Patent ID: 7794322
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for awarding a bonus to a player of an electronic gaming device at one of a plurality of gaming properties, said method comprising: collecting data relating to gaming device play at the properties by a slave server on a computer network; compiling at least some of the data collected from the properties by a master server on a network including the slave servers for the purpose of awarding a bonus from a bonus pool, wherein compiling at least some of the data comprises maintaining a delayed pool representing bonus pool contributions by gaming devices while communications between the gaming devices and a slave server or between the slave server and the master server were interrupted, wherein compiling at least some of the data further comprises updating the bonus pool using a first portion of the delayed pool and forming a new bonus pool using a second portion of the delayed pool; sending a display message from the master server to the slave servers to cause the amount of the bonus pool to be displayed and in response to receiving a display message, sending a message to the master server from a slave server indicating a current local bonus pool value so that the amount of the bonus pool is updated, the current local bonus pool value representing the total accrued contribution by the slave server since the current pool began accruing; using the master server to randomly select a slave server from a plurality of slave servers to award the bonus and to notify the non-selected slave servers of the identity of the selected slave server; randomly selecting at least one of the gaming devices from a plurality of gaming devices at one of the properties to receive the bonus using the selected slave server; awarding the bonus to the player of said at least one gaming device; generating an indication that the player has been awarded the bonus.