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

• US 9,251,649 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Saunders, Michael W., Carlson, Rolf E., Miller, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sengdara, Vongsavanh
• Application Number:
  US13/831,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0221 Re-usable coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A gaming system authenticates over a network a user of a remote device for a gaming system for a gambling game. The gaming system determines a location of the remote device. The gaming system verifies that the location of the remote device is within a jurisdiction that allows use of the gaming system by persons of age to gamble. Then the gaming system provides software to the remote device, wherein the software, when executed, causes media associated with the gambling game to be presented on the remote device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising operations of:

authenticating over a network a user of a remote device for a gaming system for a gambling game, wherein the remote device is one of a predetermined number of remote devices that is determined by a regulatory gaming agency for a jurisdiction;

determining that the remote device is located within the jurisdiction based on a geographic location of a closed-loop network of limited geographic scope; and

transmitting software to the remote device, wherein the software, when executed, causes media associated with the gambling game to be presented on the remote device and wherein each of the operations is executed by one or more processors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a set-top box.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the closed-loop network is a dedicated fiber-optic network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the closed-loop network connects to a backbone network that includes a public network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the public network is the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising an operation of receiving a wager from the user and executing a play in the gambling game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media includes an animation or video.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media includes music.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a mobile or wireless telephone handset.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a handheld computer.

11. One or more computer-readable media, that are non-transitory, storing a program which when executed, instructs a processor to perform the following operations:

authenticate over a network a user of a remote device for a gaming system for a gambling game, wherein the remote device is one of a predetermined number of remote devices that is determined by a regulatory gaming agency for a jurisdiction;

determine that the remote device is located within the jurisdiction based on a geographic location of a closed-loop network of limited geographic scope; and

transmit software to the remote device, wherein the software, when executed, causes media associated with the gambling game to be presented on the remote device.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the remote device is a set-top box.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the closed-loop network is a dedicated fiber-optic network.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the closed-loop network connects to a backbone network that includes a public network.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the public network is the Internet.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 11, further comprising an operation of receiving a wager from the user and executing a play in the gambling game.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the media includes an animation.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the media includes music.

19. A method, comprising operations of:

authenticating over the Internet a user of a remote device for a gaming system that includes a central gaming controller and a random number generator for a gambling game, wherein the remote device is one of a predetermined number of remote devices that is determined by a regulatory gaming agency for a jurisdiction;

determining that the remote device is located within the jurisdiction based on a geographic location of a closed-loop network of limited geographic scope; and

transmitting software to the remote device, wherein the software, when executed, causes an animation or video associated with the gambling game to be presented on the remote playing device and wherein each of the operations is executed by one or more processors.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising an operation of receiving a wager from the user and executing a play in the gambling game.