Social gaming
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A social gaming system, comprising:
- a gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information, the game of chance being operated on the gaming machine for a user using a base gaming session; and
a social gaming server configured to;
communicate with the gaming machine;
maintain one or more social contacts for the user of the gaming machine;
transmit the one or more social contacts for display on a display of the gaming machine;
receive a selection of the one or more social contacts;
establish a remote gaming session with at least one user device associated with the selected social contact;
distribute at least a portion of the game information to the at least one user device after the remote gaming session is established;
permit simultaneous participation in the game of chance via the at least one user device and the gaming machine, the remote gaming session used to permit remote participation in the game of chance operating on the gaming machine via the at least one user device using the base gaming session;
determine whether a social award is to be awarded to the selected social contact based on playing the game of chance at the gaming machine, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is distinct from and not associated with the game of chance played on the gaming machine;
determine a percentage of the social award to be awarded to the selected social contact if the determining determines that the social award is to be awarded, the percentage being based on input provided by the user of the gaming machine; and
award the social award to the selected social contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system, apparatus, and method for social gaming includes at least one gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information and a social gaming server configured to: communicate with the at least one gaming machine; establish a remote gaming session between the gaming machine and at least one user device; and distribute at least a portion of the game information to the at least one user device.
504 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A social gaming system, comprising:
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a gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information, the game of chance being operated on the gaming machine for a user using a base gaming session; and a social gaming server configured to; communicate with the gaming machine; maintain one or more social contacts for the user of the gaming machine; transmit the one or more social contacts for display on a display of the gaming machine; receive a selection of the one or more social contacts; establish a remote gaming session with at least one user device associated with the selected social contact; distribute at least a portion of the game information to the at least one user device after the remote gaming session is established; permit simultaneous participation in the game of chance via the at least one user device and the gaming machine, the remote gaming session used to permit remote participation in the game of chance operating on the gaming machine via the at least one user device using the base gaming session; determine whether a social award is to be awarded to the selected social contact based on playing the game of chance at the gaming machine, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is distinct from and not associated with the game of chance played on the gaming machine; determine a percentage of the social award to be awarded to the selected social contact if the determining determines that the social award is to be awarded, the percentage being based on input provided by the user of the gaming machine; and award the social award to the selected social contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A social gaming server, comprising:
a social game session manager configured to; maintain one or more social contacts for a user of a gaming machine; transmit the one or more social contacts for display on a display of the gaming machine; receive a selection of the one or more social contacts; establish a social game session between a gaming machine and at least one user device associated with the selected one or more social contacts to facilitate simultaneous play of the game of chance on the gaming machine by the selected one or more social contact and the user; acquire gaming information concerning a game of chance operating on the gaming machine; determine portions of gaming information to be distributed to the at least one user device; initiate transfer of the portions of gaming information to the at least one user device; determine whether a social award is to be awarded to the selected one or more social contacts based on playing the game of chance on the gaming machine, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is distinct from and not associated with the game of chance played on the gaming machine; distribute the social award to be awarded to the selected one or more social contacts if the determining determines that the social award is to be awarded; award the social award to the selected one or more social contacts. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for distributing game information, comprising:
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operating, by a gaming machine, a game of chance to produce game information, the game of chance providing monetary awards, and the gaming machine being a dedicated gaming machine provided in an authorized gaming establishment; presenting at least one social contact on a display of the gaming machine, each of the at least one social contact having an associated indicator displayed on the display and configured to indicate whether the at least one social contact is available; receiving a selection of at least one social contact; identifying at least one remote user device associated with the selected social contact; distributing at least a portion of the game information from the game of chance to the at least one remote user device to permit simultaneous play of the game of chance at the gaming machine by the selected social contact and user of the game of chance; determining whether a social award has been earned through playing the game of chance, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is distinct from and not associated with the game of chance played on the gaming machine; and awarding the social award to the selected social contact if the determining determines that the social award was been earned. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for managing social awards, comprising:
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(a) operating, by a gaming machine, a game of chance; (b) determining whether a social award has been earned through playing the game of chance, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is distinct from and not associated with the game of chance played on the gaming machine; (c) producing the social award if the determining (b) determines that a social award has been earned from playing the game of chance on the gaming machine; (d) presenting recipient information for at least one remote recipient on a display of the gaming machine; (e) receiving a selection of at least one remote recipient; (f) determining if the social award is to be transferred to at least one remote recipient device associated with the at least one remote recipient; (g) determining a percentage of the social award to be awarded to at least one remote recipient device associated with the at least one remote recipient if the determining (f) determines that the social award is to be transferred to the at least one remote recipient, the percentage being based on input provided by the user; and (h) transferring the social award to the at least one remote recipient device based on the determined percentage, wherein the at least one remote recipient is interacted with at least in part wirelessly. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification