Device and method for providing payouts based on activity and ranks of other gaming sessions

• US 20020065123A1
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Downs, Michael D., Walker, Jay S., Packes, John M. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,361,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides for determining a first gaming session; determining a rank of the first gaming session; determining at least one gaming session, each at least one gaming session of the first set having a respective rank that is not higher than the rank of the first gaming session, determining data corresponding to the at least one gaming session; determining at least one bonus based on the data; and applying the at least one bonus to the first gaming session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a first gaming session;

determining a first rank of the first gaming session;

determining at least one gaming session, each at least one gaming session of the first set having a respective rank that is not higher than the first rank;

determining data corresponding to the at least one gaming session;

determining at least one bonus based on the data; and

applying the at least one bonus to the first gaming session.

2. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first rank comprises:

determining a number of prior gaming sessions that are not concluded; and

determining the first rank based on the number.

3. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first rank comprises:

determining a number of subsequent gaming sessions that are not concluded; and

determining the first rank based on the number.

4. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first rank comprises:

determining a start time of the firs t gaming session; and

determining the first rank based on the start time.

5. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first rank comprises:

determining a duration of the first gaming session; and

determining the first rank based on the duration.

6. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first rank comprises:

determining at least one out come corresponding to the first gaming session; and

determining the first rank based on the set of at least one outcome.

7. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first rank comprises:

providing to the first player an offer to assign the first rank to the first gaming session in exchange for an amount of funds.

8. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first rank comprises:

determining a rate of play of the first gaming session; and

determining the first rank based on the rate of play.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an indication of the first rank.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second rank of the first gaming session.

11. The method of claim 10, in which determining the second rank comprises:

determining the second rank based on the data.

12. The method of claim 1, in which determining the data comprises:

determining at least one outcome corresponding to the at least one gaming session.

13. The method of claim 1, in which determining the data comprises:

determining at least one payout corresponding to the at least one gaming session.

14. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one bonus comprises an increased probability of winning for at least one play of the first gaming session.

15. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one bonus comprises a payout.

16. The method of claim 15, in which applying comprises:

dispensing an amount of coins.

17. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one bonus comprises a secondary game play.

18. The method of claim 1, in which applying comprises:

determining an account associated with the first gaming session; and

applying the at least one bonus to the account.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second gaming session of a second player; and

displaying an indication of the second gaming session of the second player to the first player.

20. The method of claim 19, in which displaying an indication comprises:

determining a second rank of the second gaming session; and

displaying an indication of the second rank to the first player.

21. The method of claim 19, in which determining the second gaming session comprises:

determining the second gaming session of the second player, the second gaming session having a second rank that is not lower than a predetermined rank.

22. A method comprising:

determining a first gaming session of a first player;

determining a first rank of the first gaming session;

determining at least one gaming session of at least one other player, each at least one gaming session having a respective rank that is not higher than the first rank;

determining first outcome data corresponding to the first gaming session;

determining second outcome data corresponding to the at least one gaming session;

determining at least one bonus based on the second outcome data;

applying the at least one bonus to the first gaming session; and

determining a second rank of the first gaming session based on at least one of;

the first rank of the first gaming session,

the respective rank of each at least one gaming session of the first set,

the first outcome data, and

the second outcome data.

23. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of an initiation of a first gaming session of a player;

determining a first set of at least one gaming session of at least one other player, each at least one gaming session of the first set being initiated before the initiation of the first gaming session;

determining a first rank of the first gaming session based on the first set;

determining a second set of at least one gaming session of at least one other player, each at least one gaming session of the second set being initiated after the initiation of the first gaming session;

determining at least one payout corresponding to the second set;

determining a bonus based on at least one of;

the at least one payout, and

the first rank; and

applying the bonus to the first gaming session.