UDP broadcast for user interface in a download and configuration gaming method

• US 8,260,946 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ruppert, Ryan, Atashband, Farshid
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOROBOV, VITALI A
• Application Number:
  US13/458,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 130 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/207, 709/223, 709/230, 726/5
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass networks security protocols H04L9/40; wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A method for sending a notification message using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages. The method includes: identifying information at a server that has potential for inclusion in a notification message, wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine; querying a database for one or more clients that have registered for a particular type of notification by a UDP broadcast processor; receiving identifiers for the one or more clients that have registered for the particular type of notification from the database; and sending notification to the one or more clients.

Claims

1. A method for sending a notification message using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages, the method comprising:

identifying information at a server that has potential for inclusion in a notification message, wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine;

querying a database for one or more clients that have registered for a particular type of notification by a UDP broadcast processor;

receiving identifiers for the one or more clients that have registered for the particular type of notification from the database; and

sending notification to the one or more clients using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the clients are control panel applications.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the control panel applications are installed on control stations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the control stations are utilized in a casino gaming environment.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the control stations are utilized for downloading and configuration of games and/or game operating systems of connected gaming devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the DCM engine communicates with a database containing UDP multicast notification system data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the DCM engine includes DCM engine services, business libraries, and a data access layer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the DCM engine services include user interface notification processor and a UDP broadcast processor.

9. A system for sending a notification message using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages, the system comprising:

a plurality of clients configured in a client-server architecture; and

a server including one or more processors executing software instructions that perform the steps of;

identifying information at the server that has potential for inclusion in a notification message, wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine;

querying a database for one or more clients that have registered for a particular type of notification by a UDP broadcast processor;

receiving identifiers for the one or more clients that have registered for the particular type of notification from the database; and

sending notification to the one or more clients using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the clients are control panel applications.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control panel applications are installed on control stations.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control stations are utilized in a casino gaming environment.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control stations are utilized for downloading and configuration of games and/or game operating systems of connected gaming devices.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the DCM engine communicates with a database containing UDP multicast notification system data.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the DCM engine includes DCM engine services, business libraries, and a data access layer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the DCM engine services include user interface notification processor and a UDP broadcast processor.

17. A system for sending a notification message using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages, the system comprising:

means for identifying information at a server that has potential for inclusion in a notification message, wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine;

means for querying a database for one or more clients that have registered for a particular type of notification by a UDP broadcast processor;

means for receiving identifiers for the one or more clients that have registered for the particular type of notification from the database; and

means for sending notification to the one or more clients using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages.