Server-less cashless gaming systems and methods

• US 7,618,324 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Mudalla Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Gatto, Jean-Marie, Brunet de Courssou, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/112,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 463/21, 463 25- 27, 463 40- 43, 463/29, 463/47, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/138.2, 273/141.A, 273454-456, 273/460, 709203-207, 709223-244, 719/325, 714/E11.088, 714/E11.105, 714/E11.125
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

Methods and systems that enable cashless gaming dispense with the need to set up and operate a complex centrally controlled system or dispense with the need to distribute expensive smart cards. The patrons'"'"' gaming session meters (including, for example, a measure of winning and/or available credit) are distributed amongst an estate of peer networked gaming terminals.

Claims

1. A method for metering games played by a player on a network including a plurality of networked gaming terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

storing meters of the player in a first gaming terminal of the plurality of networked gaming terminals on which the player initiates a gone, each gaming terminal of the plurality of gaming terminals being configured to enable the player to play a game thereon;

updating the stored meters according to an outcome of the game on the first gaming terminal;

responsive to the player initiating a game on a second gaming terminal, the second gaming terminal broadcasting to each of the plurality of networked gaming terminals, over the network, a request to acquire the meters of the player from whichever of the plurality of networked gaming terminals is the first gaming terminal in which the meters of the player are stored;

responsive to the broadcast request, the first gaming terminal initiating a transfer, over the network, of the updated stored meters from the first gaming terminal to the second gaming terminal;

storing the transferred meters in the second gaming terminal, and

enabling game play on the second gaming terminal using the transferred and stored meters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer in the initiating step is a transaction that is initiated and carried out over the network solely by and between the first and second gaming terminals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing meters in a first ganging terminal includes acceptance of an initial credit received from the player via a direct payment instrument.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of updating the stored meters includes updating in accordance with further credits received from the player via a direct payment instrument.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of canceling the meters on the first gaming terminal after successful completion of the transfer.

6. A method for metering game sessions played by a player on a network including a plurality of networked gaming terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

storing meters in a first gaming terminal of the plurality of networked gaming terminals on which the player initiates a game session, each gaming terminals of the plurality of gaming terminals being configured to enable the player to play a game thereon;

updating the stored meters according to an outcome of the game on the first gaming terminal;

responsive to the player restarting the game session on a second gaming terminal, the second gaming terminal broadcasting to each of the plurality of networked gaming terminals, over the network, a request to acquire the meters of the player from whichever of the networked gaming terminals is the first gaming terminal in which the meters of the player are stored;

responsive to the broadcast request, tile first gaming terminal initiating a transfer, over the network, of the updated stored meters from the first gaming terminal to the second gaming terminal;

storing the transferred meters in the second gaming terminal, and

enabling game play on the second gaming terminals using the transferred and stored meters.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transfer in the initiating step is a transaction that is initiated and carried out solely by and between the first and second gaming terminals over the network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of storing meters in a first gaming terminal includes acceptance of an initial credit received from the player via a direct payment instrument.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of updating the stored meters includes updating in accordance with further credits received from the player via a direct payment instrument.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of canceling the meters on the first gaming terminal after successful completion of the transfer.

11. A network of gaming terminals, comprising:

a network;

a first gaming terminal coupled to the network, configured to store and update meters of a player depending upon an outcome of a game played on the first gaming terminal;

a second gaming terminal coupled to the network, and configured to store and update meters depending upon an outcome of a game played on the second gaming terminal, and

a third gaming terminal coupled to the network, and configured to store and update meters depending upon an outcome of a game played on the third gaming terminal,

wherein each of the first, second and third gaming terminals is configured to enable the player to play a game thereon and to broadcast a request for the player'"'"'s meters over the network to each of the other ones of the first, second and third gaming terminals to determine whichever one of the first, second or third gaming terminals coupled to the network currently stores the player'"'"'s meters and, responsive to the broadcast request, to initiate a transfer over the network of the player'"'"'s meters from the determined one of the first, second or third gaming terminal to the gaming terminal having broadcast the request, each of the first, second and third gaming terminals being further configured to store the transferred meters and to enable game play using the transferred and stored meters.

12. The network of gaming terminals of claim 11, wherein each of the first, second and third gaming terminals is configured to initiate and carry out the transfer, over the network, such that the transfer is a transaction that is initiated and carried out solely by and between two of the first, second and third gaming terminals.

13. The network of gaming terminals of claim 11, wherein each of the first, second aid third gaming terminals is configured to determine whether and when to obtain the player'"'"'s meters over the network.

14. The network of gaming terminals of claim 11, wherein each of the first, second and third gaming terminals is configured for storing an initial and/or further credit received from the player.

15. A gaming terminal, comprising:

communication means for communicating with a network;

storage means for storing a player'"'"'s meters;

user interaction and processing means for enabling game play with a user and for updating the player'"'"'s stored meters depending upon an outcome of the game play, and

requesting and obtaining means for requesting and obtaining the player'"'"'s meters stored on an other gaming terminal that is coupled to the network and that currently stores the player'"'"'s meters from the other gaming terminal via the communication means, the requesting and obtaining means being configured to broadcast, to each gaming terminal coupled to the network, a request to acquire the player'"'"'s meters from whichever gaming terminal coupled to the network is the other gaming terminal that currently stores the player'"'"'s meters and to receive, in response to the broadcasted request, a transfer initiated by the other gaming terminal of the player'"'"'s meters, the requesting and obtaining means being configured to activate when the player first initiates the game play, the user interaction and processing means being further configured to enable game play using the transferred player'"'"'s meters.

16. The gaming terminal of claim 15, wherein the requesting and obtaining means are further configured to store newly obtained meters in the storage means.

17. The gaming terminal of claim 15, wherein the requesting and obtaining means are further configured to only respond to requests for meters from other gaming terminals if the requested meters are stored in the storage means.

18. The gaming terminal of claim 15, wherein the storage means are configured for accepting initial or further credits received from the player via a direct payment instrument, and updating the meters accordingly.