Social gaming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9486704-B2
Application number	US-201313843192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Nov 14, 2010
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system, apparatus, and method for social gaming includes at least one gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information and a social gaming server configured to: communicate with the at least one gaming machine; establish a remote gaming session between the gaming machine and at least one user device; and distribute at least a portion of the game information to the at least one user device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A social gaming system, comprising:
a gaming machine configured to play a game of chance and produce game information, the game of chance being operated on the gaming machine for a user using a base gaming session; and
a social gaming server configured to:
communicate with the gaming machine;
maintain one or more social contacts for the user of the gaming machine;
transmit the one or more social contacts for display on a display of the gaming machine;
receive a selection of the one or more social contacts;
establish a remote gaming session with at least one user device associated with the selected social contact;
distribute at least a portion of the game information to the at least one user device after the remote gaming session is established;
permit simultaneous participation in the game of chance via the at least one user device and the gaming machine, the remote gaming session used to permit remote participation in the game of chance operating on the gaming machine via the at least one user device using the base gaming session;
determine whether a social award is to be awarded to the selected social contact based on playing the game of chance at the gaming machine, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is distinct from and not associated with the game of chance played on the gaming machine;
determine a percentage of the social award to be awarded to the selected social contact if the determining determines that the social award is to be awarded, the percentage being based on input provided by the user of the gaming machine; and
award the social award to the selected social contact.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user device is another gaming machine.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user device is a computing device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user device is a portable electronic device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the social gaming server is configured to communicate with the at least one user device via a local casino network.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third party server configured to:
authenticate the at least one user device or a user; and
receive the at least a portion of the game information.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the said social gaming server is further configured to:
determine a location of the at least one user device; and
limiting the participation in the game of chance via the at least one user device based on the location of the at least one user device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein events concerning interactions between the gaming machine and the remote gaming session are presented on a portion of the display of the gaming machine.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the social award is a non-monetary award.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the social gaming server is configured to:
receive an award confirmation notification from the user to award the selected social contact the social award.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the different available social awards pertain to a plurality of different social games.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the award the social award to the selected social contact comprises:
permit the selected social contact with a plurality of different available social awards;
receive a selection of at least one of the different available social awards; and
award the selected social contact with the selected one of the different available social awards.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the different available social awards pertain to one or more social games.

14. A social gaming server, comprising:
a social game session manager configured to:
maintain one or more social contacts for a user of a gaming machine;
transmit the one or more social contacts for display on a display of the gaming machine;
receive a selection of the one or more social contacts;
establish a social game session between a gaming machine and at least one user device associated with the selected one or more social contacts to facilitate simultaneous play of the game of chance on the gaming machine by the selected one or more social contact and the user;
acquire gaming information concerning a game of chance operating on the gaming machine;
determine portions of gaming information to be distributed to the at least one user device;
initiate transfer of the portions of gaming information to the at least one user device;
determine whether a social award is to be awarded to the selected one or more social contacts based on playing the game of chance on the gaming machine, the social award being a non-monetary award that is for use with a social game, the social game being a non-wagering game that is distinct from and not associated with the game of chance played on the gaming machine;
distribute the social award to be awarded to the selected one or more social contacts if the determining determines that the social award is to be awarded;
award the social award to the selected one or more social contacts.

15. The server of claim 14 , wherein the initiate transfer sends the portions of the gaming information to a social networking server.

16. The server of claim 14 , further comprising an authentication manager configured to authenticate the at least one user device or the user.

17. The server of claim 14 , further comprising a social contacts manager configured to obtain the one or more social contacts from a remote third party server.

18. The server of claim 14 , further comprising a social game manager configured to host a social game for use with the social game session.

19. The server of claim 14 , further comprising a location determination manager configured to determine a location of the at least one user device.

20. The server of claim 19 , further comprising an eligibility determination manger configured to the determine eligibility of the at least one user device to receive the gaming information being distributed to the at least one user device based on the location of the at least one user device.

21. The server of claim 14 , further comprising a social awards manager configured to:
(a) determine whether a social award has been earned through playing a game of chance;
(b) generate the social award if the determining (a) determines that a social award has been earned;
(c) determine if the social award is to be transferred to a remote recipient; and
(d) transfer the social award to the remote recipient if the determining (c) determines that the social award is to be transferred to a remote recipient.

22. A method for distributing game information, comprising:
operating, by a gaming machine, a game of chance to produce game information, the game of chance providing monetary awards, and the gaming machine being a dedicated gaming machine provided in an authorized gaming establishment;
presenting at least one social contact on a display of the gaming machine, each of the at least one social contact having an associated indicator displayed on the display and configured to indicate whether the at least one social contact is available;
receiving a selection of at least one social contact;
identifying at least one remote user device associated with the selected social contact;
distributing at least a portion of the game information from the game of chance to the at least one rem

Assignees

• Nguyen Binh T
• Nguyen Gaming Llc

Inventors

• Nguyen Binh T

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• A63F13/35 Primary

  Details of game servers · CPC title

• G07F17/3241

  Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance (computer security G06F21/00) · CPC title

• G07F17/3255

  Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements · CPC title

• G07F17/3272

  Games involving multiple players · CPC title