US 8,708,791 B2Granted

Detecting and preventing bots and cheating in online gaming

AssigneeIgt

InventorsBinh T. Nguyen, Bryan D. Wolf, Brian Underdahl

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for detecting and/or preventing cheating in online gaming. Some implementations provide gaming information in formats that are difficult for a bot to interpret, but which are preferably easy for humans to interpret. Some implementations of the invention involve the tracking and analysis of players' gaming activities. Some implementations of the invention provide a multi-tier approach to data analysis. Some analysis may be performed, for example, by a centralized computing device such as a server, whereas other analysis may be performed by a host device. In some implementations, “challenge and response” measures will be employed. Some implementations of the invention involve detection and prevention of collaboration between players.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A gaming method in a gaming system having a plurality of host devices and at least one game server, the method comprising:

providing, by plurality of host devices and the at least one game server, an online wagering game;
presenting, by plurality of host devices, game data required for participation in the online wagering game in a format that requires a human interface or the use of pattern recognition methods;
gathering, by the plurality of host devices, game play data while players are using the plurality of host devices to play Internet wagering games;
analyzing, by the at least one game server, the game play data to determine individual players' typical gaming styles and times of deviation from the typical gaming styles;
and
comparing, by the at least one game server, times of deviation from players' typical gaming styles to determine instances of probable collusion between players.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/721,820Filed 20 Dec 2012 · division
Priority: 3 Jul 2006
Published: US 2013/0123011 A116 May 2013
Granted: 29 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G07F 17/3241
For games, toys, sports, or amusements: security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance
A63F 13/75
Game security or game management aspects: enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
G06Q 10/10
Administration; Management: office automation; Time management
G06Q 50/34
Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g.…:…

Family

Application11/480,713Parent of this division · filed 3 Jul 2006
US 2013/0123011 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 May 2013
US 8,360,838 B2Parent of this division
US 2008/0004107 A1Published application
US 8,708,791 B2This patent

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