Regulated gaming - virtual display

• US 20080132331A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Cyberview Technology, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Gatto, Jean-Marie, Brunet de Courssou, Thierry
• Application Number:
  US11/533,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

Compartmented system architecture and methods for enabling freelance game developers to (a) integrate their game software together with the slot manufacturer software and (b) tag their software such as to receive compensation based on the success of their games. The combined tagged freelance software and gaming manufacturer software may rapidly pass through certification testing and be downloaded overnight to a large number of gaming machines such as to offer players in casinos an unprecedented choice of new generation electronic games within a short timetable. Compartmenting for totally isolating the freelance graphics-rich game code from the slot supplier code may be carried by adopting the blue-screen paradigm in which the freelance code executes in a process sandbox and renders its entertainment outcome-free graphics in a totally isolated virtual background display plane while the slot supplier code renders its accounting graphics and outcome graphics in a virtual foreground display plane as small graphics gadgets animated over a transparent plane. The foreground and background display planes may then be mixed together and foreground moving outcome graphics gadgets may be synchronized in real-time with the moving outcome-free background graphics.

Claims

1. A game for execution on a regulated gaming machine, comprising:

a first process that executes outcome-free game software and that renders graphic animation in a first video plane;

a second process that executes outcome-providing game software and that renders at least one outcome graphics gadget over the first video plane, the at least one outcome graphics gadget being operative to move in synchronism with at least one selected element of the rendered graphic animation and to indicate at least part of a wagering outcome of the game.

2. The game of claim 1, wherein the outcome-free game software is configured to be independent of the wagering outcome of the game.

3. The game of claim 1, wherein the outcome-free game software is configured to execute independently of the outcome-providing game software.

4. The game of claim 1, wherein the outcome-free game software is uncertified by a gaming software certification lab.

5. The game of claim 1, wherein the outcome-providing game software is certified by a gaming software certification lab.

6. The game of claim 1, wherein the outcome-free game software is uncertified by a gaming software certification lab and the outcome-providing game software is certified by the gaming software certification lab.

7. The game of claim 1, wherein the first and second processes execute concurrently.

8. The game of claim 1, wherein the at least one outcome graphics gadget is configured to be rendered over the at least one selected element of the graphic animation rendered in the first plane.

9. The game of claim 1, wherein the at least one outcome graphics gadget is operative to move in synchronism with the at least one selected element using motion capture software, the motion capture executing software being isolated from the first process.

10. The game of claim 1, wherein a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget is synchronized with the at least one selected element frame-by-frame.

11. The game of claim 1, wherein a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget is synchronized with the at least one selected element using at least one of:

a 2D trajectory path method,

a 3D trajectory path method,

a camera angle method,

a light source characterization method, and

a 3D trajectory path method that includes location, scale, rotation and velocity attribute characterization.

12. The game of claim 1, wherein a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget is synchronized with the at least one selected element via at least one of remote procedure call (RPC), Microsoft .NET Remoting, an IP service and a software isolated process (SIP) channel between the first process and second process.

13. The game of claim 1, wherein a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget tracks a motion of the at least one selected element via at least one of an asynchronous remote procedure call (RPC), asynchronous Microsoft .NET Remoting and an asynchronous IP service between the first process and second process.

14. The game of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to execute in a first process sandbox in which the first process is given at least one of restricted memory access and restricted execution permissions.

15. The game of claim 1, wherein the second process is configured to execute in a second process sandbox in which the second process is given at least one of restricted memory access and restricted execution permissions.

16. The game of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to execute in a first process sandbox in which the first process is given at least one of compartmented memory access and compartmented execution permissions.

17. The game of claim 1, wherein the second process is configured to execute in a second process sandbox in which the second process is given at least one of compartmented memory access and compartmented execution permissions.

18. The game of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to execute in a first process sandbox, the first process sandbox including a least one of strong process isolation, DoD 5200.28-STD multilevel security, Microsoft Software Isolation Process (SIP) and JAVA sandbox.

19. The game of claim 1, wherein the second process is configured to execute in a second process sandbox, the second process sandbox including a least one of strong process isolation, DoD 5200.28-STD multilevel security, Microsoft Software Isolation Process (SIP) and JAVA sandbox.

20. The game of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to render its graphics in a video sandbox in which the graphic animation is prevented from being hidden or overlapped by an unauthorized process attempting to write to a display or a video cache of the regulated gaming machine, and in which unauthorized processes are prevented from reading the display or the video cache.

21. The game of claim 1, wherein the second process is configured to render its graphics in a video sandbox in which the at least one graphics gadget is prevented from being hidden or overlapped by an unauthorized process attempting to write to a display or a video cache of the regulated gaming machine and in which unauthorized processes are prevented from reading the display or the video cache such as to determine a wagering outcome of the game.

22. The game of claim 1, wherein the at least one outcome graphics gadget includes at least one of:

a scalable static 2D object;

a rotatable static 2D object;

a scalable static 3D object;

a rotatable static 3D object;

a real-time animated 2D object, and

a real-time animated 3D object.

23. The game of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected element of the rendered graphic animation including at least one target that is rendered in the graphic animation such that a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget is synchronized to a motion of the at least one target.

24. The game of claim 23, wherein the at least one outcome graphics gadget is synchronized to the motion of the at least one target using motion capture software that is isolated from the first process.

25. The game of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to execute in a first computer and wherein the second process is configured to execute in a second computer that is separate and independent of the first computer.

26. The game of claim 25, wherein the first computer includes means for rendering graphic animation to a first video output interface and wherein the second computer includes means for rendering the at least one outcome graphics gadget over a neutral background to a second video output interface, a first video signal from the first video output interface being combined with a second video signal from second video output interface in a video display of the gaming machine using a blue-screen technique.

27. The game of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected element is designated by a target that is recognizable by image analysis software.

28. The game of claim 27, wherein one of the at least one outcome graphics gadget is overlaid onto the target.

29. The game of claim 1, wherein the graphic animation rendered by the first process includes a video playback.

30. A method for operating a regulated gaming machine to enable a player to play a game, comprising:

providing outcome-free game software, the outcome-free game software being configured to render graphic animation of the game;

executing the outcome-free game software in the gaming machine and rendering the graphic animation in a first video plane;

providing outcome-providing game software, the outcome-providing game software being configured to render at least one outcome graphics gadget that is operative to indicate at least part of a wagering outcome of the game, and

executing the outcome-providing game software in the gaming machine and rendering the at least one outcome graphics gadget over the first video plane such that the at least one outcome graphics gadget is rendered over and moves in synchronism with at least one selected element of the graphic animation.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software providing step is carried out with the graphic animation being independent of the wagering outcome of the game.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software providing step is carried out with the outcome-free game software being configured to execute independently of an execution of the outcome-providing game software.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software providing and executing steps are carried out with a source code of the outcome-free game software being uncertified by a gaming software certification lab.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software providing and executing steps are carried out with a source code of the outcome-providing game software being certified by a gaming software certification lab.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software providing and executing steps are carried out with a source code of the outcome-free game software being uncertified by a gaming software certification lab and wherein the outcome-providing game software providing and executing steps are carried out with a source code of the outcome-providing game software being certified by the gaming software certification lab.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software executing step and the outcome-providing game software executing step are carried out concurrently.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one outcome graphics gadget is configured to be rendered over the at least one selected element of the graphic animation rendered in the first plane.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome graphics gadget rendering step is carried out with the at least one outcome graphics gadget being operative to move in synchronism with the at least one selected element using motion capture software, the motion capture software being isolated from the outcome-free game software.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out with the outcome graphics gadget being synchronized with the at least one selected element on a frame-by-frame basis.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out with a motion of the outcome graphics gadget being synchronized with the at least one selected element using at least one of:

a 2D trajectory path method,

a 3D trajectory path method,

a camera angle method,

a light source characterization method, and

a 3D trajectory path method that includes location, scale, rotation and velocity attribute characterization.

41. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out with a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget being synchronized with the at least one selected element via at least one of a remote procedure call (RPC), Microsoft .NET Remoting, an IP service and a software isolated process (SIP) channel between outcome-free game software and the outcome-providing game software.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out with a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget being synchronized with the at least one selected element via at least one of an asynchronous remote procedure call (RPC), asynchronous Microsoft .NET Remoting and an asynchronous IP service between outcome-free game software and the outcome-providing game software.

43. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software executing step is carried out in a process sandbox in which the outcome-free game software is given at least one of restricted memory access and restricted execution permissions.

44. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out in a process sandbox in which the outcome-providing game software is given at least one of restricted memory access and restricted execution permissions.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software is configured to execute in a first process sandbox in which the first process is given at least one of compartmented memory access and compartmented execution permissions.

46. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software is configured to execute in a second process sandbox in which the second process is given at least one of compartmented memory access and compartmented execution permissions.

47. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software is configured to execute in a first process sandbox, the process sandbox including a least one of strong process isolation, DoD 5200.28-STD multilevel security, Microsoft Software Isolation Process (SIP) and JAVA sandbox.

48. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software is configured to execute in a second process sandbox, the process sandbox including a least one of strong process isolation, DoD 5200.28-STD multilevel security, Microsoft Software Isolation Process (SIP) and JAVA sandbox.

49. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software executing step is carried out to render its graphics in a video sandbox in which the graphic animation is prevented from being hidden or overlapped by an unauthorized process attempting to write to a display or a video cache of the regulated gaming machine, and in which unauthorized processes are prevented from reading the display or the video cache.

50. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out to render its graphics in a video sandbox in which the at least one outcome graphics gadget is prevented from being hidden or overlapped by an unauthorized process attempting to write to a display or a video cache of the regulated gaming machine and in which unauthorized processes are prevented from reading the display or the video cache such as to determine the outcome of the game.

51. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out with the at least one outcome graphics gadget including at least one of:

a scalable static 2D object;

a rotatable static 2D object;

a scalable static 3D object;

a rotatable static 3D object;

a real-time animated 2D object, and

a real-time animated 3D object.

52. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out with the at least one selected element of the graphic animation including at least one target, a motion of the at least one outcome graphics gadget being synchronized to a motion of the at least one target.

53. The method of claim 30, wherein the outcome-free game software executing step is carried out in a first computer and wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out in a second computer that is separate and independent of the first computer.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the outcome-free game software executing step is carried out with the first computer including means for rendering graphic animation to a first video output interface and wherein the outcome-providing game software executing step is carried out with the second computer including means for rendering the at least one outcome graphics gadget over a neutral background to a second video output interface.

55. The method of claim 54, further including a step of combining a first video signal from the first video output interface with a second video signal from the second video output interface in a video display of the gaming machine using a blue-screen technique.

56. The method of claim 30, further comprising steps of:

designating at least one selected element of the graphic animation by a target that is recognizable by image analysis software, and

overlaying one of the at least one outcome graphics gadget onto the target.

57. The game of claim 30, wherein the graphic animation rendered by the outcome-free game software includes a video playback.

58. A method of developing a game for a regulated gaming machine, comprising the steps of:

adapting a game to render graphic animation in a first video plane and to include a plurality of targets on the graphic animation, the game being of a non-wagering type which does not require certification by a gaming software certification lab;

developing outcome-providing game software that renders a plurality of outcome graphics gadgets, each of the plurality of outcome graphics gadget being operative to overlay the first video plane and move in synchronism with a respective one of the plurality of targets and to indicate at least part of a wagering outcome of the game, and

obtaining certification from a gaming software certification lab only for the outcome-providing game software.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with the graphic animation being independent of the wagering outcome of the game.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with the graphic animation being configured to execute independently of an execution of the outcome-providing game software.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with a source code of the outcome-free game software being uncertified by a gaming software certification lab.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out with a source code of the outcome-providing game software being certified by a gaming software certification lab.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with a source code of the game being uncertified by the gaming software certification lab and wherein the developing step is carried out with the outcome-providing game software being certified by the gaming software certification lab.

64. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with executable code of the game being certified by the gaming software certification lab and wherein the developing step is carried out with the outcome-providing game software being certified by the gaming software certification lab.

65. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out such that each of the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets is operative to move in synchronism with a respective one of the plurality of targets using motion capture software, the motion capture executing software being isolated from the adapted game.

66. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out with each of the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets being synchronized with a selected one of the plurality of targets on a frame-by-frame basis.

67. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out with each of the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets being synchronized with a selected one of the plurality of targets using at least one of:

a 2D trajectory path method,

a 3D trajectory path method,

a camera angle method,

a light source characterization method, and

a 3D trajectory path method that includes location, scale, rotation and velocity attribute characterization.

68. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out with each of the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets being synchronized with a selected one of the plurality of targets via at least one of a remote procedure call (RPC), Microsoft .NET Remoting, an IP service and a software isolated process (SIP) channel between the game and the outcome-providing game software.

69. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out with each of the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets being synchronized with a selected one of the plurality of targets via at least one of an asynchronous remote procedure call (RPC), asynchronous Microsoft .NET Remoting and an asynchronous IP service between the first process and second process.

70. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with the game executing in a process sandbox in which a software of the game software is given at least one of restricted memory access and restricted execution permissions.

71. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out such that the outcome-providing game software executes in a process sandbox in which the outcome-providing game software is given at least one of restricted memory access and restricted execution permissions.

72. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with the game executing in a process sandbox which is given at least one of compartmented memory access and compartmented execution permissions.

73. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out such that the outcome-providing game software executes in a process sandbox which is given at least one of compartmented memory access and compartmented execution permissions.

74. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting step is carried out with the game executing in a process sandbox, the process sandbox including a least one of strong process isolation, DoD 5200.28-STD multilevel security, Microsoft Software Isolation Process (SIP) and JAVA sandbox.

75. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out such that the outcome-providing game software executes in a process sandbox, the process sandbox including a least one of strong process isolation, DoD 5200.28-STD multilevel security, Microsoft Software Isolation Process (SIP) and JAVA sandbox.

76. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out such that the outcome-free game software is configured to render its graphics in a video sandbox in which the graphic animation is prevented from being hidden or overlapped by an unauthorized process attempting to write to a display or a video cache of the regulated gaming machine, and in which unauthorized processes are prevented from reading the display or the video cache.

77. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out with the outcome-providing game software is configured to render its graphics in a video sandbox in which the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets are prevented from being hidden or overlapped by an unauthorized process attempting to write to a display or a video cache of the regulated gaming machine and in which unauthorized processes are prevented from reading the display or the video cache such as to determine the outcome of the game.

78. The method of claim 58, wherein the developing step is carried out with the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets including at least one of:

a scalable static 2D object;

a rotatable static 2D object;

a scalable static 3D object;

a rotatable static 3D object;

a real-time animated 2D object, and

a real-time animated 3D object.

79. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting and developing steps are carried out such that each of the plurality of outcome graphic targets is synchronized using motion capture software to a motion of at least one of the plurality of targets, the motion capture software being isolated from the adapted game.

80. The method of claim 58, wherein the adapting and developing steps are carried out such that the game is executed in a first computer and wherein the outcome-providing gaming software executes in a second computer that is separate and independent of the first computer.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the adapting and developing steps are carried out such that first computer in which the game executes includes means for rendering graphic animation to a first video output interface and wherein the second computer in which the outcome-providing game software executes includes means for rendering the plurality of outcome graphics gadgets over a neutral background to a second video output interface.

82. The method of claim 81, further including a step of combining a first video signal from the first video output interface with a second video signal from the second video output interface in a video display of the regulated gaming machine using a blue-screen technique.

83. The method of claim 58, wherein the graphic animation rendered by the game includes a video playback.