Method and System for Instant-On Game Dowload

• US 20110105234A1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hedrick, Joseph R., Nguyen, Binh T., Wolf, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,651,956 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for a method for providing a game on demand over a data network, in a gaming machine. The gaming machine sends a request message for a game application over the data network. In a network mode, the gaming machine receives outputted results from an executed game application over a streaming channel of the data network for network-based game play. During the network-based game play, the game application is downloaded over a download channel of the data network. In a local mode, the gaming machine executes the downloaded game application independent of the network-based game play. The gaming machine switches instantaneously from the network mode to the local mode for machine-based game play, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device, outputted results from a game application being executed at a location other than the device, the outputted results received over a streaming channel of a data network for network-based play of a game;

downloading, during the network-based game play, a downloadable form of the game application over a download channel of the data network;

executing the downloadable form of the game application by the device independent of the network-based game play; and

switching from the network-based game play to device-based game play, in which play of the game continues with execution of the downloadable form of the game application, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputted results are generated when the game application is executed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputted results are received after the game application is executed or while the game application is executed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining current game settings for the game application being executed at the location other than the device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the current game settings are downloaded over the download channel of the data network.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the current game settings are stored in a processor readable storage medium situated in the device.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein maintaining a status of the network-based game play includes:

setting game settings for the downloadable form of the game application being executed by the device to the current game settings for the game application being executed at the location other than the device.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the current game settings are in XML format or in HTML format.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein game settings for the downloadable form of the game application being executed by the device are stored in game IO logic.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the current game settings include state information or a bet configuration.

11. A method comprising:

executing, at a server, a game application by a streaming part of the server, the executing game application outputting results;

sending the outputted results from the streaming part to a device over a data network for server-based play of a game;

downloading, during the server-based game play, a downloadable form of the game application from a download part of the server to the device over the data network;

executing the downloadable form of the game application by the device independent of the streaming part; and

switching from the server-based game play to device-based game play, in which play of the game continues with execution of the downloadable form of the game application, including maintaining a status of the server-based game play.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

retrieving the game application from a processor readable storage medium.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

terminating, after switching from the server-based game play to the device-based game play, execution of the game application at the streaming part of the server.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

authenticating the downloadable form of the game application.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the downloadable form of the game application is executed by the device upon completion of downloading.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the game application is executed by the streaming part of the server in response to selection of the game at the device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the outputted results include video data and audio data.

18. A method comprising:

executing a game application by a streaming server, the executing game application outputting results;

sending the outputted results from the streaming server to a device over a data network for server-based play of a game;

downloading, during the server-based game play, a downloadable form of the game application from a download server to the device over the data network;

executing the downloadable form of the game application by the device independent of the streaming server; and

switching from the server-based game play to device-based game play, in which play of the game continues with execution of the downloadable form of the game application, including maintaining a status of the server-based game play.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

retrieving the game application from a processor readable storage medium.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

terminating, after switching from the server-based game play to the device-based game play, execution of the game application at the streaming server.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

authenticating the downloadable form of the game application.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the downloadable form of the game application is executed by the device upon completion of downloading.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the game application is executed by the streaming server in response to selection of the game at the device.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the outputted results include video data and audio data.

25. A device comprising:

a game logic module configured to;

i) receive outputted results from a game application being executed at a location other than the device over a streaming channel of a data network for network-based play of a game;

ii) download, during the network-based game play, a downloadable form of the game application over a download channel of the data network; and

a processor configured to;

i) execute the downloadable form of the game application by the device independent of the network-based game play; and

ii) switch from the network-based game play to device-based game play, in which play of the game continues with execution of the downloadable form of the game application, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprising:

a processor readable storage medium configured to maintain current game settings for the game application being executed at the location other than the device.

27. A system comprising:

a device configured to communicate with a data network;

a streaming server configured to communicate with the data network, the streaming server having access to a game application, the streaming server configured to;

i) execute the game application, the executing game application outputting results, and

ii) send the outputted results to the device over the data network for server-based play of a game; and

a download server configured to communicate with the data network, the download server having access to a downloadable form of the game application, the download server configured to download, during the server-based game play, the downloadable form of the game application to the device over the data network;

wherein the device is further configured to;

i) execute the downloadable form of the game application independent of the streaming server, and

ii) switch from the server-based game play to device-based game play, in which play of the game continues with execution of the downloadable form of the game application, including maintaining a status of the server-based game play.

28. A computer program product, stored on a non-transitory processor readable medium, comprising instructions including the operations of:

receiving, at a device, outputted results from a game application being executed at a location other than the device, the outputted results received over a streaming channel of a data network for network-based play of a game;

downloading, during the network-based game play, a downloadable form of the game application over a download channel of the data network;

executing the downloadable form of the game application by the device independent of the network-based game play; and

switching from the network-based game play to device-based game play, in which play of the game continues with execution of the downloadable form of the game application, including maintaining a status of the network-based game play.