Systems and methods for remote gaming using game recommender

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9295908-B2
Application number	US-201313941062-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2013
Priority date	Jan 13, 2012
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A mobile gaming device may be a player's own personal tablet, smartphone, PDA, etc., with an application program installed via the internet for carrying out a remote gaming session. All gaming functions are carried out by a stationary gaming terminal communicating with the mobile device, such as by using WiFi or other wireless protocol. The mobile device operates as a user interface. While the player is playing one game on the mobile device, the venue's system recommends other games to the player via the player's tablet either based on the player's past gaming history, if the player used a player tracking card, or based on real time game play, if the player is anonymous. Upon the player selecting a different game, the system automatically transfers communications to a different gaming terminal and transfers the player's credits. The gaming terminals may be gaming machines, where each gaming machine carries out a different game.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A remote gaming method comprising:
establishing a communications link between a mobile gaming device operated by a player and a first gaming terminal, the mobile gaming device running a remote gaming program to play at least a first game, the first gaming terminal programmed to carry out at least the game functions of pseudo-randomly determining a game outcome and determining an award to a player;
generating a gaming and play behavior model by partitioning stored play data into a plurality of game session patterns, each game session pattern corresponding to a time period and indicating occurrence of game factors over the time period;
receiving player control signals by the first gaming terminal from the mobile gaming device to initiate the first game;
carrying out the first game by the first gaming terminal, including determining a final outcome of the first game and any award for the outcome;
transmitting signals from the first gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the first game and the award;
detecting, by a recommender processor, the player's real time or near real time game play when the player control signals are received by the first gaming terminal to initiate the first game;
collecting, from the first gaming terminal using the communication link, at the moment of the detection of the real time or near real time game play, a first set of real time game data defining occurrence of game factors for the real time or near real time game play during the carrying out of the first game by the first gaming terminal;
determining that the first set of real time game data has been collected for a minimum length of time of game play required to categorize game behaviour using the plurality of game session patterns;
matching, by the recommender processor, the first set of real time game data to a first set of game session patterns of the plurality of game session patterns;
based on the first set of game session patterns, determining a set of recommended games available to be played on the mobile gaming device;
transmitting signals to the mobile gaming device identifying at least a second game of the set of recommended games;
detecting a selection by the player of the second game;
carrying out the second game, including determining a final outcome of the second game and any award for the outcome; and
transmitting signals to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the second game and the award.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
operating the first gaming terminal in a first jurisdiction, the first gaming terminal being licensed for the first jurisdiction, the mobile gaming device being located in the first jurisdiction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second game is available to be played on a second gaming terminal, wherein the method further comprises:
establishing a wireless communications link between the mobile gaming device and the second gaming terminal;
transferring credits from the first gaming terminal to the second gaming terminal;
carrying out the second game by the second gaming terminal; and
transmitting signals by the second gaming terminal to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the second game and the award.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first gaming terminal is a gaming machine having a display screen, and wherein the gaming machine may be directly played using the display screen.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the gaming machine and mobile gaming device are operated within a same venue.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile gaming device is not required to be licensed in the first jurisdiction.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player is playing anonymously, without the use of a player tracking card or without registration of the player with the first gaming terminal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first gaming terminal and the second gaming terminal are located in different gaming venues.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
periodically controlling the mobile gaming device to communicate between a plurality of transceivers in a venue;
using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level signals derived by communications with the transceivers to determine whether the mobile gaming device is within a designated area within the venue; and
if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, blocking the mobile gaming device from carrying out the first or second game.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
transferring game assets to the mobile gaming device, wherein the game assets comprise game content for the first game or the second game;
if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, deleting the game assets on the mobile gaming device.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first game or the second game comprises a wagering mode and a free mode, wherein the method further comprises:
transferring game assets to the mobile gaming device, wherein the game assets comprise game content for the first game or the second game;
carrying out, using the game assets, the first game or the second game in the wagering mode;
if it is determined that the mobile gaming device is outside of the designated area, continuing to carry out, using the game assets, the first game or the second game in the free mode.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first gaming terminal is licensed for use in a first gaming zone operated by a first operator, and the second gaming terminal is licensed for use in a second gaming zone operated by a second operator, wherein the player is located in the first gaming zone.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of revenue generated by the player playing the second type game is provided to the second operator.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying data from the player's real time game play to an algorithm to determine that the player is a certain type of player, then selecting the set of recommended games based on the certain type of player.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrying out the first game by the first gaming terminal comprises displaying game animation on the mobile gaming device conveying to the player that the first game is presently occurring, and wherein the method further comprises:
in event of a communications link failure between the mobile gaming device and the first gaming terminal during the game, prior to receiving the signals by the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the game and the award but after the game animation has begun,
continuing the game animation by the mobile gaming device during the communications link failure for a time until the communications link has been re-established;
once the communication link has been re-established, transmitting the signals to the mobile gaming device identifying the final outcome of the first game and the award, stopping the game animation; and
displaying, by the mobile gaming device, the final outcome of the game and the award, such that the game perceived by the player is not interrupted during the communications link failure.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming program comprises game inactivity rules requiring game play within a maximum allowable time to prevent a remote gaming session from being terminated, and wherein the method further comprises:
allowing the player to pause the remote gaming session by entering a command via the mobile gaming devic

Assignees

• Gtech Canada Ulc
• Igt Canada Solutions Ulc

Inventors

• Froy David
• Babin Peter
• Gadher Bharat
• Idris Fayez
• Pleskonjic Dragan
• Post Peter
• Mcintyre Andrew

Classifications

• G07F17/3227 Primary

  Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters · CPC title

• G07F17/3239

  Tracking of individual players · CPC title

• G07F17/3218

  wherein at least part of the system is portable · CPC title

• A63F13/00 Primary

  Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions · CPC title

• G07F17/3204

  Player-machine interfaces · CPC title