display through a virtual crystal. Although it is entirely possible that few or more virtual crystals are included in a given 5-game machine, as described above, it is also possible that one or more hosts are associated with a given game machine, at any time. In reality, a plurality of different hosts may be inside and / or outside the gaming machine, as discussed in more detail below, although the present approach will remain in only the MGC as a host for now. While communication is thus presented in an obvious way from the MGC host to each virtual crystal, in some cases it may also be desirable for communication 5 to proceed from a virtual crystal back to the MGC, such as, for example, where VSG 127 can be a type of virtual representation input acceptance touch screen, after which it is then necessary that the input made on the virtual screen be transmitted back to the MGC for processing. As discussed in more detail below, each virtual crystal preferably comprises a few basic electronic components, including at least one simple processor or programmable logic device ("PLD") and at least one relatively sticky storage or memory unit, such as a dynamic RAM or RAM, capable of temporarily storing at least one static image, representing a file or other set of data related to the visual representation. This static image file or data set related to the visual representation can then be accessed repeatedly by the processor once so that they are stored, such that the host must send any particular static image file or data set only once for that image or related visual representation that is going to be exhibited constantly during an indefinite period of time. In an example mode of operation, a virtual crystal receives a static image file from the sending host, temporarily stores that static image file in a low capacity flash RAM unit, and then repeatedly reads that static image file and models the image contained therein in the virtual glass video representation at least until another image file is stored in the flash RAM unit and / or the virtual glass is otherwise commanded to stop displaying its flash RAM contents. In a particular example of static image files or data sets that are sent to the various virtual crystals, a player can select one of a variety of game choices in a given multiplayer game, after which the MGC, which it is also the host CPU 101, it sends to each virtual glass, a file or data set for a static thematic image of graphic art that reflects that particular game selected by the player. This game can be a game of the theme of "Elvis" or "Star Wars", as an example, both of which can then be made available on the same game machine. During the entire time that the player plays that selected game on that game machine, each virtual crystal repeatedly exhibits its stored static thematic image that reflects that game, resulting in constant visual representations that emulate essentially the traditional thematic crystals printed by serigraphy. Because the MGC sends each image only once and then is not included for more time in the actuation or monitoring of each visual representation of the virtual glass during the game, it is advantageously saved an enormous amount of resources of the machine and activity of the MGC , with these resources and MGC activity that are suitable for other purposes or to improve the game's primary characteristics. Of course, a new image or video representation can be sent to each virtual crystal for several reasons. A player may choose to select a different game, for example, after which the host MGC then sends files or data sets for static thematic images of graphic art that reflect this newly selected game to each virtual crystal for constant display thereof way detailed above. Alternatively, if the game should be stopped for a certain period of time, the hosting MGC can be programmed to send a separate set of image files or data set to each virtual crystal of its ownership. In this way, a multi-game machine can be programmed to automatically rotate complete sets of virtual crystal visuals for many or all of the various games and possible themes available on that machine during a player draw phase or other similar period of standstill. . It is also contemplated that a wide variety of other video image files or data set can be sent to a virtual glass for display for an indefinite or set period of time, with those images including, for example, pay tables, other machine information, general information of casinos and hotels, other advertising, copies of the recent results of the main game, and screenshots of recent winnings of major prizes, among others. can accommodate for the limited capacity of the flash RAM or dynamic RAM are also contemplated, with examples that include multiple frames animations and videomusical shorts.Of course, due to the limited storage restrictions of the flash RAM or associated dynamic RAM, the duration of a videomusical short is effectively restricted by its resolution, with a high-resolution videomusical short ion that is necessarily very short. Finally, it is also contemplated that the video rendering device for one or more virtual glasses can also be used separately for different modes of operation, such as for a primary visual representation of game, a copy of a primary visual representation of game , or to show a live feed of video live or on tape, as an example. In these