System and method for saving status of paused game of chance

• US 7,182,690 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Giobbi, John J., Pacey, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US10/854,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463 39- 42
• US Class Current: 463/24
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0664 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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: 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a network having a central database linked to a plurality of gaming machines, said central database being remote from said plurality of gaming machines, said method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player at a first one of said plurality of gaming machines;

initiating a wagering game at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines;

pausing said wagering game;

developing status information corresponding to a paused state of said wagering game;

receiving, from said player at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines, a player card having identifying information;

in response to receiving said player card, locating a record in said central database corresponding to said identifying information;

storing said status information in said central database in association with said record;

receiving, from said player at a second one of said plurality of gaming machines, said player card;

retrieving said status information of said paused state of said wagering game from said central database;

receiving another wager from said player at said second one of said plurality of gaming machines; and

continuing play of said wagering game at said second one of said plurality of gaming machines beginning from a point of said paused state of said wagering game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gaming machines are connected to said central database through a wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gaming machines are connected to said central database through a wide-area communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said wagering game includes a continuing performance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said wagering game includes a progression of events.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying information includes a personal identifier of said player.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said network is a casino player-tracking network for monitoring the wagering-game usage associated with said player card.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said player card lacks information related to said paused state of said wagering game.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said player card includes monetary information allowing for cashless gaming.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said monetary information identifies a fund source located remotely from said gaming machine, said receiving a wager including accessing said find source.

11. A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising:

storing information associated with a player-tracking card in a database for a casino player-tracking network, said database being remote from and linked to said plurality of gaming machines, said casino player-tracking network for monitoring the wagering-game usage associated with said player card;

receiving a wager from a player at a first one of said plurality of gaming machines;

initiating a wagering game at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines;

pausing said wagering game;

developing status information corresponding to a paused state of said wagering game;

receiving, from said player at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines, a player-tracking card having identifying information;

in response to receiving said player card, locating a record in said database for said player-tracking network corresponding to said identifying information;

storing said status information in said database for said player-tracking network in a memory location associated with said record;

receiving, from said player at a second one of said plurality of gaming machines, said player-tracking card;

retrieving said status information of said paused state of said wagering game from said database for said player-tracking network; and

continuing play of said wagering game at said second one of said plurality of gaming machines beginning from a point of said paused state of said wagering game.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said plurality of gaming machines are connected to said central database through a wireless communication network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said plurality of gaming machines are connected to said central database through a wide-area communication network.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said wagering game includes a continuing performance.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said wagering game includes a progression of events.

16. The method of claim 11, further including receiving another wager from said player at said second one of said plurality of gaming machines.

17. A method of conducting a wagering game on a network having a central database linked to a plurality of gaming machines, said central database being remote from said plurality of gaming machines, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player at a first one of said plurality of gaming machines;

initiating a wagering game at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines;

pausing said wagering game;

developing status information corresponding to a paused state of said wagering game;

receiving, from said player at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines, a personal identifier;

in response to receiving said personal identifier at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines, storing said status information in said central database; and

subsequent to the previous steps, in response to receiving said personal identifier at any of said plurality of gaming machines, retrieving said status information of said paused state of said wagering game from said central database and continuing play of said wagering game at said paused state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving said personal identifier is provided using a card, a keypad, a touch screen, or a biometric measurement.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said wagering game includes a continuing performance.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said wagering game includes a progression of events.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said personal identifier identifies said player.