Asynchronous persistent group bonus games with preserved game state data
First Claim
1. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor of the machine to perform a method for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the non-transitory program storage device comprising:
- instructions for receiving an indication that a primary game of chance is being played on at least one of the plurality of gaming machines by a player;
instructions for obtaining, using at least in part a bill/ticket acceptor, wager information for the primary game of chance on the at least one of the gaming machines;
instructions for initiating an asynchronous persistent group bonus game from at least one network server;
instructions for operating the asynchronous persistent group bonus game from the at least one network server;
instructions for detecting, at the at least one plurality of gaming machines, a trigger to play a local bonus game;
instructions for instantiating the local bonus game in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game;
instructions for starting the local bonus game in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, the local bonus game having local bonus game state data;
instructions for receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines to terminate the local bonus game; and
instructions for updating the current asynchronous persistent group bonus game to include at least a portion of the local bonus game state data, wherein other players can play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game using at least a portion of the local bonus game state data when playing another local bonus game instantiated in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game,wherein the asynchronous persistent group bonus game remains active after the local bonus game session ends to permit a plurality of players to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method for preserving game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game may have a plurality of gaming machines associated with the asynchronous persistent group bonus game and at least one network server having at least one processor and at least one non-volatile memory. The processor may be configured to determine whether a bonus game session is triggered on any of the plurality of gaming machines; and if the bonus game session is triggered, display live game monitor activities, and periodically save the persistent bonus game state and other data on the at least one non-volatile memory.
487 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor of the machine to perform a method for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the non-transitory program storage device comprising:
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instructions for receiving an indication that a primary game of chance is being played on at least one of the plurality of gaming machines by a player; instructions for obtaining, using at least in part a bill/ticket acceptor, wager information for the primary game of chance on the at least one of the gaming machines; instructions for initiating an asynchronous persistent group bonus game from at least one network server; instructions for operating the asynchronous persistent group bonus game from the at least one network server; instructions for detecting, at the at least one plurality of gaming machines, a trigger to play a local bonus game; instructions for instantiating the local bonus game in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game; instructions for starting the local bonus game in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, the local bonus game having local bonus game state data; instructions for receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines to terminate the local bonus game; and instructions for updating the current asynchronous persistent group bonus game to include at least a portion of the local bonus game state data, wherein other players can play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game using at least a portion of the local bonus game state data when playing another local bonus game instantiated in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, wherein the asynchronous persistent group bonus game remains active after the local bonus game session ends to permit a plurality of players to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising:
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receiving an indication that a primary game of chance is being played on at least one of the plurality of gaming machines by a player; obtaining, using at least in part a bill/ticket acceptor, wager information for the primary game of chance on the at least one of the gaming machines; initiating an asynchronous persistent group bonus game from at least one network server; operating the asynchronous persistent group bonus game from the at least one network server, the asynchronous persistent group bonus game having persistent bonus game state data associated with at least one local bonus game session instantiated in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game; receiving a request, from the at least one plurality of gaming machine, to instantiate and start the local bonus game session in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, the local bonus game session yielding local bonus game state data; receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines to terminate the local bonus game session and save current asynchronous persistent bonus game state data; saving the current persistent bonus game state data on at least one non-volatile memory, the at least one non-volatile memory associated with the at least one network server; and modifying the asynchronous persistent group bonus game to include at least a portion of the local bonus game state data, wherein other players can play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game using at least the portion of the persistent group bonus game state data when playing another local bonus game session instantiated in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, and wherein the asynchronous persistent group bonus game remains active after a local bonus game session ends to permit a plurality of players to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game, comprising:
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a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of gaming machines having a processor configured to execute a primary game of chance and determine if a bonus game session is triggered, and at least one of the plurality of gaming machines having a bill/ticket acceptor; a network server configured to; obtain, using at least in part a bill/ticket acceptor, wager information for a primary game of chance on at least one of the gaming machines; operate an asynchronous persistent group bonus game if it is determined that a bonus game session is triggered by at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, the bonus game session instantiated and started in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, the asynchronous persistent group bonus game having persistent bonus game state data associated with at least one local bonus game session, the local bonus game session yielding local bonus game state data; and save the persistent bonus game state data for the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, the persistent bonus game state data that is saved includes at least a portion of the local bonus game state data, wherein other players can play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game using at least the portion of the persistent group bonus game state data when playing another local bonus game session instantiated in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, wherein the asynchronous persistent group bonus game remains active after a local bonus game session ends to permit a plurality of players to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification