MOBILE GAMING DEVICE CARRYING OUT UNINTERRUPTED GAME DESPITE COMMUNICATIONS LINK DISRUPTION

• US 20130273998A1
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GTECH Canada ULC
• Original Assignee: Spielo International Canada ULC (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Froy, David Vincent Jr., Babin, Peter, Gadher, Bharat
• Granted Patent: US 9,159,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/24
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A mobile gaming device may be a player'"'"'s own personal tablet, smartphone, PDA, etc., with an application program installed via the internet for carrying out a remote gaming session. All gaming functions are carried out by a stationary gaming terminal communicating with the mobile device, such as by using WiFi. The mobile device operates as a user interface. If the communications link is temporarily broken during a game, the mobile device will create the appearance that the game is continuous, such as by continuing to spin reels, until communications are reestablished. The reels will stop once the mobile device receives the final outcome from the gaming terminal. The player may pause the game to temporarily suspend the minimum game frequency rules. The mobile device may switch between gaming terminals. For 3D video, the original format is adjusted for the mobile device. The gaming terminal may be a gaming machine.

Claims

1. A remote gaming method comprising:

establishing a wireless communications link between a mobile gaming device, operated by a player, and a stationary gaming terminal that carries out a gaming program;

receiving player control signals by the gaming terminal from the mobile gaming device to initiate a game;

displaying game animation on the mobile gaming device conveying to the player that the game is presently occurring;

carrying out the game by the gaming terminal, including determining a final outcome of the game and any award for the outcome;

transmitting signals from the gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award;

stopping the game animation and displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the game and the award;

in the event of a communications link failure between the mobile gaming device and the gaming terminal during the game, prior to receiving the signals by the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award but after the game animation has begun, performing the method comprising;

continuing the game animation by the mobile gaming device during the communications link failure for a time until the communications link has been re-established; and

once the communication link has been re-established, transmitting the signals to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award, stopping the game animation, and displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the game and the award, such that the game perceived by the player is not interrupted during the communications link failure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming terminal is a stationary gaming machine having a display screen, and wherein the gaming machine may be directly played using the display screen.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the gaming machine and mobile gaming device are operated within a same venue.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile gaming device is one of a tablet and a smartphone.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the mobile gaming device is an off-the-shelf tablet or smartphone containing a remote gaming application.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying game animation comprises displaying game animation stored in a memory of the mobile gaming device prior to the game being initiated.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the game is a video reels type game.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the player owns the mobile gaming device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

periodically controlling the mobile gaming device to communicate between a plurality of transceivers in a venue;

using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals derived by communications with the transceivers to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within a designated area within the venue; and

if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, blocking the mobile gaming device from carrying out the game.

10. A gaming system comprising a stationary gaming terminal communicating with a mobile gaming device, the system being programmed to carry out the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device, operated by a player, and the stationary gaming terminal that carries out a gaming program;

receiving player control signals by the gaming terminal from the mobile gaming device to initiate a game;

displaying game animation on the mobile gaming device conveying to the player that the game is presently occurring;

carrying out the game by the gaming terminal, including determining a final outcome of the game and any award for the outcome;

transmitting signals from the gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award;

stopping the game animation and displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the game and the award;

in the event of a communications link failure between the mobile gaming device and the gaming terminal during the game, prior to receiving the signals by the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award but after the game animation has begun, performing the method comprising;

continuing the game animation by the mobile gaming device during the communications link failure for a time until the communications link has been re-established; and

once the communication link has been re-established, transmitting the signals to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award, stopping the game animation, and displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the game and the award, such that the game perceived by the player is not interrupted during the communications link failure.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the gaming terminal is a stationary gaming machine having a display screen, and wherein the gaming machine may be directly played using the display screen.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the gaming machine and mobile gaming device are operated within a same venue.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the mobile gaming device is one of a tablet and a smartphone.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the mobile gaming device is an off-the-shelf tablet or smartphone containing a remote gaming application.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the step of displaying game animation comprises displaying game animation stored in a memory of the mobile gaming device prior to the game being initiated.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the game is a video reels type game.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the player owns the mobile gaming device.

18. The system of claim 10 further being programmed to carry out the method comprising:

periodically controlling the mobile gaming device to communicate between a plurality of transceivers in a venue;

using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals derived by communications with the transceivers to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within a designated area within the venue; and

if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, blocking the mobile gaming device from carrying out the game.