Methods and apparatus for gaming data downloading
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A casino gaming system comprising:
- at least one master gaming server, at least one gaming apparatus disposed in a casino, said gaming apparatus comprising;
a display unit capable of generating video images, a value input device and a gaming apparatus controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to receive gaming server identification data from said master gaming server, said gaming server identification data representing the identity of each gaming server of a plurality of gaming servers, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to communicate a network message to each of said gaming servers using said gaming server identification data, said network message comprising a type identifier and data unique to said network message, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to receive a response to said network message from one or more of said plurality of gaming servers, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to determine data representing server information regarding each of said responding gaining servers based at least in part on said response, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to select a gaming server from among said plurality of gaming servers according to said server information data, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to communicate a selection message to said selected gaming server, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to receive gaming data from said selected gaming server in response to said selection message, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated oil said display unit, said video image representing a game, and said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image; and
a plurality of gaming servers interconnected with said at least one gaming apparatus and said at least one master gaming server, wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming servers is disposed in a casino, each gaming server comprising a gaming server controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor;
said gaming server controller being programmed to receive said network message from said gaming apparatus controller. said gaming server controller being programmed to communicate a response to said network message to said gaming apparatus controller if said network message is received, said gaming server controller being programmed to receive a selection message from said gaming apparatus controller, and said gaming server controller being programmed to communicate said gaming data to said gaming apparatus controller if said gaming server controller receives said selection message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming apparatus may comprise a display unit, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device. The gaming apparatus may be disposed in a casino. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory, and may be programmed to receive data representing server information regarding casino gaming servers, to organize the casino gaming servers according to the server information data, to select a casino gaming server according to the organization of the casino gaming servers or the server information data, to receive gaming data from the selected casino gaming server, and to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of a game.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A casino gaming system comprising:
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at least one master gaming server, at least one gaming apparatus disposed in a casino, said gaming apparatus comprising;
a display unit capable of generating video images, a value input device and a gaming apparatus controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to receive gaming server identification data from said master gaming server, said gaming server identification data representing the identity of each gaming server of a plurality of gaming servers, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to communicate a network message to each of said gaming servers using said gaming server identification data, said network message comprising a type identifier and data unique to said network message, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to receive a response to said network message from one or more of said plurality of gaming servers, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to determine data representing server information regarding each of said responding gaining servers based at least in part on said response, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to select a gaming server from among said plurality of gaming servers according to said server information data, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to communicate a selection message to said selected gaming server, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to receive gaming data from said selected gaming server in response to said selection message, said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated oil said display unit, said video image representing a game, and said gaming apparatus controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image; and
a plurality of gaming servers interconnected with said at least one gaming apparatus and said at least one master gaming server, wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming servers is disposed in a casino, each gaming server comprising a gaming server controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor;
said gaming server controller being programmed to receive said network message from said gaming apparatus controller. said gaming server controller being programmed to communicate a response to said network message to said gaming apparatus controller if said network message is received, said gaming server controller being programmed to receive a selection message from said gaming apparatus controller, and said gaming server controller being programmed to communicate said gaming data to said gaming apparatus controller if said gaming server controller receives said selection message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A gaming apparatus disposed in a casino, the gaming apparatus comprising:
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a display unit;
a value input device;
a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to receive data representing server information regarding a plurality of casino gaming servers, said controller being programmed to organize said plurality of casino gaming servers, wherein said controller organizes said plurality of casino gaming servers according to said server information data, said controller being programmed to select a casino gaming server from among said plurality of casino gaming servers, wherein said controller makes said selection according to one of the following;
said organization of casino gaming servers or said server information data,said controller being programmed to receive gaming data from said selected casino gaming server, said controller being programmed to cause said display unit to generate a game display relating to one of the following games;
poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo, andsaid controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A gaming apparatus disposed in a casino, the gaming apparatus comprising:
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a display unit;
a value input device;
a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to receive data representing server information regarding a plurality of casino gaming servers, said controller being programmed to organize said plurality of casino gaming servers, wherein said controller organizes said plurality of casino gaming servers according to said server information data, said controller being programmed to select a casino gaming server from among said plurality of casino gaming servers, wherein said controller makes said selection according to one of the following;
said organization of casino gaming servers or said server information data,said controller being programmed to receive gaming data from said selected casino gaming server, said controller being programmed to receive data representing a payline selection made by a player, said controller being programmed to cause a game display to be generated by said display unit, said game display comprising images of a plurality of slot machine symbols each of which is associated with a respective slot machine reel of a slots game, said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said slots game, said controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A gaming method for downloading gaming data from a casino gaming server to a gaming apparatus disposed in a casino, the gaming method comprising:
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receiving data representing server information regarding a plurality of casino gaming servers;
organizing said plurality of casino gaming servers according to said server information data;
selecting a casino gaming server from among said plurality of casino gaming servers according to one of the following;
said organization of casino gaming servers or said server information data;
receiving gaming data from said selected casino gaming server;
causing a game display of one of the following games to be generated;
poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo; and
determining a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus disposed in a casino, said memory comprising:
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a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to receive data representing server information regarding a plurality of casino gaming servers;
a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to organize said plurality of casino gaming servers according to said server information data;
a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to select a casino gaming server from among said plurality of casino gaming servers according to one of the following;
said organization of casino gaming servers or said server information data;
a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to receive gaming data from said selected casino gaming server;
a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a game display representing one of the following games to be generated;
poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo; and
a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said one game. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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Specification