PEER-TO-PEER DISTRIBUTED GAMING APPLICATION NETWORK

• US 20060247011A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3283 wherein the number of active machines is limited

Abstract

This description describes methods and apparatuses of a peer-to-peer distributed gaming application networks. In one embodiment the method includes transmitting, to a first gaming terminal, an invitation to participate in a shared gaming session. The method also includes receiving a reply from the first gaming terminal indicating that the invitation has been accepted and transmitting, to a second gaming terminal, an indication that the first gaming terminal will participate in the shared gaming session, wherein the second gaming terminal will serve a gaming application to the first gaming terminal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, to a first gaming terminal, an invitation to participate in a shared gaming session;

receiving a reply from the first gaming terminal indicating that the invitation has been accepted; and

transmitting, to a second gaming terminal, an indication that the first gaming terminal will participate in the shared gaming session, wherein the second gaming terminal will serve a gaming application to the first gaming terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a session initiation request from the second gaming terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the first gaming terminal is eligible to participate in the shared gaming session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to the second gaming terminal, another invitation to participate in another shared gaming session;

receiving a reply from the second gaming terminal indicating that the other invitation has been accepted; and

transmitting, to the first gaming terminal, an indication that the second gaming terminal will participate in the other shared gaming session, wherein the first gaming terminal will serve another gaming application to the second gaming terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the invitation to participate in a shared gaming session occurs in response to one or more events selected from the group consisting of player input, a bonus round, players associated with the first and second gaming terminals forming a team.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared gaming session enables a player associated with the gaming terminals to wager on a shared gaming session outcome that is associated with another player.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared gaming session enables players to compete or collaborate with other players participating in the shared gaming session, and wherein selections made by the players affect an outcome of the shared gaming session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein during the shared gaming session, shared gaming session data is transmitted between the first gaming terminal and the second gaming terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second gaming terminal presents an option to participate in the shared gaming session or to play an individual game offered at the second gaming terminal.

10. A machine-readable medium including instructions to be executed by a machine, the instructions comprising:

instructions to transmit, to a first gaming terminal, an invitation to participate in a shared gaming session;

instructions to receive a reply from the first gaming terminal indicating that the invitation has been accepted; and

instructions to transmit, to a second gaming terminal, an indication that the first gaming terminal is participating in the shared gaming session, wherein the second gaming terminal will serve a gaming application to the first gaming terminal.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to receive a session initiation request signal from the second gaming terminal.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to determine that the first gaming terminal is eligible to participate in a shared gaming session.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to transmit, to the second gaming terminal, another invitation to participate in another shared gaming session;

instructions to receive a reply from the second gaming terminal indicating that the other invitation has been accepted; and

instructions to transmit, to the first gaming terminal, an indication that the second gaming terminal will participate in the other shared gaming session, wherein the first gaming terminal will serve another gaming application to the second gaming terminal.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a session maintenance module configured to maintain eligibility indicators associated with gaming terminals, wherein one of the eligibility indicators indicates whether one of the gaming terminals is eligible to participate in a shared gaming session;

an authorization and configuration service module configured to determine whether the one of the gaming terminals is eligible to participate in the shared gaming session, wherein the determination is based on the one of the eligibility indicators; and

a membership management module configured to create association indicators, wherein the association indicators indicate whether the gaming terminals are participating in the shared gaming session.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the association indicators can be modified during the shared gaming session.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the membership management module is also configured to establish a virtual communication network for those of the gaming terminals that are participating in the shared gaming session.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a session manager configured to receive a session log associated with the shared gaming session, the session log indicating an outcome of the shared gaming session.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a session manager configured to debit or credit accounts associated with players at the gaming terminals, the debit or credit based on an outcome of the shared gaming session.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the gaming terminals are members of a peer-to-peer network.