Abstract:
Play of a wagering game on a user&#39;s computing device is supported while a web page from a host server is displayed on the user&#39;s screen. The game is contained in a window on the web page, but the game is controlled by a source server. The computing device downloads via the host server a module of an application support service that supports play of the first wagering game within the window. Requests for critical information required for play of the game from the user&#39;s computing device are routed via the host server to the source server. Replies to the requests are transmitted from the source server to the computing device thereby permitting play of the first game within the window as displayed on the screen of the user&#39;s computing device. The host server controls the subject matter displayed on the web page outside the window containing the wagering game.

Description:
COPYRIGHT 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2007 WMS Gaming Inc. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to hosting of electronic wagering games, and more particularly to the presentation of such games through a remote host that is not affiliated with a source host that maintains control of critical game data. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electronic wagering games, such as video slots and video poker, are available for play from various internet based sites. Typically a provider of such games supports play of the offered games from a host server for a plurality of users that use their computers to connect to the server via the internet. If the demand by users exceeds the capacity of one host server, then the vendor may employ additional servers to accommodate all of the users. However, the servers are all under the control of the same vendor. Some games may be proprietary to a vendor and hence are only available from that vendor&#39;s server. Users may desire to play a variety of games, some being only available from one vendor&#39;s server and other games only being available from another vendor&#39;s server. This forces the users to navigate to the various servers in order to gain access to the desired games. Therefore, a need exists to minimize the users&#39; burden of having to navigate to different web sites in order to access a variety of desired games. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect of the present invention, an embodiment includes an illustrative method wherein the play of a wagering game by a user on the user&#39;s computing device is supported while a web page from a host server is displayed on the user&#39;s screen. The game is contained in a window on the web page, but the game is under the control of a source server. The user&#39;s computing device downloads via the host server a module of an application support service that supports play of the first wagering game within the window. Requests for critical information required for play of the game from the user&#39;s computing device is routed via the host server to the source server. A reply to the critical information request is transmitted from the source server via the host server to the user&#39;s computing device thereby permitting play of the first game within the window of the web page as displayed on the screen of the user&#39;s computing device. The host server controls the subject matter displayed on the web page outside the window containing the wagering game. 
         [0005]    According to other aspects of the invention, embodiments include a source server and a host server adapted to implement respective portions of the method. 
         [0006]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer readable tangible storage medium is encoded with instructions for enabling the practice of the method by the source server and host server. 
         [0007]    Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. The use of the same reference numeral in the drawings is utilized to denote identical or similar elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a gaming system suited for incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a representative architecture of elements of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a representative software structure for an illustrative server. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a representative software structure for an illustrative user&#39;s communication device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an illustrative screen view as displayed on a user&#39;s monitor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an illustrative method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Various embodiments of this invention can be utilized. The drawings and descriptions of embodiments of the invention exemplify its principles and are not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to only the illustrated embodiments. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative gaming system  10  that includes a source server  12  and a host servers  14 - 16  coupled by the Internet  18 . In this example the source server  12  is controlled by the owner of one or more wagering games. The host servers  14 - 16  may be owned and controlled by various entities that seek to provide an access site for users of various subject matter. User communication devices, of which communication device  20  is an example, are also coupled to the Internet  18 . The communication device  20  will typically comprise a desk top or laptop personal computer that includes a browser and supports TCP/IP Internet communications with other nodes connected to the Internet  18 . A wireless access point (WAP)  22  is also coupled to the Internet  18  and supports wireless communications with wireless communication devices  24  such as a personal digital assistant. It will be apparent that other types of wireless communication devices such as a laptop computer with wireless communication capabilities, a cellular telephone with interactive capabilities, etc. could also be utilized. In this illustrative application, the user communication devices will have bidirectional communication capabilities with the internet in order to support interactive play of a wagering game. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows an architecture that is applicable to the servers and user communications devices of  FIG. 1 . A central processing unit (microprocessor)  30  is supported by read-only memory (ROM)  32 , random access memory (RAM)  34 , and a nonvolatile storage memory such as a hard drive  36 . Input devices  38  such as a keyboard and/or mouse support the local entry of data and/or commands. Output devices  40  such as a monitor support the conveyance of information to a local operator. A communications input/output module  42  facilities bidirectional communications between the CPU  30  and external nodes over a wired or wireless communications link. 
