Method and apparatus for integrating remotely-hosted and locally rendered content on a gaming device

• US 8,777,737 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Beaulieu, Nicole M., Gipp, David A., Little, William C., de Waal, Daniel, Manfredi, Vincent S., Bullard, Bryan, Iddings, Cara L., Schneider, Richard J., Russell, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US11/595,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20070243925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,804 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/32, 463/33, 463/34, 463/35, 463/16, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming system including a number of host devices each coupled to one or more gaming machines, wherein content provided by the host device is output on the gaming machine. To output the content provided by the remote host, a host-controlled process that is authenticated by the gaming machine and executed in a secure memory location such that it is isolated from other processes executing on the gaming machine may be utilized. The host-controlled processes may be decoupled from the process used to execute the game of chance played on the gaming machine such that the content output by the host-controlled process doesn'"'"'t alter the play of game of chance.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a video display;

a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote host;

a master gaming controller, including at least one CPU and a memory, configured to;

(a) control a play of a wager-based game by executing at least one process using said at least one CPU and said memory,

(b) communicate to the remote host a description of at least one gaming device gaming resource that is available for use by the remote host via a first process executed on the gaming device, wherein the first process is not required to be approved by any regulatory gaming authority in any jurisdiction which permits wager-based gaming,

(c) execute the first process using said at least one CPU and said memory to generate a plurality of first video images for output to the video display wherein content of the first video images over time is controlled by the remote host,

(d) receive from the remote host data associated with generating the first video images wherein an increase or a decrease in a utilization of CPU cycles on the at least one CPU by the first process is responsive to the data received from the remote host,

(e) execute a second process using said at least one CPU and said memory to generate a plurality of second video images for output to the video display, said second video images including an outcome of the play of the wager-based game wherein the first process and the second process share CPU cycles on the at least one CPU, wherein the second process is required to be approved by a regulatory gaming authority in a jurisdiction which permits wager-based gaming,

(f) monitor and limit the utilization of the CPU cycles by the first process, and

(g) separate information communicated to the remote host into;

(i) a first part including the data that enables the first process to output the first video images, and

(ii) a second part including secure gaming device transactions wherein the secure gaming device transactions include at least one of;

at least one transaction related to credits, at least one transaction related to money handling and at least one transaction related to a state of the wager-based game;

an input mechanism configured to receive at least one of cash and an indicia of credit; and

an output mechanism configured to output at least one of cash and an indicia of credit.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to:

monitor the at least one gaming device gaming resource utilized by the first process, and

prevent the first process from utilizing more than a limited amount of the at least one gaming device gaming resource.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, where the at least one gaming device gaming resource is selected from the group consisting:

of CPU usage, memory usage, graphics processing usage, network bandwidth usage, sound card usage, video card usage, power usage and peripheral device usage.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to receive a download of the during the play of the wager-based game and the download changes the content of the first video images.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to send information to the remote host indicating an amount of the at least one gaming device gaming resources that the first process is enabled to utilize while the outcome of the play of the wager-based game is generated on the gaming device.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to store the data in the memory.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the master gaming controller is configured, when initializing a communication session with the remote host, to send information regarding the data stored in the memory.

8. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to delete all or a portion of the after a communication session with the remote host is terminated.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is confiqured to initiate a communication session with the remote host and to terminate the communication session with the remote host wherein the first process is generated after the communication session is initiated and prior to the termination of the communication session.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is confiqured to request from the remote host information relating to the content of the first video images previously displayed on the gaming device.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part are communicated using different communication protocols.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to only output information via the video display.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is confiqured to output sound via at least one audio components coupled to the gaming device.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the first process is confiqured to output information only via the video display and via the at least one audio component.

15. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein a content of the sound that is output over time via the first process is controlled by the remote host.

16. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to receive from the remote host sound data that enables the first process to output the sound.

17. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the second process is configured to output the sound associated with the wager-based game via the at least one audio component.

18. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to generate a third process configured to control access of the first process and the second process to the at least one audio component.

19. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral devices coupled to the gaming device.

20. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is configured to send a command to activate a feature of a peripheral device coupled to the gaming device.

21. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to prevent the first process from activating another feature of the peripheral device.

22. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to enable the first process to activate a first feature of the peripheral device and to prevent the first process from activating a second feature of the peripheral device.

23. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to enable at least one of the first process and the remote host to receive information related to an activation of a feature on a peripheral device.

24. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of:

a touch screen sensor, a card reader, a bill validator, a bonus device, a mechanical button, a wireless interface, a ticket reader, a key pad and a coin acceptor.

25. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first process is unable to output the first video images to the video display without first receiving at least a portion of the data from the remote host that enables the first process to output the first video images.

26. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second process is configured to generate the second video images with first dimensions to fit a first portion of the video display and to generate the second video images with second dimensions to fit a second portion of the video display.

27. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first video images include components corresponding to at least one active areas of a touch screen sensor coupled to the video display.

28. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to receive information from an input device coupled to the gaming device wherein in response to receiving the information the master gaming controller is configured to prevent the first process from utilizing the video display.

29. A gaming device comprising:

a gaming interface including a plurality of input devices and at least one output device configured to display an outcome of a play of a wager-based game;

a communication interface configured to enable communications with a remote host;

a master gaming controller configured to;

(a) provide;

(i) a first resource partition associated with first gaming resources wherein the first gaming resources include a processor, a memory and a portion of the gaming interface, and

(ii) a second resource partition associated with at least one second gaming resource, wherein the first resource partition and the second resource partition share processing resources used to generate a plurality of video images associated with the play of the wager-based game,

(b) execute an interface process in the first resource partition wherein the interface process is only enabled to utilize the first gaming resources, wherein the interface process is not required to be approved by any regulatory gaming authority in any jurisdiction which permits wager-based gaming,

(c) receive information from the remote host that enables the remote host to utilize the portion of the gaming interface via the interface process,

(d) enable execution in the second resource partition of at least one gaming process to generate the outcome of the play of the wager-based game, wherein the at least one gaming process is required to be approved by a regulatory gaming authority in a jurisdiction which permits wager-based gaming,

(e) prevent the interface process from using more than an allocated amount of the first gaming resources, wherein the interface process is configured to increase or decrease a utilization of the first gaming resources in response to commands received from the remote host,

(f) establish a communication session with the remote host that enables the remote host to send the information that enables the remote host to utilize the portion of the gaming interface via the interface process during the play of the wager-based game and without affecting the integrity of software associated with the play of the wager-based game so as not to alter;

the play of the wager-based game and the outcome of the wager-based game, and

(g) communicate to the remote host a description of the first gaming resources and at least one usage limitation associated with the first gaming resources that are available for use by the remote host via execution of the interface process in the first resource partition; and

a resource partition manager configured to;

(a) prevent the interface process from using more than the allocated amount of the first gaming resources, and

(b) control execution of processes in the first resource partition including the interface process.

30. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to determine at least one of:

the utilization of the first gaming resources, and a utilization of the at least one second gaming resource.

31. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to prevent the interface process from using more than the allocated amount of at least one of:

CPU cycles, memory, graphics processor cycles, network bandwidth, sound card usage, video card usage, power usage, and peripheral device usage.

32. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein when it is determined that the interface process and a first gaming process of the at least one gaming processes are requesting control of a device associated with the portion of the gaming interface, the master gaming controller is configured to arbitrate control of the device.

33. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a video display and the interface process is configured to receive the information from the remote host including data that enables the interface process to generate video images.

34. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a first portion of a video display and the interface process is configured to receive the information from the remote host including data that enables the interface process to generate video images for the first portion of the video display.

35. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to enable the interface process to generate the video images for the first portion of the video display while the outcome of the wager-based game is displayed on a second portion of the video display.

36. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a video display coupled to a touch screen sensor.

37. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the portion of the gaming interface includes a video display and at least one device for providing audio output wherein the interface process is configured to output at least one of video content, and audio content via the portion of the gaming interface in accordance with the information received from the remote host.

38. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein in response to the information received from the remote host, at least one of the video content, and the audio content output via the portion of the gaming interface is varied as of function of time.

39. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the only portion of the gaming interface that the interface process is enabled to access is a video display.

40. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one memory device;

at least one local processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device, the at least one input device and the at least one memory device and to communicate with a remote host to;

(a) enable a player to wager on a play of a primary game,

(b) generate a primary game outcome for said play of the primary game using a game process, wherein the game process is required to be approved by a regulatory gaming authority in a jurisdiction which permits wager-based gaming,

(c) cause a first portion of said at least one display device to display the play of the primary game,

(d) display to the player the generated primary game outcome by generating a plurality of first video images including the primary game outcome,

(e) receive at least one request from the remote host to provide at least one remote controlled process that generates a plurality of second video images to be output on a second portion of the at least one display device, wherein the at least one remote controlled process is not required to be approved by any regulatory gaming authority in any jurisdiction which permits wager-based gaming and said at least one remote controlled process is configured to not affect the integrity of software associated with the play of the primary game so as not to alter;

the play of the primary game and the outcome of the play of the primary game,

(f) in response to receiving said request to provide said at least one remote controlled process, determine an availability of at least one gaming device resource, and

(g) if the determination is that said at least one gaming device resource is available;

(i) accept the request to provide said at least one remote controlled process,

(ii) send the remote host a description of the at least one gaming device resource that is available for use by the remote host via execution of the at least one remote controlled process including dimensions of the second portion of the at least one display device,

(iii) enable the remote host to cause said second portion of the at least one display device to display the second video images generated by said at least one remote controlled process, wherein said at least one remote controlled process is displayed simultaneously with the play of the primary game and the first video images include the primary game outcome and the second video images generated by said at least one remote controlled process are generated using a shared set of video processing resources including CPU cycles on the at least one local processor,

(iv) monitor at least a utilization of the shared set of video processing resources by the at least one remote controlled process, and

(v) prevent the utilization of the shared set of video processing resources by the at least one remote controlled process from exceeding at least one usage limitation.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the primary game is stored on said at least one memory device.

42. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein a plurality of primary games are stored on said at least one memory device.

43. The gaming device of claim 42, wherein said remote host instructs the at least one local processor to select one of said primary games.

44. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the primary game is stored remotely from said gaming device.

45. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the at least one local processor is configured to communicate data representing the generated primary game outcome to the remote host and the remote host modifies the at least one remote controlled process based on said generated primary game outcome.

46. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the at least one remote controlled process includes causing at least one service to become available to the player.

47. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the at least one remote controlled process includes causing at least one enhanced function of the gaming device to become available to the player.

48. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein the enhanced function is at least one of:

(1) displaying information relating to at least one aspect of the player'"'"'s gaming experience;

(2) providing at least one of personalized audio content and personalized video content at the gaming machine;

(3) enabling the player to pick the primary game to play from a plurality of available primary games;

(4) enabling the player to place at least one side-bet;

(5) enabling the player to play for at least one progressive award;

(6) enabling the player to participate in a gaming tournament;

(7) providing a virtual ATM at the gaming device;

(8) providing a virtual entertainment center at the gaming device;

(9) providing a virtual lottery machine at the gaming device;

(10) providing a virtual change machine at the gaming device;

(11) providing a virtual sports book at the gaming device;

(12) providing a virtual communication center at the gaming device;

(13) providing a virtual concierge at the gaming device;

(14) providing a virtual vending machine at the gaming device;

(15) providing a virtual internet kiosk at the gaming device;

(16) enabling the player to customize at least one aspect of the content displayed on the display device;

(17) enabling the player to customize at least one aspect of a gaming device interface;

(18) enabling the player to enroll in a player tracking system;

(19) enabling the player to play a plurality of primary games simultaneously at the gaming device;

(20) enabling the player to access personal settings at the gaming device;

(21) enabling the player to access a score card of accomplished events;

(22) enabling the player to access a tournament leader board; and

(23) enabling the player to select a favorite type of award to play for.

49. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein the at least one local processor is programmed to enable a transfer of a quantity of credits to enable the enhanced function.

50. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the remote controlled process includes providing at least one outcome to the player.

51. The gaming device of claim, 50 wherein the at least one outcome is at least one of:

(1) a value;

(2) a modifier;

(3) an entry in an award drawing;

(4) an entry in a tournament;

(5) an additional player tracking point;

(6) a session surprise award;

(7) a modifier of any primary game awards for a set amount of time;

(8) a number of free or discounted spins or activations of a game;

(9) a prize;

(10) a progressive award;

(11) a retrigger to be utilized in the primary game;

(12) a wild symbol to be utilized in the primary game;

(13) an anti-terminator to be utilized in the primary game;

(14) a bonus game;

(15) a nudge of at least one reel in a reel game;

(16) a hold of at least one reel in the reel game;

(17) a scatter type pay;

(18) at least one additional payline in the reel game; and

(19) at least one additional way to win in the reel game.