# US 9,039,534 B2 · Method and apparatus for enabling a player to simultaneously control game play on multiple gaming devices

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- Number: US 9,039,534 B2
- Document ID: US9039534B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/428,886
- Filed: 2006-07-06
- Published: 2008-01-10
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2006-02-24
- Assignees: Igt
- Applicants: Jay S. Walker; Robert C. Tedesco; James A. Jorasch; Daniel E. Tedesco; Michael W. Patterson
- Inventors: Jay S. Walker; Robert C. Tedesco; James A. Jorasch; Daniel E. Tedesco; Michael W. Patterson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039534B2

## 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 17/3262: {Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played}
- 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

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a gaming system is operable to determine a first gaming device being operated by a player and select a second gaming device to be controlled, via the first gaming device, by the player. In some embodiments, the gaming system is further operable to configure the second gaming device to be controlled via an interface of the first gaming device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A user interface displayed on a video display device, said user interface comprising:
a first input display area of the video display device, said first input display area configured to receive an input from a user using at least one input device, said input regarding a first wagering game of a first gaming device;
a first output display area of the video display device, said first output display area configured to display to the user a first wagering game outcome of the first wagering game;
a second input display area of the video display device, said second input display area configured to, after at least one processor executes a plurality of instructions to identify one play of a second wagering game of a second, different gaming device to control overlappingly with the first wagering game, receive at least one non-wager, game play initiation input from the user using the at least one input device, wherein at least an initiation of a previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device occurs, without any intervening player inputs and without any determinations of whether to initiate the previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device, upon the receipt of the at least one non-wager, game play initiation input; and
a second output display area of the video display device, said second output display area configured to display to the user:
(i) a second wagering game outcome of the identified second wagering game, and
(ii) any non-wagering bonus game associated with the identified second wagering game.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second input display area includes one or more displayed icons.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The user interface of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second display areas includes one or more touch sensitive regions corresponding to the one or more displayed icons.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The user interface of claim 3, wherein each of the one or more displayed icons represents a respective other gaming device located in a same establishment as the first gaming device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The user interface of claim 4, wherein the one or more displayed icons representing the other gaming devices located in the establishment are displayed as a map.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The user interface of claim 2, wherein at least one of the displayed icons in the first and second input display area corresponds to one of:
a number of wagering game outcomes for the first wagering game or the second wagering game;
a wager amount for the first wagering game or the second wagering game; and
a number of simultaneous plays for the first wagering game or the second wagering game.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The user interface of claim 1, further including:
a third output display area of the video display device, said third output display area configured to display to the user one or more icons representative of one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device; and
a third input display area of the video display device, said third input display area configured to receive input from the user regarding the one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The user interface of claim 7, wherein the third input display area includes one or more touch sensitive regions corresponding to the one or more icons displayed therein.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The user interface of claim 7, further including:
a fourth output display area of the video display device, said fourth output display area configured to display to the user one or more icons representing one or more wagering games available on the one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device; and
a fourth input display area of the video display device, said fourth input display area configured to receive input from the user regarding the one or more wagering games available on the one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The user interface of claim 1, wherein:
at least two of the first input display area, second input display area, first output display area, and second output display area are on a same display screen.

