PLUGGABLE MODULAR GAMING MODIFIERS AND CONFIGURATION TEMPLATES FOR GAMING ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20080102919A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Craig, Nelson, Dwayne, Rowe, Richard, Iddings, Cara, Moser, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,708,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Frameworks for providing modular computer program code and automated configuration of server-based gaming environments are disclosed. One or more “pluggable” modular gaming modifier can be provided for the modular computer program code without requiring the replacement of the entire computer program code for the game. Typically, the pluggable” modular gaming modifier can be added to or can replace one or more gaming modules or sub-modules, thereby requiring less time and effort for effectively modifying game presentation. In addition, configuration data can be generated and stored as configurations templates which can be used to configure one or more gaming machines in an automated manner. The configuration templates can be generated based on gaming modules and/or sub-modules provided for modular computer program code. As such, a content-based configuration template can effectively include and/or identify one or more modules, sub-modules and/or pluggable modular or sub-modular gaming modifiers associated with a modular computer program code. The configuration modules can be combined together for form configuration modules that effectively incorporate the features of two or more existing configurations.

Claims

1. A gaming system, wherein said gaming system is configured and/or operable to:

execute or cause the execution of a first modular computer program code for a game of chance to effectively provide said game of chance for playing on said gaming system, wherein said first modular computer program code for said game of chance includes a plurality of gaming modules and is configured to receive at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier that can be integrated with and/or replace one or more of said plurality of gaming modules of said first modular computer program code, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can effectively modify and/or enhance one or more properties and/or behavior of said first modular computer program code to yield a modified modular computer program code for said game of chance, thereby allowing modifying and/or enhancing one or more properties and/or behavior of said first modular computer program code by effectively plugging said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier into said first modular computer program code; and

execute or cause the execution of said modified modular computer program code for said game of chance to effectively provide a modified and/or enhanced version of said game of chance for playing on said gaming system.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can effectively modify and/or enhance one or more properties and/or behavior of at least one gaming module of said plurality of gaming modules.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, where said least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can replace said at least one gaming module.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, where said least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can be added to said at least one gaming module.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming modules serves as a base gaming module and said least one pluggable modular gaming modifier modifies and/or enhances one or more properties and/or behavior of said base gaming module.

6. The gaming system of claim 5,

wherein said base gaming module is implemented as a parent, and wherein as a child of said parent said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can inherit one or more properties or behavior of said base gaming module.

7. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier is stored in a designated memory location in a manner that effectively indicates that said at least one pluggable modular is to replace and/or enhance said base gaming module.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can modify and/or enhance one or more of the following for the game of chance and/or information presented in association and/or connection with said game of chance:

theme, background, advertising information, marketing information, colors, sounds, logos, look and feel, gaming preferences, player preferences, music, promotions, and bonus games.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least two of said plurality of modules communicate via one or more application program interfaces.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of modules include a gaming operating system module, a game flow software module, and a game presentation software module.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are further configured and/or operable to:

determine whether said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier is compatible with said first computer program code.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are further configured and/or operable to:

receive said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier from an entity;

determine the authenticity of said entity.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are further configured and/or operable to:

determine the authenticity of said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier and at least one of said gaming modules are configured to mutually authenticate each other.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are further configured and/or operable to:

track the number of times said pluggable modular gaming modifier and/or gaming modules are loaded and/or executed by said computing system.

16. The gaming system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming modules includes a plurality of gaming sub-modules, and

wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can replace one or more of said plurality of gaming sub-modules.

17. The gaming system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming modules includes a plurality of gaming sub-modules, and

wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier includes a pluggable sub-modular modifier that can be added to said plurality of gaming sub-modules and/or replace at least one of said plurality of gaming sub-modules.

18. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said gaming system includes a gaming machine configured and/or operable to execute said first modular computer program code for said game of chance and said modified modular computer program code.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier is downloaded by a gaming server to said gaming machine.

20. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said gaming system includes a gaming server that effectively serves one or more gaming machines.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein said gaming server is configured and/or operable to execute said computer program code for said game of chance on behalf of said one or more gaming machines.

22. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein said one or more gaming machines are configured and/or operable to execute said computer program code for said game of chance independently or jointly with said gaming server.

23. A gaming server, wherein said gaming device is configured and/or operable for:

providing one or more gaming machines with a first modular computer program code for a game of chance to effectively, wherein said first modular computer program code for said game of chance includes a plurality of gaming modules; and

providing said one or more gaming machines at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier that can be integrated with and/or replace one or more of said plurality of gaming modules of said first modular computer program code, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can effectively modify and/or enhance one or more properties and/or behavior of said first modular computer program code to yield a modified modular computer program code for said game of chance, thereby allowing modifying and/or enhancing one or more properties and/or behavior of said first modular computer program code by effectively plugging said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier into said first modular computer program code.

24. A gaming device, wherein said gaming device is configured and/or operable for:

obtaining a first modular computer program code for a game of chance to effectively, wherein said first modular computer program code for said game of chance includes a plurality of gaming modules; and

executing said first modular computer program code;

obtaining at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier that can be integrated with and/or replace one or more of said plurality of gaming modules of said first modular computer program code, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can effectively modify and/or enhance one or more properties and/or behavior of said first modular computer program code to yield a modified modular computer program code for said game of chance; and

executing said modified modular computer program code.

25. A computer-implemented method for generating configuration data for configuring one or more gaming machines in order to effectively provide one or more games of chance for play in a gaming environment, said computer-implemented method comprising:

selecting one or more gaming modules from a set of gaming modules that collectively represent modular computer program code for a game of chance; and

storing a first gaming configuration template that includes and/or effectively identifies said one or more selected gaming modules, wherein said first gaming configuration template can be used to generate configuration data to effectively configure said plurality of gaming machines for execution of said one or more selected gaming modules.

26. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25, wherein said first gaming configuration template is a pluggable configuration template that can be effectively combined with one or more other pluggable configuration templates in order to generate a second gaming configuration template and/or second configuration data for configuring said plurality of gaming machines.

27. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

selecting one or more gaming machines in said gaming environment for configuration; and

storing a second gaming configuration template that effectively identifies said one or more selected gaming machines.

28. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

combining said first and second gaming configuration templates in order to generate a combined gaming configuration template that can be used to configure said one or more selected gaming machines to execute said one or more selected gaming modules.

29. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

selecting one or more conditions in said gaming environment for configuration; and

storing a third gaming configuration template that effectively identifies said selected one or more gaming conditions, wherein said third gaming configuration template can be used to effectively configure said plurality of games machines when said one or more conditions occur.

30. A computer-implemented method 29, wherein said one or more include one or more of the following:

a gaming condition,

time,

presence of one or more gaming modules, and

identifying a player.

31. A computer-implemented method of modifying computer program code that can be executed on a gaming system to provide a game of chance, said computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, identifying and/or determining a plurality of gaming modules that collectively represent computer program code for a game of chance that can be executed by a gaming system;

receiving, identifying and/or determining at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier that can effectively modify and/or enhance the properties and/or behavior of at least one of said one or more gaming modules; and

modifying and/or enhancing the properties and/or behavior of said at least one gaming module based on said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier to effectively modify said computer program code for said game of chance to yield modified computer program code for said game of chance, thereby allowing said modified game of chance to be executed by said gaming system.

32. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 31, wherein said modifying and/or enhancing the properties and/or behavior of said at least one gaming module comprises one or more of the following:

adding said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier to at least one gaming module;

adding said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier to one or more sub-modules of at least one gaming module;

replacing said least one gaming module by at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier; and

replacing one or more sub-modules of at least one gaming module by said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier.

33. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:

executing and/or causing execution of said modified game of chance.

34. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer-implemented further comprises:

determining whether to modify at least one gaming module; and

modifying said at least one gaming module when said determining determines to modify said at least one gaming module.

35. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34, wherein said determining comprises one or more of the following:

determining whether a gaming event has occurred;

determining whether an scheduled task has occurred;

determining whether a particular player has been identified;

determining whether one or more gaming modules are available; and

determining whether one or more gaming modules are loaded on one or more gaming machines.

36. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer-implemented further comprises one or more of the following:

authenticating said at one pluggable modular gaming modifier;

authenticating said at one pluggable modular gaming modifier by said computing system;

authenticating said at one pluggable modular gaming modifier by an entity that effectively receives said pluggable modular gaming modifier;

authenticating an entity that effectively provides said at one pluggable modular gaming modifier for modification of said at least one gaming module;

authenticating said at one pluggable modular gaming modifier by at least one gaming module;

authenticating at least one gaming module;

authenticating at least one gaming module by said computing system; and

authenticating at least one gaming module by an entity that effectively provides said pluggable modular gaming modifier.

37. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:

determining whether said pluggable modular gaming modifier is compatible with at least one gaming module.

38. A computer readable medium including computer program code for at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier that can be integrated with and/or replace one or more of gaming modules of a first modular computer program code, wherein said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier can effectively modify and/or enhance one or more properties and/or behavior of said first modular computer program code to yield a modified modular computer program code for said game of chance, thereby allowing modifying and/or enhancing one or more properties and/or behavior of said first modular computer program code by effectively plugging said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier into said first modular computer program code.

39. A computer readable medium including computer program code for modifying and/or enhancing a game of chance that can be executed on a gaming system, comprising:

computer program code for receiving, identifying and/or determining a plurality of gaming modules that collectively represent computer program code for a game of chance that can be executed by a gaming system;

computer program code for receiving, identifying and/or determining at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier that can effectively modify and/or enhance the properties and/or behavior of at least one of said one or more gaming modules; and

computer program code for modifying and/or enhancing the properties and/or behavior of said at least one gaming module based on said at least one pluggable modular gaming modifier to effectively modify said computer program code for said game of chance to yield modified computer program code for said game of chance, thereby allowing said modified game of chance to be executed by said gaming system.