         [0017]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the functionality provided by the structure shown in  FIG. 2  is determined by the system level software and applications that provide operational control of it. Program control instructions are initially stored in ROM  32  and the hard drive  36 . Following the initial boot-up process, at least part of the program control instructions is loaded into the RAM  34  to facilitate run-time operation. One or more application programs running on the structure provide higher level functionality associated with the respective nodes. For example, source server  12  stores various wagering games and provides critical recordkeeping and data support associated with the play of such wagering games. The host servers  14 - 16  contain programs that host one or more web sites that are accessed by users. The host servers support the play of a wagering game located at source server  12  while the user remains directly supported by a web page hosted by a host server. The user communication device will contain programs such as a browser that supports TCP/IP and HTML functionality so that bidirectional communications are supported between the user&#39;s communication device and the servers. Application support services such as capabilities supported Sun&#39;s JAVA, Adobe&#39;s FLASH or other similar support services are preferably utilized to implement the illustrative embodiments of methods in accordance with the present invention as described below. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a representative software structure  50  for the source and host servers. In the illustrative example Java is utilized to provide the interactive functionality that will be described below. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the illustrative software structure is supported by system level software, such as Microsoft&#39;s Windows. One or more Java applets  52  are utilized as needed to provide the needed functionality. As will be known to those skilled in the art, the instructions and data contained in Java applets  52  are interpreted by a Java Virtual Machine (VM)  54 . HTML/URL and TCP/IP services  56  are provided by the Internet servers. “Windowing” services  58  supported by both Java and the system level software provide for the rendering of images which are coupled to terminal level support  60  that supplies the images to a monitor  62 . A display of images associated with a server is provided so that an administrator can monitor the ongoing functionality and status of the server. Administrator input of commands and data to the server is also supported. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a representative software structure  70  for the user&#39;s communication device, for example a personal computer. In this example Java provides the interactive functionality that will be described below for the user&#39;s personal computer. The illustrative software structure  70  is supported by system level software, such as Microsoft&#39;s Windows or Vista, and one or more Java applets  72  to provide the needed functionality. The instructions and data contained in the Java applets are interpreted by the Java VM  74 . A browser  76  provides HTML/URL and TCP/IP services for Internet communications by the personal computer. User interface (UI) and graphic call services  78  facilitate input and output communications with the user. The graphic calls are supported by a video driver  80  which provides output to a display monitor  82  seen by the user. Data and commands input by the user such as by a keyboard  84  are accepted by the UI at the system level and processed by the responsible application such as by an active Java applet. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows an illustrative view of a screen  102  as seen on monitor  100  by a user of a personal computer, e.g. computer  20 . In this example the user is engaged in the play of a wagering game in which the critical data associated with the play of the game is controlled by the vendor associated with source server  12 . However, the game is presented through host server  14  that hosts the web page being accessed by the user. The owner or vendor associated with host server  14  is not affiliated with the vendor associated with source server  12 . As used herein a “not affiliated” relationship means that the vendor associated with source server  12  does not own or have the right to control the general operation or content of host server  14 . A series of icons  104  is presented on screen  102  where each icon corresponds to a different game that can be selected by the user for play. In this example, the web page as represented by the illustrative image on screen  102  would be known to users as the “WAGER RANGER” site. This would represent a known web site by which a user can select and play a variety of different games associated with icons displayed on this web page. 
         [0021]    Window  106  located within the boundaries of screen  102  is associated with a game, ACME&#39;S VIDEO POKER, created by the vendor (Acme) of source server  12  that is selected for play by the user. The user would first select and click on a displayed icon corresponding with window  106  in order to cause window  106  to open and become the active window in the screen. In this example, Java applets associated with window  106  and utilized in the interactive play of the associated game are downloaded to the user&#39;s computer from the host server  14 , or from the source server  12  through the host server  14 , as part of opening the window  106 , unless the Java applets already reside on the user&#39;s computer. The Java applets will contain instructions and data for rendering the image of window  106 , and for handling active objects displayed within window  106  such as associated with transmitting user input and/or selections. Window  106  includes all types of graphic image areas capable of interactive communications, e.g. a pop-up window, etc. 
         [0022]    In this example an inner window  108  located within window  106  displays the cards  110  associated with the play of the video poker game. Assuming the game is draw poker, five cards initially dealt in a game will be displayed to the user. Controls  112  which consist of user selectable objects are associated with each card and permit the user to identify which of the cards will be discarded and replaced with different cards to form the final hand. Another object control  114  is used to signify that the user has completed the selection of cards to be discarded and is ready for the replacement cards to be received and displayed in place of the cards discarded. Another inner window  116  contains other information associated with the play of the game such as cumulative statistics and wager information. This window may also contain objects representing information that can be entered by the user, such as the amount of the wager for each poker hand and whether another poker hand is to be played. Objects shown in the windows can be displayed in two or three dimensional perspective. 
