Method and apparatus for linked play gaming

• US 9,412,218 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Santisi, Steven M., Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/671,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,472 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for providing linked play via gaming and other devices. In some embodiments, a casino server registers a group for linked play and a group objective and format are established. The linked play commences according to the group format on the gaming devices while the casino server, or another device, concurrently facilitates interaction between the group members operating the gaming devices. The linked play is terminated according to the group format and a determination is made by the casino server whether the group objective has been achieved. Prizes are awarded via the gaming devices if the group objective was achieved.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method implemented by a server that enables connection of gaming devices over a network, comprising:

establishing a plurality of groups by the server that manages a group session database, the group session database includes group identifiers for each group including players involved in multiplayer play at gaming devices over the network;

outputting, by the server, on a website an indication of each group of the plurality of groups, along with a description of a game the group is involved with;

providing, by the server, on the website an interface through which players may browse the plurality of groups, wherein any player may browse the plurality of groups without having received any invitation to join any group of the plurality of groups and without any player being required to be a friend of players in any one of the plurality of groups, wherein being a friend includes having a preexisting relationship; and

allowing, by the server, a subsequent player to join one of the plurality of groups, wherein joining one of the plurality of groups includes establishing a link between players in that players that joined a group have agreed to split a prize if the group'"'"'s winnings exceed an amount;

processing the game by the server, the processing includes enabling players that joined the group to play via the gaming devices that include a first gaming device and a second gaming device,

the processing by the server enables viewing video images related to the game being rendered on the first gaming device via the second gaming device;

the processing by the server enables the second gaming device to remotely take control of the first gaming device to make remote decisions and take actions over the network regarding play of the game being processed by the server for the first gaming device;

wherein providing the interface further includes listing a number of members needed within one or more of the plurality of groups in order to play the game.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein providing the interface comprises providing a menu of existing groups.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein providing the interface comprises listing a number of members within one or more of the plurality of groups.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein providing the interface comprises listing information about the group including at least one of:

a group objective, progress towards a group objective, money needed to join the group, requirements to join the group, and benefit provided if a group objective is met.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein providing the interface comprises providing a web interface.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein allowing the subsequent player to join one of the plurality of groups comprises querying members of the group about whether to let the subsequent player join.

7. A system comprising:

a server connected to a network, the server including a processor for interacting with a group session database, the group session database implements group identifiers, the processor is configured to,

establish a plurality of groups, each group including players involved in multiplayer play at gaming devices over the network, and each group including a group identifier stored in a group session database;

provide to a website an indication of each group of the plurality of groups, along with a description of a game the group is involved with;

provide to the website an interface through which players may browse the plurality of groups, wherein any player may browse the plurality of groups without having received any invitation to join any group of the plurality of groups and without any player being a friend of players in any one of the plurality of groups, wherein being a friend includes having a preexisting relationship; and

allow a subsequent player to join one of the plurality of groups, wherein joining one of the plurality of groups includes establishing a link between players in that players that joined a group have agreed to split a prize if the group'"'"'s winnings exceed an amount,

process the game by the server, the processing includes enabling players that joined the group to play via the gaming devices that include a first gaming device and a second gaming device,

the process by the server enables viewing video images related to the game being rendered on the first gaming device via the second gaming device;

the process by the server enables the second gaming device to remotely take control of the first gaming device to make remote decisions and take actions over the network regarding play of the game being processed by the server for the first gaming device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein providing the indication of each group of the plurality of groups further includes identifying a number of members needed within one or more of the plurality of groups to play the game.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising,

generating, by the server, results from play of the game by each of the gaming devices;

transmitting the results to the gaming devices, the results being for each player in the group.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising,

a chat program executed by the server, the chat program enabling chat interaction between the players of the group.

11. The computer implemented method 1, further comprising,

generating, by the server, results from play of the game by each of the gaming devices;

transmitting the results to the gaming devices, the results being for each player in the group.

12. The computer implemented method 1, further comprising,

a chat program executed by the server, the chat program enabling chat interaction between the players of the group.