Patent Grant
9697673
The present invention relates in general to the management of interruption and reconnection of a computerized game of chance operated in a gaming system configured with a gaming machine connected to remote data storage
In computerized gaming, a game session can be interrupted for various reasons for example due to failure in electric power supply or data communications, machine error, operating error or intentional interruption by the player. In gaming, involving casino game or lottery game types, there is usually a bet and a possible winning prize payback at stake. A player may be about to win when interruption occurs and thus may be deprived of his winning play or his payout if the game is lost. Gaming systems are usually also subject to strict control from authorities that require game record keeping for audit purposes, and it is not acceptable for game records to deviate from factual payouts. It is therefore important for the credibility of the gaming operator to manage interruption and game resumption in a secure and correct manner.
Traditionally, each game must handle its own interruption and reconnection management. It is a current trend that gaming systems run gaming software from different independent game developers. Since reconnection is a complex and error prone procedure there is a risk for instability in the gaming system if reconnection is handled in a non-uniform way.
Examples of prior art is found in the following patent publications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,242 shows a computer simulation playback method that includes the steps of recording commands entered during use of a simulation, operating the simulation with the recorded commands and allowing new commands to be entered at any point during the step of operating the simulation with the recorded commands. More specifically, the method runs a simulation on a computer system that includes a user input device and a visual display. Images are shown on the display and the person using the simulation enters commands through the user input device. The commands affect the images shown on the visual display and are recorded in the sequence that they were entered. The method then runs the simulation again and automatically enters the recorded commands in the same sequence that they were recorded so that substantially the same images that were produced when the commands were initially entered are displayed again. During that step, new commands can be entered. Once certain new commands are entered, the recorded commands are pre-empted and the user can use the simulation anew from the point where the new commands were entered.
This piece of prior art is directed to computer games, e.g. an Airplane dogfight, and allows for recording player inputs, replay and add new inputs. The system is configured to record all user inputs to the game software during execution. The system is further configured to simulate a first game software execution by inputting said recorded non deterministic inputs to said game software during a second execution. The purpose is to enable the player to alter the action and outcome of the game at any desired point.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,454 discloses a method and system wherein instant replay for microprocessor-controlled video games is provided by storing and retaining for a period of time in a random access memory the results of microprocessor polling of each of the player command entry devices. In a memory conserving embodiment only newly entered player commands and the times when such commands are entered need be stored and retained. It is further shown that user inputs are recorded and sampled with a certain sampling frequency. The disclosed system is configured to record non-deterministic user inputs to the game software during execution. Also in this piece of prior art the system is configured to simulate a first game software execution by inputting said recorded non-deterministic inputs to said game software during a second execution. The purpose is to be enable replay of a game for freeze frame and slow motion presentation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for managing interruption and reconnection of game sessions in a computer based gaming system with a computerized gaming machine that is connected to remote data storage.
The object is achieved by providing a mechanism that enables reconstruction of a game session up to the point of an interruption. Each game session is assigned an identity code for reconnection, in short called reconnect identity code, for the case that an interruption occurs during execution of the game session. Each reconnect identity code identifies a specific game session and the reconnect identity code is stored in remote data storage that is communicatively connected to the gaming machine. Game session data is stored in a manner that is independent of the specific game as well as of the specific gaming machine. More specifically, critical game session data that is necessary for the reconstruction of a game session is stored associated with the reconnect identity code in the remote data storage. If a game session is interrupted, an indication of this fact is stored with the associated reconnect identity code. An interruption of a game session can in this context occur in different ways. The interruption may be intentional or unintentional as a result of a player action, may be due to a system operation action in response to monitored parameters or due to gaming machine failure, data communications failure or other system failure.
In order to reconnect and resume the game session, the reconnect identity code is identified in a suitable manner dependent on the implementation and configuration of the gaming system and the associated game session data is retrieved from the remote data storage. The thus retrieved game session data is used for reconstruction of the game session up to the point of interruption and from there the game is continued in a normal manner operated by a player on a gaming machine.