         [0023]    In the illustrative embodiment the Java applets resident on the user&#39;s computer may contain sufficient instructions and data to maintain the ongoing operation of window  106  independent of the need for the receipt of instructions or data from the source server  12 , except with regard to critical information. As used herein “critical information” means instructions or data associated with regulated wagering activities such as limits on the amount of permitted wagers, required game control statistics, and data associated with controlling the outcome of the game, e.g. which cards are dealt in the illustrative example. Critical information is requested from the user&#39;s computer, such as by a Java applet, from the source server  12  and provided by the source server  12  to the user&#39;s computer. This request and the reply to it are preferably routed through host server  14  so that the host server can monitor continuity of game play. 
         [0024]    It should be remembered that while the user is playing a game presented in window  106  that has critical information controlled by source server  12 , the remainder of the screen  102  outside of window  106  is defined by the web page controlled independently by host server  14 . The material presented on the screen  102  outside of window  106  cannot be controlled by the source server  12 . This provides the vendor associated with a host server with the opportunity of structuring independent business arrangements with a variety of content providers. This also provides the content provider, e.g. the vendor of source server  12 , the opportunity to have its content presented through different host servers. This permits a vendor of wagering games to allow different host vendors to present wagering games to users grouped with other subject matter as determined by the host vendors, while still maintaining control over critical information associated with the play of its games and hence maintaining compliance with legal requirements associated with the gaming industry. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  140  a user selects the icon of a desired game associated with a source server as displayed on the host server&#39;s web page. In step  142  associated Java applets are downloaded to the user&#39;s computer from the host server, if the Java applets are not already resident on the user&#39;s computer. In step  144  the default window for the selected game opens on the user&#39;s screen and the user logs in. The log in process will involve the source host since the identity of the user is required in order to authenticate the user&#39;s status for game play. The user may have already logged in to the host server in order to reach the web page with the selected game icon. The log in information previously provided by the user to the host server may be sufficient to be forwarded to the source host depending upon the information collected and the level of authentication required. If the previous log in information collected by the host server is not sufficient, a separate log in process by the user to the source server can be utilized. 
         [0026]    A determination is made in step  146  of whether game input has been initiated. For example, various types of selections may be offered to the user in the game window during the play of the game. In NO determination by step  146  returns control of processing to the input of step  146  to await an input. A YES determination by step  146  results in another determination being made in step  148  of whether critical information is involved. In the illustrative example, selecting the cards in the dealt hand to be discarded (or to be kept depending upon the design of the game) would not represent critical information. However, clicking on the button to request new cards to replace the discarded cards would represent critical information since this information is relevant to the outcome determination. A NO determination by step  148  causes the user&#39;s computer alone or in combination with other resources to handle the request/information in step  150 . Following this step processing returns to the input of step  146  to await further game input. 
         [0027]    A YES determination by step  148 , representing that critical information is involved, results in the user&#39;s computer sending the request/information to the source server in step  152 . In step  154 , the source server sends a reply/information to the user&#39;s computer. The source server may permit the host server to control variables associated with the game, e.g. how images are shown and other non-critical game variables. The source server may also determine the bandwidth with the host server, e.g. the source server may give bandwidth priority to communications from a certain class of host servers such as host servers that meet a minimum number of games played within a predetermined time. Following this step processing returns to the input of step  146 . The process as described with regard to  FIG. 6  continues to the completion of the play of the game. At the completion of the play of a game, the source server will update and cause game statistics and user account information to be displayed to the user. Since the user has already logged in with the source server, the user may elect to play the same game again or my elect to terminate the play of the selected game, thereby causing this game window displayed within the web page of the host server to close. Thereafter, the user is free to select another icon displayed on the web page of the host server and initiate further game play. 
         [0028]    The servers and user&#39;s computer in one example employs one or more computer readable signal bearing tangible media that stores software, firmware and/or assembly language for performing one or more portions of one or more embodiments of the invention. The computer-readable signal-bearing tangible media in one example comprises one or more of a magnetic, electrical, optical, biological, and atomic data storage medium. For example, the computer-readable signal-bearing media may comprise floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, hard disk drives, USB flash memory and electronic memory modules. 
         [0029]    The steps or operations described herein are only examples. There may be many variations to these steps or operations without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified. Two or more windows associated with game play can be simultaneously displayed, e.g. one for user game play and another associated window, such as a chat window for conversation by the user with others playing the game, a game playing coach, etc. 
         [0030]    Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof are contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.