Multi-player gaming machines played on-line

• US 20050037845A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rational Intellectual Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Cryptologic Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Rozkin, Sergiy, Dunaevsky, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,192,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A multi-player on-line gaming method is disclosed where different players independently play different games on their computers in a common gaming environment. Each of the players sharing the common environment is presented with a similar display by the game server. In one embodiment, each player is presented with a display of four slot machines after registering with a server for an on-line gaming session. Each player selects, using a cursor pointing device, one of the four slot machines to play, and that machine is then associated with the player. The remote web-based game server controlling the game allows the player to see other on-line players playing on the other slot machines displayed on the same screen so the players share a common gaming experience as in a casino. The players may chat in real time by typing in their conversations via a keyboard on their home computer.

Claims

1. A gaming method performed by a local terminal comprising:

establishing communication with a remote server for running a gaming program;

transmitting signals to the server for selecting a type of game to be played by a first player;

displaying a selected game to the first player along with one or more independent games being played by one or more other players also communicating with the remote server; and

displaying outcomes of the games played by the first player and the one or more other players so the first player and the one or more other players share a common gaming experience.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving commands by the first player for chatting with the one or more other players; and

displaying conversations amongst the first player and the one or more other players.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating sounds associated with operations of the games being played by the first player and the one or more other players.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a selected game and the one or more independent games being played by one or more other players comprises displaying slot machines screens.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein displaying a selected game and the one or more independent games being played by one or more other players comprises displaying images of slot machines.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a selected game and the one or more independent games being played by one or more other players comprises displaying images of at least portions of reel-type slot machines.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a selected game and the one or more independent games being played by one or more other players comprises displaying images of at least portions of video poker slot machines.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a selected game and the one or more independent games being played by one or more other players comprises displaying images of at least portions of video slot machines.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a selected game and the one or more independent games being played by one or more other players comprises displaying images of at least portions of slot machines, the method further comprises displaying one or more slot machines that are not in use by any player.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating sounds relating to outcomes of the games played by the first player and the one or more other players.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a selected game and one or more independent games being played by one or more other players comprises displaying up to four games.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing communication with a remote server comprises establishing communication via the Internet.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a menu to the first player offering the first player choices of games to play, the games comprising community games where the first player plays a game independent from one or more other players also playing independent games, where the first player'"'"'s game and the one or more other players'"'"' games are displayed to the first player.

14. A computer usable medium containing a program code comprising instructions for carrying out a method comprising:

controlling a computer to interact with a remote server for running a gaming program;

controlling the computer to communicate with the server to select a type of game to be played by a first player;

controlling the computer to display a selected game to the first player along with one or more independent games being played by one or more other players also communicating with the remote server; and

controlling the computer to display outcomes of the games played by the first player and the one or more other players so the first player and the one or more other players share a common gaming experience.

15. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computer and encoding instructions for executing a process comprising:

controlling the computer to communicate with a remote server over a communications medium to carry out a gaming program;

controlling the computer to display a selected game to a first player along with one or more independent games being played by one or more other players communicating with the remote server via different computers; and

controlling the computer to display outcomes of the games played by the first player and the one or more other players so the first player and the one or more other players share a common gaming experience.

16. A computing device for carrying out a gaming program, the computing device comprising a processor programmed for carrying out the method comprising:

controlling the computer to interact with a remote server for running a gaming program;

controlling the computer to communicate with the server to select a type of game to be played by a first player;

controlling the computer to display a selected game to the first player along with one or more independent games being played by one or more other players also communicating with the remote server; and

controlling the computer to display outcomes of the games played by the first player and the one or more other players so the first player and the one or more other players share a common gaming experience.

17. A server for carrying out a gaming program, the server comprising a processor programmed for carrying out the method comprising:

establishing communication with a local terminal for running a gaming program;

transmitting signals to the local terminal for displaying a type of game selected to be played by a first player;

transmitting signals to the local terminal for displaying a selected game to the first player along with one or more independent games being played by one or more other players also communicating with the remote server; and

transmitting signals to the local terminal for displaying outcomes of the games played by the first player and the one or more other players so the first player and the one or more other players share a common gaming experience.