Method and apparatus for integrating remotely-hosted and locally rendered content on a gaming device

• US 20070243925A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Beaulieu, Nicole M., Manfredi, Vincent S., Iddings, Cara L., Schneider, Richard J., Bullard, Bryan, Little, William C., Gipp, David A., Russell, Keith, Waal, Daniel de
• Granted Patent: US 8,777,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn'"'"'t alter the play of game of chance.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a video display;

a communication interface for communicating with a remote host;

a master gaming controller designed or configured a) to control a wager-based game played on the gaming device;

b) to communicate with the remote host, c) to generate a first process operable to output first video images to the video display wherein content of the first video images over time is controlled by the remote host, d) to receive from the remote host, commands, instructions, data or combinations thereof, that allow the first process to output the first video images, e) to generate a second process operable to generate an outcome to the wager-based game and to output second video images to the video display related to the play of the wager-based game; and

f) to generate a third process operable to control access of the first process and the second process to the video display wherein the third process is operable to allow the first process to utilize a first portion of the video display while the wager-based game is being played on a second portion of the video display;

an input mechanism for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for making wagers on the wager-based game;

an output mechanism for outputting cash or an indicia of credit.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to monitor at least one gaming resource utilized by the first process and to prevent the first process from utilizing more than a limited amount of the at least one gaming resource.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, where the at least one gaming resource is selected from the group consisting of CPU usage, memory usage, graphics processing usage, network bandwidth usage, sound card usage, video card usage, power usage and peripheral device usage.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is further operable to receive a download of the commands, the instructions, the data or the combinations thereof, while the wager-based game is being played and wherein the download changes the content of the first video images.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is further operable to send information to the remote host indicating an amount of one or more gaming device resources that the first process is allowed to utilize while it is generated on the gaming device.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to store the commands, the instructions, the data or the combinations thereof, to a memory coupled to the gaming device.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the master gaming controller is operable, when initializing a communication session with the remote host, to send information regarding the commands, the instructions, the data or the combinations stored in the memory.

8. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to delete all or a portion of the commands, the instructions, the data or the combinations thereof, after a communication session with the remote host is terminated.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is further operable to initiate a communication session with the remote host and to terminate the communication session with the remote host wherein the first process is only generated after the communication session is initiated and prior to the termination of the communication session.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is further operable to request from the remote host information relating to the content of the first video images previously displayed on the gaming device.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to separate the information communicated to the remote host into a first part including the commands, the information, the data and the combinations thereof, that allow the first process to output the first video images and a second part including secure gaming machine transactions.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the first part and the second part are communicated using different communication protocols.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the secure gaming machine transactions comprise one or more of transactions related to credits, transactions related to money handling or transactions related to a state of the wager-based game.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is operable to only output information via the video display.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is further operable to output sound via one or more audio components coupled to the gaming device.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the first process is operable to output information only via the video display and via the one or more audio components.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein a content of the sound that is output over time via the first process is controlled by the remote host.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to receive from the remote host, commands, instructions, data or combinations thereof, that allow the first process to output the sound.

19. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the second process is further operable to output sound associated with the wager-based game via the one or more audio components.

20. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to generate a fourth process operable to control access of the first process and the second process to the one or more audio components.

21. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is further operable to communicate with one or more peripheral devices coupled to the gaming device.

22. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is further operable to send a command or instructions to activate a feature of a peripheral device coupled to the gaming device.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to prevent the first process from activating a feature of the peripheral device.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to allow the first process to activate a first feature of the peripheral device and to prevent the first process from activating a second feature of the peripheral device.

25. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to allow the first process, the remote host or combinations thereof to receive information related to an activation of a feature on a peripheral device.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of a touch screen sensor, a card reader, a bill validator, a bonus device, a mechanical button, a wireless interface, a ticket reader, a key pad and a coin acceptor.

27. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is unable to output the first video images to the video display without first receiving at least a portion of the commands, the instructions, the data or the combinations thereof, from the remote host that allow the first process to output the first video images.

28. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second process is further operable to generate the second video images with first dimensions to fit a first portion of the video display and to generate second video images with second dimensions to fit a second portion of the video display.

29. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first video images include components corresponding to one or more active areas of a touch screen sensor coupled to the video display.

30. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is further operable to receive information from an input device coupled to the gaming device wherein in response to receiving the information the master gaming controller is operable to prevent the first process from utilizing the video display.

31. A gaming device comprising:

a gaming interface comprising a plurality of input devices and a at least one output device for displaying an outcome to a wager-based game played on the gaming device;

a communication interface for allowing communications with a remote host;

a master gaming controller designed or configured a) to provide a first resource partition associated with first gaming resources wherein the first gaming resources include a processor, a memory and a portion of the gaming interface and a second resource partition associated with second gaming resources, b) to allow execution of an interface process in the first resource partition wherein the interface process is only allowed to utilize the first gaming resources, c) to receive information from the remote host that allows the remote host to utilize the portion of the gaming interface via the interface process, d) to allow execution in the second resource partition of one or more gaming processes for generating the wager-based game on the gaming device;

e) to prevent the interface process from using more than an allocated amount of the first gaming resources;

f) to establish a communication session with the remote host that enables the remote host to send the information that allows the remote host to utilize the portion of the gaming interface via the interface process.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to determine an utilization of the first gaming resources, an utilization of the second gaming resources or combinations thereof.

33. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the master gaming controller is designed or configured to prevent the interface process from using more than the allocated amount of CPU cycles, memory, graphics processor cycles, network bandwidth, sound card usage, video card usage, power usage, peripheral device usage or combinations thereof.

34. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to arbitrate control of a device associated with the portion of the gaming interface, when it is determined that the interface process and a first gaming process of the one or more gaming processes are requesting control of the device.

35. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a video display and wherein the interface process is operable to receive the information from the remote host comprising commands, instructions, data or combinations thereof, that allow the interface process to generate video images for the video display.

36. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a first portion of a video display and wherein the interface process is operable to receive the information from the remote host comprising commands, instructions, data or combinations thereof, that allow the interface process to generate video images for the first portion of the video display.

37. The gaming device of claim 36, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to allow the interface process to generate the video images for the first portion of the video display while the outcome of the wager-based game is displayed on a second portion of the video display.

38. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the master gaming controller is further designed or configured to receive the information that that allows the remote host to utilize the portion of the gaming interface via the interface process while the wager-based game is played on the gaming device.

39. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a video display coupled to a touch screen sensor.

40. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a video display and one or more devices for providing audio output wherein the interface process is operable to output video content, audio content or combinations, thereof via the portion of the gaming interface in accordance with the information received from the remote comprising commands, instructions, data or combinations thereof.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein in response to the information received from the remote host, the video content, audio content or combinations thereof, output via the portion of the gaming interface is varied as of function of time.

42. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the interface process the only portion the gaming interface that the interface process is allowed to access is a video display.

43. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one memory device;

at least one local processor programmed to operate with the display device, the input device and the memory device and to communicate with a remote host to;

(a) enable the player to wager on a play of the primary game;

(b) generate a primary game outcome for said play of the primary game;

(c) provide the generated primary game outcome to the player;

(d) cause part of said display device to display the play of the primary game;

(e) receive at least one request from the remote host to provide at least one remote controlled process on a portion the display device;

(f) if said request to provide said remote controlled process is received, determine an availability of at least one gaming device resource;

(g) if said gaming device resource is available;

(i) accept the request to provide said remote controlled process, and

(ii) enable the remote host to cause said portion of the display device to display said remote controlled process, wherein said remote controlled process is displayed simultaneously with the play of the primary game; and

(h) if said gaming device resource is not available, reject the request to provide said remote controlled process.

44. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the primary game is stored on said memory device.

45. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein a plurality of primary games are stored on said memory device.

46. The gaming device of claim 45, wherein said remote host instructs the local processor to select one of said primary games.

47. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the primary game is stored remotely from said gaming device.

48. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the local processor is configured to communicate data representing the generated primary game outcome to the remote host and the remote host modifies the remote controlled process based on said generated primary game outcome.

49. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the remote controlled process includes causing at least one service to become available to the player.

50. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the remote controlled process includes causing at least one enhanced function of the gaming machine to become available to the player.

51. The gaming device of claim 50, wherein the enhanced function is one or more of the following:

(1) displaying information relating to one or more aspects of the player'"'"'s gaming experience;

(2) providing personalized audio or video content at the gaming machine;

(3) enabling the player to pick the primary game to play from a plurality of available primary games;

(4) enabling the player to place one or more side-bets;

(5) enabling the player to play for one or more progressive awards;

(6) enabling the player to participate in a gaming tournament;

(7) providing a virtual ATM at the gaming device;

(8) providing a virtual entertainment center at the gaming device;

(9) providing a virtual lottery machine at the gaming device;

(10) providing a virtual change machine at the gaming device;

(11) providing a virtual sports book at the gaming device;

(12) providing a virtual communication center at the gaming device;

(13) providing a virtual concierge at the gaming device;

(14) providing a virtual vending machine at the gaming device;

(15) providing a virtual internet kiosk at the gaming device;

(16) enabling the player to customize one or more aspects of the content displayed on the display device;

(17) enabling the player to customize one or more aspects of gaming device interface;

(18) enabling the player to enroll in a player tracking system;

(19) enabling the player to play a plurality of primary games simultaneously or substantially simultaneously at the gaming device;

(20) enabling the player to access personal settings at the gaming device;

(21) enabling the player to access a score card of accomplished events;

(22) enabling the player to access a tournament leader board;

(23) enabling the player to select a favorite type of award to play for, or (24) combinations thereof.

52. The gaming device of claim 50, wherein the local processor is further programmed to allow a transfer of credits to enable the enhanced function.

54. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the remote controlled process includes providing at least one outcome to the player.

55. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the at least one outcome is one or more of (1) a value;

(2) a modifier;

(3) an entry in an award drawing;

(4) an entry in a tournament;

(5) an additional player tracking point;

(6) a session surprise award;

(7) a modifier of any primary game awards for a set amount of time;

(8) a number of free or discounted spins or activations of a game;

(9) a prize;

(10) a progressive award;

(11) a retrigger to be utilized in the primary game;

(12) a wild symbol to be utilized in the primary game;

(13) an anti-terminator to be utilized in the primary game;

(14) a bonus or a secondary game;

(15) a nudge of one or more reels in a reel game;

(16) a hold of one or more reels in a reel game;

(17) a scatter type pay;

(18) one or more additional paylines in a reel game;

(19) one or more additional ways to win in a reel game;

(20) one or more additional ways to trigger the secondary game;

(21) one or more available promotions;

(22) one or more surveys;

(23) one or more non-redeemable credits or (24) combinations thereof.

56. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein said remote controlled process is configured to not affect an integrity of the play of the primary game.