The reconnect identity code that is associated with a specific game session is, as mentioned above, identified in a manner that depends on the implementation and configuration of the gaming system. This identification is based on the right of a specific player to a specific interrupted game session, and therefore the identification should preferably be possible to couple to or to communicate to a specific player. In many gaming systems the coupling to the person who is the player must be indirect, since the player may be anonymous or player is identified via an identified physical device or an identified user account. Different aspects of this problem are addressed by different embodiments of the invention.
In accordance with one aspect, an embodiment of the invention is devised such that the reconnect identity code is coupled to an identity of the specific gaming machine upon which the gaming activity takes place. In this instance the gaming machine identity is stored associated with the reconnect identity code. This embodiment is useful in gaining systems in which the player can reasonably prove that he or she played on a specific gaming machine at the time when an interruption occurred. In a further developed variety of this embodiment, the invention is devised such that the reconnect identity code is stored in local data storage on the gaming machine in addition to being stored in the remote data storage. When a game session is interrupted, indicia that represents the reconnect identity code is output from the gaming machine via a suitable medium. In an advantageous embodiment, the gaining machine prints the indicia that represent the reconnect identity code on a voucher in the shape of for example a piece of paper and outputs it to the player. This voucher is a token of value and represents the right to an interrupted game session and is used to reconnect the game session. Such a reconnect voucher would preferably be printed with said indicia that represents the reconnect identity code in a machine readable form, e.g. a bar code, as well as with human readable information, e.g. a text or an image. A player in possession of a reconnect voucher would use this by inputting the reconnect identity code carried on the reconnect voucher to the gaming system typically via a gaming machine that is connected to the remote data storage, possibly but not necessarily the same gaming machine that was interrupted and produced the reconnect voucher. The information on the reconnect voucher thus including the reconnect identity code is read by the gaming machine, the game session data is retrieved from the remote data storage dependent on the reconnect identity code and the game is reconstructed up to the point where it was interrupted as described above. From thereon the player continues his play as before the interruption.
In an embodiment applied in a gaming system that operates with player cards provided with portable storage means that is accessible from the gaming machine, the indicia that represents the reconnect identity code is stored on the portable storage means of the player card and is otherwise used in a manner similar to the reconnect voucher described above. In another embodiment applied in a gaming system that operates with player accounts, the reconnect identity code is stored associated with the player account. A player then has his balance of reconnect rights on his player account records, and inputs the reconnect identity code to the gaming system and activates a reconnect procedure from the account.
In other varieties the reconnect identity code is communicated between the player and the gaming system by means of short range radio frequency communications such as via a Bluetooth device or an RFID (radio frequency identification) device. There are also combinations wherein the reconnect identity code is output by a first type of communication means, such as via a reconnect voucher, and input via a second type of communication means, for example via a keyboard interface that e.g. may be realised on a touch screen.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention is realised in. a gaming system concept based in client-server architecture. A game application program comprises a game specific client module executed in a client gaming machine provided with a game application program interface and a game specific server module executed in a gaming server also provided with a game application program interface. The gaming machine as well as the gaming server comprises general gaming functions that are available as services for different games executed by the respective gaming specific client and server modules. In the client gaming machine there are general client gaining functions such as a graphical user interface, a cashbox, sound presentation means, buttons and data communications means typically devised for providing an interface between the player and the specific game as well an interface between the specific game and the server. In the gaming server there are general server gaming functions in particular a random number generator, a database and a gaming application program interface via which the gaming specific server module calls the general gaming functions upon a request from the client module. The database in the server is thus the remote database from the point of view of the client gaming machine.
The invention is based on the fact that, given the same initial state, a certain sequence of input will always produce the same sequence of output and the same resulting game state. In accordance with the invention, the system is configured to record, in the server database, non-deterministic inputs to the game software during execution. More specifically, user inputs and all random numbers that occur during the execution of a game are stored in the server database with an associated game session identity code and an associated reconnect identity code. In this context, the stored user input should be understood to mean a selection of the actual user input, the received user input signal, a representation of the user input or the response by the game application program on a user input.
