Systems and methods for carrying out an uninterrupted game with temporary inactivation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9558619-B2
Application number	US-201313951843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2013
Priority date	Jan 13, 2012
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

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. The mobile device operates as a user interface. If the communications link is temporarily broken during a game, the mobile device will create the appearance that the game is continuous, such as by continuing to spin reels, until communications are re-established. The reels will stop once the mobile device receives the final outcome from the gaming terminal. The player may pause the game to temporarily suspend the minimum game frequency rules. The mobile device may switch between gaming terminals. For 3D video, the original format may be adjusted for the mobile device. The gaming terminal may be a gaming machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A remote gaming method comprising:
establishing a wireless communications link between a mobile gaming device operated by a player and a first gaming terminal that carries out a gaming program to play at least a first game, 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, wherein, during the remote gaming session, the stationary gaming machine is not available for use by another player to play the games using another mobile gaming device;
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;
allowing the player to pause the remote gaming session by entering a command via the mobile gaming device to pause the remote gaming session for a certain time;
in response to the command being entered, suspending the game inactivity rules, by the first gaming terminal, for the certain time so the remote gaming session does not terminate due to game inactivity, wherein when the game inactivity rules are suspended, the stationary gaming machine remains not available for use by another player using another mobile gaming device;
receiving a first signal by the first gaming terminal indicating that the player is again using the mobile gaming device to play the first game;
re-applying the game inactivity rules after the first signal is received; and
terminating the gaming session if the player does not use the mobile gaming device to play the first game within the certain time.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a stationary registration terminal within a first regulated gaming venue, the registration terminal having a transceiver for communicating with the mobile gaming device operated by the player within the first regulated gaming venue, the registration terminal being connected in a network with a plurality of gaming machines including the first gaming terminal; and
establishing the communication link using the registration terminal.

3. The remote gaming method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a selection by the player of a 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.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second game is available to be played on a second gaming terminal carried out by a gaming program comprising game inactivity rules requiring game play within a maximum allowable time to prevent a remote gaming session from being terminated, 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.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first gaming terminal and the second gaming terminal are located in different gaming venues.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
detecting the player's real time game play;
based on detecting the player's real time game play, determining a set of recommended games available to be played on the mobile gaming device, wherein the set of recommended games comprises the second game;
transmitting signals to the mobile gaming device identifying at least the second game of the set of recommended games.

7. The method of claim 6 , 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.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the set of recommended games is associated with a gaming model of a plurality of gaming models, and wherein the method further comprises:
detecting a threshold amount of data for the player's real time game play;
partitioning the data for the player's real time game play into a plurality of game events; and
determining that the gaming model corresponds to one or more events of the plurality of game events.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the set of recommended games is associated with a gaming model of a plurality of gaming models, and wherein the method further comprises:
determining each of the plurality of gaming models from collected game play data using cluster analysis; and
associating a set of recommended games with each of the plurality of gaming models.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the player's real time game play is associated with game factors, and wherein the gaming model comprises a collection of game factors representing a predetermined gaming and play behavior model of game player.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the game factors comprise one or more members selected from the grouping consisting of: game session length, play behavior, game behavior, game language, game location, game selection, elapsed time with one game, wagering behavior, game type, game theme, wager amounts, wager denominations, play rates, typical bonus values, game brand, prize distributions, amounts of incremental wagers, frequency of wagering, for instance the presence or absence of multiple rounds of wagering in a game, the number of rounds of wagers permitted in a game, maximum wager amounts permitted, minimum wager amounts permitted, amount of wagering, elapsed time between selected events for instance starting a new game, reaction to bonus rounds, reaction to progressive outputs, pay table features, amount of incremental wagers, frequency of wagering, elapsed time for player reaction, amount of wagering, elapsed time between wagers, frequency of player action, game rules, game complexity, ability for a player to control or have an effect on a game outcome, whether an outcome is predetermined, whether parallel wagering is provided, average game speed, average wager amounts, average wager rate, presence or frequency of bonus rounds, presence and frequency of progressive outputs, payout percentages, win rates, win percentages, loss rates, loss percentages, use of special features, frequency of use of special features, number of lines played, total amount wagered, and type of payment received.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the set of recommended games is associated with a game player type, wherein the game player type is associated with a gaming model of a plurality of gaming models, and wherein the method further comprises:
detecting a threshold amount of data for the player's real time game play;
determining the game player type based on analysis of the data for the player's real time game play;
determining that the gaming model corresponds to the game player type.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile gaming device is automatically identified using a Near Field Communications (NFC) protocol.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player is playing anonymously, without the use of a player tracking card.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
periodically contr

Assignees

• Igt Canada Solutions Ulc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A63F13/327

  using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet · CPC title

• G07F17/3204

  Player-machine interfaces · CPC title

• G07F17/3239

  Tracking of individual players · CPC title

• G07F17/3225 Primary

  Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users · CPC title

• G07F17/3211

  Display means · CPC title