# US 9,039,516 B2 · Concurrent play on multiple gaming machines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,516 B2 - Document ID: US9039516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/512,931 - Filed: 2009-07-30 - Published: 2011-02-03 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-30 - Assignees: Igt - Applicants: Gregory H. Parrott - Inventors: Gregory H. Parrott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039516B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3223: {Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, leader-follower, wireless communication} - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - G07F 17/3239: {Tracking of individual players} - 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 Some implementations allow a player to control multiple gaming machines involved in a concurrent gaming session by interacting with only one of the machines. For example, a patron may be able to provide credit and/or user input for all gaming machines that are involved in a concurrent gaming session by interacting with only one gaming machine. A patron may be able to provide a player tracking card to only one gaming machine, but may obtain player loyalty points for all participating machines. A coordinated game presentation may be provided for some or all of the gaming machines. Game outcomes of two or more gaming machines may be combined to produce an outcome that could not be produced by an individual gaming machine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wager gaming machine comprising: an interface system; a user input system configured to receive a selection to use at least one additional wager gaming machine during a wager gaming session; and a logic system configured to: send a command responsive to the selection, via the interface system, to cause functionality of each of the at least one additional wager gaming machine to be at least partially disabled, such that each of the at least one additional gaming machine is automatically caused to display a visual indication that said additional wager gaming machine is not available for use; determine a wagering rate for the player based on wager information received via the user input system, said wagering rate based on an amount of wagers placed on each of the wager gaming machines during the wager gaming session relative to a quantity of wager gaming machines used during the wager gaming session; and if the wagering rate falls below a predetermined level, at least partially disable use of the at least one additional wager gaming machine by the player. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the selection includes at least one identified additional wager gaming machine and wherein the command is to cause functionality of the identified additional wager gaming machine to be at least partially disabled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the logic system is configured to provide the wager gaming session by coordinating responses of each of the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The wager gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the logic system is configured to combine a first wager gaming outcome of the wager gaming machine with at least one additional wager gaming outcome of the at least one additional wager gaming machine to produce a combined wager gaming outcome. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wager gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the combined wager gaming outcome could not be produced in its entirety by any of the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The wager gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the logic system is configured to evaluate the combined wager gaming outcome by reference to a combined wager gaming outcome paytable that includes at least one combined wager gaming outcome that could not be entirely produced by any individual one of the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The wager gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the logic system is configured to control a time interval between at least one first image of a first game outcome displayed on the wager gaming machine and at least one additional image of at least one additional game outcome displayed on the at least one additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the command includes disabling at least a portion of at least one of: a user input system, a player tracking system and an indicia of credit receiving device on the at least one additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the command includes disabling at least a portion of gaming controller functionality of the at least one additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the logic system is configured to control, at least in part, an operation of the at least one additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the user input system is configured to receive a plurality of instructions relating to the at least one additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the user input system includes a display device configured to display, under control of the logic system, a graphical user interface configured to receive a plurality of instructions regarding the at least one additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the interface system includes a network interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the interface system is configured to communicate with the at least one additional wager gaming machine via free space optical communication. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wager gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the interface system is configured to communicate with the at least one additional wager gaming machine via an industrial automation protocol. ### Claim 16 A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: receiving an indication, via a user interface of a wager gaming machine, to use at least one identified additional wager gaming machine during a gaming session; sending a command to the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine to disable at least a portion of a functionality of the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine such that the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine automatically displays a visual indication that the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine is not available for use; for the gaming session, coordinating a plurality of responses of the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine and the wager gaming machine; determining a wagering rate based on wager information received via the user interface, said wagering rate based on an amount of wagers placed on each of the wager gaming machines during the gaming session relative to a quantity of the wager gaming machines used during the gaming session; and if the wagering rate falls below a predetermined level, at least partially disabling use of the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine by the player. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes a command to disable at least a portion of a user input system of the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes a command to disable at least a portion of a player tracking system of the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes a command to disable an indicia of credit receiving device of the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the command includes a command to disable at least a portion of gaming controller functionality of the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, which includes coordinating a display of at least one of a plurality of images and a plurality of sounds on the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, which includes controlling a time interval between at least one first image displayed on the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine and at least one second image displayed on the wager gaming machine. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, which includes combining player loyalty points for wager gaming on the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, which includes combining at least one additional wager gaming outcome on the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine with a wager gaming outcome on the wager gaming machine to produce a combined wager gaming outcome. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the combined wager gaming outcome could not be entirely produced by any of the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, which includes evaluating the combined wager gaming outcome based on a combined wager gaming outcome paytable that includes at least one combined wager gaming outcome that could not be entirely produced any of the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, which includes making the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine operate, at least in part, under a control of a server. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, which includes making the at least one identified additional wager gaming machine operate, at least in part, under a control of another wager gaming machine. ### Claim 29 An apparatus, comprising: an interface system configured to receive an indication to use a plurality of wager gaming machines during a gaming session, the indication including an identified wager gaming machine; and a logic system configured to: send a command, via the interface system, to disable at least a portion of a functionality of the identified wager gaming machine such that the identified wager gaming machine is caused to automatically display a visual indication that the identified wager gaming machine is not available for use; for the gaming session, coordinate a plurality of responses of the identified wager gaming machine and at least one other wager gaming machine; and determine a wagering rate based on wager information received via the interface system, said wagering rate based on an amount of wagers placed on each of the plurality of wager gaming machines during the gaming session relative to a quantity of the plurality of wager gaming machines used during the gaming session; and if the wagering rate falls below a predetermined level, at least partially disable use of the plurality of wager gaming machines by the player. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the command includes a command to disable at least a portion of at least one of a user input system and a player tracking system of the identified wager gaming machine. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the command includes a command to disable an indicia of credit receiving device of the identified wager gaming machine. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the command includes a command to disable at least a portion of gaming controller functionality of the identified wager gaming machine. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the logic system is configured to at least partially control the identified wager gaming machine. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the logic system is configured to provide game outcome data to the identified wager gaming machine. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the logic system is configured to coordinate a display of a plurality of wager game outcome images on the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the logic system is configured to control a time interval between at least one first image displayed on the identified wager gaming machine and at least one second image displayed on a second wager gaming machine. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the logic system is configured to combine a first wager gaming outcome on the identified wager gaming machine with a second wager gaming outcome on at least one other wager gaming machine to produce a combined wager gaming outcome. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the combined wager gaming outcome could not be entirely produced any of the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the logic system is configured to evaluate the combined wager gaming outcome based on a combined wager gaming outcome paytable that includes at least one combined wager gaming outcome that could not be entirely produced by any of the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the logic system is configured to combine player loyalty points for the wager gaming machines. ### Claim 41 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the interface system includes a network interface. ### Claim 42 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the interface system includes a user interface. ### Claim 43 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the interface system is configured to communicate via an industrial automation protocol. ### Claim 44 A wager gaming machine comprising: an interface system configured to communicate with at least a second wager gaming machine; a user input system; and a logic system configured to: receive an indication, via the interface system, to initiate a wager gaming session involving at least the second wager gaming machine; enable the user input system to operate as at least part of a centralized device set configured to control at least the second wager gaming machine during the wager gaming session; determine a combined wager gaming outcome based on combining a first wager gaming outcome of the wager gaming machine with at least a second wager gaming outcome of at least the second wager gaming machine; evaluate the combined wager gaming outcome based on a multi-machine paytable including at least one combined wager gaming outcome that could not be entirely produced by any of the wager gaming machines; determine a wagering rate based on wager information received via the user input system, said wagering rate based on an amount of wagers placed on each of the wager gaming machines during the gaming session relative to a quantity of the wager gaming machines used during the gaming session; and if the wagering rate falls below a predetermined level, at least partially disable control, via the user input system, of the at least one second wager gaming machine. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The wager gaming machine of claim 44, which includes a value input system, wherein the logic system is configured to control the value input system to operate as part of the centralized device set such that indicia of value may be input via the value input system and credited for wager gaming on any of the wager gaming machine and the at least one second wager gaming machine. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The wager gaming machine of claim 44, which includes a payout system, wherein the logic system is configured to control the payout system to operate as part of the centralized device set, such that indicia of value may be output via the payout system corresponding to wager gaming on any of the wager gaming machine and the at least one second wager gaming machine. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The wager gaming machine of claim 44, which include a player loyalty card reader, wherein the logic system is configured to control the player loyalty card reader to operate as part of the centralized device set such that player loyalty data obtained via the player loyalty card reader may be associated with wager gaming on any of the wager gaming machine and the at least one second wager gaming machine. ### Claim 48 A wager gaming machine comprising: an interface system including at least one network interface configured to communicate with at least a second wager gaming machine; a user input system; and a logic system configured to: receive an indication, via the interface system, to initiate a wager gaming session involving at least the second wager gaming machine; provide the gaming session by coordinating events presented on the wager gaming machine and at least the second wager gaming machine, wherein the coordinating includes controlling a time interval between an event presented on the wager gaming machine and a corresponding event presented on at least the second wager gaming machine, wherein the event includes a presentation of at least one of an image and a sound within a first game outcome of the wager gaming machine and the corresponding event includes a presentation of at least one of an image and a sound within a second game outcome of at least the second wager gaming machine; and determine a wagering rate based on wager information received via the user input system, said wagering rate based on an amount of wagers placed on each of the wager gaming machines during the gaming session relative to a quantity of the wager gaming machines used during the gaming session; and if the wagering rate falls below a predetermined level, at least partially disable use of at least the second wager gaming machine. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The wager gaming machine of claim 48, wherein the at least one network interface is configured to communicate to at least the second wager gaming machine the timing of the presentation of the corresponding event on at least the second wager gaming machine. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The wager gaming machine of claim 48, wherein the event is presented on the wager gaming machine and the corresponding event is presented on at least the second wager gaming machine simultaneously. ### Claim 51 (depends on 48) The wager gaming machine of claim 48, wherein the event and the corresponding event are presented simultaneously. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) The wager gaming machine of claim 48, wherein the event and the corresponding event are presented sequentially. ### Claim 53 (depends on 48) The wager gaming machine of claim 48, wherein the logic system is configured to send a command to disable at least a portion of the functionality of at least the second wager gaming machine.