cases, it is also that these other modes are completely inconsistent with the characteristics associated with a visual representation of virtual glass, since an increased load of MGC becomes necessary and / or the recycled virtualization of stored files or sets is not presented. of data stored in the flash RAM or dynamic RAM of the virtual glass, such that one or more additional independent inputs to the virtual glass display device will probably be retrieved. The availability of different modes of operation, however, is simply considered to be a convenient priority feature of the normal virtual glass mode which can be used in conjunction with a virtual glass video display device. Referring again to Figure 3, each virtual crystal can be associated with one or more loudspeakers 132, with these associations which are either exclusive for a given virtual crystal, or shared with other virtual crystals and / or other components of magic. For example, while the loudspeaker 132 is clearly associated with VTG 133 in the present illustrative example, it is also possible that the CPU 1-01 may have a direct connection (not shown) to this loudspeaker so that this action MGC provides Separate independent content of video representation, and separate separate orders. In this way, VTG 133 can output audio content related to its video representation content to this speaker 132, while the CPU.101 is also capable of outputting separate audio content to the speaker. The loudspeaker 132 can be programmed to recognize and prefer an audio content that the device emits with respect to another, or it can contain a simple PLD for processing, queuing and resolving conflicting audio commands by a predetermined priority or other similar method. , this practice which is how it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art. The virtual crystal display system 100 may also comprise one or more associated remote units, such as the remote virtual crystal ("RVG") 140 and the remote host ("RH") 141, with these remote units being those that they are not contained within the same game machine. The RVG 140 operates like another virtual crystal within the game machine 50, and is accessible to at least one host associated with the gaming machine, such as the CPU 101 or any additional internal hosts (not shown). The RH 141 operates the same as the CPU 101 or other internal host with respect to one or more associated virtual crystals, with the RH 141 or any additional internal host having preferably access to one or more associated virtual crystals 125, 127, 133 , 140. Any additional hosts preferably comprise a processing unit and at least one associated or accessible storage or memory unit, such as remote host memory ("RHM") 142. Any number of associated remote units such as RVG 140 or RH 141 may reside in a variety of locations, such as attached to any exterior portion of the gaming machine, near but above, below or next to the gaming machine, and / or located remotely from the gaming machine. play at some distance, as desired. In reality, a remote unit may reside in a different construction or even in a different city from an associated gaming machine, as allowed by the means of communication and the protocols used. The means of communication and the protocols for both the virtual and remote virtual glass units can be varied widely as desired, with an example use and description of normal peripheral communications within a gaming machine that is described in the patent of the States. United 6,251,014, commonly assigned, of Stockdale, et al., Entitled "Standard Peripheral Communication", a patent that is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes. Virtual glass communications can be done both internally within an individual machine, or alternatively over a network of magnetores and / or servers, such as a WAN or LAN, as an example. Wired types of communications and protocols that can run between machines, devices, and servers can include, for example, those that comprise the Universal Serial Bus ("USB"), Firewire and patent cables, and bus technologies. In a preferred embodiment, one or more virtual glass units are adapted to implement a communication protocol that allows these virtual glasses to be identified by the main game controller of an associated game machine as an authorized device to connect to the game controller main, particularly where the virtual crystal also comprises a player input source, as in the case of a touch screen. Particular examples of this USB software, connections and use of protocols in devices within and associated with gaming machines are disclosed in United States patent applications serial numbers 10 / 460,822, commonly assigned and co-pending from Lam, et al. , entitled "USB Software Architecture in a Gaming Machine"; 10 / 460,826, Quraishi, et al., Entitled "Protocols and Standards for USB Periphery, Communications"; and 10 / 460,608, from Quraishi, et al., entitled "Download Procedure for Peripheral Devices", all of which were filed on June 11, 2003, and all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety and for all purposes. . Alternatively, any practicable wireless technology can also be implemented for communications between a host and the virtual glass, including, for example, a Bluetooth® wireless system using an IEEE 802 standard. Ix, an alternative wireless system using a standard of wireless fidelity ("Wi-Fi") similar, and any other system that has means and normal protocols of wireless communication. Exemplary systems and methods for providing and receiving wireless communications between various devices within and associated with a gaming machine are described in the commonly assigned and co-pending US patent application number 10 / 661,404, de Silva, et al. , presented on September 11, 2003, and entitled "Wireless Input / Output and Peripheral Devices on a Gaming Machine", application that is also incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes. Turning now to Figure 4, an example virtual glass according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in a block diagram format. The virtual crystal 133, which is substantially identical to VTG 133 of Figure 3, receives the input from a host 101 and provides visual display results to a virtual crystal monitor ("VGM") 149, which is considered to be part of the virtual glass and / or an associated loudspeaker 132. The inputs are first received and driven by the virtual glass by one or more electronic components on a printed circuit board ("PCB") 145 or other similar organization device. In a simple embodiment, a microprocessor ("MC") component 146 or other similar logic device first receives the image and video file or other data set related to the visual representation, issued by a host and thereby stores the data in the associated storage device or memory unit, such as flash RAM 147. A video control, which may be a part of MC 146, then reads repeatedly the file or data set stored in flash RAM 147 and sends the contained image thereof to be displayed in the VGM 149 until the virtual glass is given another set of visual representation data or it is instructed otherwise to stop the representation in the VGM. Alternatively, the video controller may be a separate device other than MC 146 or another similar logical device. This arrangement may be desirable due to design preferences, cost considerations, availability of parts out of inventory and other actors.

For now, a virtual glass system has at least one host adapted to present video content to a virtual crystal, at least one host memory unit or other storage device in communication with the host and adapted to store video content accessible to the host, and at least one virtual crystal in communication with the host. A normal virtual crystal then has at least one logical device, at least one virtual crystal storage unit and a video rendering device, although the virtual crystal storage units are small so that the combined capacity of all the virtual units is storage of virtual crystals is substantially less than. the combined capacity of video content of all host storage units. While the flash RAM 147 has a limited memory capacity, such that the virtual crystal 133 is simple and streamlined compared to other conventional secondary video representation peripherals, the existence of this flash RAM or storage component or similar memory is vital if a virtual crystal is going to work as a kind of closed circuit to repeat the visual representation of the image. In one embodiment, flash RAM 147 is preferably designated such that it can be overwritten with new files or data set in the order, but such that a given set of data, file or series of files (such as for an animation of several boxes) remain in memory or storage until they are deleted, overwritten or otherwise formed. The flash RAM 147 is therefore sufficiently non-volatile to retain a stored image file or data set in the event of a power interruption in the machine or other irregular event. While this file or data set may be singularly small, the preservation of this small amount of video data may be critical in some cases. For example, a gaming machine can be programmed to send a screen point or series of screen points to one or more virtual glasses when a significant main prize is presented in a main game on the gaming machine. In the event that an interruption of power or malfunction of the machine occurs after the main prize, the flash RAM of one or more virtual glasses can be used to remember the screen points included in a intended main prize. Example uses and descriptions for retaining and replaying a game history for a gaming machine, and for presenting game history pictures at alternative locations again inside and outside a gaming machine are described in the patent application United States Commonly Assigned and Co-pending Issue No. 09/689/498 of LeMay, et al., filed on October 11, 2000, and entitled "Frame Buffer Capture of Actual Game Play", application incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes. Because the static nature of RAM 147 is not critical for all virtual crystal implementations, however, other forms of storage can also be used. For example, RAM 147 may comprise a dynamic RAM device that does not retain files or data in memory or storage in a power outage. While the loss of any stored data may be disadvantageous in some cases, relatively cheap dynamic RAM units may be desirable where conservation of these stored data in the virtual glass itself does not seem to be important. In these cases, it is specifically contemplated that any image lost due to voltage interruptions can simply be sent back to a virtual crystal affected by an appropriate associated host. In a more advanced mode, one or more additional electronic components may be desirable.

