Method and system for instant-on game download

• US 20070060361A1
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wolf, Bryan, Nguyen, Binh, Hedrick, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for a method for providing a game on demand over a data network, in a gaming machine. The gaming machine sends a request message for a game application over the data network. In a network mode, the gaming machine receives outputted results from an executed game application over a streaming channel of the data network for network-based game play. During the network-based game play, the game application is downloaded over a download channel of the data network. In a local mode, the gaming machine executes the downloaded game application independent of the network-based game play. The gaming machine switches instantaneously from the network mode to the local mode for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.

Claims

1. In a gaming machine, a method for providing a game on demand over a data network, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a request message for a game application over a data network;

in a network mode, receiving outputted results from an executed game application over a streaming channel of the data network for network-based game play;

downloading, during the network-based game play, the game application over a download channel of the data network;

in a local mode, executing the downloaded game application by the gaming machine independent of the network-based game play; and

switching instantaneously from the network mode to the local mode at the gaming machine for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the outputted results are generated when the game application is executed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputted results are received after the game application is executed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputted results are received while the game application is executed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

maintaining current game settings for the executed game application over the data network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the current game settings are downloaded over the download channel of the data network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the current game settings are stored in a processor readable storage medium situated in the gaming machine.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein maintaining a status of the network-based game play includes:

setting game settings for the downloaded game application to the current game settings for the executed game application.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the current game settings are in XML format.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the current game settings are in HTML format.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the game settings for the downloaded game application are stored in game IO logic.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the current game settings include state information.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the current game settings include a bet configuration.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bet configuration includes a bet meter.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the bet configuration includes a credit meter.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the bet configuration includes a bet history.

17. A method for providing a game on demand using a game server having a download part and a streaming part, and a gaming machine in communication with the game server over a data network, the download part and the streaming part of the game server having access to a game application, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a request message from the gaming machine to the game server over a data network;

executing, responsive to receiving the request message, the game application by the streaming part, the executing game application outputting results;

in a server mode, sending the outputted results from the streaming part to the gaming machine over the data network for server-based game play between the gaming machine and the game server;

downloading, during the server-based game play, the game application from the download part to the gaming machine over the data network;

in a local mode, executing the downloaded game application by the gaming machine independent of the streaming part; and

switching instantaneously from the server mode to the local mode at the gaming machine for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the server-based game play.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the gaming machine is a first gaming machine in a peer-to-peer configuration.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the game server is a second gaming machine in the peer-to-peer configuration.

20. The method of claim 17, the request message designating the game application, the method further comprising the step of:

retrieving the game application from a processor readable storage medium.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

terminating, after switching from the server mode to the local mode, execution of the game application at the streaming part of the game server.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

authenticating the downloaded game application.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the downloaded game application is executed by the gaming machine upon completion of downloading.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the request message is sent responsive to selection of the game application at the gaming machine.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the outputted results include video data.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the outputted results include audio data.

27. A method for providing a game on demand using a download server, a streaming server, and a gaming machine in communication with one another over a data network, the download server and the streaming server having access to a game application, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a request message from the gaming machine to the download server and the streaming server over a data network;

executing, responsive to receiving the request message, the game application by the streaming server, the executing game application outputting results;

in a server mode, sending the outputted results from the streaming server to the gaming machine over the data network for server-based game play between the gaming machine and the streaming server;

downloading, during the server-based game play, the game application from the download server to the gaming machine over the data network;

in a local mode, executing the downloaded game application by the gaming machine independent of the streaming server; and

switching instantaneously from the server mode to the local mode at the gaming machine for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the server-based game play.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the gaming machine is a first gaming machine in a peer-to-peer configuration.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the download server is a second gaming machine in the peer-to-peer configuration.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the streaming server is a third gaming machine in the peer-to-peer configuration.

31. The method of claim 27, the request message designating the game application, the method further comprising the step of:

retrieving the game application from a processor readable storage medium.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

terminating, after switching from the server mode to the local mode, execution of the game application at the streaming server.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

authenticating the downloaded game application.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the downloaded game application is executed by the gaming machine upon completion of downloading.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the request message is sent responsive to selection of the game application at the gaming machine.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the outputted results include video data.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the outputted results include audio data.

38. A gaming machine for providing a game on demand over a data network, the gaming machine comprising:

a game logic module operative to;

i) send a request message for a game application over a data network;

ii) in a network mode, receive outputted results from an executed game application over a streaming channel of the data network for network-based game play;

iii) download, during the network-based game play, the game application over a download channel of the data network; and

a processor operative to;

i) in a local mode, execute the downloaded game application by the gaming machine independent of the network-based game play; and

ii) switch instantaneously from the network mode to the local mode at the gaming machine for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.

39. The gaming machine of claim 38, further comprising:

a processor readable storage medium operative to maintain current game settings for the executed game application.

40. A system for providing a game on demand to a gaming machine over a data network, the system comprising:

a gaming machine coupled to a data network, the gaming machine coupled to send a request message over a data network;

a streaming server coupled to the data network, the streaming server having access to a game application, the streaming server coupled to;

i) execute, responsive to receiving the request message, the game application, the executing game application outputting results, and ii) in a server mode, send the outputted results to the gaming machine over the data network for server-based game play between the gaming machine and the streaming server; and

a download server coupled to the data network, the download server having access to the game application, the download server coupled to download, during the server-based game play, the game application to the gaming machine over the data network responsive to receiving the request message;

wherein the gaming machine is further coupled to;

i) execute the downloaded game application, in a local mode, independent of the streaming server, and ii) switch instantaneously from the server mode to the local mode for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the server-based game play.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the gaming machine is a first gaming machine in a peer-to-peer configuration.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the download server is a second gaming machine in the peer-to-peer configuration.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the streaming server is a third gaming machine in the peer-to-peer configuration.

44. A computer program product, stored on a processor readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to perform, in a gaming machine, a method for providing a game on demand over a data network, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a request message for a game application over a data network;

in a network mode, receiving outputted results from an executed game application over a streaming channel of the data network for network-based game play;

downloading, during the network-based game play, the game application over a download channel of the data network;

in a local mode, executing the downloaded game application by the gaming machine independent of the network-based game play; and

switching instantaneously from the network mode to the local mode at the gaming machine for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.