Preserving game state data for asynchronous persistent group bonus games
First Claim
1. A system for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game, comprising:
- a plurality of gaming machines associated with the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, each of the plurality of gaming machines including;
at least one processor,at least one input device,at least one display,at least one local non-volatile memory configured to store a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display and the at least one input device to enable a player to play a primary game of chance upon receipt of a wager; and
at least one network server having at least one processor and at least one non-volatile memory, the at least one processor configured to communicate with each of the plurality of gaming machines via a network to;
determine whether a bonus game session is triggered on any of the plurality of gaming machines; and
if the bonus game session is triggered;
cause the asynchronous persistent group bonus game to be displayed for any gaming machine that has triggered the bonus game session;
modify the persistent bonus game state data when an event occurs in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game;
save the persistent bonus game state data in the at least one non-volatile memory; and
transmit data to at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, in addition to the gaming machine that triggered the bonus game session, to display the asynchronous persistent group bonus game on the at least one display thereof,wherein the persistent bonus game state data includes at least global persistent bonus game state data and local persistent bonus game state data, andwherein a plurality of players are able to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method for preserving game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game may have a plurality of gaming machines associated with the asynchronous persistent group bonus game and at least one network server having at least one processor and at least one non-volatile memory. The processor may be configured to determine whether a bonus game session is triggered on any of the plurality of gaming machines; and if the bonus game session is triggered, display live game monitor activities, and periodically save the persistent bonus game state and other data on the at least one non-volatile memory.
445 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game, comprising:
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a plurality of gaming machines associated with the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, each of the plurality of gaming machines including; at least one processor, at least one input device, at least one display, at least one local non-volatile memory configured to store a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display and the at least one input device to enable a player to play a primary game of chance upon receipt of a wager; and at least one network server having at least one processor and at least one non-volatile memory, the at least one processor configured to communicate with each of the plurality of gaming machines via a network to; determine whether a bonus game session is triggered on any of the plurality of gaming machines; and if the bonus game session is triggered; cause the asynchronous persistent group bonus game to be displayed for any gaming machine that has triggered the bonus game session; modify the persistent bonus game state data when an event occurs in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game; save the persistent bonus game state data in the at least one non-volatile memory; and transmit data to at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, in addition to the gaming machine that triggered the bonus game session, to display the asynchronous persistent group bonus game on the at least one display thereof, wherein the persistent bonus game state data includes at least global persistent bonus game state data and local persistent bonus game state data, and wherein a plurality of players are able to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of gaming machines being configured to receive a wager from a player to play a primary game of chance on the plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of gaming machines including at least one processor, the method comprising:
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receiving, at one of the plurality of gaming machines, a request to play the primary game of chance; determining, at the one of the plurality of gaming machines, if a bonus game session is triggered, wherein upon the triggering of the bonus game session; obtaining persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game from the at least one network server, the at least one network server having at least one non-volatile memory associated therewith and configured to store the persistent bonus game state data for the asynchronous persistent group bonus game; receiving an input to use at least one bonus game play asset to play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game during the bonus game session, the at least one bonus game play asset obtained during play of the current bonus game session or a previous bonus game session; determining whether a game state saving event occurs; and saving a persistent bonus player data in the at least one non-volatile memory associated with the at least one network server when it is determined that the game state saving event occurred, wherein the asynchronous persistent group bonus game includes at least global persistent bonus game state data and local persistent bonus game state data, and wherein a plurality of players are able to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of gaming machines being configured to receive a wager from a player to play a primary game of chance on the plurality of gaming machines, comprising:
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receiving a request to play the primary game of chance; determining if a bonus game session is triggered, wherein upon the triggering of the bonus game session; obtaining persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game from a network server, the network server accessing at least one non-volatile memory configured to store the persistent bonus game state data for the asynchronous persistent group bonus game; and receiving an input to use at least one bonus game play asset to play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game during the bonus game session, the bonus game play asset obtained during play of the current bonus game session or a prior bonus game session; determining whether a game state saving event occurs; and saving a persistent bonus player data on the at least one non-volatile memory when it is determined that the game state saving event occurred, wherein the persistent bonus game state data for the asynchronous persistent group bonus game includes at least global persistent bonus game state data and local persistent bonus game state data, and wherein a plurality of players are able to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game.
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16. A method for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of gaming machines being configured to receive a wager from a player to play a primary game of chance on the plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of gaming machines including at least one processor, comprising:
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operating an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on the at least one network server; receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines to play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, the request following playing of the primary game of chance on the at least one of the plurality of gaming machines and having a group bonus game triggered; displaying the asynchronous persistent group bonus game on a display of the at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, the asynchronous persistent group bonus game providing global persistent bonus game state data and local persistent bonus game state data; detecting, on at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, an event in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game that modifies the local persistent bonus game state data for the asynchronous persistent group bonus game; saving the global and local persistent bonus game state data in at least one non-volatile memory, the at least one non-volatile memory stored being in or coupled to the at least one network server; and concurrently displaying the global and local asynchronous persistent bonus game state data on another display other than the display of the at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, wherein a plurality of players are able to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for preserving persistent bonus game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of gaming machines being configured to receive a wager from a player to play a primary game of chance on the plurality of gaming machines, comprising:
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operating an asynchronous persistent group bonus game from at least one network server, the asynchronous persistent group bonus game having global persistent bonus game state data and local persistent bonus game state data; receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines operating the primary game of chance to participate in the asynchronous persistent group bonus game saving the persistent bonus game state data on at least one non-volatile memory, the at least one non-volatile memory being accessible by the at least one network server; and displaying the global persistent bonus game state data on another display other than the displays associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein a plurality of players are able to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for preserving persistent bonus group game state data for an asynchronous persistent group bonus game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of gaming machines being configured to receive a wager from a player to play a primary game of chance on the plurality of gaming machines, comprising:
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receiving a request to open a player session for the asynchronous persistent group bonus game from at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, the request following playing of the primary game of chance on the at least one of the plurality of gaming machines and having a group bonus game triggered; determining if existing player game session data is associated with the player session; sending the existing player game session data to the at least one gaming machine if existing player game session data exists, the existing player game session data includes bonus game play assets obtained from the player'"'"'s previous play of the asynchronous persistent group bonus game, the persistent group bonus game state data for the asynchronous persistent group bonus game including at least global persistent group bonus game state data and local persistent group bonus game state data; receiving a request to save at least the local persistent group bonus game data for the player session; and saving, in response to the received request to save, at least the local persistent group bonus game data on at least one non-volatile memory accessible by the at least one network server, wherein a plurality of players are able to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group bonus game.
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Specification