("EC") 148 inside the virtual glass. This additional EC may be, for example, a separate video controller, an additional processor, a PLD, a programmable field gateway array or an added flash RAM or dynamic RAM unit capable of storing one or more video files or set of added data, among others. As illustrated, EC 148 simply represents an additional flash RAM unit, such that virtual crystal 133 is capable of temporarily storing video files or data set in two different associated places at the same time, which may be advantageous for several reasons In a particular example comprising two independent and separate video representations for a virtual crystal, a quantity of major megapremium or other pertinent information may be displayed in a virtual crystal in an overlapped or embedded manner within a separate dominant static image for that same. virtual glass Other types of EC may require different PCB configurations, such as, for example, a simple PLD used as a buffer unit between host 101 and MC 146, with the PLD connecting to both flash RAM 147 and MC 146. Alternatively, it may be desirable to have a Advanced MC or one or more additional specialized microprocessors, depending on several additional functionalities that may be desirable for a particular virtual crystal. For example, it may be desirable for a particular virtual crystal to be able to display a series of frames of an animation-like sequence, decompress files emitted in a compressed format, and / or be able to scale images depending on the size variations of the • image with respect to the space of the visual representation. It may also be desirable for a virtual crystal to have anti-aliasing algorithms and capabilities and / or be capable of buffering multiple images of multiple types of media. Other desirable features may include the ability to run strips, such as Java® or other patent strips, for use with input acceptance touch screens, and / or the ability to return 3-D images measured in 2-D images, such as through the use of a virtual real-time modeling language ("VRML"). Exemplary systems and methods for returning and providing 3-D images in a game magic are described in commonly assigned and co-pending US Patent Application No. 09 / 927,901, LeMay, et al., Filed on 8 August 2001, and entitled "Virtual Cameras and 3-D Gaming Environments in a Gaming Machine", application that is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes. In any of the above cases, a digital signal processor ("DSP.") Or other similar device may be a desirable additional EC within the virtual glass. While one or more of these additional ECs can certainly be used, it must be remembered however that one objective of the virtual crystal is to provide additional visual representations that have a small amount of memory or storage, simpler processing units and less attached infrastructure. . With the need to continuously drive one or more auxiliary video representations removed, the total workload on a main processor board, MGC, and other associated equipment is substantially reduced. Without the need to waste MGC cycles to repeatedly service static images that are used to replace crystal technique, there is less demand on the central processing assembly, which in turn reduces the heat and other undesirable effects of an overloaded MGC. It is preferable that at least some advantages realized by a less loaded MGC are also realized in an aerodynamic virtual crystal, of little space, of low energy and of little cost. In this way it is preferable that the added ECs and other structures to a given virtual crystal are of a minimal nature. Therefore, it may be desirable that any heavy processing necessary work, such as the transformation of 3-D to 2-D, be done by a host or other external processor, such that the data is simply transferred to the virtual glass for presentation, reducing This mode itself the number and complexity of processors and components within the virtual glass as much as possible. If that added processing work is expected on a regular basis, however, it may be desirable to specifically include a separate processor as a virtual crystal host for a gaming machine, such that the MGC is not unnecessarily overloaded. In fact, it is specifically contemplated that a plurality of both internal and external virtual crystal hosts are associated within a given gaming machine. These hosts can be related, such as in a particular gaming machine network, or can be completely separate and independent of each other. For example, one host may be the MGC of the gaming machine, while another may be a stand-alone or remote host that broadcasts advertising for a casino or hotel to several virtual glasses, with this video data specific to an establishment the video machine and it is stored in a memory or associated storage unit of the host. A desirable effect of using multiple hosts in association with a given virtual crystal is that video images, videomusic clips and other files and data set can be more easily stored in a plurality of locations inside and outside a gaming machine or glass virtual remote.

