Remote gaming system using separate terminal to set up remote play with a gaming terminal

• US 9,269,222 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• 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, Idris, Fayez
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/861,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• 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
• 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

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. Registration for the mobile device may be via a registration terminal connected in a network with a plurality of gaming terminals. The mobile device may communicate wirelessly with the registration terminal, and the registration terminal then communicates with the played gaming terminal via the network. The mobile device may select to play games offered by any available gaming terminal. The gaming terminals may be gaming machines. The registration terminal may also be a cashing out terminal and print a ticket.

Claims

1. A remote gaming method comprising:

providing a stationary registration terminal within a first regulated gaming venue, the registration terminal having a transceiver for communicating with a mobile gaming device, operated by a player within the first regulated gaming venue, the registration terminal being connected in a network with a plurality of gaming machines including a first gaming terminal;

establishing, via the registration terminal, a wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal to play a first type game;

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

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

transmitting signals by the first gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device to cause the first type game to be displayed on the mobile gaming device;

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

awarding credits to the player based on the final outcome;

limiting the wireless communications link to within a predetermined area within the first regulated venue based on a signal strength of a transmitted wireless signal, wherein the predetermined area is applicable to a plurality of players concurrently remotely playing a plurality of gaming terminals, wherein the step of limiting the wireless communications link to within the predetermined area comprises;

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

detecting, by the mobile gaming device, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals transmitted by the plurality of transceivers to the mobile gaming device, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals conveying a distance between the mobile gaming device to each of the transceivers;

processing, by the mobile gaming device, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals received by the plurality of transceivers to generate processed Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals;

using the processed Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals generated by the mobile gaming device to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within the predetermined area within the first regulated gaming venue; and

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

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the registration terminal includes a printer, the method further comprising;

identifying credits, by the registration terminal, associated with the first player; and

printing out a ticket for redemption by the player.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal is via the network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile gaming device is automatically identified by the registration terminal using a Near Field Communications (NFC) protocol.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first gaming terminal is located in a second regulated gaming venue, wherein the first gaming terminal communicates with the mobile gaming device via a network in the second regulated gaming venue.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of gaming terminals includes gaming terminals located in the first regulated gaming venue and gaming terminals located in a second regulated gaming venue.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the registration terminal acts a communications hub between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first gaming terminal communicates to the registration terminal via the network in the first regulated gaming venue, and the registration terminal communicates wirelessly with the mobile gaming device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the player is anonymous by not using a player tracking card to register.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the mobile gaming device wirelessly transmitting codes to the registration terminal identifying credits for being redeemed by the player.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal is directly between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal via a transceiver in the first gaming terminal.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using the processed Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals generated by the mobile gaming device to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within the predetermined area within the first regulated gaming venue comprises processing circuitry within the mobile gaming device determining from the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals, transmitted by the plurality of transceivers, whether the mobile gaming device is within the predetermined area.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using the processed Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals generated by the mobile gaming device to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within the predetermined area within the first regulated gaming venue comprises the mobile gaming device transmitting the processed Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals to a processing system external to the mobile gaming device to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within the predetermined area.

14. A gaming system comprising a mobile gaming device, a stationary registration terminal, and a first gaming terminal, the stationary registration terminal being within a first regulated gaming venue, the registration terminal having a transceiver for communicating with the mobile gaming device, operated by a player within the first regulated gaming venue, the registration terminal being connected in a network with a plurality of gaming machines including the first gaming terminal, the mobile gaming device, registration terminal, and first gaming terminal being programmed to carry out a method comprising:

establishing, via the registration terminal, a wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal to play a first type game;

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

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

transmitting signals by the first gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device to cause the first type game to be displayed on the mobile gaming device;

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

awarding credits to the player based on the final outcome; and

limiting the wireless communications link to within a predetermined area within the first regulated venue based on a signal strength of a transmitted wireless signal, wherein the predetermined area is applicable to a plurality of players concurrently remotely playing a plurality of gaming terminals, wherein the step of limiting the wireless communications link to within a predetermined area comprises;

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

detecting, by the mobile gaming device, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals transmitted by the plurality of transceivers to the mobile gaming device, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals conveying a distance between the mobile gaming device to each of the transceivers;

processing, by the mobile gaming device, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals received by the plurality of transceivers to generate processed Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals;

using the processed Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals generated by the mobile gaming device to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within the predetermined area within the first regulated gaming venue; and

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

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the registration terminal includes a printer, the method further comprising;

identifying credits, by the registration terminal, associated with the first player; and

printing out a ticket for redemption by the player.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal is via the network.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the first gaming terminal is located in a second regulated gaming venue, wherein the first gaming terminal communicates with the mobile gaming device via a network in the second regulated gaming venue.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of gaming terminals includes gaming terminals located in the first regulated gaming venue and gaming terminals located in a second regulated gaming venue.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the registration terminal acts a communications hub between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first gaming terminal communicates to the registration terminal via the network in the first regulated gaming venue, and the registration terminal communicates wirelessly with the mobile gaming device.

21. The system of claim 14 further comprising the mobile gaming device wireles sly transmitting codes to the registration terminal identifying credits for being redeemed by the player.