SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE CONTROL GAMING SESSIONS USING A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20160019746A1
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lyons, Martin S., Sommer, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,242,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio

Abstract

Various embodiments directed to systems and methods that enable remote play of a game hosted by a gaming machine using a mobile device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the system includes a network in communication with the gaming machine and the mobile device, and the network includes a first wireless access point located in a first area and a second wireless access point located in a second area of a venue. Also included is a remote gaming server in communication with the gaming machine and mobile device over the network. The remote gaming server enables remote play when the mobile device is connected to the second wireless access point and prevents remote play when the mobile device is connected to the first wireless access point.

Claims

1. A system for enabling remote play of a game, the system comprising:

a gaming machine including a main display and a gaming machine processor, wherein the main display communicates with the display manager via one or more communication channels, wherein the display manager controls the main display;

a mobile device including a mobile video display, a mobile player interface, and a mobile processor, wherein the mobile device is in communication with the gaming machine via the one or more communication channels;

a first remote play module in communication with the display manager, the mobile device and a second remote play module via the one or more communication channels and one or more virtual communication ports;

the second remote play module in communication with the display manager and the first remote play module via one or more communication channels and the one or more virtual communication ports; and

a remote gaming server including a server processor, the remote gaming server in communication with the gaming machine and the mobile device via the one or more communications channels, wherein the remote gaming server associates the gaming machine with the mobile device, enables the mobile device to receive streaming game content of a game hosted on the gaming machine, and enables the gaming machine to receive input from the mobile player interface of the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display manager receives video outputs from the gaming machine and the second remote play module via the one or more communication channels, wherein the display manager combines the received video outputs from the gaming machines and the second remote play module using picture-in-picture (PiP) technology embedded into the hardware of the display manager.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first remote play module sends a control signal to the display manager carrying commands regarding suitable configurations of PiP for the display manager.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first remote play module keeps a copy of an effective state of the display manager by analyzing the commands in the control signal, and wherein the first remote play module updates the effective state in first remote play module data to reflect the commands in the control signal.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprises a top display and an iDeck, wherein the gaming machine is in communication with the top display and the iDeck via a plurality of communication channels.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the gaming machine sends video data to the top display and iDeck via two video communication channels of the plurality of communication channels and receives touch inputs from the iDeck via a touch input communication channel of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the touch input communication channel is dedicated to carrying touch input and is connected between the gaming machine and the iDeck.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system operates either in a local mode or in a streaming mode.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hardware H264 encoder for real-time encoding of a H264 video, wherein the hardware H264 encoder is in communication with the display manager, the first remote play module, and the second remote play module via one or more communication channels.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to include electronic wallet data representing funds available for gaming.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an apparatus for crediting and debiting to electronic wallet data.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a kiosk in communication with the communication network and the kiosk configured to communicate with the mobile device and electronic wallet data for crediting or debiting from the electronic wallet data.

13. A method of receiving streaming game content at a mobile device of a game hosted on an associated gaming machine, the mobile device including a mobile video display, a mobile player interface, and a mobile processor, the method comprising:

receiving, via the mobile device, a first H264 data stream from the gaming machine, wherein the mobile device is in communication with the gaming machine via one or more communication channels;

receiving, via the mobile device, a second H264 data stream from a remote play module, wherein the remote play module is in communication with the mobile device and a display manager via one or more communication channels;

receiving, via the mobile device, data regarding a current state of the display manager from the remote play module;

decoding, via the mobile device, a frame from the first H264 data stream received from the gaming machine;

reading, via the mobile device, a current display manager configuration from the data received regarding the current state of the display manager from the remote play module;

checking a visibility status of the second H264 data stream from the remote play module;

determining a non-visibility status of the second H264 data stream from the remote play module; and

rendering, via the mobile device, a frame from the first H264 data stream received from the gaming machine.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the following steps are repeated until all frames of the first H264 data stream received from the gaming machine are rendered on the mobile device, the steps including:

receiving, via the mobile device, data regarding a current state of the display manager from the remote play module;

decoding, via the mobile device, a frame from the first H264 data stream received from the gaming machine;

reading, via the mobile device, a current display manager configuration from the data received regarding the current state of the display manager from the remote play module;

checking a visibility status of the second H264 data stream from the remote play module;

determining a non-visibility status of the second H264 data stream from the remote play module; and

rendering, via the mobile device, a frame from the first H264 data stream received from the gaming machine.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the display manager receives video outputs from the gaming machine and the second remote play module via the one or more communication channels, wherein the display manager combines the received video outputs from the gaming machines and the second remote play module using picture-in-picture (PiP) technology embedded into the hardware of the display manager.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first remote play module sends a control signal to the display manager carrying commands regarding suitable configurations of PiP for the display manager.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first remote play module keeps a copy of an effective state of the display manager by analyzing the commands in the control signal, and wherein the first remote play module updates the effective state in first remote play module data to reflect the commands in the control signal.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprises:

providing a top display and an iDeck, wherein the gaming machine is in communication with the top display and the iDeck via a plurality of communication channels.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gaming machine sends video data to the top display and iDeck via two video communication channels of the plurality of communication channels and receives touch inputs from the iDeck via a touch input communication channel of the plurality of communication channels, wherein the touch input communication channel is dedicated to carrying touch input and is connected between the gaming machine and the iDeck.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the system operates either in a local mode or in a streaming mode.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a hardware H264 encoder for real-time encoding of a H264 video, wherein the hardware H264 encoder is in communication with the display manager, the first remote play module, and the second remote play module via one or more communication channels.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile device is a tablet computer.

23. A method of initiating a remote play session of a game in a mobile device, wherein the game is hosted and running on an associated gaming machine, the method comprising:

receiving player tracking card data from a player tracking card at the gaming machine;

checking, using a processor, that the player tracking card data is valid;

retrieving, using the processor, account data of a player associated with the player tracking card, upon confirmation of the validity of the player tracking card data;

checking, using the processor, that the player'"'"'s account is valid;

checking, using the processor, a minimum credit availability in the player'"'"'s account, upon confirmation of the validity of the player'"'"'s account;

offering the player, using the processor, a remote play session of the game in the gaming machine;

starting, using the processor, a remote play pairing process for a remote play session of a game on a mobile device of the player, wherein the game is running on the gaming machine;

checking, using the processor, completion of the remote play pairing process; and

based on the completion of the remote play pairing process, beginning the remote play session of the game on the mobile device of the player.