Networked gaming system communication protocols and methods

• US 8,568,237 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Soliterman, Gennady, Rupanagudi, Reddy, Lockard, Dennis, Tallcott, Jeffrey, Kroeckel, John, Kelly, Bryan M
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US12/291,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a rewards server and a separate gaming or slot accounting server. The system may further include a separate player tracking server. The system further includes one or more game machines. The game machines may include a base game, rewards tracking module, and a game management module. Further details will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending base game data from a game management unit of a first gaming device to a first server using a first protocol;

receiving the base game data from the game management unit of the first gaming device at the first server;

integrating the base game data into a slot accounting system of the first server;

sending base game data from the game management unit to a system processor of a rewards module using a second protocol;

receiving the base game data at the rewards module of the first gaming device;

communicating rewards game data from a system processor of a rewards module of the first gaming device to a second server using a third protocol;

receiving the rewards game data at the second server from the first gaming device;

analyzing rewards game data for threshold changes at the second server;

tracking and updating play points data at the second server, the play points used as currency for playing bonus games, the play points data changed responsive to rewards game data;

tracking and updating threshold points data at the second server, the threshold points used as currency for achieving bonus game thresholds, the threshold points data changed responsive to rewards game data;

sending triggers for bonus games from the second server to the first gaming device using the third protocol, the triggers sent responsive to achieving sufficient threshold points;

sending play points to the first gaming device from the second server responsive to sending triggers for bonus games;

receiving from the second server bonus game triggers and play points at the first gaming device;

determining a payout to a player of the first gaming device is due at the first gaming device;

determining the payout exceeds a predetermined threshold;

signaling for an employee to administer a payout in person at the first gaming device;

receiving verification from the employee of payment in person at the first gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1

wherein rewards game data includes game results and player identification data.

3. The method of claim 1

wherein base game data includes game results.

4. The method of claim 1

wherein bonus games are triggered responsive to a threshold achieved based on results of the base game, the thresholds tracked through use of threshold points.

5. The method of claim 1

wherein the second server implements a player rewards system.

6. The method of claim 5

further comprising accumulating player rewards at the second server responsive to game data, the player rewards tracked in the form of play points and threshold points.

7. The method of claim 6

further comprising receiving player identification data from a rewards card of the player.

8. The method of claim 7

further comprising verifying player identification data of a rewards card with identification input of the player.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending base game data from a game management unit of a second gaming device to a first server using a first protocol;

receiving the base game data from the game management unit of the second gaming device at the first server;

integrating the base game data of the second gaming device into the slot accounting system of the first server;

sending base game data from the game management unit of the second gaming device to a system processor of a rewards module of a second gaming device using a second protocol;

receiving the base game data at the rewards module of the second gaming device;

communicating rewards game data from a system processor of a rewards module of the second gaming device to the second server using the third protocol;

receiving the rewards game data at the second server from the second gaming device;

analyzing rewards game data of the second gaming device for threshold changes at the second server;

tracking and updating play points data at the second server, the play points data changed responsive to rewards game data from the second gaming device;

tracking and updating threshold points data at the second server, the threshold points data changed responsive to rewards game data from the second gaming device;

sending triggers for bonus games from the second server to the first gaming device and the second gaming device using the third protocol, the triggers sent responsive to achieving sufficient threshold points;

sending play points to the second gaming device from the second server responsive to sending triggers for bonus games;

receiving from the second server bonus game triggers and play points at the second gaming device;

determining a payout to a player of the second gaming device is due at the second gaming device;

determining the payout at the second gaming device exceeds a predetermined threshold;

signaling for an employee to administer a payout in person at the second gaming device; and

receiving verification from the employee of payment in person at the second gaming device.

10. The method of claim 9

wherein the bonus game is a collective bonus game including the first gaming device and the second gaming device.

11. The method of claim 10

wherein the bonus game is a poker game.

12. A method comprising:

communicating base game data from a game management unit of a gaming device to a first server using a first protocol;

communicating base game data from the game management unit to a system processor of a rewards module using a second protocol;

communicating rewards game data from a system processor of a rewards module of the gaming device to a second server using a third protocol;

receiving from the second server bonus game triggers and play points using the third protocol, the bonus game triggers based on threshold points tracked at the second server reaching a predetermined threshold at the second server, the play points separate from the threshold points;

determining a payout to a player of the second gaming device is due at the second gaming device;

determining the payout at the second gaming device exceeds a predetermined threshold;

signaling for an employee to administer a payout in person at the second gaming device; and

receiving verification from the employee of payment in person at the second gaming device.

13. The method of claim 12

wherein rewards game data includes game results and player identification data.

14. The method of claim 13

wherein base game data includes game results.

15. The method of claim 12

wherein bonus games are triggered responsive to a threshold achieved based on results of the base game, the threshold tracked based on threshold points.

16. The method of claim 12

wherein the first server implements a slot accounting system.

17. The method of claim 12

wherein the second server implements a player rewards system.

18. A method comprising:

sending base game data from game management units of a plurality of gaming devices to a first server using a first protocol;

sending base game data from the game management unit to a system processor of a rewards module using a second protocol in a plurality of gaming devices;

communicating rewards game data from a system processor of a rewards module of each of the plurality of gaming devices to a second server using a third protocol;

sending triggers for bonus games from the second server to gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices using the third protocol;

receiving from the second server bonus game triggers and play points using the third protocol at one or more gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices, the bonus game triggers based on threshold points tracked at the second server reaching a predetermined threshold at the second server, the play points separate from the threshold points;

determining a payout to a player of a gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices is due at the gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices;

determining the payout at the gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices exceeds a predetermined threshold;

signaling for an employee to administer a payout in person at the gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices, and

receiving verification from the employee of payment in person at the gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices.

19. The method of claim 18

wherein the triggers for bonus games are sent selectively to gaming devices of the plurality of gaming devices where rewards data indicates a rewards threshold has been met.

20. The method of claim 19

wherein the bonus games are collective games played among gaming devices receiving the triggers for bonus games.