Gaming terminal data repository and information distribution system

• US 20040180721A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US10/785,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20040180721A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A disclosed gaming terminal data repository may be used to store game software components, game software component information and gaming transaction information for a plurality of gaming terminals owned by a plurality of gaming entities. The repository may store the game software component information and the gaming transaction information in a database partitioned according to the different gaming entities in a manner allowing a game software component configuration of a particular gaming machine to be easily analyzed and modified. Using various update triggers, game software components for gaming terminals connected to the gaming terminal data repository may be automatically updated. The gaming machines, configured or designed to receive game software components from the repository, may present game play using a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and the game software components received from the repository.

Claims

1. A gaming terminal data repository comprising;

a network interface for communicating with a plurality of gaming terminals;

a memory arranged to store a) gaming terminal transaction information received from the plurality of gaming terminals and b) game software components for use by the plurality of gaming terminals wherein each of the gaming terminals is used to present a game of chance that is regulated by a gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located; and

a processor designed or configured to download to the gaming terminals game software components that comply with rules of the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminals are located.

2. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to determine the gaming jurisdiction where a particular gaming terminal is located.

3. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to download particular game software to a first gaming terminal when the particular game software is requested by a user at the first gaming terminal.

4. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to identify a user playing a game at a first gaming terminal, determine a custom software configuration for the user and download the custom software configuration to the first gaming terminal.

5. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to group a portion of the plurality of gaming terminals for generating a progressive game on the portion of the gaming terminals.

6. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to download gaming software for allowing a progressive game to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals.

7. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to download game software for allowing a promotion to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals.

8. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the plurality of gaming terminals used in the promotion are owned by a first gaming entity and wherein a second portion of the plurality of gaming terminals used in the promotion are owned by a second gaming entity.

9. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 8, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to automatically download game software for a new game to a first gaming terminal when a gaming performance of a current game on the first gaming terminal is assessed as poor.

10. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to store to the memory current and past gaming software configurations for each of the plurality of gaming terminals.

11. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 10, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to store to the memory the game software transaction information categorized according to each of the current and the past game software configurations.

12. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to display performance data for each of a plurality of different game software configurations used on the gaming terminals.

13. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the network interface is for further communicating with a plurality of remote servers and the processor is further designed or configured to communicate with the remote servers to gather information for storage in the memory regarding the plurality of gaming terminals.

14. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to download player tracking software to the plurality of gaming terminals.

15. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to download pay tables to the plurality of gaming terminals.

16. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 11, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to download a device driver for operating a device connected to the gaming terminal.

17. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor is further designed or configured to download game software that allows a bonus game to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals.

18. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor designed or configured to update game software components on said gaming terminals using one or more update triggers.

19. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the processor designed or configured to receive game software component information from the gaming terminals wherein the game software component information describes game software components stored on the gaming terminals.

20. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the game software components are selected from the group consisting of game system components, game paytables, game bonusing, game progressives, game graphics, game sounds, game jurisdiction information and game networking components.

21. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, wherein the game of chance is selected from the group consisting of a video bingo game, a video lottery game, a video black jack game, a video slot game, a mechanical slot game, a video poker game, a video keno game, a video pachinko game, a video game of chance and a video card game.

22. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming terminal data repository comprising;

a first network interface for communicating with a plurality of gaming terminals;

a memory arranged to store a) gaming terminal transaction information received from the plurality of gaming terminals and b) game software components for use by the plurality of gaming terminals wherein each of the gaming terminals is used to present a game of chance that is regulated by a gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located; and

a processor designed or configured to download to the gaming terminals game software components that comply with rules of the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminals are located;

the plurality of gaming terminals, each gaming terminal comprising;

a second network interface for communicating with the gaming terminal data repository;

a master controller designed or configured i) to generate the game of chance played on the gaming terminal using game software components downloaded from the gaming terminal data repository and ii) to send gaming terminal transaction information to the gaming terminal data repository;

a memory for storing the game software components downloaded from the gaming terminal data repository; and

a network for providing communications between the gaming terminal data repository and the plurality of gaming terminals.