After a game session has been interrupted, the game session is reconnected and resumed by retrieving the game session information from the server database in response to inputting the reconnect identity code, e.g. by inserting a reconnect voucher into the same or a different client gaming machine. The game session is reconstructed, in one variety of the invention by initiating a new execution of the game and executing the game with the stored series of user inputs and random numbers from the retrieved game session information. The game is thus re-played by means of a replay mechanism up to the state where it was interrupted and the player can continue from there with all stakes and game states preserved. The invention enables a game to be resumed from any client gaming machine in the gaming system.
In accordance with the inventive concept, the interruption, reconnection and reconstruction of a game session is handled by separate control units that are independent from the game application program. This entails that the interruption and reconnection management procedures are handled in a uniform manner and therefore higher robustness is achieved in the gaming system. This also has the effect that game development and system testing is faster and less costly, due to lower complexity in game development. Furthermore, games executed by the respective gaming specific client and server modules. In the client gaming machine there are general client gaming functions such as a graphical user interface, a cashbox, sound presentation means, buttons and data communications means typically devised for providing an interface between the player and the specific game as well an interface between the specific game and the server. In the gaming server there are general server gaming functions in particular a random number generator, a database and a gaming application program interface via which the gaming specific server module calls the general gaming functions upon a request from the client module. The database in the server is thus the remote database from the point of view of the client gaming machine.
The invention is based on the fact that, given the same initial state, a certain sequence of input will always produce the same sequence of output and the same resulting game state. In accordance with the invention, the system is configured to record, in the server database, non-deterministic inputs to the game software during execution. More specifically, user inputs and all random numbers that occur during the execution of a game are stored in the server database with an associated game session identity code and an associated reconnect identity code. In this context, the stored user input should be understood to mean a selection of the actual user input, the received user input signal, a representation of the user input or the response by the game application program on a user input.
After a game session has been interrupted, the game session is reconnected and resumed by retrieving the game session information from the server database in response to inputting the reconnect identity code, e.g. by inserting a reconnect voucher into the same or a different client gaming machine. The game session is reconstructed, in one variety of the invention by initiating a new execution of the game and executing the game with the stored series of user inputs and random numbers from the retrieved game session information. The game is thus re-played by means of a replay mechanism up to the state where it was interrupted and the player can continue from there with all stakes and game states preserved. The invention enables a game to be resumed from any client gaming machine in the gaming system.
In accordance with the inventive concept, the interruption, reconnection and reconstruction of a game session is handled by separate control units that are independent from the game application program. This entails that the interruption and reconnection management procedures are handled in a uniform manner and therefore higher robustness is achieved in the gaming system. This also has the effect that game development and system testing is faster and less costly, due to lower complexity in game development. Furthermore, the server 4 is provided with a game application program interface, in short called server game API 6, enabling communication between a server module of a specific game application program 8 and general server gaming functions 10,12,14,16 installed on the server. The general server gaming functions are provided to be available for any specific game application program independently of the specific game content. These general server gaming functions are typically critical functions such as a database 10, a random number generator 12, an account service function 14, a log service function 16, or other functions that beneficially are shared and used by different specific game application programs.
The client gaming machine 2 is also provided with a game application program interface, in short called client game API 20, enabling communication between a client game module 18 of the specific game application program and general client gaming functions 22,24,26,28 installed on the client gaming machine 2 and used by different client game modules. The general client gaming functions are designed for assisting in implementing and executing a specific game on the client gaming machine 2 and are available for the client game module 18. These general client gaming functions are in different embodiments a selection of a graphical user interface GUI 22, a cashbox function 24, a sound function 26, user input interface function, for example buttons, 28, data storage 29, a printer 3, a bar code reader 33 and other functions that are related to the performance of a game. The client game module 18 is communicatively coupled to the corresponding server game module 8 for communicating requests 9 and responses 11 in order to utilize the general gaming functions provided in the server. For each game a message protocol for communication between the client module and the server module is generated, the protocol is for example based on XML and is shared by the client and the server.
A specific game application program in accordance with the invention thus comprises a server game module 8 and a client game module 18 that communicate either directly or via an application program interface on the client side and the server side respectively as shown in
The gaming server 4 is also provided with further server function modules, in the exemplifying embodiment more specifically comprising a client handler 36 that is communicatively coupled to the server API 40. The client handler 36 manages, inter alia handles and serves, communications and functions of the client 2 other than the specific game applications. As illustrated in the drawing with a double arrow, communications with the client gaming machine 2 takes place via the server API 40 and a similar client API 38 provided in the client gaming machine 2.
In a manner similar to that described above, the communication with the general client gaming functions is carried out via the client API 38. The client gaming machine 2 comprises a client control module 34 that controls communications and general functions of the client gaming machine other than the specific game applications and communicates via the client API 38. In the gaming client 2 the client game module 18 is, similar to the configuration of the server, embedded behind an application program interface called client game API 20 through which all communication of the client game module 18 takes place. The client 2 is further provided with a client reconnect handler 30 that in a preferred embodiment is integrated with the client game API 6. The client reconnect handler 30 comprises functional means devised to manage game session information relating to a reconnect identity code and devised to communicate inputs to and outputs from the client game module 8 for the purpose of re-executing the game session up to the point of interruption. This functionality realises a replay function and substitutes the client functionality during reconstruction of a game session. In one embodiment, the replay is executed in the server after having retrieved stored game session information from the database to the server reconnect handler. In another embodiment, the replay is executed in the client after having retrieved the stored game session information from the database and communicated said information to the client reconnect handler. In yet another embodiment, a part of the replay is executed in the server and a part is executed in the client. The latter variety allows for replaying overlapping or entire parts of the replay in the server and in the client, and to verify that the respective replay execution is correct.
Preferred Embodiment of Interruption and Reconnect Management
In accordance with the inventive concept, interruption or abnormal termination of a player session during playing a game is handled by means of a reconnect function. The reconnect function is managed by storing the previous game configuration in the server database at the beginning of each game round. All user interactions and inputs that occur during the game round as well as the random numbers that were generated are stored in the server database. When a player session is terminated due to an interruption a reconnect voucher is created by the client gaming machine and output to the user. The voucher comprises a reconnect identity code used to identify the interrupted game and preferably also account balance information. The player can thereafter request a reconnect by inputting the voucher to the same or to another gaming machine. The game is initialised with the game session properties that were stored at the beginning of the round and retrieved from the database by means of the voucher identity code, and is brought up to and presented to the player at the point of interruption. Thus the reconnect function enables the player to continue the game at the same stage as when interrupted.
A game round event is triggered by an input that starts the generation of a set of associated elements of critical game session data that defines a game result preferably comprising the current bet value, a current generated random number and a current win value. The game round event would usually be triggered by a player making an input through an I/O interface such as a push button that conveys game commands like “Deal cards!” in. a poker game.
In a simple embodiment of the invention the game session data that defines a game result is generated in a gaming machine and this game session data is stored in remote data storage. The game round event is triggered whereupon the generation of this set of game session data is executed and the data set is completed and stored in the remote data storage. A confirmation of successful storage is generated, a presentation of the game result is output to the player and the game phase is ended. In another embodiment based on the client-server architecture described above, the client game module contacts the server game module with a request in response to the triggering of a game round event. The server game module executes the request and creates game result defining game session data for the current game phase. This data is stored in the server database and a response comprising the game result defining data is transmitted to the client whereupon a presentation of the game result is output to the player and the game phase is ended. The presentation of the game result to the player typically comprises updating a screen display of the gaming machine.
At the beginning of each game phase, in
An interruption of a game session can, as mentioned above, occur or is triggered in different ways and in different situations. The interruption can occur or be triggered at any point in time and may be intentional or unintentional as a result of a player action, may be due to a system operation action in response to monitored parameters or due to gaming machine failure, data communications failure or other system failure. An interruption can be defined as the event that the gaming machine looses contact with the remote data storage, or as the case may be in a client-server gaming system with the server, for a predetermined amount of time during a game session. The predetermined amount of time may depend on a configuration parameter that is selected for example based on a time delay in game response that is assumed to be acceptable or convenient for the player. Other monitored parameters used to trigger an interruption can be selected based for example on total player session time, total value of bets or total value of prize or other statistics parameter. Monitored parameters can also relate to hardware or software properties such as temperature or execution delay time.
