Method and apparatus for linked play gaming with combined outcomes and shared indicia

• US 8,696,426 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Zucker, David F., Santisi, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US13/283,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for providing linked play via gaming and other devices wherein players may share and combine outcomes or parts thereof. In some embodiments, a casino server registers a group for linked play and a group objective and format are established. The linked play commences according to the group format on the gaming devices while the casino server, or another device, concurrently facilitates interaction between the group members operating the gaming devices. During the interaction, players may combine outcomes in an attempt to win group prizes. The linked play is terminated according to the group format and a determination is made by the casino server whether the group objective has been achieved. Prizes are awarded via the gaming devices if the group objective was achieved.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a game indicium in an online casino game, comprising:

detecting a first indicia outcome of the online casino game, the first indicia outcome associated with a first gameplay session presented on a first gaming device associated with a first user;

detecting a second indicia outcome of the online casino game, the second indicia outcome associated with a second gameplay session presented on a second gaming device associated with a second user;

receiving a signal indicative of a desire to transfer a game indicium from the first gaming device to the second gaming device, the game indicium being from the first indicia outcome and providing for a winning outcome when applied to the second indicia outcome; and

in response to the signal, transmitting an indication of the game indicium to the second gaming device, and applying the game indicium to the second indicia outcome to produce the winning outcome;

wherein the method is executed by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein detecting the second indicia outcome includes analyzing the second indicia outcome to identify the winning outcome as a possible outcome for the second indicia outcome, and to identify the game indicium as required to achieve the winning outcome;

wherein detecting the first indicia outcome includes analyzing the first indicia outcome to identify the game indicium as included in the first indicia outcome.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the online casino game is a poker game;

wherein the first indicia outcome defines a first poker hand;

wherein the second indicia outcome defines a second poker hand; and

wherein the game indicium is a card from the first poker hand.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the online casino game is a slots game;

wherein the first indicia outcome defines a first pull;

wherein the second indicia outcome defines a second pull; and

wherein the game indicium is a symbol from the first pull.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the game indicium is applied to the second indicia outcome at a same position as that at which the game indicium exists in the first indicia outcome.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the second indicia outcome activates a timer, the timer determining a time period during which the signal may be received.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, receiving a payment from one or more of the first gameplay session or the second gameplay session, the receipt of the payment enabling the applying the game indicium to the second indicia outcome.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, presenting the first indicia outcome during the second gameplay session.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, presenting the second indicia outcome during the first gameplay session.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions embodied thereon for transferring a game indicium in an online casino game, comprising:

program instructions for detecting a first indicia outcome of the online casino game, the first indicia outcome associated with a first gameplay session presented on a first gaming device associated with a first user;

program instructions for detecting a second indicia outcome of the online casino game, the second indicia outcome associated with a second gameplay session presented on a second gaming device associated with a second user;

program instructions for receiving a signal indicative of a desire to transfer a game indicium from the first gaming device to the second gaming device, the game indicium being from the first indicia outcome and providing for a winning outcome when applied to the second indicia outcome; and

program instructions for, in response to the signal, transmitting an indication of the game indicium to the second gaming device, and applying the game indicium to the second indicia outcome to produce the winning outcome.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10,

wherein detecting the second indicia outcome includes analyzing the second indicia outcome to identify the winning outcome as a possible outcome for the second indicia outcome, and to identify the game indicium as required to achieve the winning outcome;

wherein detecting the first indicia outcome includes analyzing the first indicia outcome to identify the game indicium as included in the first indicia outcome.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10,

wherein the online casino game is a poker game;

wherein the first indicia outcome defines a first poker hand;

wherein the second indicia outcome defines a second poker hand; and

wherein the game indicium is a card from the first poker hand.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10,

wherein the online casino game is a slots game;

wherein the first indicia outcome defines a first pull;

wherein the second indicia outcome defines a second pull; and

wherein the game indicium is a symbol from the first pull.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the game indicium is applied to the second indicia outcome at a same position as that at which the game indicium exists in the first indicia outcome.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein detecting the second indicia outcome activates a timer, the timer determining a time period during which the signal may be received.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising, program instructions for receiving a payment from one or more of the first gameplay session or the second gameplay session, the receipt of the payment enabling the applying the game indicium to the second indicia outcome.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising, program instructions for presenting the first indicia outcome during the second gameplay session.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising, program instructions for presenting the second indicia outcome during the first gameplay session.