Gaming system and method for providing and redeeming partial wagering game outcomes

• US 8,992,302 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Tedesco, Daniel E., Hayashida, Jeffrey Y., Sammon, Russell P., Tulley, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US14/031,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Methods, computer readable media and systems related to wagering games, and in particular those that concern providing and redeeming partial game outcomes. One example method includes receiving a completion request from a player who is operating a gaming device to complete at least one partial game outcome. The partial game outcome was previously provided to the player, who used a first device that is different than the gaming device. This example method includes determining that the player is entitled to a complete game outcome, displaying the partial game outcome on the gaming device, determining the complete game outcome, and then displaying the complete game outcome.

Claims

1. A gaming system server comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

(a) at a first point in time;

(i) enable a player at a first gaming device to initiate a play of a game,

(ii) determine a partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game, said determined partial game outcome not being associated with any monetary award at the first point in time, and

(iii) cause the first gaming device to display the determined partial game outcome; and

(b) at a second, subsequent point in time;

(i) enable the player at a second, different gaming device to request a completion of the determined partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game,

(ii) determine a complete game outcome for the initiated play of the game, said determined complete game outcome based, at least in part, on the determined partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game,

(iii) cause the second gaming device to display the determined complete game outcome,

(iv) determine any monetary awards associated with the determined complete game outcome, and

(v) cause the second gaming device to display any determined monetary awards associated with the determined complete game outcome.

2. The gaming system server of claim 1, wherein the first gaming device is configured to communicate with the at least one processor through an internet.

3. The gaming system server of claim 1, wherein the first gaming device includes a cellular phone associated with the player.

4. The gaming system server of claim 1, wherein the generation of the partial game outcome occurs in association with an online casino.

5. The gaming system server of claim 1, wherein independent of the determined partial game outcome and independent of the determined complete game outcome, at the first point in time, the initiated play of the game is a wagering game associated with non-monetary credits and at the second point in time, the initiated play of the game is a wagering game associated with monetary credits.

6. The gaming system server of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine if the player is eligible to complete the determined partial game outcome and if the player is ineligible to complete the determined partial game outcome, not determine any complete game outcomes for the initiated play of the game and not cause the second display device to display any determined complete game outcomes.

7. A gaming system server comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

(a) receive a completion request from a player operating a gaming device to complete at least one partial game outcome that was previously determined for the player, wherein the at least one partial game outcome was obtained by the player through use of a first device different than the gaming device and when the at least one partial game outcome was previously determined, the at least one partial game outcome was not associated with any monetary award,

(b) determine that the player is entitled to at least one complete game outcome associated with a monetary award,

(c) cause the gaming device to display the at least one partial game outcome,

(d) determine, based at least in part on the at least one partial game outcome, at least one complete game outcome, and

(e) cause the monetary award associated with the at least one complete game outcome to be provided to the player.

8. The gaming system server of claim 7, wherein the first device is configured to communicate with the at least one processor through an internet.

9. The gaming system server of claim 7, wherein the first device includes a cellular phone associated with the player.

10. The gaming system server of claim 7, wherein the generation of the partial game outcome occurs in association with an online casino.

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

(a) at a first point in time;

(i) enabling a player at a first gaming device to initiate a play of a game,

(ii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game, said determined partial game outcome not being associated with any monetary award at the first point in time, and

(iii) causing the first gaming device to display the determined partial game outcome; and

(b) at a second, subsequent point in time;

(i) enabling the player at a second, different gaming device to request a completion of the determined partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a complete game outcome for the initiated play of the game, said determined complete game outcome based, at least in part, on the determined partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game,

(iii) causing the second gaming device to display the determined complete game outcome,

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any monetary awards associated with the determined complete game outcome, and

(v) causing the second gaming device to display any determined monetary awards associated with the determined complete game outcome.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first gaming device is configured to communicate with the at least one processor through an internet.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first gaming device includes a cellular phone associated with the player.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the generation of the partial game outcome occurs in association with an online casino.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein independent of the determined partial game outcome and independent of the determined complete game outcome, at the first point in time, the initiated play of the game is a wagering game associated with non-monetary credits and at the second point in time, the initiated play of the game is a wagering game associated with monetary credits.

16. The method of claim 11, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the player is eligible to complete the determined partial game outcome and if the player is ineligible to complete the determined partial game outcome, not determine any complete game outcomes for the initiated play of the game and not cause the second display device to display any determined complete game outcomes.

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

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

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

(a) receiving a completion request from a player operating a gaming device to complete at least one partial game outcome that was previously determined for the player, wherein the at least one partial game outcome was obtained by the player through use of a first device different than the gaming device and when the at least one partial game outcome was previously determined, the at least one partial game outcome was not associated with any monetary award,

(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine that the player is entitled to at least one complete game outcome associated with a monetary award,

(c) causing the gaming device to display the at least one partial game outcome,

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based at least in part on the at least one partial game outcome, at least one complete game outcome, and

(e) causing the monetary award associated with the at least one complete game outcome to be provided to the player.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first device is configured to communicate with the at least one processor through an internet.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first device includes a cellular phone associated with the player.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the generation of the partial game outcome occurs in association with an online casino.

23. The method of claim 19, which is provided through a data network.

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