Wireless gaming method

• US 5,999,808 A
• Filed: 01/07/1996
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aeris Communications Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aeris Communications Inc.
• Inventors: LaDue, Christoph Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/597,807
• Time in Patent Office: 1,430 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 364/412.1, 455/127, 455/31.2, 273/299, 463/20, 463/25, 375/200, 370/94.1
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method for seamlessly transmitting application specific messages over cellular radio system control channels and switches, for use in wireless gaming and wagering, including the steps of: transmitting application specific messaging bits, configured to appear as origination data packets having from eight to thirty-two digit fields, utilizing control channels, remote feature control request features, and IS-41 protocols. The messaging bits are transmitted over cellular control channels, for example, an AMPS, D-AMPS and TACS FSK modulated reverse control channel (RECC) 10 Kbps 48 word BCH hamming coded control channel. The messaging bits are then applied to communicate with, identify, monitor, and locate the application specific system, such as a wagering game, board game or other application specific system, thereby allowing for an integrated application specific two-way communications system. The application specific system may comprise card games, board games, video games, wagering games, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for communicating gaming messages between a gaming terminal and a central monitoring station over a telecommunications network that includes a voice channel and a control channel, wherein the voice channel conveys data messages and the control channel conveys control messages that manage access to and use of the voice channel, the method comprising:

a) obtaining a message at the gaming terminal, the message comprising application specific data related to gaming;

b) encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message to create an encoded message;

c) encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local telecommunications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request;

d) transmitting the control message and associated sequence of digits to the local telecommunications switching center over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel;

e) detecting the remote feature control request at the local telecommunications switching center;

f) forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over a communications channel to the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request; and

g) decoding the encoded message to retrieve the application specific data related to gaming.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a message at the gaming terminal comprises receiving user input comprising the message at the gaming terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message comprises encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a call origination message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local telecommunications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request, comprises encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the call origination message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by the local telecommunications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the control message and the associated sequence of digits to a local telecommunications switching center over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel, comprises transmitting the call origination message and the associated sequence of digits to a serving mobile switching center (MSC) in a cellular radio telecommunications network, over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting the remote feature control request at the local telecommunications switching center and forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over a communications channel to the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request comprises detecting the remote feature control request at the serving MSC and forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over at least one inter cellular serving area link between the serving MSC and the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the inter cellular serving area link between the serving MSC and the central monitoring station operates according to the signaling system 7 (SS7) protocol standard.

8. A method for communicating gaming messages between a cellular mobile radio (CMR) gaming terminal and a central monitoring device over a cellular telephone network that includes wireless digital traffic channels and inter cellular serving area network channels, wherein the digital traffic channels comprise data traffic channels for transmitting voice and data signals and a control channel for transmitting control signals that manage access to and use of the data traffic channels, the method comprising:

a) inserting a message comprising application specific data relating to gaming in a sequence of digits to be transmitted by the CMR gaming terminal in conjunction with a transmission of a call origination message;

b) encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the message, by a serving mobile switching center (MSC) upon detecting the remote feature control request;

c) transmitting the call origination message and the sequence of digits to the serving MSC over the control channel, bypassing the voice channels, the call origination message specifying a mobile identification number (MIN) identifying the CMR gaming terminal;

d) analyzing the call origination message and the sequence of digits at the serving MSC and detecting the remote feature control request;

e) forwarding the remote feature control request and the message to the central monitoring device over an inter cellular serving area network channel, in response to detecting the remote feature control request, the inter cellular serving area network channel determined by the MIN;

f) receiving the remote feature control request and the message at the central monitoring station; and

g) extracting the message comprising application specific data relating to gaming.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein extracting the message comprising application specific data relating to gaming further comprises forwarding the application specific data relating to gaming to an gambling facility.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising, before inserting a message comprising application specific data relating to gaming in a sequence of digits, receiving user input comprising the message at the CMR gaming terminal.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a response to a gaming command from the central monitoring device received via a paging network broadcast channel.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a response to a gaming command from the central monitoring device received via a satellite communications channel.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a response to a gaming instruction received from the central monitoring device over a time division multiple access (TDMA) digital broadcast control channel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the TDMA digital broadcast control channel operates in accordance with the global system for mobile communications (GSM) standard.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a response to a gaming instruction received from the central monitoring device over a code division multiple access (CDMA) digital broadcast control channel.

16. A method for communicating gaming messages between a gaining terminal and a central monitoring station over a mobile satellite communications network that includes a voice channel and a control channel, wherein the voice channel conveys data messages and the control channel conveys control messages that manage access to and use of the voice channel, the method comprising:

a) obtaining a message at the gaming terminal, the message comprising application specific data related to gaming;

b) encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message to create an encoded message;

c) encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local mobile satellite communications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request;

d) transmitting the control message and associated sequence of digits to the local mobile satellite communications switching center over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel;

e) detecting the remote feature control request at the local mobile satellite communications switching center;

f) forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over a communications channel to the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request; and

g) decoding the encoded message to retrieve the application specific data relating to gaming.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of obtaining a message at the gaming terminal comprises receiving user input comprising the message at the gaming terminal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message comprises encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a call origination message.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local mobile satellite communications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request, comprises encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the call origination message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by the local mobile satellite communications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request.