Gaming system and method providing a user device that receives and stores reel sets for subsequent game plays

• US 8,827,798 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/247,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

System and method providing reel sets for subsequent plays. A user playing a user device wagers a wager amount on a play of a game. The user device displays a base reel set spinning. A server determines an outcome for the current play and a second reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount. The server communicates second reel set data and outcome data to the user device. The reels are stopped in accordance with the determined outcome. When the user wagers that same wager amount on another play of that game, the user device displays the second play of that game using the second reel set, the server determines a third reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount, and communicates third reel set data to the user device.

Claims

1. A user device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, for a user;

(a) for a first play of a game starting at a first point in time and employing a stored first reel set;

(i)receive, from a remote controller;

(A) second reel set data representing a second reel set for use in a second subsequent play of the game to start at a second subsequent point in time, and

(B) first outcome data representing a first outcome associated with the first reel set for the first play of the game;

(ii) store the second reel set data and the first outcome data; and

(iii) after receiving and storing the second reel set data and the first outcome data, display the first outcome; and

(b) for the second play of the game starting at the second point in time, after receiving the second reel set data and the first outcome data;

(i) receive, from the remote controller;

(A) second outcome data representing a second outcome associated with the second reel set for the second play of the game, and

(B) third reel set data representing a third reel set for use in a third subsequent play of the game to start at a third subsequent point in time;

(ii) store the third reel set data and the second outcome data; and

(iii) after receiving and storing the third reel set data and the second outcome data, display the second outcome.

2. The user device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to execute (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

3. The user device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to identify the user.

4. The user device of claim 1, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

5. The user device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to store the second reel set data and the third reel set data in the at least one memory device.

6. A user device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, for a user, for each play of a game, said play of the game employing a stored reel set previously received from a remote controller;

(a) receive, from the remote controller;

(i) outcome data representing an outcome associated with said stored reel set for said play of the game, and

(ii) second reel set data representing a second reel set for use in a second play of the game to start subsequent to the start of said play of the game;

(b) store the outcome data and the second reel set data; and

(c) after receiving and storing the outcome data and the second reel set data, display said outcome.

7. The user device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to execute (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

8. The user device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to identify the user.

9. The user device of claim 6, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

10. The user device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to store the second reel set data in the at least one memory device.

11. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising, for a user:

(a) for a first play of a game starting at a first point in time and employing a stored first reel set;

(i) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to receive, from a remote controller;

(A) second reel set data representing a second reel set for use in a second subsequent play of the game to start at a second subsequent point in time, and

(B) first outcome data representing a first outcome associated with the first reel set for the first play of the game;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store the second reel set data and the first outcome data; and

(iii) after receiving and storing the second reel set data and the first outcome data, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display the first outcome; and

(b) for the second play of the game starting at the second point in time, after receiving the second reel set data and the first outcome data;

(i)causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to receive, from the remote controller;

(A) second outcome data representing a second outcome associated with the second reel set for the second play of the game, and

(B) third reel set data representing a third reel set for use in a third subsequent play of the game to start at a third subsequent point in time;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store the third reel set data and the second outcome data; and

(iii) after receiving and storing the third reel set data and the second outcome data, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the second outcome.

12. The method of claim 11, which includes providing (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

13. The method of claim 11, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to identify the user.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

15. The method of claim 11, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store the second reel set data and the third reel set data in the at least one memory device.

16. The method of claim 11, which is provided through a data network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data network is the internet.

18. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

for a user, for each play of a game, said play of the game employing a stored reel set previously received from a remote controller;

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to receive, from the remote controller;

(i)outcome data representing an outcome associated with the stored reel set for said play of the game, and

(ii) second reel set data representing a second reel set for use in a second play of the game to start subsequent to the start of said play of the game;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store the outcome data and the second reel set data; and

(c) after receiving and storing the outcome data and the second reel set data, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display said outcome.

19. The method of claim 18, which includes providing (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

20. The method of claim 18, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to identify the user.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

22. The method of claim 18, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store the second reel set data in the at least one memory device.

23. The method of claim 18, which is provided through a data network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the data network is the internet.