The problem of proving the right of a player to a certain interrupted game session is in one embodiment of the invention handled by issuing a reconnect voucher when a game session is interrupted. Each new player session, i.e. each execution instance of a game, is given a reserved reconnect identity code when it is initiated and, as previously mentioned, the stored non-deterministic inputs and execution results and outcomes make up game session data that are associated with the reconnect identity code. The reconnect identity code is preferably stored in a local data storage comprised in the client gaming machine as well as in a remote data storage comprised in the server or provided at the server side. When a game session is interrupted the client gaming machine retrieves the reserved and stored the reconnect identity code preferably from the local data storage but possibly from the remote data storage, and then prints out a reconnect voucher with machine readable and/or human readable indicia that represent the reconnect identification code that identifies this specific interrupted game session. This reconnect voucher is a value token representing the right of a player to the interrupted game session and is also the key for identifying and retrieving the stored game session data. A game session is reconnected and resumed by inputting the indicia via a reconnect voucher interface provided on the client gaming machine. For the case that the client gaming machine is incapable of printing out a reconnect voucher, for example due to a hardware or software breakdown, the invention provides for the possibility to print out a reconnect voucher on a separate gaming administration machine connected to the gaining system. In this case the proper reconnect identity code is found in the server database by means of the client identification and point in time for the interruption. The indicia are in one embodiment printed and read in a bar code format, but other indicia formats are of course conceivable. The printed reconnect voucher is useful when the players are anonymous. In other embodiments where the identity of the player is known, for example using player card or player accounts it is convenient to store the reconnect identity code associated to the player together with account information in a database or on a writable data storage means on a player card.
An interruption can occur in different stages or states of a player session and a game. Therefore, the voucher or the corresponding carrier of information is preferably, in addition to the reconnect identity code provided with a machine readable status indicator. The client control module 34 monitors the client gaming machine and handles this kind of information. The status indicator indicates the following states:
The communication between the gaming machine and the remote data storage as well as other steps that are performed for realising the invention are described in the following exemplifying embodiment based on the client-server configuration. Reference is made to
1. A player initiates a player session 401 on the client gaming machine 2 by inputting a start command to the client game module 18 via an 110-interface (22,24,28) which may be a traditional button or a button field on a touch screen. The initiation of a player session would preferably also comprise a monetary transaction for bets in the game, for example by the player adding a coin to a cash box 24 or by means of an account transaction.
2. The client reconnect handler 30 comprised in the client gaming machine 2 transmits a request for the reservation of a reconnect identity code together with a client identification code for identification of the specific gaming machine to the server. This request is received by the server reconnect handler 32 similarly comprised in the gaming server 4.
3. The request is executed by the server reconnect handler 32 whereby a reconnect identity code is generated and stored associated with the client identification code in a database 10.
4. A player session identity code is generated and associated with the reconnect identity code in the database 10, and a player session 402 is established.
5. The reconnect identity code is transmitted to the client reconnect handler 30 and is stored in local data storage 29 in the client gaming machine 2 for the purpose of enabling communication of the reconnect identity code to the player.
6. A selected game is started by the player inputting a game start command to the game client module 18 via the game application program interface 20 of the client gaming machine 2, and a request to start a game session is transmitted to the gaming server 4.
7. A game session identity code is generated and stored associated with the player session identity code, a game session 402 is established and a game phase 406 of a game round 404 is entered.
8. The player triggers a game round event by giving a game related input to the client game module 18 whereupon a request for a service is transmitted to the server game module 8.
9. The request is executed by the server game module 8 with the aid of the service functions of the server. The execution of this request would typically comprise the generation of a random number RNG and the determination of an outcome dependent on the RNG.
