Gaming Network with Associated Community/Progressive Features

• US 20100087256A1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Mastropietro, Michael W., Frattinger, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for operating a gaming machine on a gaming network is disclosed. The gaming machine allows playing a wagering game and includes a storage device to store an instruction set for the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player. An interface is coupled to the storage device and is capable of communication with the network to receive at least a part of the instruction set for the wagering game from the network. The wagering game provides access to a community event over the network.

Claims

1. A gaming machine for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a storage device to store an instruction set for the wagering game, the wagering game including a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player;

an interface coupled to the storage device and capable of communication with a network to receive at least a part of the instruction set for the wagering game from the network; and

wherein the wagering game provides access to a community event over the network.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the community event is a progressive award and a portion of the wager input is for funding an amount of the progressive award.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 2,

wherein the storage device stores a second instruction set of a second wagering game;

and

wherein at least part of the instruction set of the second wagering game is receivable via the interface from the network.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the access to the community event is triggered in response to a mystery event or an outcome displayed in the wagering game.

10. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the wagering game detects the occurrence of the community event from the network and the occurrence of the community event is determined by a community event controller in communication with the network.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the network includes a community display which indicates the occurrence of the community event.

13. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a controller, wherein said network is a peer to peer network, the controller performing a network function.

14. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a player identification system for identifying said player;

a display; and

wherein the player identification system causes the display to display an option to select the wagering game to the player based on an identification of said player.

4-7. -7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

15. A method of distributing an instruction set for a wagering game to a gaming machine, the wagering game including a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player, the method comprising:

storing at least part of the instruction set for the wagering game on a network, the wagering game providing a player with access to a community event;

coupling the gaming machine to the network; and

loading the at least part of the instruction set for the wagering game onto the gaming machine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the community event is a progressive award and a portion of a wager input funds the progressive award.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing at least a part of a second set of instructions for a second game including a randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player, the second game providing a player with access to the community event.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining an occurrence of the community event on the network; and

sending an indication of the occurrence of the community event to the gaming machine.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

coupling a second gaming machine to the network; and

loading the at least part of the instruction set of the wagering game on the second gaming machine.

20. (canceled)

21. A gaming system for playing wagering games and providing access to a community event, comprising:

a network having a storage device to store at least a part of an instruction set for a wagering game that provides a player with access to the community event; and

a gaming machine coupled to the network and receiving the at least part of the instruction set for the wagering game, the gaming machine allowing a player to operate the wagering game.

22. The gaming system according to claim 21, further comprising a community event controller coupled to the network to determine at least in part the occurrence of a community event.

23. The gaming system according to claim 21, wherein the storage device further stores at least part of a second instruction set for a second wagering game, the gaming machine receiving the at least part of the second instruction set for the second wagering game, the gaming machine allowing a player to operate the second wagering game.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A gaming machine comprising:

a storage device to store an instruction set for a wagering game;

a controller coupled to the storage device, the controller detecting the use of the gaming machine by a player;

an interface coupled to the storage device, the interface allowing the receipt of at least a part of the instruction set for the wagering game having a plurality of outcomes from a network; and

wherein a community event is provided to the player as a function of the use of the gaming machine and independent of the wagering game played at the gaming machine.

27. The gaming machine according to claim 26, wherein at least a part of a second instruction set for a second wagering game is received via the interface.

28. The gaming machine according to claim 26, wherein the network is a server based network or a peer to peer network.

31. The gaming machine according to claim 26, wherein the community event is operated by an external controller of the network.

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)