Method and system for providing a network gaming system

• US 8,740,694 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agincourt Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Agincourt Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Kelly, Matthew F., Kelly, Bryan M., Petermeier, Norman B., Kroeckel, John G., Link, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL, SHAUNA-KAY N
• Application Number:
  US13/531,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20120264506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/31, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3262 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method and system for providing a network gaming system is disclosed. The system comprises at least one database server accessible through a wide area network for storing account information for the users, the database server being configured for communicating with at least one game server supporting at least one game on a client, for providing at least a portion of the account information to the game server upon receiving a user identification from the game server, and for updating the account information by the at least one database server upon receiving an update from the game server either during or after completion of a game play by one the users.

Claims

1. A method for providing a game system accessible over a wide area network by a plurality of users, comprising the steps:

receiving an identification of a user at a server;

retrieving a number of units associated with the user;

providing the number of units to a game client of the user;

making the units available for use by the user within a plurality of games available in the game system;

providing to the user a selection of the plurality of games available within the game system;

executing on the server at least a majority of calculations for a game selected by the user and providing results to the game client using an application programming interface;

updating the number of units associated with the user based on a game activity of the user occurring during the course of the game;

receiving a request for at least one item that can be obtained by the user within the game system; and

deducting from the number of units a specified number of units responsive to the step of receiving a request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one item comprises a plurality of items that can be obtained by the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one item comprises a plurality of prizes.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step providing a redemption interface to the game client for allowing the user to select one of the plurality of items.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the redemption interface is provided by a game server.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the redemption interface is provided by a database server.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the redemption interface is provided by the server.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein a look and feel of the redemption interface is tailored based on a site identification.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of items comprises prize credits.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of items comprises game credits.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of items comprises cash.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the additional step of requesting that a set of graphics be provided for the game client to display and to create a perception that the user is interfacing with one of a plurality of game partners when the user is actually interacting with the server.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the set of graphics are provided by a web server.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the set of graphics are provided by the server.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one item comprises an award.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one item is selected from the group consisting of an award, a prize, prize credits, cash and game credits.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the units are a form of universal currency.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the units can be used as game credits for playing the plurality of games.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the units can be used as prize credits.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the server is a game server and wherein the step retrieving a number of units associated with the user comprises the server sending a request for the number of units to a database server.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps:

receiving a second identification of a second user at a second game server;

retrieving a second number of units associated with the second user;

providing a second number of units to a second game client of the second user;

making the second number of units available for use by the second user within the plurality of games available in the game system;

updating the second number of units associated with the second user based on a game activity of the second user;

receiving a request for at least one item that can be obtained by the second user within the game system; and

deducting from the second number of units a second specified number of units responsive to the step of receiving a request for at least one item that can be obtained by the second user.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the units are obtained from a monetary purchase.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least one item is obtained using the one or more of the units obtained from a monetary purchase.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein the redemption interface provides the user with a choice of a plurality of objects.

35. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one item comprises at least one prize.

24. A method for providing a multi-player game system in which a user at a client interacts in a game accessible over a wide area network by a plurality of users, the method comprising:

receiving identification information associated with the user at a first server of a plurality of game servers;

retrieving account information associated with the user from a database server;

sending at least a portion of the account information to the client of the user;

receiving updates from the client at the first server for updating the account information associated with the user on the database server;

sending a game setting associated with the first server from the database server to a game software resident on the client for customizing a game experience based on criteria set by a provider of the first server;

receiving a second identification information associated with a second user at a second server of the plurality of game servers;

retrieving a second account information associated with the second user from the database server;

sending at least a portion of the second account information to a client of the second user;

receiving updates from the client of the second user at the second server for updating the second account information associated with the second user on the database server, and

sending a second game setting associated with the second server to a game software resident on the client of the second user for customizing a second game experience based on criteria set by a provider of the second server.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein at least two of the plurality of game servers are provided by different entities and have different criteria for customizing the game experience.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the user is granted access to the game system through one of the plurality of game servers based on a location of the user.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the database server comprises a plurality of database servers.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the multi-player game system provides access by the user to a plurality of games.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the account information comprises information regarding prior game play by the user.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising the additional step of sending from the first server an update to a client software in response to receiving information indicating that the client software is outdated.

