Wireless game player

• US 7,850,528 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager; M.
• Application Number:
  US11/014,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine provides methods and apparatus for operating a wireless game player that presents a game of chance executed on a gaming machine in communication with the wireless game player. In one embodiment, the wireless game player is a hand-held mobile device, electronically linked to a licensed gaming machine via a wireless connection. All random number generation (RNG) events, game outcomes, meter information, game related information, and all cash transactions are maintained in the licensed (controlled) gaming machine and not the wireless game player. The wireless game player may be used anywhere within the legal areas of the casino and it has the capability of identifying who is using it. For example, a biometric input device, such as a finger print reader may be used on the wireless game player to identify the player. Thus, the issue of under-age or excluded players is addressed.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine including;

a housing defining a gaming machine interior, a first master gaming controller disposed within the gaming machine interior, a first memory, a first display, a first communication interface for communicating with at least one other device in a gaming network, and a first user input interface for receiving input from a first player;

the gaming machine being operable to;

1) control at least one wager-based game played at the gaming machine;

2) operate in a first mode of operation corresponding to a local game play mode of operation;

3) enable, while in the first mode of operation, the first player to engage in local game play activities conducted locally at the first gaming machine, at least a portion of the local game play activities being implemented using the first master gaming controller, at least a portion of the local game play activities being conducted via use of the first user input interface and the first display;

4) operate in a second mode of operation corresponding to a remote game play mode of operation;

5) enable, while in the second mode of operation, a second player, the second player being different from the first player, to engage in a portion of remote game play activities conducted remotely at a first wireless gaming device in communication with the gaming machine, at least a portion of the remote game play activities being implemented using the first master gaming controller, at least a portion of the remote game play activities being conducted via use of a remote user input interface and a second display located at the first wireless gaming device;

6) display content relating to the local game play activities at the first display;

7) display content relating to the remote game play activities at the second display;

8) receive local game play instructions relating to the local game play activities via the first user input interface;

9) receive remote game play instructions relating to the remote game play activities via the second user input interface;

10) receive a first input signal from the first user input interface to initiate a first game play session for enabling the first player to play a first game locally at the gaming machine;

11) receive a second input signal from the first wireless gaming device to initiate a second game play session for enabling the second player to play a second game remotely at the first wireless gaming device, the first game being independent of the second game, an outcome of the first game being dependent upon a first random number and an outcome of the second game being dependent upon a second random number; and

12) enable the first player to play the first game locally and the second player to play the second game remotely concurrently.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

enable a third player to engage in second remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine via a second wireless gaming device in communication with the gaming machine; and

enable the second player and the third player to each concurrently engage in remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine, at least a portion of the first and second remote game play activities being implemented using the first master gaming controller.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

enable a third player to engage in second remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine via a second wireless gaming device in communication with the gaming machine;

receive a third input signal from the second wireless gaming device to initiate a third game play session for enabling the third player to play a third game remotely at the second wireless gaming device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

prevent the first player from engaging in local game play activities conducted locally at the gaming machine during at least a portion of time when the gaming machine is operating in the second mode of operation.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

prevent the second player from engaging in remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine during at least a portion of time when the gaming machine is operating in the first mode of operation.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device; and

allow the remote game play activities to be conducted at the first wireless gaming device only during times while the first communication link is active.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device; and

allow the remote game play activities to be conducted at the first wireless gaming device only during times while the first communication link is active, the first communication link being implemented using at least one network device other than the gaming machine and the first wireless gaming device.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device;

implement, at the gaming machine, a first plurality of operations for conducting the remote game play activities at the first wireless gaming device only during times while the first communication link is active;

the first plurality of operations includes;

generating a game outcome for a game of chance using regulated gaming software executed by the first master gaming controller;

presenting remotely the game outcome for the game of chance on the first wireless gaming device, the first wireless gaming device being operable to display a graphical rendition of the outcome of the game of chance comprising a sequence of video frames and sound associated with the graphical rendition;

receiving information from input signals generated from one or more input mechanisms located at the first wireless gaming device, said input signals being at least for making wagers on the game outcome for the game of chance for playing the game of chance; and

maintaining and updating credit information for the first wireless gaming device resulting from playing the game of chance as each game of chance is played remotely.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to present a bonus game at the first wireless gaming device.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

receive information for a selection of a type of game of chance for play on the first wireless gaming device; and

generate the game outcome for the type of game of chance that is selected.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

store a game history record of the game of chance played on the first wireless gaming device.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

determine an identity of the second player using biometric information input via at least one biometric input device located at the first wireless gaming device.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device;

