Remote gaming method allowing temporary inactivation without terminating playing session due to game inactivity

• US 9,208,641 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Igt Canada Solutions Ulc (GTECH SpA)
• Original Assignee: Igt Canada Solutions Ulc (GTECH SpA)
• Inventors: Froy, David Vincent Jr., Babin, Peter, Gadher, Bharat
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/861,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/24, 463/29, 463/39, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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

Abstract

A mobile gaming device may be a player'"'"'s own personal tablet, smartphone, PDA, etc., with an application program installed via the internet for carrying out a remote gaming session. All gaming functions are carried out by a stationary gaming terminal communicating with the mobile device, such as by using WiFi. The mobile device operates as a user interface. If the communications link is temporarily broken during a game, the mobile device will create the appearance that the game is continuous, such as by continuing to spin reels, until communications are reestablished. The reels will stop once the mobile device receives the final outcome from the gaming terminal. The player may pause the game to temporarily suspend the minimum game frequency rules. The mobile device may switch between gaming terminals. For 3D video, the original format is adjusted for the mobile device. The gaming terminal may be a gaming machine.

Claims

1. A remote gaming method comprising:

establishing a communications link between a mobile gaming device, operated by a player, and a stationary gaming terminal that carries out a gaming program, the gaming program including game inactivity rules requiring a maximum allowable time between games to prevent a remote gaming session from being terminated, each new game requiring a player to initiate it, wherein, during a remote gaming session, the stationary gaming machine is not available for use by another player to play games using another mobile gaming device;

receiving player control signals by the gaming terminal from the mobile gaming device to initiate a game;

displaying the game to the player on the mobile gaming device;

carrying out the game by the gaming terminal, including determining a final outcome of the game and any award for the outcome;

transmitting signals by the gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award;

ending the game and displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the game and the award;

allowing the player to pause the remote gaming session between games by entering a command via the mobile gaming device to pause the remote gaming session for a certain time;

in response to the command being entered, suspending the game inactivity rules, by the gaming terminal, for the certain time so the remote gaming session does not terminate due to game inactivity, wherein, when the game inactivity rules are suspended, the stationary gaming machine remains not available for use by another player using another mobile gaming device;

receiving a first signal by the gaming terminal indicating that the player is again using the mobile gaming device to play a new game;

re-applying the game inactivity rules after the first signal is received; and

terminating the gaming session if the player does not use the mobile gaming device to play a game within the certain time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming terminal has a display screen, and wherein the gaming machine may be directly played using the display screen.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming machine and mobile gaming device are operated within a same venue.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile gaming device is one of a tablet and a smartphone.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the mobile gaming device is an off-the-shelf tablet or smartphone containing a remote gaming application.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the game is a video reels type game.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the player owns the mobile gaming device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

periodically controlling the mobile gaming device to communicate between a plurality of transceivers in a venue;

using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals derived by communications with the transceivers to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within a designated area within the venue; and

if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, blocking the mobile gaming device from carrying out the game.

9. A gaming system comprising a stationary gaming terminal and a mobile gaming device programmed to carry out the method comprising:

establishing a communications link between the mobile gaming device, operated by a player, and the stationary gaming terminal that carries out a gaming program, the gaming program including game inactivity rules requiring a maximum allowable time between games to prevent a remote gaming session from being terminated, each new game requiring a player to initiate it, wherein, during a remote gaming session, the stationary gaming machine is not available for use by another player to play games using another mobile gaming device;

receiving player control signals by the gaming terminal from the mobile gaming device to initiate a game;

displaying the game to the player on the mobile gaming device;

carrying out the game by the gaming terminal, including determining a final outcome of the game and any award for the outcome;

transmitting signals by the gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award;

ending the game and displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the game and the award;

allowing the player to pause the remote gaming session between games by entering a command via the mobile gaming device to pause the remote gaming session for a certain time;

in response to the command being entered, suspending the game inactivity rules, by the gaming terminal, for the certain time so the remote gaming session does not terminate due to game inactivity, wherein, when the game inactivity rules are suspended, the stationary gaming machine remains not available for use by another player using another mobile gaming device;

receiving a first signal by the gaming terminal indicating that the player is again using the mobile gaming device to play a new game;

re-applying the game inactivity rules after the first signal is received; and

terminating the gaming session if the player does not use the mobile gaming device to play a game within the certain time.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the gaming machine has a display screen, and wherein the gaming machine may be directly played using the display screen.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the gaming machine and mobile gaming device are operated within a same venue.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the mobile gaming device is one of a tablet and a smartphone.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile gaming device is an off-the-shelf tablet or smartphone containing a remote gaming application.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the game is a video reels type game.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the player owns the mobile gaming device.

16. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

periodically controlling the mobile gaming device to communicate between a plurality of transceivers in a venue;

using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals derived by communications with the transceivers to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within a designated area within the venue; and

if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, blocking the mobile gaming device from carrying out the game.