SYSTEM FOR MANAGING WAGERING GAME CONTENT

• US 20100081509A1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Burke, Mary M., Joshi, Shridhar P., Ward, Matthew J., Pacey, Larry J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A system for managing wagering game content is described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wagering game machine management server. The wagering game server can include a content controller configured to receive wagering game content and load the wagering game content onto a wagering game machine over the network. The wagering game server can also include a compatibility controller configured to determine whether the wagering game content is compatible with the wagering game machine. Additionally, the wagering game server can include a license controller configured to receive licensing information and to use the licensing information to activate the wagering game content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a selection of wagering game content and a wagering game machine;

acquiring compatibility information associated with a wagering game machine; and

determining, based at least in part on the compatibility information, whether the wagering game content is compatible with the wagering game machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a report indicating whether the wagering game content is compatible with the wagering game machine;

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the wagering game content is compatible with the wagering game machine, loading the wagering game content onto the wagering game machine over a network; and

if the wagering game content is not compatible with the wagering game machine, reporting incompatibilities between the wagering game content and the wagering game machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility information describes one or more components of the wagering game machine, the components selected from the group consisting of button panels, special buttons, audio devices, video devices, operating systems, CPU boards, DRAM, NVRAM, hard disk drives, and application software.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility information is acquired from the wagering game machine over a network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility information is acquired from a database separate from the wagering game machine.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a wagering game machine management server including,

a content controller configured to receive wagering game content and load the wagering game content onto a wagering game machine;

a compatibility controller configured to determine whether the wagering game content is compatible with the wagering game machine; and

a license controller configured to receive licensing information and to use the licensing information to activate the wagering game content.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the content controller is configured to receive the wagering game content over a network.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the license controller is configured to receive the licensing information over a network.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wagering game machine cannot use the wagering game content without the licensing information.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wagering game machine management server further includes a features controller configured to distribute gaming features to the wagering game machine over the network, wherein the gaming features allow configuration of the wagering game machine and the wagering game content.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the gaming features allow configuration of one or more of attributes of the wagering game machine, wherein the attributes are selected from the group consisting of denominations, maximum bets, maximum paylines, number of wagering games, and payout percentage.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the licensing information includes a license key including one or more selected from the group consisting of a part number, seat count, trial indicator, perpetual indicator, length of service, and not before date.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the compatibility controller is configured to determine compatibility between the wagering game content and the wagering game as part of a process for loading the wagering game content onto the wagering game machine.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the compatibility controller is configured to determine compatibility between the wagering game content and the wagering game separate from a process for loading the wagering game content onto the wagering game machine.

16. A wagering game machine comprising:

a network interface configured to facilitate communications over a network;

a wagering game machine management client configured to control receipt of wagering game content and licensing information through the network interface and to initiate transmission of compatibility information through the network interface, wherein the compatibility information identifies components of the wagering game machine, and wherein the compatibility information is for use in a determination of whether the wagering game content is compatible with the wagering game machine;

a wagering game unit configured to present wagering games based on the wagering game content and licensing information.

17. The wagering game of claim 16, wherein the wagering game management client is further configured to receive gaming features, wherein the gaming features enable configuration of the wagering game content and the wagering game machine.

18. The wagering game of claim 16, wherein the wagering game management client is further configured to receive gaming features, wherein the gaming features enable configuration of attributes of the wagering game machine, wherein the attributes include one or more selected from the group consisting of denominations, maximum bets, maximum paylines, number of wagering games, and payout percentage.

19. The wagering game of claim 16, wherein the wagering game management client is further configured to receive gaming features, wherein the gaming features enable the wagering game machine to switch between a plurality of wagering games to change paylines, denominations, maximum bets, maximum paylines, number of wagering games, and payout percentage based on date and time.

20. The wagering game of claim 16, wherein the licensing information includes one or more selected from the group consisting of a part number, seat count, trial indicator, perpetual indicator, length of service, and a not-before date.

21. A method comprising:

detecting a request to deploy wagering game content to one of a plurality of wagering game machines on a casino floor, wherein the wagering game content includes one or more features and denominations;

accessing casino floor configuration rules indicating conditions for allowing deployment of the wagering game content to the wagering game machine;

determining, based at least in part on the casino floor configuration rules and the one or more features and denominations, that the conditions for allowing deployment of the wagering game content have not been satisfied; and

presenting graphics indicating that deployment of the wagering game content to the one of the plurality of wagering game machines is not allowable.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

presenting a list of alternative wagering game content that the one of the plurality of wagering game machines.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

blocking deployment of the wagering game content.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the wagering game content includes a wagering game, and wherein the one or more features and denominations are associated with the wagering game.