Returning to Figure 5, a block diagram of a gaming machine example network is illustrated to provide network interconnected virtual crystals. The gaming machine network 200 comprises a plurality of gaming machines 50-53 and at least one RH 141, which may be, for example, a primary server or another main virtual crystal host. A primary gaming machine ("MO") 50 can be in direct communication with at least one first separate gaming machine ("Ml") 51, such that M0 can function as a host for one or more virtual crystals in Ml. This communication from M0 to Ml can be presented on, for example, a wireline 201. In addition, the RH 141 serves as a remote host to virtual crystals in each of Ml 50, a second separate gaming machine ("M2") 52 and a third separate gaming machine ("M3") 53, with video content appropriate that is sent to the various virtual crystals in each machine by wireline 202 communication lines. Because it may be desirable for hosts within one or more gaming machines to provide content directly to other machines or via an intermediate conduit such as RH 141, each machine may have return communication capabilities with RH 141, such as the wired connection 203 of M3 53. Wireless communications between the various remote hosts and virtual crystals may also be desirable, if desired, such as the bidirectional wireless communication 204 provided between MO 50 and the remote host 141. Of course, they are also possible added communications from more hosts to more virtual crystals, such that each host within the network 200 can potentially associate with each virtual crystal in the network. As seen in this example, each gaming machine in a given bank or given group of machines can potentially be a host for one or more virtual crystals on some or all of the other machines in that group. In this arrangement it may be desirable to display, for example, a current main prize or other immediately vital information of a gaming machine in at least one virtual crystal of each machine of that group. Alternatively, it may be desirable for a remote host to use some or all of the associated virtual lenses in many other useful machines. For example, a given group of virtual crystals can be used to help provide directions for a casino guest. In this case, an order to provide directional assistance from a front desk to a particular firm can be issued from an employee or an interconnected network system that has a main remote host. Then a series of virtual crystals can provide arrows or other indicative visual representations sequentially as the guest proceeds from the front desk to the buffet or other desired destination within the establishment. Referring now to Figure 6, a block diagram of an alternative or additional portion of an exemplary network of gaming machines for providing network interconnected virtual crystals is illustrated. As the above embodiment, a network 300 of gaming machines comprises a plurality of gaming machines, such as a primary gaming machine ("MO") 50 and at least one separate gaming machine ("Ml") 51. The network 300 also comprises a remote virtual crystal ("RVG") 140, and may be, for example, a virtual representation with a canopy on a casino floor, a restaurant lobby or associated hotel, or on a sign outside the casino. The RVG 140 may also comprise a carousel representation for displaying a mega prize money or other information for a bank of gaming machines, after which a single gaming machine 50 may act as a main host for the bank's representation of the game. carousel, eliminating the need for additional equipment related to the carousel. The RVG 140 in this way can be associated with multiple hosts, or it can be connected for control purposes restricted to only an individual host, such as MO 50. Again, communications between a host MO 50 and the RVG 140 can be through of any desired practicable means, such as a wired or wireless connection 304. If another associated gaming machine, such as Ml 51, wishes to send video content for visual representation in RVG 140, it may be necessary for the other host or hosts to provide this indirectly when sending to the primary host 50, such as via connection 301. Of course, this connection can also be used as a means for Ml 51 which is a direct host for one or more virtual crystals in M0 50. With the potential of many hosts that are associated with any given virtual crystal, it may be preferable to use a PLD or other processor within each virtual crystal to prioritize conflicting content of one host with respect to another. Similar to the case of orders in conflict to a speaker, above, a processor or PLD can be used to process, queue and resolve multiple orders by multiple hosts for a predetermined priority, or another similar method, this practice as will be easily understood by those skilled in the art. For example, a first-in-first-out ("FIFO") approach can be used, so the video content is displayed in the received order. Although preferentially, the PLD or other processor can be programmed to recognize various levels of "loss in both the host and the content type." For example, a higher-level host may be a primary remote host, such as a server network-level primary for the entire casino, with a local remote host for a particular region of the floor that is next in line, an MGC or another internal CPU for the given machine that is next, and the MGC remote hosts or CPU remote within the remaining neighboring gaming machines A top priority for video content may be emergency related information, followed by security related information, neighboring main prize information, visual representations of immediate gaming illustrations, and finally advertising to