System, method and article of manufacture for providing a progressive-type prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network game environment

• US 20030027630A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arcade Planet Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arcade Planet Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Matthew F., Petermeier, Norman B., Kelly, Bryan M., Kroeckel, John G., Link, John E.
• Application Number:
  US10/172,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027630A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 27/026 associated with an amplifier G11C27/028 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method, and article of manufacture for providing a progressive prize awarding and redeeming scheme in an intermittently accessed network gaming system. A host server of a network system transmits a beginning prize credit value and an increment rate which are received by a game apparatus connected to the network system. Periodically, a current progressive prize credit value is calculated based on the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate and is displayed to the user. At the end of the game, the current progressive prize credit value is transmitted from the game apparatus of the user to the host server for redemption purposes.

Claims

1. A method for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising:

receiving information from a host server prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit;

displaying a current progressive prize credit value during the game based on the received information; and

sending information to the host server after the game for allowing the determination of the current progressive prize credit value.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the received information includes a beginning prize credit value, and an increment rate.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 and further comprising:

periodically determining the current progressive prize credit value based on the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate are received upon connection with the host server.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the network is the Internet.

6. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the increment rate is determined based on a number of users playing the game in the network environment.

7. A method as recited in claim 3 and further comprising awarding the progressive prize credit value to a user based an outcome of the game.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the received information further includes a maximum value of the progressive prize credit value for preventing the determination of the progressive prize credit value to be greater than the maximum value.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the information that is sent includes a time that a goal associated with the game is accomplished.

10. A method for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising:

transmitting information to a client computer prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit; and

receiving information from the client computer after the game for allowing the determination of a current progressive prize credit value.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the transmitted information includes a beginning prize credit value or score, and an increment rate.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the beginning prize credit value and the increment rate are transmitted upon connection with the client computer.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the network is the Internet.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the increment rate is determined based on a number of users playing the game in the network environment.

15. A method as recited in claim 10 and further comprising awarding the progressive prize credit value to a user based an outcome of the game.

16. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the transmitted information further includes a maximum value of the progressive prize credit value for preventing the determination of the progressive prize credit value to be greater than the maximum value.

17. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the information that is sent includes a time that a goal associated with the game is accomplished, and the current progressive prize credit value is determined based on the time.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising:

a code segment for receiving information from a host server prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit;

a code segment for displaying a current progressive prize credit value during the game based on the received information; and

a code segment for sending information to the host server after the game for allowing the determination of the current progressive prize credit value.

19. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a progressive prize awarding scheme in an intermittently accessed network environment, comprising:

a code segment for transmitting information to a client computer prior to beginning a game for allowing the determination of a progressive prize credit; and

a code segment for receiving information from the client computer after the game for allowing the determination of a current progressive prize credit value.