Switching operation modes in mobile wager gaming devices

• US 8,152,634 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B., Hamlin, Vernon W., Sylla, Craig J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duffy, David
• Application Number:
  US12/295,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 463/41, 463/42, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

This disclosure describes methods and wager gaming devices that can enter different operation modes based on different network connections. In one embodiment, a method includes connecting to a content provider via a first network connection, wherein connecting to the content provider via the first network connection enables a first mode of operation and prohibits a second mode of operation. The method can also include operating in the first mode of operation. The method can also include connecting to the content provider via a second network connection, wherein connecting to the content provider via the second network connection enables the second mode of operation. The method can also include operating in the second mode of operation, wherein the operating includes, presenting a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting a mobile wagering game device to a content provider via a cellular phone network connection, wherein connecting to the content provider via the cellular phone network connection enables a first mode of operation on the mobile wagering game device;

based on the mobile wagering game device being connected to the content provider via the cellular phone network connection, operating the mobile wagering game device in the first mode of operation, wherein operating in the first mode of operation includes presenting a non-wagering game on the mobile wagering game device and prohibiting presentation of wagering games on the mobile wagering game device;

connecting the mobile wagering game device to the content provider via a non-cellular phone network connection, wherein connecting to the content provider via the non-cellular phone network connection enables a second mode of operation; and

based on the mobile wagering game device being connected to the content provider via the non-cellular phone network connection, operating the mobile wagering game device in the second mode of operation, wherein the operating includes presenting a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered on the mobile wagering game device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mode of operation is not available absent the connecting via the non-cellular phone network connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular phone network connection includes a Global System for Communications (GSM) network connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-cellular phone network connection includes an Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 network connection or a Bluetooth network connection.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-wagering game is an amusement form of the wagering game.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mode of operation is enabled or prohibited by the content provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein results of the wagering game are determined by the content provider.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a notification that the second mode of operation is available;

receiving a mode selection indicating the second mode of operation; and

switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining that a mobile wager gaming device is connected via a cellular phone network connection;

based on the mobile wager gaming device being connected via the cellular phone network connection, enabling the mobile wager gaming device to operate according to a first mode of operation and prohibiting the mobile wager gaming device from operating according to a second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation includes presenting a non-wagering game on the mobile wagering game device and the second mode of operation includes presenting a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered on the mobile wagering game device;

determining that the mobile wager gaming device is connected via a non-cellular phone network connection; and

based on the mobile wager gaming device being connected via the non-cellular phone network connection, enabling the mobile wager gaming device to operate according to the second mode of operation.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the second mode of operation includes receiving wagers in association with wagering games.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the second mode of operation is allowed or prohibited based on gambling laws or copyright laws.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

while the mobile wager gaming device is operating according to the second mode of operation, processing a wager associated with a wagering game.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein enabling the mobile wager gaming device to operate according to the first mode of operation includes transmitting non-wagering content destined for the mobile wager gaming device, and wherein enabling the mobile wager gaming device to operate according to the second mode of operation includes transmitting wagering content destined for the mobile wager gaming device.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the cellular phone network connection includes a Global System for Communications (GSM) network connection.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the non-cellular phone network connection includes an Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 network connection or a Bluetooth network connection.

16. A mobile wager gaming device comprising:

a network connection unit configured to connect to a content provider via a plurality of network connections, the network connection unit operable to;

determine if the mobile wagering game device is connected to the content provider using a non-cellular phone network and if so entering a wagering mode of operation of the mobile wagering game device; and

determine if the mobile wagering game device is connected to the content provider via a cellular phone network and if so entering a non-wagering mode of operation of the mobile wagering gaming device and prohibiting presentation of wagering games on the mobile wagering game device; and

a gaming unit configured to present non-wagering content on the mobile wagering game device when not in the wagering mode of operation, the wager gaming unit also configured to receive wagers and present wagering games when in the wagering mode of operation.

17. The mobile wager gaming device of claim 16, the network connection unit further configured to transmit and receive a different one of many content types over each of the plurality of network connections.

18. The mobile wager gaming device of claim 17, wherein the different ones of the many content types are assigned to ones of the plurality of network connections based on security requirements, bandwidth needs, or power constraints.

19. The mobile wager gaming device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of network connections includes a Global System for Communications (GSM) network connection, an Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 network connection, or a Bluetooth network connection.

20. The mobile wager gaming device of claim 16, wherein the non-wagering content includes amusement games.

21. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining that a mobile wager gaming device is connected via a cellular phone network connection;

based on the mobile wager gaming device being connected via the cellular phone network connection, enabling transmission of amusement content and prohibiting transmission of wagering game content;

determining that the mobile wager gaming device is connected via a non-cellular phone network connection; and

based on the mobile wager gaming device being connected via the non-cellular phone network connection, enabling transmission of wagering game content.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the wagering game content includes a result of a wagering game.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the cellular phone network connection uses a Global System for Communications (GSM) protocol and the non-cellular phone network connection utilize protocols from at least one of Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol or Bluetooth protocol.