Wagering game server availability broadcast message system

• US 8,360,887 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buchholz, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US12/278,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20100029375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/42, 463 16- 20
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module operable to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a network module operable to detect a wagering game network server availability broadcast signal. The network module connects to the wagering game network server identified in the availability broadcast signal, and authenticates the identity of the wagering game network server.

Claims

1. A computerized wagering game system, comprising:

a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and

a network module operable to

detect a loss of a network connection to a wagering game network server;

attempt to reconnect to the wagering game network server; and

when reconnection fails, then;

monitor the network connection to detect a wagering game network server availability broadcast signal that was broadcasted from the wagering game network server to a plurality of computerized wagering game systems; and

upon receiving the wagering game network server availability broadcast signal;

access a list of approved wagering game servers;

determine whether the wagering game network server is in the list of approved wagering game servers; and

establish a connection with the wagering game network server when it is determined that the wagering game network server is in the list of approved wagering game servers,

wherein the computerized wagering game system functions as a client device to the wagering game network server.

2. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the network module is further operable to recognize whether the wagering game network server availability signal is from an authentic wagering game network server, and to add the wagering game network server to a wagering game network server list if it is authentic.

3. The computerized wagering game system of claim 2, wherein recognizing whether the wagering game network server availability signal is from an authentic wagering game network server comprises evaluating at least one of a digital signature and an authentication certificate from the wagering game network server.

4. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the wagering game system is operable to communicate at least one of accounting information, wagering game content information, community game information, and game presentation software over the network with the wagering game network server.

5. A method of operating a computerized wagering game system, comprising:

presenting a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;

detecting, by the computerized wagering game system, a loss of a network connection to a wagering game network server;

attempting to reconnect to the wagering game network server; and

when reconnection fails, then;

monitoring the network connection to detect a wagering game network server availability broadcast signal that was broadcasted from the wagering game network server to a plurality of computerized wagering game systems; and

upon receiving the wagering game network server availability broadcast signal;

accessing a list of approved wagering game servers;

determining whether the wagering game network server is in the list of approved wagering game servers; and

establishing a connection with the wagering game network server when it is determined that the wagering game network server is in the list of approved wagering game servers,

wherein the computerized wagering game system functions as a client device to the wagering game network server broadcasting the wagering game network server availability broadcast signal.

6. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 5, further comprising recognizing whether the wagering game network server availability signal is from an authentic wagering game network server, and adding the wagering game network server to a wagering game network server list if it is authentic.

7. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 6, wherein recognizing whether the wagering game network server availability signal is from an authentic wagering game network server comprises evaluating at least one of a digital signature and an authentication certificate from the wagering game network server.

8. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 5, further comprising communicating at least one of accounting information, wagering game content information, community game information, and game presentation software over the network with the wagering game network server.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized wagering game machine to:

present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;

detect a loss of a network connection to a wagering game network server;

attempt to reconnect to the wagering game network server; and

when reconnection fails, then;

monitor the network connection to detect a wagering game network server availability broadcast signal that was broadcasted from the wagering game network server to a plurality of computerized wagering game systems; and

upon receiving the wagering game network server availability broadcast signal;

access a list of approved wagering game servers;

determine whether the wagering game network server is in the list of approved wagering game servers;

establish a connection with the wagering game network server when it is determined that the wagering game network server is in the list of approved wagering game servers; and

function as a client device to a wagering game network server broadcasting the wagering game network server availability broadcast signal.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, the instructions further operable when executed to cause the computerized wagering game system to recognize whether the wagering game network server availability signal is from an authentic wagering game network server, and adding the wagering game network server to a wagering game network server list if it is authentic.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein recognizing whether the wagering game network server availability signal is from an authentic wagering game network server comprises evaluating at least one of a digital signature and an authentication certificate from the wagering game network server.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, the instructions further operable when executed to cause the computerized wagering game system to communicate at least one of accounting information, wagering game content information, community game information, and game presentation software over the network with the wagering game network server.