Wagering game system with docking stations

• US 8,057,303 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Barrett, Shawn O., Cesaroni, William C., Arezina, Vladimir I., Gagner, Mark B., Rasmussen, James M., Motyl, Jim, Wurz, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US12/304,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 42, 273/138.1, 273/139, 710/303, 710/304
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable

Abstract

This description describes wagering game systems that include docking stations. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a presentation unit configured to present a wagering game and a docking controller configured to detect when the apparatus is docked with a docking station and to detect when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station. The apparatus can also include a docking port, the docking port including at least one of a dock power unit configured to receive power via the docking station and a dock communication unit configured to receive wagering game content associated with the wagering game, the dock communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the apparatus is docked with the docking station. The apparatus can also include a wireless communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the docking controller when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station.

Claims

1. A mobile wagering-game device operable to present wagering games in a docked mode and in an undocked mode, the mobile device comprising:

a presentation unit operable to present the wagering games to a player;

at least one input device;

a docking port operable to connect with a docking station;

one or more memory devices; and

a docking controller executing instructions stored on the one or more memory devices, the instructions causing the docking controller to operate with the presentation unit, the at least one input device, and the docking port, to configure the mobile device to

present the wagering games in the docked mode when the docking port is mechanically connected with the docking station,

in response to first game-specific criteria, present a first one of the wagering games, on the presentation unit, in the undocked mode when the docking port is disconnected from the docking station, and

in response to second game-specific criteria, present a second one of the wagering games, on the presentation unit, in the docked mode when the docking port is disconnected from the docking station.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wagering games presented in the docked mode include a position-sensitive game.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein presenting the wagering games in the docked mode enables the mobile device to participate in a community game displayed on a community display.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first and second game-specific criteria comprise one or more rules of the first and second wagering games, respectively.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second game specific criteria comprises whether the first and second wagering games require further input from a player when the mobile device is disconnected from the docking station.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second game-specific criteria includes receiving permission from a community gaming controller to continue presenting the first and second wagering games, respectively.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second game-specific criteria includes receiving identification information via a communications network.

8. A computer-implemented method of selecting a game presentation mode of a mobile wagering-game device, the mobile device including a presentation unit, a docking port, and a docking controller executing instructions stored on a memory device, the method comprising:

determining, via the docking controller operating with the docking port, if the docking port is mechanically connected to a docking station; and

configuring, via the docking controller, the mobile device to

present wagering games in a docked mode in response to the docking port being mechanically connected to the docking station,

present, in response to first game-specific criteria, a first one of the wagering games in an undocked mode, when the docking port is disconnected from the docking station, the first one of the wagering games being displayed on the presentation unit, and

present, in response to second game-specific criteria, a second one of the wagering games in the docked mode, when the docking port is disconnected from the docking station, the second one of the wagering games being displayed on the presentation unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wagering games presented in the docked mode include a position-sensitive game including multiple player positions.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting the wagering games in the docked mode enables the mobile device to participate in a community game displayed on a community display.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second game-specific criteria comprise one or more rules of the first and second wagering games, respectively.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second game-specific criteria comprises whether the first and second wagering games require further input from a player when the mobile device is disconnected from the docking station.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second game-specific criteria includes receiving permission from a community gaming controller to continue presenting the first and second wagering game, respectively.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second game-specific criteria includes receiving identification information via a communications network.

15. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium storing instructions that, when executed by a docking controller of a mobile wagering-game device, cause the docking controller to perform the method comprising:

determining if a docking port of the mobile device is mechanically connected to a docking station; and

configuring the mobile device to

present wagering games, via a presentation unit of the mobile device and in response to the docking port being mechanically connected to the docking station, in a docked mode,

present a first one of the wagering games, via the presentation unit and in response to first game-specific criteria, in an undocked mode when the docking port is disconnected from the docking station, and

present a second one of the wagering games, via the presentation unit and in response to second game-specific criteria, in the docked mode when the docking port is disconnected from the docking station.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the medium is located on a game server that communicates with the mobile device via a communications network.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the game server is a community game server.

18. The medium of claim 16, wherein one of the first and second game-specific criteria includes receiving permission via the game server to continue presenting the first and second wagering games, respectively.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein one of the first and second game-specific criteria includes receiving identification information via the game server.