Methods and devices for downloading games of chance

• US 20070004506A1
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Benbrahim, Jamal, Kinsley, Michael, Nguyen, Binh
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

The present invention provides methods, devices and systems for downloading gaming software. According to some implementations of the invention, gaming software is continuously transmitted on a plurality of channels, e.g., by one or more servers. In some such implementations, each channel is dedicated to software for a different wagering game. In other implementations, gaming software components are transmitted on a plurality of channels, with each channel dedicated to a particular gaming software component. Some implementations provide gaming software in response to a request from a gaming machine. Implementations over dedicated and/or public networks are provided. Preferred implementations of the invention allow gaming software to be downloaded to gaming machines in a secure manner that automatically ensures that licensing and regulatory requirements are satisfied. Some such implementations determine whether payment is required for gaming software and provide for automated payment, if so required.

Claims

1. A method of downloading gaming software, the method comprising:

determining that desired gaming software is available;

selecting a channel corresponding to the desired gaming software; and

downloading the desired gaming software on a selected channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired gaming software comprises software for a whole desired wagering game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired gaming software consists of a desired software component for a wagering game.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of authenticating a requestor of the desired gaming software.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether a license is available for the desired gaming software.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether the desired gaming software could legally be used in a jurisdiction where the desired gaming software will be received.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

beginning a download of the desired gaming software at a first arbitrary frame; and

completing the download of the desired gaming software at a second arbitrary frame, wherein the first arbitrary frame and the second arbitrary frame are not the first and last frames of the desired gaming software.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel is one of an electromagnetic frequency range, a separate physical link, a separate virtual link or a component of a multiplexed data stream.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of authorizing a payment for the desired gaming software.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of detecting the whole desired wagering game from a transmission of a plurality of whole wagering games.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of detecting the desired software component from a transmission of a plurality of software components.

12. A method of downloading gaming software in a network of gaming machines, comprising:

detecting desired software from a continuous transmission of gaming software on a channel of a gaming network;

beginning a download of the desired gaming software at a first arbitrary frame; and

completing the download of the desired gaming software at a second arbitrary frame, wherein the first arbitrary frame and the second arbitrary frame are not the first and last frames of the desired software.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired gaming software comprises all components of a wagering game.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired gaming software consists of a software component for a wagering game.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the channel is one of an electromagnetic frequency range, a separate physical link, a separate virtual link or a component of a multiplexed data stream.

16. A method of providing software in a network of gaming machines, comprising:

assigning a channel to each of a plurality of gaming software types; and

transmitting a gaming software type on each of a plurality of assigned channels.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the gaming software type comprises all components of a wagering game.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the gaming software type consists of a software component for a wagering game.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the channel is one of an electromagnetic frequency range, a separate physical link, a separate virtual link or a component of a multiplexed data stream.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of encrypting each of the gaming software types prior to the transmitting step.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a gaming software transaction request from a first device; and

authenticating an identity of the first gaming device, wherein the receiving and authenticating steps are performed prior to the transmitting step.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining whether a license is available for the desired gaming software prior to the transmitting step.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining, prior to the transmitting step, whether the desired gaming software could legally be used in a jurisdiction where the desired gaming software will be received.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the software component comprises a device driver for a for a device installed on a gaming machine.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first device is one of a gaming machine, a game server, a host device and a portable computing device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the gaming software transaction request comprises access information and gaming software identification information.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the access information is one or more of operator identification information for the first gaming device, machine identification information for the first gaming device, operator identification information for the second gaming device and machine identification information for the second gaming device.

28. A first gaming device configured for playing wagering games of chance, the first gaming device comprising:

at least one network interface allowing communications between the first gaming device and a network on a plurality of channels;

at least one memory device and

at least one logic device configured to do the following;

prepare a request for the transfer of wagering game software from a second gaming device to the first gaming device;

send the request to a software authorization agent via the network interface; and

receive from the software authorization agent via the network interface a reply approving or rejecting the request for the transfer of the wagering game software, wherein the wagering game software is for at least one of a) a game of chance played on a gaming machine, b) a bonus game of chance played on a gaming machine, c) a device driver for a for a device installed on a gaming machine, d) a player tracking service on a gaming machine and e) an operating system installed on a gaming machine.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the logic device is further configured to do the following after receiving a reply accepting the request for the transfer of the wagering game software:

select a channel for transfer of the wagering game software;

download the wagering game software from the second gaming device via the selected channel; and

store the wagering game software in the memory device.

30. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the logic device is further configured to prepare and send a communication to the second gaming device indicating whether the wagering game software was successfully downloaded.

31. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the request comprises access information and wagering game software identification information.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the access information is one or more of operator identification information for the first gaming device, machine identification information for the first gaming device, operator identification information for the second gaming device and machine identification information for the second gaming device.

33. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the wagering game software identification information is one or more of a gaming software title, a gaming software provider identifier, a gaming software version number and a gaming software identification number.

34. A gaming machine for playing wagering games of chance, the gaming machine comprising:

means for determining that desired wagering game software is available;

means for selecting a channel corresponding to the desired wagering game software;

means for detecting the desired wagering game software from a transmission of a plurality of wagering game software types;

means for downloading the desired wagering game software on a selected channel;

means for accepting a wager for a desired wagering game; and

means for presenting the desired wagering game.

35. A gaming machine for playing wagering games of chance, the gaming machine comprising:

means for detecting desired wagering game software from a continuous transmission of wagering game software on a channel of a gaming network;

means for beginning a download of the desired wagering game software at a first arbitrary frame;

means for completing the download of the desired wagering game software at a second arbitrary frame, wherein the first arbitrary frame and the second arbitrary frame are not the first and last frames of the desired software;

means for accepting a wager for a desired wagering game; and

means for presenting the desired wagering game.

36. A gaming network, comprising:

at least one server for providing wagering game software on a continuous transmission of wagering game software on at least one channel of the gaming network; and

a plurality of gaming machines for wagering games of chance, each of the plurality of gaming machines configured for communication with the gaming network, each of the plurality of gaming machines comprising;

means for detecting desired wagering game software from a continuous transmission of wagering game software on a channel of the gaming network;

means for beginning a download of the desired wagering game software at a first arbitrary frame;

means for completing the download of the desired wagering game software at a second arbitrary frame, wherein the first arbitrary frame and the second arbitrary frame are not the first and last frames of the desired software;

means for accepting a wager for a desired wagering game; and

means for presenting the desired wagering game.

37. The gaming network of claim 36, wherein the desired wagering game software comprises software for a whole desired wagering game.

38. The gaming network of claim 36, wherein the desired wagering game software consists of a desired software component for a wagering game.