the chance for use during the standstill period, it is specifically contemplated that the virtual glass apparatus Those described and detailed above can be used not only in newly manufactured gaming machines and other electronic components, but can also be implemented in existing gaming machines and other devices by removing various existing components in those gaming machines and devices as needed. For example, as long as one or more original video representations can remain on a given machine, such as for the primary game, it is contemplated that at least one virtual glass will be installed as a protruding crystal, pumped glass or other visual machine representation. associated to replace any stamped glass by screen printing, traditional, existing, secondary video screen or other visual representation on or around the machine. In addition, it is also specifically contemplated that the number, shape, size, orientation and planarity of a virtual glass video display device, or devices, is not limited in any way. For example, the shape of a video monitor or screen need not be rectangular, such that these monitors may also be round, ovular, triangular, hexagonal, or shaped in any desired manner, including shapes that are part of the exterior illustrations in the game machine. In addition, one or more screen monitors can be used in combination to form a virtual crystal, and this group of screens or plurality of virtual glasses can be made together to provide a picture around a primary video display screen, such as a square array with a "hole" in it. the middle part for the primary screen. Additionally, it is not necessary for the video monitors or virtual glass screens to be flat, since those screens can be designed to fit any surface on the gaming machine as desired. For example, a virtual glass visual representation with a 360 degree curve consisting of one or more curved screens may be placed above or adjacent to an associated gaming machine. Alternatively, one or more screens can be rolled around several surfaces, as possible with "electronic paper" type screens. Finally, it is also contemplated that a virtual glass visual representation device may be holographic in nature, such that a conventional "monitor" is no longer necessary. While the above invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be recognized that the invention described above will be incorporated into numerous different specific variations and embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential features of the invention. Certain changes and modifications may be practiced and it is understood that the invention is not limited by the foregoing details, but rather is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (36)

1. CLAIMS 1. Game gambling adapted to accept bets and award monetary prizes, characterized by comprising: a first associated host adapted to present video content to a virtual crystal; at least one first host storage unit in communication with the first host and adapted to store video content accessible to the first host; and at least one associated virtual crystal in communication with the first host, the at least one virtual crystal comprising at least one logical device, at least one virtual crystal storage unit and a video rendering device, wherein the capacity The combined capacity of all virtual glass storage units within the virtual glass is substantially less than the combined capacity of video content of all the first host storage units.
2. 2. Gaming gaming according to claim 1, characterized in that the first host comprises a main game controller for the game magic. The game slot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one virtual crystal storage unit comprises flash RAM. 4. Game slot according to claim 3, characterized in that the flash RAM is adapted to be easily erasable or over-screened, but it is also sufficiently non-volatile to be recoverable after an interruption of the machine or other malfunction. 5. Game machine according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that at least one virtual crystal storage unit comprises dynamic RAM. Game machine according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that at least one first host storage unit comprises at least one of a hard disk, a disk drive or a flash drive. The gaming machine according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that at least a first host storage unit stores specific video data to an establishment that operates the gaming machine. 8. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the video rendering device is selected from the group consisting of cathode ray tubes, liquid crystal displays, plasma screens, field emission screens. , digital micromirror devices, touch screens and combinations thereof. 9. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that it further comprises: a main game controller, wherein the virtual crystal is adapted to implement a communication protocol that allows the virtual • crystal to be identified by The main game controller as an authorized device to connect to the main game controller. 10. Game machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the communication protocol is compatible "with protocols selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, wireless, Bluetooth®, and combinations thereof. according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that the communication technology and protocol used for communications between the first host and the virtual glass is selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, Firewire cables, patent cables and buses, Bluetooth® wireless systems, wireless fidelity systems, and combinations thereof 12. