Gaming system including portable game devices

• US 6,676,522 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick, Oberberger, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/882,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40-42, 463/16, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming system including hand-held, portable gaming devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to present at least one game to a player and includes a portable gaming device or interface having a display for displaying game and other information to a player. The portable gaming device is capable of receiving and sending information to a remote device/location. A game server generates game data, and transmits the game data to the portable gaming device and receives information, such as player input, from the portable gaming device. A payment transaction server validates payment and establishes entitlement of a player to play a game via the portable gaming device as provided by the game server. In one or more embodiments, the gaming system includes one or more stationary gaming machines capable of printing tickets having a value associated therewith. The portable gaming device includes a ticket reader for reading ticket information for use by the payment transaction server in verifying the associated value for establishing entitlement of a player to play the game. Preferably, communication to and from the portable gaming device is via a wireless communication channel.

Claims

1. A method of presenting wagering games to a plurality of players in a mobile gaming environment comprising:

distributing a plurality of hand-held gaming devices to a plurality of players, said hand-held gaming devices including a ticket reader, at least one display and a data processor;

accepting selection by a player of a game to be played at each hand-held gaming device, said game selected from a group of possible games and said game selectable independent of a game selected by other players of said hand-held gaming devices;

reading ticket information from a player-provided ticket but not storing said ticket with said ticket reader at each hand-held gaming device;

transmitting said ticket information to a ticket processing server over a communication link, at least a portion of which is wireless;

verifying said ticket information and associated credits at said ticket processing server;

accepting a wager by said player of each hand-held gaming device using credits associated with said ticket provided by said player;

transmitting game code from a gamer server to each hand-held gaming device over a communication link, at least a portion of which is wireless, said game code associated with the particular game which was selected by said player; and

executing said game code using said processor of said hand-held gaming device to present said game to said player thereof, said presentation of said game at each hand-held gaming device being independent of the games presented at the other hand-held gaming devices.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of displaying a player interface at said hand-held gaming device, said interface including information identifying said plurality of games which the player may select to play.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of reading said ticket information comprises reading a bar code on said ticket.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said steps are performed at different times with respect to each hand-held gaming device.

5. A mobile gaming system comprising:

one or more ticket generating devices configured to generate a ticket having associated value;

a plurality of hand-held gaming devices configured to present games independent of one another, said hand-held gaming devices including at least one display configured to display game information to a player, at least one input for receiving player input, and a ticket reader configured to read but not store a ticket generated by one of said ticket generating devices, said value of said ticket usable by the player in placing a wager to play a game on said hand-held gaming device;

a game server configured to transmit game code to each hand-held gaming device independently of the others, the game code transmitted to a particular hand-held gaming device pertaining to a particular game selected by a player thereof, permitting players of the hand-held gaming devices to play games on said hand-held gaming devices independently of one another;

a communication link between said game server and each hand-held gaming device over which said game code is transmitted from said game server to each hand-held gaming device, at least a portion of said communication link comprising a wireless communication link;

a ticket processing server configured to store ticket information including information regarding value associated with a particular ticket and to verify use of a ticket presented to one of said hand-held gaming devices in making a game play wager; and

a communication link between said ticket processing server and each hand-held gaming device over which ticket information regarding a ticket read by said hand-held gaming device is transmitted to said ticket processing server.

6. The gaming system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said ticket reader comprises a bar code reader.

7. The gaming system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said game server is configured to transmit game code corresponding to a particular game selected from a group of possible games to be played by a player of a specific hand-held gaming device.

8. The gaming system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said hand-held gaming devices are configured to read but not print said tickets.

9. The gaming system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said communication link between said game server and one or more of said hand-held devices includes one or more wireless communication relays enabling said communications with said hand-held devices remote from said game server.