PRESENTING CONTENT IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS

• US 20110212785A1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Himawan, Budyanto, Gura, Damon E.
• Application Number:
  US13/128,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20110212785A1
• 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 17/3223 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include coordinating presentation of media in a plurality of browsers of one or more wagering game machines. The operations can include subscribing a first browser and a second browser of a wagering game machine to a communication channel; presenting media for a wagering game in the first browser of the wagering game machine; requesting a result for the wagering game; presenting media for the wagering game result in the first browser; and determining that the wagering game result triggers a bonus game in the second browser. The operations can also include notifying the second browser of the wagering game machine of the bonus game trigger via the communication channel to cause the second browser to present media for the bonus game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for coordinating presentation of media in a plurality of browsers of a plurality of wagering game machines, the method comprising:

subscribing a first browser and a second browser of a first wagering game machine to a communication channel also subscribed to by a first browser and a second browser of one or more additional wagering game machines;

presenting media for a wagering game in the first browser of the first wagering game machine;

detecting a game-related event associated with the wagering game being presented in the first browser of the first wagering game machine;

determining that the game-related event triggers a presentation of a bonus game in the second browser of the first wagering game machine and in the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines; and

providing a bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the second communication channel to cause a single instance of the bonus game to be presented across the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said subscribing the first and second browsers of the first wagering game machine to the communication channel comprises subscribing the first and second browsers of the first wagering game machine to a remote shared object of a server also subscribed to by the first and second browsers of the one or more additional wagering game machines to establish the communication channel for the first and second browsers of the first wagering game machine and the first and second browsers of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said providing the bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the second communication channel comprises calling the remote shared object of the server to cause the server to broadcast the bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the communication channel and cause the single instance of the bonus game to be presented across the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said subscribing the first and second browsers to the remote shared object of the server comprises subscribing a first browser application, including a first browser plug-in, used to present media in a first display device of the first wagering game machine to the remote shared object, and subscribing a second browser application, including a second browser plug-in, used to present media in a second display device of the first wagering game machine to the remote shared object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing the bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the second communication channel to cause the single instance of the bonus game to be presented across the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines comprises providing the bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the second communication channel to coordinate the presentation of a first portion of the single instance of the bonus game in the second browser of the first wagering game machine and a different portion of the single instance of the bonus game in the second browser of each of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting a trigger event associated with the first portion of the single instance of the bonus game being presented in the second browser of the first wagering game machine; and

in response to said detecting the trigger event associated with the first portion of the single instance of the bonus game, providing a bonus event notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the second communication channel to cause the first wagering game machine to modify the presentation of the first portion of the single instance of the bonus game and cause each of the one or more additional wagering game machines to determine whether to modify the presentation of each corresponding different portion of the single instance of the bonus game.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the bonus trigger notification message to a browser of an online wagering game machine, subscribed to the communication channel, via a community server associated with the online wagering game machine to cause the browser of the online wagering game machine to present a separate instance of the bonus game.

8. A wagering game machine comprising:

a media presentation unit configured to subscribe a first browser and a second browser of the wagering game machine to a communication channel also subscribed to by a first browser and a second browser of one or more additional wagering game machines, and configured to

present media for a wagering game in the first browser of the wagering game machine;

determine game results associated with the wagering game being presented in the first browser of the first wagering game machine; and

an event management unit configured to determine that the game results associated with the wagering game trigger a presentation of a bonus game in the second browser of the first wagering game machine and in the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines, and configured to

provide a bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the second communication channel to coordinate the presentation of a first portion of a single instance of the bonus game in the second browser of the first wagering game machine and a different portion of the single instance of the bonus game in the second browser of each of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

9. The wagering game machine of claim 8, wherein the event management unit is further configured to:

detect a trigger event associated with the first portion of the single instance of the bonus game being presented in the second browser of the first wagering game machine; and

in response to said detecting the trigger event associated with the first portion of the single instance of the bonus game, provide a bonus event notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and to the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the second communication channel to cause the first wagering game machine to modify the presentation of the first portion of the single instance of the bonus game and cause each of the one or more additional wagering game machines to determine whether to modify the presentation of each corresponding different portion of the single instance of the bonus game.

10. The wagering game machine of claim 9, wherein said causing each of the one or more additional wagering game machines to determine whether to modify the presentation of each corresponding different portion of the single instance of the bonus game comprises causing each of the one or more additional wagering game machines to determine whether to modify the presentation of each corresponding different portion of the single instance of the bonus game based, at least in part, on a position of each of the one or more additional wagering game machines within a bank of wagering game machines that comprises the first wagering game machine and the one or more additional wagering game machines.