10. Execution steps that are performed by the server game module 8 for each request as well as results and outcomes of the execution make up game session data, i.e. information that applies to the currently ongoing game session. A subset of the game session data is the result of a game round event and applies to the current game phase. A selection of these game session data are compiled and cashed, i.e. temporarily stored in data storage of the server 8. The selection may vary in different execution cases and embodiments, and would preferably comprise: the bet value, the random number and the win value that are valid for the current game phase. The selection of game session data may also comprise optional pieces of information regarding the sequence of events called event history, each request and response, a pot at stake, the request, the response to the client gaming machine, game configuration information and a status indicator devised to indicate whether the game session has been completed or interrupted e.g. indicating last event=true/false.
11. The selection of game session data is stored in the database 10 and is transmitted with a response to the client gaming machine 2. The received selection of game session data is cashed, i.e. temporarily stored in data storage of the client gaming machine 2.
12. The outcome of the game round event is presented to the player for example via image output on a presentation screen of the client gaming machine 2.
13. The steps 8-12 are normally repeated until a game round is ended for example by the fact that a bet monetary balance has been consumed, or the player selects a new game to play.
14. If an interruption occurs, for example triggered when the client looses contact with the server, then the reconnect identity code for the current game execution instance is in the server database associated with a status indicator indicating that the game execution has been interrupted. The reserved reconnect identity code that is temporarily stored in the storage 29 of the client gaming machine 2 is printed out on a piece of paper or other suitable carrier to make up a reconnect voucher output to the player. The reconnect voucher is in a currently preferred embodiment printed with a bar code comprising the reconnect identity code and a status indicator for the interrupted game, and some text information for example about the gaming venue.
For the purpose of reconnecting the game and resume the game session the interrupted game is found by means of the reconnect identity code as a key input to the gaming system. The reconnect procedure is here explained by way of example with the reconnect voucher embodiment in which the player enters a reconnect voucher in a bar code reader of a client gaming machine of the gaming system. It should be understood that also other means of conveying the reconnect identity code to the gaming system are within the inventive concept. The reconnect voucher can for example be inserted in the same gaming machine in which the game was interrupted, a different gaming machine or in an administrative client terminal. The administrative client terminal is preferably devised only to be able to refund money or issue a monetary credit.
The procedure for reconnection comprises in one embodiment a selection of the following steps.
1. If the client gaming machine in which the game was interrupted logins with the gaming server and a new player session is initiated, the client handler 36 of the gaming server detects in a check procedure that this particular client gaming machine has had an interrupted game. The client identification code is associated with the previous reconnect voucher for that specific client and the stored game session data, and a new reconnect identification code is reserved and transmitted to the client gaming machine to replace the previous and actived reconnect identity code.
2. If a player starts a player session in a different client gaming machine, a new reconnect identification code is reserved in the normal manner.
3. The player inputs a reconnect voucher into the bar code reader of the client gaming machine, and the information on the reconnect voucher is read and treated under the control of the client control module 34 and the client reconnect handler 30. The information on the reconnect voucher is transmitted with a request to the gaming server.
4. The gaming server checks the status of the reconnect voucher and determines by means of the status indicator and information stored in the server database whether there is an interrupted game session.
5. If there is a monetary credit only, the money is credited to the player for a new game or as a refund.
6. If there is un-synchronized money, a synchronization procedure is executed.
7. If there is an interrupted game, the game is reconstructed and presented to the player in the state in which it was interrupted.
The reconstruction of an interrupted game can be implemented in various manners. One embodiment comprises of the following steps, as shown in
1. As shown in step 602 of
2. As shown in step 604 of
3. As shown in step 606 of
4. As shown in step 608 of
5. As shown in step 610 of
6. As shown in step 612 of
The application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/433,615 filed Apr. 30, 2009, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/719,059, which is the National Stage (filed on May 10, 2007) of International Application No. PCT/SE2005/01717 having an international filing date of Nov. 14, 2005, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/522,843 filed Nov. 12, 2004, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Child | 12433615 | US |
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| Parent | 12433615 | Apr 2009 | US |
| Child | 12497330 | US |
