Systems and methods for carrying out an uninterrupted game with temporary inactivation

• US 9,558,619 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• 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, Babin, Peter, Gadher, Bharat, Idris, Fayez, Pleskonjic, Dragan, Post, Peter, McIntyre, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, Damon
• Application Number:
  US13/951,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual 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

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 re-established. 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 may be adjusted for the mobile device. The gaming terminal may be a gaming machine.

Claims

1. A remote gaming method comprising:

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

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

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

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

allowing the player to pause the remote gaming session 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 first 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 first gaming terminal indicating that the player is again using the mobile gaming device to play the first 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 the first game within the certain time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a stationary registration terminal within a first regulated gaming venue, the registration terminal having a transceiver for communicating with the mobile gaming device operated by the 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; and

establishing the communication link using the registration terminal.

3. The remote gaming method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a selection by the player of a second game;

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

transmitting signals to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the second game and the award.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second game is available to be played on a second gaming terminal carried out by a gaming program comprising game inactivity rules requiring game play within a maximum allowable time to prevent a remote gaming session from being terminated, wherein the method further comprises:

establishing a wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device and the second gaming terminal;

transferring credits from the first gaming terminal to the second gaming terminal;

carrying out the second game by the second gaming terminal; and

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

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first gaming terminal and the second gaming terminal are located in different gaming venues.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

detecting the player'"'"'s real time game play;

based on detecting the player'"'"'s real time game play, determining a set of recommended games available to be played on the mobile gaming device, wherein the set of recommended games comprises the second game;

transmitting signals to the mobile gaming device identifying at least the second game of the set of recommended games.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising applying data from the player'"'"'s real time game play to an algorithm to determine that the player is a certain type of player, then selecting the set of recommended games based on the certain type of player.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of recommended games is associated with a gaming model of a plurality of gaming models, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a threshold amount of data for the player'"'"'s real time game play;

partitioning the data for the player'"'"'s real time game play into a plurality of game events; and

determining that the gaming model corresponds to one or more events of the plurality of game events.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of recommended games is associated with a gaming model of a plurality of gaming models, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining each of the plurality of gaming models from collected game play data using cluster analysis; and

associating a set of recommended games with each of the plurality of gaming models.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the player'"'"'s real time game play is associated with game factors, and wherein the gaming model comprises a collection of game factors representing a predetermined gaming and play behavior model of game player.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the game factors comprise one or more members selected from the grouping consisting of:

game session length, play behavior, game behavior, game language, game location, game selection, elapsed time with one game, wagering behavior, game type, game theme, wager amounts, wager denominations, play rates, typical bonus values, game brand, prize distributions, amounts of incremental wagers, frequency of wagering, for instance the presence or absence of multiple rounds of wagering in a game, the number of rounds of wagers permitted in a game, maximum wager amounts permitted, minimum wager amounts permitted, amount of wagering, elapsed time between selected events for instance starting a new game, reaction to bonus rounds, reaction to progressive outputs, pay table features, amount of incremental wagers, frequency of wagering, elapsed time for player reaction, amount of wagering, elapsed time between wagers, frequency of player action, game rules, game complexity, ability for a player to control or have an effect on a game outcome, whether an outcome is predetermined, whether parallel wagering is provided, average game speed, average wager amounts, average wager rate, presence or frequency of bonus rounds, presence and frequency of progressive outputs, payout percentages, win rates, win percentages, loss rates, loss percentages, use of special features, frequency of use of special features, number of lines played, total amount wagered, and type of payment received.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of recommended games is associated with a game player type, wherein the game player type is associated with a gaming model of a plurality of gaming models, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a threshold amount of data for the player'"'"'s real time game play;

determining the game player type based on analysis of the data for the player'"'"'s real time game play;

determining that the gaming model corresponds to the game player type.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile gaming device is automatically identified using a Near Field Communications (NFC) protocol.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the player is playing anonymously, without the use of a player tracking card.

15. 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 first game.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transferring game assets to the mobile gaming device, wherein the game assets comprise game content for the first game; and

if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, deleting the game assets on the mobile gaming device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first game comprises a wagering mode and a free mode, wherein the method further comprises:

transferring game assets to the mobile gaming device, wherein the game assets comprise game content for the first game;

carrying out, using the game assets, the first game in the wagering mode;

if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, continuing to carry out, using the game assets, the first game in the free mode.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrying out the first game by the first gaming terminal comprises displaying game animation on the mobile gaming device conveying to the player that the first game is presently occurring, and wherein the method further comprises:

in event of a communications link failure between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal during the first game, prior to receiving the signals by the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the first game and the award but after the game animation has begun,

continuing the game animation by the mobile gaming device during the communications link failure for a time until the communications link has been re-established;

once the communication link has been re-established, transmitting the signals to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the first game and the award, stopping the game animation; and

displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the first game and the award, such that the first game perceived by the player is not interrupted during the communications link failure.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein a first gaming machine generates video animation in an original format when displaying the first game on the display screen, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a required video animation second format for the mobile gaming device which is different from the original format;

converting the video animation from the original format to the second format for the mobile gaming device; and

displaying the first game to the player on the mobile gaming device using the second format.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting game play data corresponding to the player'"'"'s real time game play;

determining one or more processing, storing or transmitting actions permitted on the collected game play data based on user preferences and regulatory restrictions; and

upon determining that the one or more processing, storing or transmitting actions are permitted on the collected game play data, performing the one or more processing, storing or transmitting actions that are permitted on the collected game play data.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing, on a display of the mobile gaming device, a designated area assigned to the player a part of the first game, wherein there are additional designated areas assigned to different players;

receiving a signal initiated by the player that identifies the player as an active player in the first game;

initiating the display of an individual game in the designated area assigned to the player as part of the first game, while the remaining players have an option to concurrently play a community game displayed on the additional designated areas;

concurrently displaying, on the mobile gaming device, a plurality of icons in the designated area assigned to the player, each icon being associated with a particular wager amount, wherein the icons concurrently displayed are associated with a plurality of different wager amounts, and wherein at least some of the icons are associated with a hidden prize;

receiving a signal identifying a particular icon being touched;

deducting the wager amount associated with the icon touched by the player from a bank of credits associated with the first player; and

granting any award to the player associated with the icon touched by the player.

22. A remote gaming system comprising one or more processors and one or more data storage devices storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

establish a wireless communications link between a mobile gaming device operated by a player and a first gaming terminal that carries out a gaming program to play at least a first game, wherein the gaming program comprises game inactivity rules requiring game play within a maximum allowable time to prevent a remote gaming session from being terminated, wherein, during the remote gaming session, the stationary gaming machine is not available for use by another player to play the games using another mobile gaming device;

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

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

transmit signals from the first gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the first game and the award;

allow the player to pause the remote gaming session 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, suspend the game inactivity rules, by the first 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;

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

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

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

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform a method of remote gaming, the method comprising:

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

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

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

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

allowing the player to pause the remote gaming session 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 first 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 first gaming terminal indicating that the player is again using the mobile gaming device to play the first 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 the first game within the certain time.