IP Library Granted Patent US 8,740,710
Granted Patent B2
US 8,740,710 · App. 13/764,618 · Granted Jun 3, 2014

Progressive controller and TCP/IP in a gaming system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,740,710
App. No.
13/764,618
Granted
Jun 3, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed herein that provides game play in exchange for monetary input per game played. The gaming system includes: a game server, a plurality of game units connected to the game server via a network, and a progressive controller. The progressive controller enables time based progressive gaming in which a progressive award is incremented by time unit. The progressive controller manages the progressive award that is incremented over time at intervals rather than being incremented by coin input. In one embodiment, the time intervals are random. In another embodiment, the incrementing intervals are calculated during the course of a game to produce a dynamic progressive increment rate. In still another embodiment, communication with the game server is only required once at a beginning of a game to downloading an incrementing rate and the progressive award.

Claims (30)

1. A gaming system that provides game play over a network, the gaming system comprising:

a game server;

a plurality of game units connected to the game server via the network; and

a progressive controller, wherein the progressive controller enables time based progressive gaming in which a progressive award is incremented by time unit, wherein the progressive controller manages the progressive award that is incremented over time at random intervals that are unrelated to monetary input or player interaction.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising a game points controller, wherein the game points controller enables game points awarded to a player to be used as currency.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising an additional processor attached to each of the game units, wherein the additional processor enables a game process to be implemented in association with each of the game units.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising a credit betting selector, wherein the credit betting selector allows a player to bet additional game credits for a game to potentially increase a number of prize credits won for a game.

5. The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein each time a player selects a credit selector, game credits applied to a particular game are increased by one credit.

6. The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein two game credits applied to a game that normally only requires one game credit, doubles a player's prize credits won for a particular game score.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising a network controller, wherein the network controller enables gaming network topology that allows game units to operate in a stand-alone configuration, as an intra-site network, or an inter-site network.

8. A gaming system that provides game play over a network, the gaming system comprising:

a game server;

a plurality of game units connected to the game server via the network; and

a progressive controller, wherein the progressive controller enables time based progressive gaming in which a progressive award is incremented by time unit, wherein the progressive controller manages the progressive award that is incremented over time at intervals that are unrelated to monetary input or player interaction, wherein the incrementing intervals are calculated during the course of a game to produce a dynamic progressive increment rate.

9. The gaming system of claim 8 , further comprising a game points controller, wherein the game points controller enables game points awarded to a player to be used as currency.

10. The gaming system of claim 8 , further comprising an additional processor attached to each of the game units, wherein the additional processor enables a game process to be implemented in association with each of the game units.

11. The gaming system of claim 8 , further comprising a credit betting selector, wherein the credit betting selector allows a player to bet additional game credits for a game to potentially increase a number of prize credits won for a game.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein each time a player selects a credit selector, game credits applied to a particular game are increased by one credit.

13. The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein two game credits applied to a game that normally only requires one game credit, doubles a player's prize credits won for a particular game score.

14. The gaming system of claim 8 , further comprising a network controller, wherein the network controller enables gaming network topology that allows game units to operate in a stand-alone configuration, as an intra-site network, or an inter-site network.

15. A gaming system that provides game play over a network, the gaming system comprising:

a game server;

a plurality of game units connected to the game server via the network; and

a progressive controller, wherein the progressive controller enables time based progressive gaming in which a progressive award is incremented by time unit, wherein the progressive controller manages the progressive award that is incremented over time at intervals that are unrelated to monetary input or player interaction, wherein communication with the game server is only required once at a beginning of a game to downloading an incrementing rate and the progressive award.

16. The gaming system of claim 15 , further comprising a game points controller, wherein the game points controller enables game points awarded to a player to be used as currency.

17. The gaming system of claim 15 , further comprising an additional processor attached to each of the game units, wherein the additional processor enables a game process to be implemented in association with each of the game units.

18. The gaming system of claim 15 , further comprising a credit betting selector, wherein the credit betting selector allows a player to bet additional game credits for a game to potentially increase a number of prize credits won for a game.

19. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein each time a player selects a credit selector, game credits applied to a particular game are increased by one credit.

20. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein two game credits applied to a game that normally only requires one game credit, doubles a player's prize credits won for a particular game score.

21. The gaming system of claim 15 , further comprising a network controller, wherein the network controller enables gaming network topology that allows game units to operate in a stand-alone configuration, as an intra-site network, or an inter-site network.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051642 FRAME: 0164. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063460/0211 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 18, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0164 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031745/0001 →