implement, at the gaming machine, a first plurality of operations for conducting the remote game play activities at the first wireless gaming device during times while the first communication link is active;

generate a game outcome for a game of chance using regulated gaming software executed by the first master gaming controller;

present remotely the game outcome for the game of chance on the first wireless gaming device, the first wireless gaming device being operable to display a graphical rendition of the outcome of the game of chance comprising a sequence of video frames and sound associated with the graphical rendition;

receive information from input signals generated from one or more input mechanisms located at the first wireless gaming device, said input signals being at least for making wagers on the game outcome for the game of chance for playing the game of chance; and

maintain and update credit information for the first wireless gaming device resulting from playing the game of chance as each game of chance is played remotely; and

terminate the play of the game of chance on the first wireless gaming device during times when the first communication link between the first wireless gaming device and the gaming machine is determined to be inactive.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine further comprising an input mechanism for receiving cash or an indicia of credit.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, the first master gaming controller being operable to establish simultaneously active communication links with a plurality of wireless gaming devices.

16. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

establish simultaneously a first active communication link with the first wireless gaming device and a second active communication link with a second wireless gaming device;

generate a first game outcome for a first type of game of chance played at the first wireless gaming device; and

generate a second game outcome for a second type of game of chance played at the second wireless gaming device.

17. The gaming system of claim 1, the at least one wager-based game including at least one game selected from a group consisting of:

slot games, poker games, pachinko games, multiple hand poker games, pai-gow poker games, black jack games, keno games, bingo games, roulette games, crap games and card games.

18. The gaming system of claim 1, the gaming machine being further operable to:

provide a shared game that is played simultaneously on a plurality of remote wireless gaming devices,

at least a portion of game play operations relating to the shared game being implemented using first master gaming controller.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, the shared game being a bingo game or a keno game.

20. A method of operating a gaming system to provide remote and local game play capabilities, the gaming system including a gaming machine having:

a housing defining a gaming machine interior, a first master gaming controller disposed within the gaming machine interior, a first memory, a first display, a first communication interface for communicating with at least one other device in a gaming network, and a first user input interface for receiving input from a first player;

the method comprising;

1) controlling at least one wager-based game played at the gaming machine;

2) operating the gaming machine in a first mode of operation corresponding to a local game play mode of operation;

3) enabling, while in the first mode of operation, the first player to engage in local game play activities conducted locally at the first gaming machine, wherein at least a portion of the local game play activities are implemented using the first master gaming controller, wherein at least a portion of the local game play activities are conducted via use of the first user input interface and the first display;

4) operating the gaming machine in a second mode of operation corresponding to a remote game play mode of operation;

5) enabling, while in the second mode of operation, a second player, wherein the second player is different from the first player, to engage in a portion of remote game play activities conducted remotely at a first wireless gaming device in communication with the gaming machine;

wherein at least a portion of the remote game play activities are implemented using the first master gaming controller;

wherein at least a portion of the remote game play activities are conducted via use of a remote user input interface and a second display located at the first wireless gaming device;

6) displaying content relating to the local game play activities at the first display;

7) displaying content relating to the remote game play activities at the second display;

8) receiving local game play instructions relating to the local game play activities via the first user input interface;

9) receiving remote game play instructions relating to the remote game play activities via the second user input interface;

10) receiving a first input signal from the first user input interface to initiate a first game play session for enabling the first player to play a first game locally at the gaming machine; and

11) receiving a second input signal from the first wireless gaming device to initiate a second game play session for enabling the second player to play a second game remotely at the first wireless gaming device, wherein initiation of the first game play session is independent of initiation of the second game play session.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

enabling a third player to engage in second remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine via a second wireless gaming device in communication with the gaming machine; and

receiving a third input signal from the second wireless gaming device to initiate a third game play session for enabling the third player to play a third game remotely at the second wireless gaming device.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

receiving a third input signal from the second wireless gaming device to initiate a third game play session for enabling the third player to play a third game remotely at the second wireless gaming device.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

enabling a third player to engage in second remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine via a second wireless gaming device in communication with the gaming machine; and

enabling the second player and the third player to each concurrently engage in remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine,

at least a portion of the first and second remote game play activities being implemented using the first master gaming controller.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

preventing the first player from engaging in local game play activities conducted locally at the gaming machine during at least a portion of time when the gaming machine is operating in the second mode of operation.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

preventing the second player from engaging in remote game play activities conducted remotely from the gaming machine during at least a portion of time when the gaming machine is operating in the first mode of operation.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device; and

allow the remote game play activities to be conducted at the first wireless gaming device only during times while the first communication link is active.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device; and

allow the remote game play activities to be conducted at the first wireless gaming device only during times while the first communication link is active,

the first communication link being implemented using at least one network device other than the gaming machine and the first wireless gaming device.

28. The method of claim 20 further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device;

implement, at the gaming machine, a first plurality of operations for conducting the remote game play activities at the first wireless gaming device only during times while the first communication link is active;

generate a game outcome for a game of chance using regulated gaming software executed by the first master gaming controller;

present remotely the game outcome for the game of chance on the first wireless gaming device, the first wireless gaming device being operable to display a graphical rendition of the outcome of the game of chance comprising a sequence of video frames and sound associated with the graphical rendition;

receive information from input signals generated from one or more input mechanisms located at the first wireless gaming device, said input signals being at least for making wagers on the game outcome for the game of chance for playing the game of chance; and

maintain and update credit information for the first wireless gaming device resulting from playing the game of chance as each game of chance is played remotely.

29. The method of claim 20, further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

present a bonus game at the first wireless gaming device.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

receive information for a selection of a type of game of chance for play on the first wireless gaming device; and

generate the game outcome for the type of game of chance that is selected.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

store a game history record of the game of chance played on the first wireless gaming device.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

determine an identity of the second player using biometric information input via at least one biometric input device located at the first wireless gaming device.

33. The method of claim 20 further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

establish a first communication link with the first wireless gaming device;

implement, at the gaming machine, a first plurality of operations for conducting the remote game play activities at the first wireless gaming device during times while the first communication link is active;

generate a game outcome for a game of chance using regulated gaming software executed by the first master gaming controller;

present the game outcome for the game of chance on the first wireless gaming device, the first wireless gaming device being operable to display a graphical rendition of the outcome of the game of chance comprising a sequence of video frames and sound associated with the graphical rendition;

receive information from input signals generated from one or more input mechanisms located at the first wireless gaming device, said input signals being at least for making wagers on the game outcome for the game of chance for playing the game of chance; and

maintain and update credit information for the first wireless gaming device resulting from playing the game of chance as each game of chance is played remotely; and

terminate the play of the game of chance on the first wireless gaming device during times when the first communication link between the first wireless gaming device and the gaming machine is determined to be inactive.

34. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

operating the gaming machine to establish simultaneously active communication links with a plurality of wireless gaming devices.

35. The method of claim 20, further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

establish simultaneously a first active communication link with the first wireless gaming device and a second active communication link with a second wireless gaming device; and

generate a first game outcome for a first type of game of chance played at the first wireless gaming device; and

generate a second game outcome for a second type of game of chance played at the second wireless gaming device.

36. The method of claim 20, further comprising operating the gaming machine to:

provide a shared game that is played simultaneously on a plurality of remote wireless gaming devices,

at least a portion of game play operations relating to the shared game being implemented using first master gaming controller.

37. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine including;

a housing defining a gaming machine interior, a first master gaming controller disposed within the gaming machine interior, a first memory, a first display, a first communication interface for communicating with at least one other device in a gaming network, and a first user input interface for receiving input from a first player;

1) means for controlling at least one wager-based game played at the gaming machine;

2) means for operating the gaming machine in a first mode of operation corresponding to a local game play mode of operation;

3) means for enabling, while in the first mode of operation, the first player to engage in local game play activities conducted locally at the first gaming machine, at least a portion of the local game play activities being implemented using the first master gaming controller, at least a portion of the local game play activities being conducted via use of the first user input interface and the first display;

4) means for operating the gaming machine in a second mode of operation corresponding to a remote game play mode of operation;

5) means for enabling, while in the second mode of operation, a second player, the second player being different from the first player, to engage in a portion of remote game play activities conducted remotely at a first wireless gaming device in communication with the gaming machine, at least a portion of the remote game play activities being implemented using the first master gaming controller, at least a portion of the remote game play activities being conducted via use of a remote user input interface and a second display located at the first wireless gaming device;

6) means for displaying content relating to the local game play activities at the first display;

7) means for displaying content relating to the remote game play activities at the second display;

8) means for receiving local game play instructions relating to the local game play activities via the first user input interface; and

9) means for receiving remote game play instructions relating to the remote game play activities via the second user input interface,

10) means for receiving a first input signal from the first user input interface to initiate a first game play session for enabling the first player to play a first game locally at the gaming machine;

11) means for receiving a second input signal from the first wireless gaming device to initiate a second game play session for enabling the second player to play a second game remotely at the first wireless gaming device, the first game being independent of the second game, an outcome of the first game being dependent upon a first random number and an outcome of the second game being dependent upon a second random number; and

12) means for enabling the first player to play the first game locally and the second player to play the second game remotely concurrently.