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US 7,811,167 B2Granted
System and method for saving status of paused game of chance
AssigneeWMS Gaming Inc.
InventorsJohn J. Giobbi, Larry J. Pacey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.
Claims35
A gaming machine comprising:
- an interface coupling the gaming machine to a network having a central database coupled to a plurality of gaming machines, the central database being remote from the gaming machine;
- a player information input device to receive player identification information from a player;
- a wagering game including a progression of evolving events in a continuing game play experience, each event being dependent on a prior event in the progression of evolving events and including a graphical depiction of a non-numerical object, the wagering game to receive a wager from the player, initiate play and pause play at a paused state within the progression of evolving events, the wagering game to further develop status information corresponding to the paused state within the progression of evolving events;
- wherein the interface sends the status information and player identification information over the network to the central database and wherein the interface retrieves the status information of the paused state of the wagering game from the central database at a later time;
- and
- wherein upon receiving another wager from the player, the wagering game continues play from a point of the paused state of the wagering game.
3 more elements
A wagering game system, comprising:
- a gaming machine having a player identification input device and a network interface and receiving a wager from a player to initiate a wagering game including a progression of evolving events in a continuing game play experience, wherein each event being dependent on a prior event in the progression of evolving events and including a graphical depiction of a non-numerical object, the player identification input device receiving identification information from the player, the gaming machine further pausing the wagering game at a paused state within the progression of evolving events and developing status information corresponding to the paused state within the progression of evolving events of the wagering game;
- a player tracking network coupled to the gaming machine, the player-tracking network monitoring the wagering-game usage associated with the player identification input device;
- a database remote from and coupled to the gaming machine via the player tracking network, the database including a record for the player-tracking network corresponding to the identification information, the database storing the status information in a memory location associated with the record;
- and
- a second gaming machine having a second player identification input device and a network interface and receiving a wager from a player to initiate the wagering game, the second player identification input device receiving identification information from the player, the second gaming machine further retrieving the status information of the paused state of the wagering game from the database and continuing play of the wagering game beginning from a point of the paused state of the wagering game.
2 more elements
A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming machines including a first gaming machine conducting a wagering game;
- a central database coupled to the plurality of gaming machines, the central database being remote from the plurality of gaming machines;
- wherein the first gaming machine[s] includes a player input device to receive a personal identifier from a player, the first gaming machine receiving a wager from the player, initiating a wagering game including a progression of evolving events in a continuing game play experience, pausing the wagering game at a paused state within the progression of evolving events, and developing status information corresponding to the paused state within the progression of evolving events of the wagering game for storage in the central database;
- wherein each event is dependent on a prior event in the progression of evolving events and includes a graphical depiction of a non-numerical object and
- wherein, in response to receiving the personal identifier at the first gaming machine, a second gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines retrieves the status information of the paused state of the wagering game from said central database and continues play of the wagering game at the paused state on the second gaming machine.
2 more elements
A method for playing a wagering game, comprising:
- receiving wager inputs from a player for playing a wagering game on a first gaming machine;
- selecting, during said base wagering game, at least one randomly-selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to said receiving step;
- presenting an array of player-selectable elements each concealing a respective outcome during said wagering game;
- receiving a selection of at least one player-selectable element of said array;
- revealing the outcome of said at least one selected player-selectable element of said array;
- storing a data set representing a saved status of said array including the revealed outcome of said at least one selected player-selectable element;
- pausing said wagering game after storing said data set;
- continuing said wagering game on a second gaming machine;
- presenting on said second gaming machine said wagering game based on said saved status defined by said data set;
- and
- receiving a selection of at least one other element of said array.
8 more elements
A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:
- a first gaming machine having a first display for displaying at least one randomly-selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player during a wagering game;
- a second gaming machine having a second display for displaying at least one other randomly-selected outcome of the plurality of outcomes in response to receiving another wager input from said player during said wagering game;
- a first controller coupled to said first display and programmed to present on said first display an array of player-selectable elements each concealing a respective outcome during said wagering game,
- receive a selection of at least one player-selectable element of said array
- reveal the outcome of said at least one selected player-selectable element of said array,
- store a first data set representing a saved status of said array including the revealed outcome of said at least one selected player-selectable element, and
- pause said wagering game after storing said first data set;
- and
- a second controller coupled to said second display and programmed to present on said second display said wagering game based on the array from said saved status defined by said first data set, and
- store a second data set representing a status of said wagering game after at least one other player-selectable element of said array has been selected.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.