UDP broadcast for user interface in a download and configuration gaming method

• US 8,195,826 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Ruppert, Ryan, Atashband, Farshid
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad M
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOROBOV, VITALI A
• Application Number:
  US12/691,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/223, 709/230, 709/207, 726/5
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass networks security protocols H04L9/40; wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A method for sending a notification message using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages. The method includes: identifying information at a server that has potential for inclusion in a notification message; querying a database for a list of clients that have registered for a particular type of notification by a UDP broadcast processor; receiving a reply with a list of clients that have registered for a particular type of notification from the database; and sending notification to all clients on the list using an assigned port number from the UDP broadcast processor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying information at a server that has potential for inclusion in a notification message, wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine;

querying a database for one or more clients that are potentially interested in a particular type of notification by a UDP broadcast processor;

receiving a reply including identification of the one or more clients that are potentially interested in the particular type of notification; and

sending notification to the one or more clients using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the clients are control panel applications.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the control panel applications are installed on control stations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the control stations are utilized in a casino gaming environment.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the control stations are utilized for downloading and configuration of games and/or game operating systems of connected gaming devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the DCM engine communicates with a database containing UDP multicast notification system data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the DCM engine includes DCM engine services, business libraries, and a data access layer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the DCM engine services include user interface notification processor and a UDP broadcast processor.