31. The method of claim 24 further comprising providing a redemption interface to the client for allowing the user to obtain at least one item available through the game system in exchange for a specified number of units obtained by the user as a result of use of the game system.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the units are prize credits.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the units are game credits.

36. The method of claim 24 wherein the step receiving identification information associated with the user at a first server comprises receiving the identification information associated with the user from a first website wherein the first website is tailored to provide a look and feel associated with a first host and wherein the step receiving a second identification information associated with a second user comprises receiving the second identification information associated with the user from a second website wherein the second website is tailored to provide a look and feel associated with a second host.

37. The method of claim 24 further comprising providing a redemption interface to the client for allowing the user to obtain at least one item available through the game system in exchange for a specified number of units associated with the user.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein one or more of the units are obtained from a monetary purchase.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein one or more of the units are obtained from a game play.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one item comprises cash.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one item is selected from the group consisting of an award, a prize, prize credits, cash and game credits.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one item comprises an award.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one item comprises a prize.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one item comprises prize credits.

45. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one item comprises game credits.

46. A network gaming system for providing at least one game to a plurality of users at different locations comprising:

at least one database server accessible through a wide area network for storing account information for each of the plurality of users;

wherein the at least one database server is configured for communicating with a plurality of game servers provided by at least two different providers for supporting the plurality of users;

wherein the at least one database server is configured to provide at least a portion of the account information of a user to a first game server upon receiving a user identification from the at least one game server;

wherein the account information is updated by the at least one database server upon receiving an update from the first game server either during or after completion of a game play by the user; and

wherein the at least one database server is configured to send at least one game setting associated with a first game server to a first game client supported by the first game server for customizing a game experience of a first of the plurality of users.

47. The network gaming system of claim 46 wherein the user is granted access to the network gaming system through one of the plurality of game servers based on a location of the user.

48. The network gaming system of claim 46 wherein the at least one database server comprises a plurality of database servers.

49. The network gaming system of claim 46 wherein the network gaming system provides access to a plurality of games that all utilize the account information of the user.

51. The network gaming system of claim 46 wherein the plurality of game servers are configured to provide a redemption interface to the client for allowing the user to obtain at least one item available through the network gaming system in exchange for a specified number of units obtained by the user as a result of use of the network gaming system.

52. The network gaming system of claim 46 further comprising:

a first website associated with the first game server wherein the first website is tailored to provide a look and feel associated with a first host, the first website configured to provide a user identification of a first user to the first game server;

a second game server configured for communication with the at least one database server; and

a second website associated with the second game server wherein the second website is tailored to provide a look and feel associated with a second host, the second website configured to provide a second user identification of a second user to the second game server.

53. The network gaming system of claim 46 further comprising a redemption interface for allowing the user to obtain at least one item available through the game system in exchange for a specified number of units associated with the user.

54. The network gaming system of claim 53 wherein one or more of the units are obtained from a monetary purchase.

55. The network gaming system of claim 54 wherein one or more of the units are obtained from a game play.

56. The network gaming system of claim 53 wherein the at least one item comprises cash.

57. The network gaming system of claim 53 wherein the at least one item is selected from the group consisting of an award, a prize, prize credits, cash and game credits.

58. The network gaming system of claim 53 wherein the at least one item comprises an award.

59. The network gaming system of claim 53 wherein the at least one item comprises a prize.

60. The network gaming system of claim 53 wherein the at least one item comprises prize credits.

61. The network gaming system of claim 53 wherein the at least one item comprises game credits.

50. The network gaming system of 46 wherein the account information comprises information regarding prior game play by the user.