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the virtual glass is provided in a top case portion of the gaming machine. , the upper box portion that is located by - above a portion of the main cabinet of the to game machine. 13. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the virtual glass is provided by a glass region pumped from the gaming machine, the pumped glass region which is located in a main cabinet portion of the gaming machine. 14. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the virtual glass is provided from a side panel region of the gaming machine, the side panel region which is located in a main cabinet portion of the game machine. 15. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the virtual glass is provided at a remote location of the gaming machine, the remote location being separated and away from the rest of the gaming machine. 16. Game machine according to any of claims 1-15, characterized in that the virtual crystal is adapted to decompress video content presented in a compressed format. 17. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-16, characterized in that the virtual crystal is adapted to scale the video content presented in an undesirable size. 18. Game machine according to any of claims 1-17, characterized in that the virtual crystal comprises one or more anti-aliasing algorithms and is adapted to use at least one of the algorithms to alter the presented video content. 19. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-18, characterized in that the virtual crystal is adapted to execute strips in association with the presented video content. 20. Game machine according to any of claims 1-19, characterized in that the virtual crystal is adapted to return video content presented in a 3-D format to a 2-D format. 21. Gaming machine according to any of claims 1-20, characterized in that the host is provided at a remote location from the rest of the gaming machine, the remote location is separated and away from the rest of the gaming machine. 22. Game machine according to any of claims 1-21, characterized in that the gaming machine is incorporated into a network of gaming machines comprising one or more additional hosts and / or virtual crystals. 23. Game machine according to any of claims 1-22, characterized in that it further comprises: a second host, the second host that is separable and different from the first host. 24. Virtual crystal adapted for the use of a gaming environment, characterized in that it comprises: at least one logical device, this at least one logical device is adapted to process video content presented by an associated host, wherein the associated host is in communication with at least one host storage unit adapted to store video content accessible to the host; at least one virtual glass storage unit, wherein the combined capacity of all the virtual glass storage units within the virtual glass is substantially less than the combined capacity of video content of all the storage units of the host; and a visual representation device. Virtual glass according to claim 24, characterized in that at least one virtual glass storage unit comprises flash RAM. 26. Virtual glass according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that at least one virtual glass storage unit comprises dynamic RAM. Virtual glass according to any of claims 24-26, characterized in that at least one of the host, at least one of the host storage unit and the virtual glass is associated with a gaming machine. Virtual glass according to any of claims 24-27, characterized in that the virtual crystal is incorporated into a network comprising one or more additional hosts and / or virtual crystals. 29. Method for providing a visual representation associated with a gaming machine, the method is characterized in that it comprises: providing a host; provide at least one host storage unit; provide a virtual crystal; providing at least one virtual glass storage unit, wherein the combined capacity of all virtual glass storage units is substantially less than the combined capacity of video content of all host storage units; have access to the video content stored in at least one host storage unit; present video content from the host to the virtual glass; and display the video content in the virtual glass. 30. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that it further comprises the step of: storing the video content in at least one virtual glass storage unit. Method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that at least one virtual glass storage unit comprises flash RAM. 32. Method according to any of claims 29-31, characterized in that at least one virtual glass storage unit comprises dynamic RAM. 33. Method according to any of claims 29-32, characterized by at least one of the host, at least one host storage unit and the virtual glass is associated with a gaming machine. 34. Method of conformance with any of claims 29-33, characterized in that the virtual crystal is incorporated into a network comprising one or more additional virtual hosts and / or crystals. 35. Method according to any of claims 29-34, characterized in that it also comprises the step of: implementing a communication protocol in the virtual glass that allows the virtual glass to be identified by a main game controller of the gaming machine as an authorized device to connect to the main game controller. 36. Method of compliance with the claim 35, characterized in that the communication protocol is compatible with protocols selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, Firewire, Bluetooth® wireless communication, and combinations thereof.