US 2011/0218038 A1Published application

Methods and devices for downloading games of chance

AssigneeIgt

InventorsMichael Kinsley, Binh T. Nguyen, Jamal Benbrahim

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The present invention provides methods, devices and systems for downloading gaming software. According to some implementations of the invention, gaming software is continuously transmitted on a plurality of channels, e.g., by one or more servers. In some such implementations, each channel is dedicated to software for a different wagering game. In other implementations, gaming software components are transmitted on a plurality of channels, with each channel dedicated to a particular gaming software component. Some implementations provide gaming software in response to a request from a gaming machine. Implementations over dedicated and/or public networks are provided. Preferred implementations of the invention allow gaming software to be downloaded to gaming machines in a secure manner that automatically ensures that licensing and regulatory requirements are satisfied. Some such implementations determine whether payment is required for gaming software and provide for automated payment, if so required.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of downloading gaming software, the method comprising:

repeatedly transmitting, by a server, a gaming software block one or more times on a channel, wherein the gaming software block includes gaming software for a corresponding wagering game and is bounded by a first frame and a last frame, wherein the transmitting is performed independent of whether a request for the transmission is received by the server from a gaming machine;
beginning, by the gaming machine, a download of the gaming software block from the channel at an arbitrary frame within the gaming software block during a first transmission of the gaming software block during the transmitting;
and
completing, by the gaming machine, the download of the gaming software block from the channel at a second frame within the gaming software block during a subsequent repeat transmission of the gaming software block during the transmitting, wherein the arbitrary frame and the second frame are not the first and last frames, respectively, and wherein the portion of the gaming software block between the arbitrary frame and the last frame, inclusive of the arbitrary frame and the last frame, and the portion of the gaming software block between the first frame and the second frame, inclusive of the first frame and the second frame, include all frames comprising the gaming software block.

1 more element

A gaming server, the gaming server comprising:

one or more processors;
a memory;
and
a communications interface configured to communicate with a gaming network,
the one or more processors, the memory, and the communications interface configured to repeatedly transmit a first gaming software block for a first wagering game over a first channel on the gaming network,
the first gaming software block bounded by a first frame and a last frame,
the first gaming software block configured to allow a gaming machine to initiate a download of the first gaming software block at a first arbitrary frame within the first gaming software block and to allow the gaming machine to complete the download of the first gaming software block at a second frame within the first gaming software block during a subsequent repeat transmission of the first gaming software block, wherein the first arbitrary frame and second frame within the first gaming software block are not the first frame and the last frame of the first gaming software block, respectively.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/101,939Filed 5 May 2011
Priority: 1 Jul 2005
Published: 8 Sep 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F 17/323
Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users: wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds,…
G07F 17/3232
Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users: wherein the operator is informed
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus

Family

Application11/173,442Continuation · filed 1 Jul 2005
Application13/101,939Continuation
US 2007/0004506 A1Published application
US 7,972,214 B2Related patent
US 8,388,448 B2Related patent
US 2011/0218038 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.