### Claim 11

A method comprising:
receiving an input regarding a first wagering game of a first gaming device, said input received from a user via a first input display area of a video display device of the first gaming device;
displaying to the user, via a first output display area of the video display device of the first gaming device, at least one of a wagering game outcome and a payout of the first wagering game;
after causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to identify one play of a second wagering game of a second, different gaming device to control overlappingly with the first wagering game, receiving at least one non-wager, game play initiation input, wherein at least an initiation of a previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device occurs, without any intervening player inputs and without any determinations of whether to initiate the previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device, upon the receipt of the at least one non-wager, game play initiation input, and said at least one non-wager, game play initiation input is received from the user via a second input display of the video display device of the first gaming device; and
displaying to the user, via a second output display area of the video display device of the first gaming device:
(i) at least one of a wagering game outcome and a payout of the second wagering game, and
(ii) any non-wagering bonus game associated with the identified second wagering game.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further including:
displaying one or more displayed icons in at least one of the first and second input display areas.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further including:
providing at least one of the first and second display areas with one or more touch sensitive regions corresponding to the one or more displayed icons.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more displayed icons represents a respective other gaming device located in a same establishment as the first gaming device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more displayed icons represents a respective one of the other gaming devices located near to the first gaming device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further including:
presenting, as a map image, the one or more displayed icons representing the other gaming devices located in the establishment.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the displayed icons in the first and second input display areas corresponds to one of:
a number of outcomes for the first wagering game or the second wagering game;
a wager amount for the first wagering game or the second wagering game; and
a number of simultaneous plays for the first wagering game or the second wagering game.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further including:
displaying to the user, via a third output display area of the video display device, one or more icons representative of one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device; and
receiving from the user, via a third input display area of the video display device, input regarding the one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further including:
providing the third input display area with one or more touch sensitive regions corresponding to the one or more icons displayed therein.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further including:
displaying to the user, via a fourth output display area of the video display device, one or more icons representing one or more wagering games available on the one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device; and
receiving from the user, via a fourth input display of the video display device, input regarding the one or more wagering games available on the one or more other gaming devices including the second gaming device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further including:
the user controlling a display size of at least one of: the first, second, third, and fourth output display areas.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further including:
the user controlling a display size of at least one of: the first, second, third, and fourth input display areas.

### Claim 23 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further including:
receiving, from the user, input regarding the second wagering game with respect to at least one of:
a wager amount on the second wagering game,
a type of second wagering game; and
a number of second wagering game outcomes to be generated.

### Claim 24

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:
receive input from a user, via a first input display area, regarding a first wagering game of a first gaming device;
display to the user, via a first output display area, at least one of a wagering game outcome and a payout of the first wagering game;
after identifying one play of a second wagering game of a second, different gaming device to control overlappingly with the first wagering game, receive at least one non-wager, game play initiation input from a user, via a second input display, wherein at least an initiation of a previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device occurs, without any intervening player inputs and without any determinations of whether to initiate the previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device, upon the receipt of the at least one non-wager, game play initiation input; and
display to the user, via a second output display area:
(i) at least one of a wagering game outcome and a payout of the second wagering game, and
(ii) any non-wagering bonus game associated with the identified second wagering game.

### Claim 25

An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:
receive input from a user, via a first input display area, regarding a first wagering game of a first gaming device;
display to the user, via a first output display area, at least one of a wagering game outcome and a payout of the first wagering game;
after an identification of one play of a second wagering game of a second, different gaming device to control overlappingly with the first wagering game, receive at least one non-wager, game play initiation input from a user, via a second input display, wherein at least an initiation of a previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device occurs, without any intervening player inputs and without any determinations of whether to initiate the previously unplayed play of the identified second wagering game of the second, different gaming device, upon the receipt of the at least one non-wager, game play initiation input; and
display to the user, via a second output display area:
(i) at least one of a wagering game outcome and a payout of the identified second wagering game, and
(ii) any non-wagering bonus game associated with the identified second wagering game.

### Claim 26

A method comprising:
receiving, from a first gaming device, a request from a first user to control at least an initiation of one play of a wagering game of a second gaming device, wherein one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located on a casino premises and another one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located remote from the casino premises;
upon the received control request, establishing a link between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, wherein after establishing the link between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, the second gaming device is controlled, overlappingly with control of the first gaming device, by the first user, the second gaming device is not controlled by any second user of the second gaming device and the second gaming device is disabled from accepting any inputs associated with the wagering game from any second user of the second gaming device;
receiving, from the first gaming device, at least one remote control instruction for the second gaming device;
sending the at least one remote control instruction from the first gaming device to the second gaming device via the link;
sending, to the first gaming device from the second gaming device:
(i) a generated game outcome of the wagering game, and
(ii) any generated non-wagering bonus game outcome associated with the wagering game; and
displaying at the first gaming device:
(i) the generated game outcome from the second gaming device, and
(ii) any non-wagering bonus game outcome from the second gaming device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first gaming device and second gaming device is a handheld gaming device.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located on the casino premises and another one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located remote from any other casino premises.

