Networked gaming system communication protocols and methods

• US 20090227364A1
• 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 8,535,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 method for implementing a networked gaming system comprising:

operating one or more gaming machines;

operating a rewards server;

identifying a user at one of the one or more gaming machines,

identifying the user as a bonus-qualified user, wherein identifying the user as a bonus qualified user causes

authorizing debit 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;

initiating a game history ID reflective of transactions of the bonus mode; and

sending a record of the authorizing and the game history ID to the one of the one or more gaming machines from the rewards server when the bonus mode is initiated.

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

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

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

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising playing the bonus game at the one or more gaming machines.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising sending results of the bonus game played at the one or more gaming machines from the one or more gaming machines to the rewards server with the game history ID.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the identifying is accomplished via a magnetic stripe.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the identifying is accomplished via fingerprint identification.

9. A method for implementing a networked gaming system comprising:

operating one or more gaming machines;

operating a rewards server;

identifying a user at one of the one or more gaming machines,

identifying the user as a bonus-qualified user, wherein identifying the user as a bonus qualified user causes

authorizing debit 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;

initiating a game history ID reflective of transactions of the bonus mode; and

10. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising sending a record of the authorizing and the game history ID to the one of the one or more gaming machines from the rewards server when the bonus mode is initiated.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein bonus qualification results from meeting a threshold winning level.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein bonus qualification results from meeting a threshold rewards points level.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein bonus qualification requires sufficient funds in the user account at the rewards server.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising playing the bonus game at the one or more gaming machines.

15. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising sending results of the bonus game played at the one or more gaming machines from the one or more gaming machines to the rewards server with the game history ID.

16. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the identification is accomplished via a magnetic stripe.

17. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the identification is accomplished via fingerprint identification.

18. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the identification is accomplished via a combination of a magnetic stripe reader and entry of a keypad code.

19. A method for implementing a networked gaming system comprising:

operating one or more gaming machines;

operating a rewards server;

identifying a user at one of the one or more gaming machines,

identifying the user as a bonus-qualified user responsive to the user meeting a threshold winning level and responsive to verification of available funds in the user account at the rewards server, wherein identifying the user as a bonus qualified user causes

authorizing debit 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;

initiating a game history ID reflective of transactions of the bonus mode; and

sending a record of the authorizing and the game history ID to the one of the one or more gaming machines from the rewards server when the bonus mode is initiated.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising playing the bonus game at the one or more gaming machines;

and

sending results of the bonus game played at the one or more gaming machines from the one or more gaming machines to the rewards server with the game history ID.