# US 7,607,977 B2 · Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,977 B2 - Document ID: US7607977B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/204,148 - Filed: 2005-08-15 - Published: 2006-02-23 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-19 - Assignees: Igt - Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher; James A. Vasquez; Tonja M. Peterson; Erick T. Ching - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607977B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - G07F 17/3216: {Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects} - G07F 17/3232: {wherein the operator is informed} - G07F 17/3258: {Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots} - G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games} - G07F 17/3269: {Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine} - G07F 17/3276: {wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament} - G07F 17/3283: {wherein the number of active machines is limited} - G07F 17/3286: {Type of games} - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, said controller is programmed to: (i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, (ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state, (iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine in the active state to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player, (iv) if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state: (1) determine a designated number of gaming machines which will each provide a secondary bonus award, said determination based on the number of gaming machines in the active state, and (2) for each secondary bonus award select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state excluding the gaming machine selected to provide said primary bonus award, and (v) send at least one signal to each gaming machine selected to provide a secondary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein each of said selected gaming machines determines at least part of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period begins at the occurrence of a previous bonus event and ends at the occurrence of the bonus event. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period begins at the issuance of a previous bonus award and ends at the issuance of the bonus award. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the end of a bonus event accumulation period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the bonus event is determined to occur. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated wager level was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each bonus award includes a value component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The gaming system of claim 9, wherein each respective value component is determined by the selected gaming machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The gaming system of claim 9, wherein each respective value component is determined in a secondary game. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each bonus award includes a modifier component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the modifier component is selected by the controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, which includes an accumulated wager pool which includes at least the total amounts of the wagers placed on the primary games of all gaming machines during a bonus event accumulation period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said designated number of gaming machines which will provide a secondary bonus award is at least one. ### Claim 19 A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, said controller is programmed to: (i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, (ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state, (iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine in the active state to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player, (iv) if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state: (1) determine a designated number of gaming machines which will each provide a secondary bonus award, said determination based on the number of gaming machines in the active state, and (2) for each secondary bonus award select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state, wherein said selection excludes the gaming machine selected to provide said primary bonus award, and (v) send at least one signal to each gaming machine selected to display and provide a secondary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein each of said selected gaming machines determines at least part, but not all of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The gaming system of claim 19, wherein each bonus award includes a value component. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The gaming system of claim 20, wherein each respective value component is determined by the selected gaming machine. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The gaming system of claim 20, wherein each respective value component is determined in a secondary game. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The gaming system of claim 19, wherein each bonus award includes a modifier component. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the modifier component is selected by the controller. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The gaming system of claim 19, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The gaming system of claim 19, wherein said designated number of gaming machines which will provide a secondary bonus award is at least one. ### Claim 28 A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to: (a) maintain a total of the wagers placed on the primary game for each gaming machine during a bonus event accumulation period; and (b) determine if a bonus event will occur; (c) if the bonus event is determined to occur: (i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, (ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state based on the total wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for each of the gaming machines in the active state relative to the total wagers placed for all of the gaming machines in the active state during the bonus event accumulation period, (iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player, and (iv) if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state: (1) determine a designated number of secondary bonus awards based on the number of gaming machines in the active state, (2) for each secondary bonus award select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state wherein said selection excludes the gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award, and (3) send at least one signal to each selected gaming machine to provide one of the secondary bonus awards to the player of said gaming machine, wherein each selected gaming machine determines at least part of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event accumulation period begins at the occurrence of a previous bonus event and ends at the occurrence of the bonus event. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event accumulation period begins at the issuance of a previous bonus award and ends at the issuance of the bonus award. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the end of the bonus event accumulation period. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the bonus event is determined to occur. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated wager level was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein each bonus award includes a value component. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The gaming system of claim 36, wherein each respective value component is determined by the selected gaming machine. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The gaming system of claim 36, wherein each respective value component is determined in a secondary game. ### Claim 39 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein each bonus award includes a modifier component. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the modifier component is selected by the controller. ### Claim 41 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, which includes an accumulated wager pool which includes at least the total amounts of the wagers placed on the primary games of all gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period. ### Claim 42 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said controller is programmed to, determine at designated intervals during the bonus event accumulation period if a bonus event will occur. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the designated intervals are time based. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the designated intervals are based on the accumulated wager pool. ### Claim 45 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller. ### Claim 46 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different. ### Claim 47 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player. ### Claim 48 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein each gaming machine selected to provide one of the secondary bonus awards determines at least part, but not all of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine. ### Claim 49 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player and each gaming machine selected to provide one of the secondary bonus awards determines at least part, but not all of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine. ### Claim 50 (depends on 28) The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said designated number of secondary bonus awards is at least one.