METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A NETWORK GAMING SYSTEM

• US 20120264506A1
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agincourt Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Agincourt Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Kelly, Matthew F., Kelly, Bryan M., Petermeier, Norman B., Kroeckel, John G., Link, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method and system for providing a network gaming system is disclosed. The system comprises at least one database server accessible through a wide area network for storing account information for the users, the database server being configured for communicating with at least one game server supporting at least one game on a client, for providing at least a portion of the account information to the game server upon receiving a user identification from the game server, and for updating the account information by the at least one database server upon receiving an update from the game server either during or after completion of a game play by one the users.

Claims

1. A method for providing a game system accessible over a wide area network by a plurality of users, comprising the steps:

receiving an identification of a user at a server;

retrieving a number of units associated with the user;

providing the number of units to a game client of the user;

updating the number of units associated with the user based on a game activity of the user;

receiving a request for at least one item that can be obtained by the user within the game system; and

deducting from the number of units a specified number of units responsive to the step of receiving a request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one item comprises a plurality of items that can be obtained by the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one item comprises a plurality of prizes.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step providing a redemption interface to the game client for allowing the user to select one of said plurality of items.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the redemption interface is provided by a game server.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said redemption interface is provided by a database server.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said redemption interface is provided by the server.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein a look and feel of the redemption interface is tailored based on a site identification.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the additional step of requesting that a set of graphics be provided for the game client to display to create a perception that the user is interfacing with one of a plurality of game partners when the user is actually interacting with the server.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the set of graphics are provided by a web server.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the set of graphics are provided by the server.

12. A method for providing a multi-player game system in which a user at a client interacts in a game accessible over a wide area network by a plurality of users, the method comprising:

receiving identification information associated with the user at a first server;

retrieving account information associated with the user from a second server;

sending at least a portion of the account information to the client of the user;

receiving updates from the client at the first server for updating the information associated with the user on the second server.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first server comprises a plurality of game servers through which the plurality of users can access the game system.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the user is granted access to the game system through one of the plurality of game servers based on a location of the user.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the second server comprises a plurality of database servers.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the multi-player game system provides access by the user to a plurality of games.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said account information comprises information regarding prior game play by the user.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the additional step of sending from the server an update to a client software in response to receiving information indicating that the client software is outdated.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a redemption interface to the client for allowing the user to obtain at least one item available through the game system in exchange for a specified number of units obtained by the user as a result of use of the game system.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the redemption interface provides the user with a choice of a plurality of objects.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the units are prize credits.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the units are game credits.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one item comprises at least one prize.

24. A network gaming system for providing at least one game to a plurality of users at different locations comprising:

at least one database server accessible through a wide area network for storing account information for each of the plurality of users,

wherein said at least one database server is configured for communicating with at least one game server supporting the at least one game on a client,

wherein the at least one database server is configured to provide at least a portion of the account information to the game server upon receiving a user identification from the at least one game server, and

wherein the account information is updated by the at least one database server upon receiving an update from the game server either during or after completion of a game play by one of said plurality of users.

25. The network gaming system of claim 24 wherein the database server is configured for communicating with a plurality of game servers through at least one of which each of the plurality of users can access the game system.

26. The network gaming system of claim 25 wherein a user is granted access to the game system through one of the plurality of game servers based on a location of the user.

27. The network gaming system of claim 25 wherein the database server comprises a plurality of database servers.

28. The network gaming system of claim 25 wherein the game system provides access to a plurality of games.

30. The network gaming system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of game servers are configured to provide a redemption interface to the client for allowing the user to obtain at least one item available through the game system in exchange for a specified number of units obtained by the user as a result of use of the game system.

29. The network gaming system of 24 wherein said account information comprises information regarding prior game play by the user.