Game result graphical verification on remote clients

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9626824-B2
Application number	US-18700608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2008
Priority date	Oct 11, 2000
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

Methods an apparatus are described for verifying a game of chance is displayed correctly on a remote client. The verification may include storing game history information associated with a game of chance presented at a remote client. The server can provide a game outcome associated with the game of chance, and the game outcome can be presented visually on the remote client. A sample game outcome can be generated on a remote client and a user may be asked one or more questions about the sample game outcome to verify that the sample game outcome is correctly displayed on the remote client. In addition, the remote client can then generate a hash of the 1 game outcome and send the hash to the server. The server can store the client-generated hash and game history. If a dispute arises, this client-generated hash can be compared to a server-generated hash. A comparison of these hashes can be used to verify that the correct outcome was displayed on the remote client.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) receiving, from a remote client, a selection of a game of chance to be displayed on the remote client;
(b) prior to beginning game play of the selected game of chance on the remote client:
(i) generating instructions for a test image, the test image including a representative outcome available to be displayed in a subsequent game play of the selected game of chance,
(ii) causing a server to send the generated instructions for the test image to the remote client to cause the remote client to display the test image on a display device associated with the remote client,
(iii) causing the display device of the remote client to display one or more questions about content of the test image,
(iv) receiving one or more inputs from a player, via an input device of the remote client, of one or more answers associated with the one or more displayed questions, wherein each answer is associated with one of the one or more questions,
(v) determining that each received answer correlates with a correct answer to the associated question,
(vi) determining if the remote client is capable of game play of the selected game of chance, said determination being based on the one or more answers, and
(vii) storing information associated with the test image, the one or more questions, and the answers; and

(c) if the remote client is determined to be capable of game play of the selected game of chance:
(i) receiving a wager on the selected game of chance,
(ii) determining a game outcome for a play of the selected game of chance, and
(iii) displaying, via the display device of the remote client, the determined game outcome of the play of the selected game of chance.

2. The method of claim 1 , which includes repeatedly determining that the remote client is capable of game play of the selected game of chance prior to beginning game play of the selected game of chance on the remote client.

3. The method of claim 1 , which includes:
receiving a selection of a new game of chance for play on the remote client, the new game of chance being different from the previously selected game of chance;
generating instructions for a new test image, the new test image including a representative outcome available to be displayed in a subsequent game play of the new game of chance;
sending the generated instructions for the new test image to the remote client to cause the remote client to display the new test image on the display device associated with the remote client; and
generating one or more questions about content displayed in the new test image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote client is a mobile gaming device.

5. The method of claim 1 , which includes:
receiving, from the remote client, a hash of the test image, cause the server to generate the test image;
hashing the generated test image; and
determining if the hash of the test image received from the remote client matches the server-generated hash of the test image.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hashes are both taken of corresponding portions of the test image displayed by the remote client and the server-generated test image.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the portions include an outline of one or more shapes, a color, a region, or a payline.

8. The method of claim 1 , which includes performing periodic diagnostics on the remote client.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein performing periodic diagnostics on the remote client includes:
causing a server to send a first test image to the remote client;
receiving, from the remote client, a hash of the first test image displayed by the remote client; and
determining if the hash of the first test image received from the remote client matches a hash of the first test image generated by the server.

10. The method of claim 1 , which includes:
receiving a request from the remote client to resolve a dispute regarding the determined game outcome;
receiving a first image displayed by the remote client;
causing the server to generate a second image using stored game history information associated with the first image;
comparing the first image to the second image to determine whether information displayed in the first image matches information displayed in the second image.

11. The method of claim 1 , which includes:
receiving a request from the remote client to resolve a dispute regarding the determined game outcome;
receiving a first hash of a first image displayed by the remote client;
causing the server to generate a second image using stored game history information associated with the first image;
generating a second hash of the second image;
comparing the first hash to the second hash to determine whether information displayed in the first image matches information displayed in the second image.

12. The method of claim 1 , which includes:
establishing communications between the server and the remote client;
determining a type of hardware used by the remote client; and
determining if the determined type of hardware is compatible with the selected game of chance.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining if the determined type of hardware is compatible with the selected game of chance includes determining a screen resolution of the remote client.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server and the remote client communicate via an internet.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server and the remote client communicate via a wireless communication connection.

16. The method of claim 1 , which includes:
receiving a file of the test image displayed by the display device of the remote client; and
causing the server to store the received file.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein a credit balance is decreasable based on the received wager, and said credit balance associated is: (i) increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and (ii) decreasable via a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance.

18. A gaming system comprising:
a network; and
a server configured to:
(a) receive, from a remote client, a selection of a game of chance to be displayed on the remote client, wherein the remote client is configured to communicate with the server via the network;
(b) prior to beginning game play of the selected game of chance on the remote client:
(i) generating instructions for a test image, the test image including a representative outcome available to be displayed in a subsequent play of the selected game of chance,
(ii) sending the generated instructions for the test image to the remote client to cause the remote client to display the test image on a display device associated with the remote client,
(iii) causing the display device of the remote client to display one or more questions about content of the test image,
(iv) receiving data associated with one or more answers, inputted from a player via an input device of the remote client, to the one or more displayed questions, wherein each answer is associated with one of the one or more questions,
(v) determining that each received answer correlates with a correct answer to the associated question,
(vi) determining if the remote client is capable of game play of the selected game of chance, said determination being based on the one or more answers, and
(vii) storing information associated with the test image, the one or more questions, and the answers; and

Assignees

• Brosnan William R
• Benbrahim Jamal
• Lemay Steven G
• Igt Reno Nev

Inventors

• Brosnan William R
• Benbrahim Jamal
• Lemay Steven G

Classifications

• G07F17/3234

  about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system · CPC title

• G07F17/3227

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

• G07F17/32 Primary

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title

• G07F17/3241

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

• G07F17/3225

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