SHARING RESOURCES IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS

• US 20100298054A1
• Filed: 01/03/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Jason A., Sylla, Craig J., Liber, Nevin J., Schulhof, Scott H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 17/3218 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system

Abstract

Techniques for sharing resources in wagering game systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes determining that remote resources are needed for processing video content associated with a wagering game, and locating the remote resources by wirelessly communicating with one or more wagering game machines in the wagering game network, wherein the wireless communications include queries about whether the wagering game machines can provide the needed processing resources The method can also include receiving processed video content via wireless communications with certain of the one or more wagering game machines, and presenting the wagering game using the processed video content.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing, in a mobile wagering game machine, video processing resources from remote wagering game machines, the method comprising:

detecting low batter life of a battery in the mobile wagering game machine;

determining, based on the low battery life, that remote resources are needed for processing video content associated with a wagering game;

locating the remote resources by wirelessly communicating with one or more wagering game machines in the wagering game network, wherein the wireless communications include requests that the wagering game machines provide the remote resources;

receiving, from certain of the one or more wagering game machines, processed video content via wireless communications; and

presenting the wagering game using the processed video content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processed video content has been to be suitable for presentation on a local display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that remote resources are needed is based on whether the video content requires scaling to be suitable for display on a local display device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that remote resources are needed is based on a detection of one or more low storage space and low processing capabilities.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, from a wagering game server, a result for the wagering game.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a result for the wagering game.

7. One or more machine-readable media having instructions encoded therein, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, causing the one or more processors of a first wagering game machine to perform operations comprising:

presenting a first group of wagering games on the first wagering game machine;

generating game history information for use in replaying one or more of the first group of wagering games on the first wagering game machine, wherein the game history information includes results, content, and player input associated with the first group of wagering games;

storing the game history information in a storage device of the first wagering game machine;

detecting a shortage of storage space in the storage device;

searching for a second wagering game machine having available storage space;

transmitting the game history information to the second wagering game machine;

deleting the game history information from the storage device;

presenting a second group of wagering games;

generating additional game history information including results, content, and player input associated with the second group of wagering games; and

storing the additional game history information in the storage device.

8. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 7, wherein further comprising:

receiving the game history information from the second wagering game machine;

replaying, on the first wagering game machine, based on the game history information, one of the first group of wagering games.

9. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 7, the searching includes transmitting a request for storage space using Bluetooth wireless signals.

10. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 7, wherein the second wagering game wagering game machine is a stationary wagering game machine, and wherein the first wagering game machine is a mobile wagering game machine.

11. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 7, wherein the results associated with the first group of wagering games are determined by a remote wagering game server.

12. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 7, wherein the game history information is transmitted via low power wireless signals.

13. A wagering game network in which wagering game machines share processing and storage resources, the wagering game network comprising:

a mobile wagering game machine configured to

detect low battery life and low storage space;

request processed video content after detection of low battery life;

present wagering games using the processed video content, wherein results of the wagering games are received from a wagering game server connected to the wagering game network;

generate game history information associated with the wagering games; and

transmit, after detection of low storage space, the game history information for storage on a stationary wagering game machine connected to the wagering game network;

the wagering game server configured to

determine and transmit the results of the wagering games to the mobile wagering game machine;

receive, from the mobile wagering game machine, a request for video content;

transmit the video content for processing on a stationary wagering game machine;

the stationary wagering game machine configured to

receive, from the wagering game server, the video content;

process the video content into the processed video content;

transmit the processed video content to the mobile wagering game machine;

receive the game history information from the mobile wagering game machine;

store the game history information.

14. The wagering game network of claim 13, wherein the wagering game server is further configured to select the stationary wagering game machine from a group of stationary wagering game machines based on geographic proximity to mobile wagering game machine.

15. The wagering game network of claim 13, wherein the stationary wagering game machine is configured to process the video content by scaling the video content for presentation on a video device of the mobile wagering game machine.

16. The wagering game network of claim 13, wherein the game history information indicates content, player input, and results associated with the wagering game.

17. The wagering game network of claim 13, wherein the mobile wagering game machine transmits the game history information to the stationary wagering game machine via wireless Bluetooth signals.

18. The wagering game network of claim 13, wherein the mobile wagering game machine is connected to a docking station, and wherein the transmission of the game history information to occur over a wired communication link.

19. The wagering game network of claim 13, wherein the results do not go to the stationary wagering game machine.

20. The wagering game network of claim 13, wherein the mobile wagering game machine is further configured to receive the game history information from the stationary wagering game machine, and to replay one or more of the wagering games using the game history information.