Gaming devices having player assigned random number generators and time share feature

• US 8,834,253 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Tipping Point Group, LLC
• Inventors: Tarantino, Elia Rocco
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US13/207,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20130040728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 463/22
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

Gaming machines utilize the output of random number generators (RNGs) in the presentation of games, wherein one or more of the RNGs is each assigned to a single player. Each uniquely assigned RNG is used to determine the outcome of the games played only by the assigned player, such as games presented by casino gaming machines or via remote or mobile devices. An RNG may also be stopped or paused and then restarted, whereby a sequence of random data remains continuous or contiguous relative to a number of games played, such as by the single player to which the RNG is assigned. Multiple players may also time-share a gaming machine in a manner whereby the gaming machine acts as a unique device to each player.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising at least one gaming machine configured to present a game to at least a first player and a second player, the improvement comprising:

a first random number generator configured to generate first data, said first random number generator assigned to said first player; and

a second random number generator configured to generate second data, said second random number generator assigned to said second player, said gaming machine utilizing said first data and not said second data when presenting games to said first player and said gaming machine utilizing said second data and not said first data when presenting games to said second player.

2. The gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first random number generator and second random number generator are implemented by a server which is remote from said at least one gaming machine.

3. The gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gaming machine comprises a housing, a controller, at least one player input device, a wager accepting device and at least one display device and is configured to present one or more wagering games.

4. The gaming system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said wagering games are selected from the group consisting of:

a poker game, a blackjack game, a slot game, a keno game and a bingo game.

5. The gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second game data comprise numerical values.

6. The gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one gaming machine comprises a game server.

7. The gaming system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said game server is configured to present a game via a remote computer or mobile communication device.

8. The gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gaming machine utilizes said first random number generator during a first time period comprising a reserved period of game play for said first player.

9. The gaming system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said gaming machine utilizes said second random number generator during a second time period comprising a reserved period of game play for said second player.

10. A method of presenting games to at least a first player and a second player of at least one gaming machine comprising:

assigning a first random number generator to said first player and a second random number generator to said second player;

determining the identity of a player of said at least one gaming machine;

if said player is identified to be said first player, utilizing first data generated by said first random number generator and not said second data generated by said second random number generator to present one or more games to said first player at said at least one gaming machine; and

if said player is identified to be said second player, utilizing said second data generated by said second random number generator and not said first data generated by said first random number generator to present one or more games to said second player at said at least one gaming machine.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising the step of receiving player identification information.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said receiving step comprises reading information associated with a player provided media.

13. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first random number generator and second random number generator are implemented by a server which is remote from said at least one gaming machine.

14. The method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising the step of reserving said at least one gaming machine for play only by said first player or said second player during at least one reserved time period.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising the step of using said identify of said player during said at least one reserved time period to confirm access of said player to said gaming machine.

16. A method of presenting games to a player of a gaming machine comprising:

starting a random number generator which generates a sequence of data;

utilizing data from said random number generator to present a first number of games to said player at said gaming machine;

stopping said random number generator when said player ceases game play;

restarting said random number generator when said player re-initiates game play; and

utilizing data from said random number generator to present a second number of games to said player at said gaming machine.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said random number generator stops at a first point in said sequence of data and restarts at the successive point in said sequence of data.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said data comprises numerical values.

19. A method of presenting games to at least a first player and a second player of a gaming machine comprising:

assigning a first random number generator to said first player and a second random number generator to said second player;

during a first time period of game play reserved by said first player;

confirming the identity of said first player of said gaming machine; and

utilizing first data generated by said first random number generator to present one or more games to said first player at said gaming machine; and

during a second time period of game play reserved by said second player;

confirming the identity of said second player of said gaming machine; and

utilizing said second data generated by said second random number generator to present one or more games to said second player at said gaming machine.