Remote content management and resource sharing on a gaming machine and method of implementing same

A gaming system comprising:

• a remote host including a processor configured to:
• (a) communicate with a gaming device including receiving a description of first gaming resources and at least one usage limitation associated with the first gaming resources that are available for use by the remote host via execution of an interface process on the gaming device;
• and
• (b) send information to the gaming device that enables the remote host to utilize a portion of a gaming interface via the interface process;
• the gaming device including:
• the gaming interface including a plurality of input devices and at least one output device configured to display an outcome of a play of a wager-based game;
• a master gaming controller configured to:
• (a) provide:
• (i) a first resource partition associated with the first gaming resources wherein the first gaming resources include a processor, a memory and the portion of the gaming machine interface, and
• (ii) a second resource partition associated with second gaming resources, wherein the first resource partition and the second resource partition share processing resources used to display the outcome of the play of the wager-based game,
• (b) execute the interface process in the first resource partition wherein the interface process is only enabled to utilize the first gaming resources, and the interface process is not required to be approved by any regulatory gaming authority in any jurisdiction which enables wager-based gaming;
• (c) receive the information from the remote host that enables the remote host to utilize the portion of the gaming interface via the interface process to provide an enhanced function,
• (d) enable execution in the second resource partition of at least one gaming process to display the wager-based game, wherein the at least one gaming process is required to be approved by a regulatory gaming authority in a jurisdiction which enables wager-based gaming,
• (e) prevent the interface process from using more than an allocated amount of the first gaming resources, wherein the interface process is configured to increase or decrease a utilization of the first gaming resources in response to commands received from the remote host,
• (f) establish a communication session with the remote host that enables the remote host to send the information that enables the remote host to utilize the portion of the gaming interface via the interface process during the play of the wager-based game without affecting an integrity of software associated with the play of the wager-based game so as not to alter:
• the play of the wager-based game and the outcome of the wager-based game, and
• (g) communicate to the remote host a description of the first gaming resources and the at least one usage limitation associated with the first gaming resources that are available for use by the remote host via execution of the interface process in the first resource partition;
• and
• a resource partition manager configured to prevent the interface process from using more than the allocated amount of the first gaming resources and to control execution of processes in the first resource partition including the interface process.

A gaming system comprising:

• a remote host configured to:
• (1) communicate with a gaming device;
• (2) send at least one request to the gaming device to use at least one remote host controlled process executed on the gaming device, said at least one remote host controlled process generates video images in response to at least one command received from the remote host;
• and
• (3) receive a description of at least one gaming device resource that is available for use by the remote host via execution of the at least one remote host controlled process, wherein the at least one remote host controlled process is not required to be approved by any regulatory gaming authority in any jurisdiction which enables wager-based gaming;
• and
• the gaming device including:
• at least one display device;
• at least one input device;
• at least one memory device;
• at least one local processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device, the at least one input device and the at least one memory device, and to communicate with the remote host to:
• (a) enable a player to wager on a play of a primary game,
• (b) generate a primary game outcome for said play of the primary game using a game process, wherein the game process is required to be approved by a regulatory gaming authority in a jurisdiction which enables wager-based gaming,
• (c) cause a first portion of said at least one display device to display the play of the primary game;
• (d) display to the player the generated primary game outcome by at least generating first video images including the primary game outcome,
• (e) receive the at least one request from the remote host to provide the at least one remote host controlled process that generates second video images to be output on a second portion of the display device in response to commands received from the remote host, wherein said at least one remote host controlled process is configured to not affect an integrity of software associated with the play of the primary game so as not to alter:
• the play of the primary game and the primary game outcome,
• (f) if said at least one request to provide said at least one remote host controlled process is received, determine an availability of the at least one gaming device resource,
• (g) if said at least one gaming device resource is available:
• (i) accept the request to provide said at least one remote host controlled process,
• (ii) send the remote host a description of the at least one gaming device resource that is available for use by the remote host via execution of the at least one remote host controlled process including dimensions of the second portion of the display device,
• (iii) enable the remote host to cause said second portion of the display device to display the second video images generated by said at least one remote host controlled process, wherein said at least one remote host controlled process is displayed simultaneously with the play of the primary game and wherein the first video images including the primary game outcome and the second video images generated by said at least one remote host controlled process are generated using a shared set of video processing resources including CPU cycles on the at least one local processor,
• (iv) monitor at least a utilization of the shared set of video processing resources by the at least one remote host controlled process, and
• (v) prevent the utilization of the shared set of video processing resources by the at least one remote host controlled process from exceeding at least one usage limitation.