Group Play Invitation Method for Online Slots Game

• US 20130012293A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, David F. Zucker, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Stephen C. Tulley, Steven M. Santisi
• Original Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, David F. Zucker, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Stephen C. Tulley, Steven M. Santisi
• Inventors: WALKER, Jay S., JORASCH, James A., TEDESCO, Daniel E., TULLEY, Stephen C., ZUCKER, David F., SANTISI, Steven M., GELMAN, Geoffrey M.
• Application Number:
  US13/539,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20130012293A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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 17/3269 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Methods for initiating group play of an online slots game is provided. One method includes receiving, from a first gaming device associated with a first user, a request to initiate group play of the online slots game with a second user. The method also includes generating a message, the message identifying the first user and defining a response mechanism for joining the group play of the online slots game. The method then transmits the message to a second gaming device associated with the second user. The method provides for social interaction and social play between players, while playing the online game.

Claims

1. A method for initiating group play of an online slots game, comprising:

receiving, from a first gaming device associated with a first user, a request to initiate group play of the online slots game with a second user;

generating a message, the message identifying the first user and defining a response mechanism for joining the group play of the online slots game; and

transmitting the message to a second gaming device associated with the second user, wherein the method is executed by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the request to initiate group play includes a user identifier associated with the second user;

and

wherein the message includes a user identifier associated with the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

identifying a current session of the online slots game associated with the second user;

and

displaying the message in-game during the session of the online slots game associated with the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message to the second gaming device includes opening a chat line between the first user and the second user, and sending the message over the chat line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message to the second gaming device includes sending the message via e-mail to an e-mail account associated with the second user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the response mechanism is defined by one or more of a button, a selectable area, or a text prompt.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first gaming device or the second gaming device is selected from a cellular phone, a hand-held computer, a touchscreen device, or a personal digital assistant.

8. A method for initiating group play of an online slots game to enable socialization among friends during group play, comprising:

receiving, from a first device associated with a first user, a request to initiate group play of the online slots game with a second user, the second user being a friend of the first user;

generating a message, the message identifying the first user and defining a response mechanism for joining the group play of the online slots game with the first user;

transmitting the message to a second device associated with the second user; and

initiating the online slots game, wherein input from the first user and the second user is received during execution of the online slots game, the input including gaming actions to win shared prizes during group play, the method is executed by a processor.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein the request to initiate group play includes a user identifier associated with the second user;

and

wherein the message includes a user identifier associated with the first user.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising,

identifying a current session of the online slots game associated with the second user;

and

displaying the message in-game during the session of the online slots game associated with the second user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the message to the second gaming device includes enabling chat communication between the first user and the second user.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the message to the second device includes sending the message via e-mail to an e-mail account associated with the second user.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the response mechanism is defined by one or more of a button, or a selectable area, or a text prompt, or a screen.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the first gaming device or the second device is selected from a cellular phone, a hand-held computer, a touchscreen device, or a personal digital assistant.

15. A method for initiating group play of an online slots game to enable socialization among friends during group play, comprising:

receiving, from a first hand-held computer associated with a first user, a request to initiate group play of the online slots game with a second user, the second user being a friend of the first user;

generating a message, the message identifying the first user and defining a response mechanism for joining the group play of the online slots game with the first user;

transmitting the message to a second hand-held computer associated with the second user; and

initiating the online slots game after the second user joins the online slots game, wherein input from the first user and the second user is received during execution of the online slots game, the input including gaming actions to shared prizes during group play, the method is executed by a processor.

16. The method of claim 15,

wherein the request to initiate group play includes a user identifier associated with the second user;

and

wherein the message includes a user identifier associated with the first user.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising,

identifying a current session of the online slots game associated with the second user;

and

displaying the message in-game during the session of the online slots game associated with the second user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the message to the second hand-held computer includes sending the message via e-mail to an e-mail account associated with the second user.