11. The wagering game machine of claim 8, wherein the event management unit is further configured to determine whether intermediate results are available to determine a type of bonus game media to present across the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

12. An apparatus for managing communications between a plurality of wagering game machines in a network to coordinate presentation of media between a plurality of browsers of the plurality of wagering game machines, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting subscription requests for a communication channel from a plurality of browsers of a plurality of wagering game machines;

means for granting the subscription requests for the communication channel;

means for detecting a game event trigger notification message from one of the plurality of browsers of a first wagering game machine of the plurality of wagering game machines; and

means for broadcasting the game event trigger notification message received from the first wagering game machine to the plurality of browsers of the plurality of wagering game machines to coordinate a media presentation of game-related content in at least one of the browsers of each of the plurality of wagering game machines.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for granting the subscription requests for the communication channel comprises means for subscribing the plurality of browsers of the plurality of wagering game machines to a remote shared object to establish the communication channel for the browsers of the wagering game machines.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for broadcasting the game event trigger notification message received from the first wagering game machine to the plurality of browsers of the plurality of wagering game machines to coordinate a media presentation of game-related content in at least one of the browsers of each of the plurality of wagering game machines comprises means for broadcasting the game event trigger notification message received from the first wagering game machine to the plurality of browsers of the plurality of wagering game machines to coordinate a media presentation of a single instance of a bonus game across one or more of the browsers of each of the plurality of wagering game machines.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for detecting a game event trigger notification message from one of the plurality of browsers of a second wagering game machine of the plurality of wagering game machines; and

means for broadcasting the game event trigger notification message received from the second wagering game machine to the plurality of browsers of the plurality of wagering game machines to coordinate a media presentation of game-related content, associated with the game event trigger notification message received from the second wagering game machine, in at least one of the browsers of each of the plurality of wagering game machines.

16. A computer-implemented method for coordinating presentation of media in a plurality of browsers of a plurality of wagering game machines of a communications network, the method comprising:

subscribing a first browser and a second browser of a first wagering game machine to a communication channel also subscribed to by a first browser and a second browser of one or more additional wagering game machines, the communication channel being managed by a server of the communications network;

presenting media for a wagering game in the first browser of the first wagering game machine;

determining game results associated with the wagering game being presented in the first browser of the first wagering game machine;

determining that the game results associated with the wagering game trigger a media presentation of game-related content in the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines; and

providing a trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the communication channel to cause the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines to present media for the game-related content.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said subscribing the first and second browsers of the first wagering game machine to the communication channel comprises subscribing the first and second browsers of the first wagering game machine to a remote shared object of the server also subscribed to by the first and second browsers of the one or more additional wagering game machines to establish the communication channel for the first and second browsers of the first wagering game machine and the first and second browsers of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing the trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the communication channel causes the second browser of the first wagering game machine to present an instance of a bonus game and causes the second browser of each of the one or more additional wagering game machines to present another instance of the bonus game.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing the trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the communication channel causes the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines to present a single instance of a bonus game across the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of each of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

detecting a notification message received from the server of the communications network notifying the second browser of the first wagering game machine of the trigger notification message; and

presenting a portion of the single instance of the bonus game in the second browser of the first wagering game machine, wherein a remaining portion of the single instance of the bonus game is presented across the second browsers of the one or more additional wagering game machines.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing the trigger notification message to the second browser of the first wagering game machine and the second browser of the one or more additional wagering game machines via the communication channel causes the second browser of the first wagering game machine to present a progressive jackpot celebration and causes the second browser of each of the one or more additional wagering game machines to present a different type of progressive jackpot celebration.

22. One or more machine-readable storage media, having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

subscribing a first browser and a second browser of a wagering game machine to a remote shared object managed by a server of a communication network to establish a communication channel for the first and second browsers of the wagering game machine;

presenting media for a wagering game in the first browser of the wagering game machine;

determining game results associated with the wagering game based on information received from the server;

presenting media for the game results in the first browser of the wagering game machine;

determining that the game results associated with the wagering game being presented on the first browser of the wagering game machine trigger a bonus game in the second browser of the wagering game machine; and

providing a bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the wagering game machine via the communication channel to cause the second browser of the wagering game machine to present media for the bonus game.

23. The machine-readable storage media of claim 22, wherein said operation of subscribing the first browser and the second browser of the wagering game machine to the remote shared object comprises subscribing a first browser application, including a first browser plug-in, used to present media in a first display device of the wagering game machine to the remote shared object, and subscribing a second browser application, including a second browser plug-in, used to present media in a second display device of the wagering game machine to the remote shared object.

24. The machine-readable storage media of claim 22, wherein said operation of providing the bonus trigger notification message to the second browser of the wagering game machine comprises calling the remote shared object of the server to cause the server to broadcast the bonus game trigger notification message to the second browser via the communication channel and the second browser to present media for the bonus game.

25. The machine-readable storage media of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise detecting a player input to initiate the wagering game in the first browser of the wagering game machine, and presenting media for the wagering game in the first browser in response to detecting the player input to initiate the wagering game.