System and method for connecting gaming devices to a network for remote play

• US 7,877,798 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Legal Igaming Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, William D, Carlson, Rolf E, Saunders, Michael W
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman; Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US12/331,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/58 Random or pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A system and method for connecting remote player devices to regulated host gaming devices in a network to provide remote game play. A host gaming device is configured to provide game information to a plurality of remote player devices to allow remote play of the host game device. Whether each remote player device is permitted to receive gaming data is based upon, at least in part, the geographic location of the remote player device.

Claims

1. A method for selecting games on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

installing a plurality of game software on a gaming machine;

choosing a set of game software to offer to users of the gaming machine;

activating the set of game software;

monitoring game activity of the users of the gaming machine;

modifying the set of game software; and

activating the modified set of game software.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of game software is stored in a memory module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the installing comprises replacing the memory module with a new memory module.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the installing comprises adding a new memory module.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the installing comprises modifying data stored on the memory module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the installing comprises downloading the game software onto the gaming machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating comprises receiving a verification from a third party.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein choosing a set of game software to offer to users of the gaming machine is based, at least in part, on the geographic location of the gaming machine.

9. A gaming system comprising:

a memory module;

a input device; and

a processor configured to install a plurality of gaming software on a gaming machine, activate a set of gaming software, monitor the set of gaming software, and activate a modified set of gaming software.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of game software is stored in the memory module.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory module is replaceable with a new memory module.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a new memory module.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein data stored on the memory module can be modified.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the input device is configured to download game software onto the gaming machine.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein a third party activates the game software.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to install a set of gaming software based, at least in part, on the geographic location of the gaming machine.

17. A gaming system comprising:

means for storing data;

means for accepting input; and

means for installing a plurality of gaming software on a gaming machine;

means for activating a set of gaming software;

means for monitoring the set of gaming software; and

means for activating a modified set of gaming software.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the set of game software is stored in the means for storing data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for storing data is replaceable.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising new means for storing data.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the data stored on the means for storing data is modifiable.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for accepting input is configured to download game software onto the gaming machine.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein a third party activates the game software.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for installing a set of gaming software is configured to install the gaming software based, at least in part, on the geographic location of the gaming machine.