### Claim 29

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:
receive, from a first gaming device, a request from a first user to control at least an initiation of one play of a wagering game of a second gaming device, wherein one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located on a casino premises and another one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located remote from the casino premises;
upon the received control request, establish a link between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, wherein after establishing the link between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, the second gaming device is controlled, overlappingly with control of the first gaming device, by the first user, the second gaming device is not controlled by any second user of the second gaming device and the second gaming device is disabled from accepting any inputs associated with the wagering game from any second user of the second gaming device;
receive, from the first gaming device, at least one remote control instruction for the second gaming device;
send the at least one remote control instruction from the first gaming device to the second gaming device via the link;
send, to the first gaming device from the second gaming device:
(i) a generated game outcome of the wagering game, and
(ii) any generated non-wagering bonus game outcome associated with the wagering game; and
display at the first gaming device:
(i) the generated game outcome from the second gaming device, and
(ii) any non-wagering bonus game outcome from the second gaming device.

### Claim 30

An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:
receive, from a first gaming device, a request from a first user to control at least an initiation of one play of a wagering game of a second gaming device, wherein one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located on a casino premises and another one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located remote from the casino premises;
upon the received control request, establish a link between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, wherein after establishing the link between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, the second gaming device is controlled, overlappingly with control of the first gaming device, by the first user, the second gaming device is not controlled by any second user of the second gaming device and the second gaming device is disabled from accepting any inputs associated with the wagering game from any second user of the second gaming device;
receive, from the first gaming device, at least one remote control instruction for the second gaming device;
send the at least one remote control instruction from the first gaming device to the second gaming device via the link;
send, to the first gaming device from the second gaming device:
(i) a generated game outcome of the wagering game, and
(ii) any generated non-wagering bonus game outcome associated with the wagering game; and
display at the first gaming device:
(i) the generated game outcome from the second gaming device, and
(ii) any non-wagering bonus game outcome from the second gaming device.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located on the casino premises and another one of the first gaming device and the second gaming device is located remote from any other casino premises.

### Claim 32

A method comprising:
causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a group of gaming devices including a controlling gaming device and at least one controlled gaming device, wherein one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located on a casino premises and another one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located remote from the casino premises;
causing the controlling gaming device to receive a request to execute a-one play of a wagering game utilizing the at least one controlled gaming device of the group of gaming devices, wherein after receiving the request to execute the play of the game, said play of the game is controlled by the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is disabled from causing any award determinations associated with said play of the game;
accessing a credit balance displayed by the controlling gaming device to fund a wager for the play of the wagering game;
executing the play of the wagering game and any non-wagering bonus game associated with the wagering game utilizing the at least one controlled gaming device of the group of gaming devices; and
crediting a payout amount to the credit balance.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located on the casino premises and another one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located remote from any other casino premises.

### Claim 34

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:
determine a group including a controlling gaming device and at least one controlled gaming device, wherein one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located on a casino premises and another one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located remote from the casino premises;
cause the controlling gaming device to receive a request to execute one play of a wagering game utilizing the at least one controlled gaming device of the group of gaming devices, wherein after receiving the request to execute the play of the game, said play of the game is controlled by the controlling gaming device, and the at least one controlled gaming device is disabled from causing any award determinations associated with said play of the game;
access a credit balance displayed by the controlling gaming device to fund a wager for the play of the wagering game;
execute the play of the wagering game and any non-wagering bonus game associated with the wagering game utilizing the at least one controlled gaming device of the group of gaming devices; and
credit a payout amount to the credit balance.

### Claim 35

An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:
determine a group including a controlling gaming device and at least one controlled gaming device, wherein one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located on a casino premises and another one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located remote from the casino premises;
cause the controlling gaming device to receive a request to execute one play of a wagering game utilizing the at least one controlled gaming device of the group of gaming devices, wherein after receiving the request to execute the play of the game, said play of the game is controlled by the controlling gaming device, and the at least one controlled gaming device is disabled from causing any award determinations associated with said play of the game;
access a credit balance displayed by the controlling gaming device to fund a wager for the play of the wagering game;
execute the play of the wagering game and any non-wagering bonus game associated with the wagering game utilizing the at least one controlled gaming device of the group of gaming devices; and
credit a payout amount to the credit balance.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located on the casino premises and another one of the controlling gaming device and the at least one controlled gaming device is located remote from any other casino premises.