Personal gaming device and method of presenting a game

• US 20040137987A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A game is presented to a player via a personal gaming device of the invention. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a display screen, a processing unit including a processor and a memory, and a wireless communication interface associated with the processing unit. Game code is stored at the gaming device. A player pre-purchases game play, and information enabling the game device to present the game is provided, such as via a smart card, to the gaming device for use by the game code. The information may comprise game outcome information. The outcomes of played games are verified against stored information regarding the purchased games. Activation information is transmitted to the gaming device to enable operation of the device.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a wagering game to a user of a personal gaming device in a casino environment including a game server comprising:

receiving input regarding a user'"'"'s desire to play one or more games using said personal gaming device;

generating game results regarding a number of games to be played;

transmitting said game results to said personal gaming device;

storing said game results at said personal gaming device; and

executing game code at said personal gaming, said game code using said game results to present at least one game to said user of said personal gaming device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said game results comprise numerical data generated by one or more random number generators, which numerical data is representative of a predetermined game outcome.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said game results comprise paytable data.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of receiving input from a user of payment for a wager to play said wagering game and wherein game results are generated corresponding to the amount of payment provided by said player.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said casino environment includes a financial server and said method includes the steps of accepting financial account information at said personal gaming device, transmitting said financial account information to said financial server, and confirming financial transaction data at said financial server.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5 including the steps of transmitting the results of said game from said personal gaming device to said game server, determining the results of said game from said generated game results, and comparing said transmitted and determined results to reconcile them.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said game results are transmitted to said personal gaming device over a communication link, at least a portion of which is wireless.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of storing said game results on a portable data storage media and reading said game results from said media at said personal gaming device.

9. A gaming system for presenting one or more games comprising:

at least one personal gaming device comprising a hand-held device including a display adapted to display game information, a processor configured to execute game code, a memory adapted to store game code to be executed by said processor, and a wireless communication interface for receiving information and transmitting information;

a game server configured to generate information regarding the results of one or more games, which information, when used in conjunction with said game code at said personal gaming device results in the presentation of at least one game for play; and

a financial server configured to confirm payment for one or more games to be played by a user of said personal gaming device.

10. The gaming system in accordance with claim 9 including at least one transceiver and a plurality of relays configured to transmit said results to via a wireless communication link to said personal gaming device.

11. The gaming system in accordance with claim 9 including one or more portable data storage devices configured to store said results of said one or more games, the portable data storage devices readable by said personal gaming device.

12. The gaming system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said financial server is configured to determine winning results from said results of said one or more games and to reconcile said results against the results obtained by presentation of said games at said personal gaming device.

13. A method of presenting a game using portable gaming device comprising:

generating portable gaming device game play activation information at a first location;

transmitting said activation information; and

determining if said activation information is detected by said portable gaming device, wherein if said activation information is not detected, preventing game play at said portable gaming device, and wherein if said activation information is detected, permitting game play at said portable gaming device.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said step of transmitting includes broadcasting said activation information wirelessly.

15. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said activation information is broadcast wirelessly by a plurality of relays to cover a particular portable gaming device usage area.