Networked gaming system communication protocols and methods

• US 20090227362A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan, Lockard, Dennis, Tallcott, Jeffrey, Kroeckel, John, Soliterman, Gennady, Rupanagudi, Reddy
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a rewards server and a separate gaming or slot accounting server. The system may further include a separate player tracking server. The system further includes one or more game machines. The game machines may include a base game, rewards tracking module, and a game management module. Further details will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims.

Claims

1. A networked gaming system comprising:

one or more gaming machines;

a rewards server coupled to the one or more gaming machines, wherein the rewards server maintains an account associated with a user at the one or more gaming machines and wherein winnings from the one or more gaming machines of the user are deposited into the account;

wherein identification of a bonus-qualified user at one of the one or more gaming machines causes an authorization of debiting of an account of the user at the rewards server, upon successful qualification for a bonus mode involving at least another of the one or more gaming machines;

wherein identification of the bonus-qualified user also causes initiation of a game history ID reflective of transactions of the bonus game; and

wherein the authorization and the game history ID is sent to the one of the one or more gaming machines from the rewards server when the bonus game is initiated.

2. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein bonus qualification results from meeting a threshold winning level.

3. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein bonus qualification results from meeting a threshold rewards points level.

4. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein bonus qualification requires sufficient funds in the user account at the rewards server.

5. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein the bonus game is played at the one or more gaming machines.

6. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 5 wherein results of the bonus game played at the one or more gaming machines are sent from the one or more gaming machines to the rewards server with the game history ID.

7. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein the identification is accomplished via a magnetic stripe reader.

8. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein the identification is accomplished via fingerprint identification.

9. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein the identification is accomplished via a combination of a magnetic stripe reader and entry of a keypad code.

10. A networked gaming system comprising:

one or more gaming machines;

a rewards server coupled to the one or more gaming machines, wherein the rewards server maintains an account associated with a user at the one or more gaming machines and wherein winnings from the one or more gaming machines of the user are deposited into the account;

wherein identification of a bonus-qualified user at one of the one or more gaming machines causes an authorization of debiting of an account of the user at the rewards server, upon successful qualification for a bonus mode involving at least another of the one or more gaming machines; and

wherein identification of the bonus-qualified user also causes initiation of a game history ID reflective of transactions of the bonus game.

11. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein the authorization and the game history ID is sent to the one of the one or more gaming machines from the rewards server when the bonus mode is initiated.

12. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein bonus qualification results from meeting a threshold winning level.

13. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein bonus qualification results from meeting a threshold rewards points level.

14. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein bonus qualification requires sufficient funds in the user account at the rewards server.

15. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein the bonus game is played at the one or more gaming machines.

16. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 15 wherein results of the bonus game played at the one or more gaming machines are sent from the one or more gaming machines to the rewards server with the game history ID.

17. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein the identification is accomplished via a magnetic stripe reader.

18. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein the identification is accomplished via fingerprint identification.

19. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein the identification is accomplished via a combination of a magnetic stripe reader and entry of a keypad code.

20. The networked gaming system as recited in claim 10 wherein the identification is accomplished via a means for identifying.