GAMING SYSTEM RECOMMENDING SPECIFIC GAMES

Abstract

A gaming system of the present invention comprises a server and a gaming terminal that can communicate with each other. A player operates a console unit of the gaming terminal to select a game program stored in a memory unit of the server, and play a game conducted by a selected game program that is executed by a controller unit installed in the server or the gaming terminal. An input receiver unit of the server receives game recommendation data that identifies one or more types of the game programs stored in the memory unit. A display unit of the gaming terminal displays a game recommendation screen including an image for urging the player to select a type of game program identified by the game recommendation data, before the console unit of the gaming terminal receives data showing the type of game program selected by the player.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a portion of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the main configuration of a gaming system for a casino according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of a server included in the gaming system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the appearance of a gaming terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of a main control board included in the gaming terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of a sub-control board included in the gaming terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a game selection on the gaming terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sequential flow chart between the server and the gaming terminal shown in FIG. 1 after the game selection shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a slot game conducted by a game program that the server shown in FIG. 1 executes;

FIG. 9 is an example of a game screen which shows a pattern of stopped symbols and winning combinations;

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the main configuration of a gaming system for a casino according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sequential flow chart between the server and the gaming terminal shown in FIG. 10 when a player plays a game on the game terminal shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the main configuration of a gaming system for a casino according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of the main configuration of a gaming system for a casino according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising a server and a gaming terminal configured to perform two-way communication with each other, wherein the server comprises: a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs;an input receiver unit configured to receive game recommendation data that identifies one or more types of the game programs; anda server communications unit configured to transmit the game recommendation data that the input receiver unit has received to the gaming terminal, and receive a request for one of the game programs from the gaming terminal;the gaming terminal comprises: a console unit configured to allow a player to select one of the game programs stored in the memory unit, and change the status of the game conducted by a selected game program;a display unit configured to display a game screen in accordance with game status;a terminal communications unit configured to receive the game recommendation data from the server, and transmit a request for a game program selected through the console unit to the server when the console unit has received data indicating the type of game program selected; anda selection urging unit configured to cause the display unit or another display unit to display an image for urging the player to select a type of game program identified by the game recommendation data that the terminal communications unit has received, before the console unit receives data indicating the type of game program selected; andone of the server and the gaming terminal comprises a controller unit configured to execute a game program indicated by the request.

2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the gaming terminal comprises a selection screen control unit configured to cause the display unit or another display unit to display a selection screen for use in the selection of the game program, after the selection urging unit causes the display unit or another display unit to display the image.

3. A gaming system comprising a server and a gaming terminal configured to perform two-way communication with each other, wherein the server comprises: a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs;an input receiver unit configured to receive game recommendation data that identifies one type of the game programs; anda server communications unit configured to receive a request for one of the game programs from the gaming terminal;the gaming terminal comprises: a console unit configured to allow a player to select one of the game programs stored in the memory unit, and change the status of the game conducted by a selected game program;a display unit configured to display a game screen in accordance with game status; anda terminal communications unit configured to transmit a request for a game program selected through the console unit to the server, when the console unit has received data showing the type of game program selected; andone of the server and the gaming terminal comprises a controller unit configured to execute a game program indicated by the request; anda play monitor unit configured to detect that the player has stopped playing the game conducted by the game program that the controller unit executes;wherein the controller unit is configured to execute the game program identified by the game recommendation data that the input receiver unit has received, when the play monitor unit has detected that the player has stopped playing the game.

4. A gaming terminal configured to perform two-way communication with a server comprising a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs, the gaming terminal comprising: a console unit configured to allow a player to select one of the game programs stored in the memory unit, and change the status of the game conducted by a selected game program;a display unit configured to display a game screen in accordance with game status;a terminal communications unit configured to receive game recommendation data from the server, and transmit a request for a game program selected through the console unit to the server, when the console unit has received data showing the type of the selected game program; anda selection urging unit configured to cause the display unit or another display unit to display an image for urging the player to select one type of game program identified by the game recommendation data that the terminal communications unit has received, before the console unit receives data showing the type of game program selected.

5. A server configured to perform two-way communication with a gaming terminal comprising a console unit and a display unit, the server comprising: a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs;a server communications unit configured to receive a request for one of the game programs selected and operation data entered through the console unit from the gaming terminal, and transmit game screen data in accordance with the status of the game conducted by the selected game program;a controller unit configured to execute the selected game program identified by the request that the server communications unit has received, change the game status based on the operation data that the server communications unit has received, and cause the server communications unit to transmit the game screen to the gaming terminal;an input receiver unit configured to receive game recommendation data that identifies one type of the game programs; anda play monitor unit configured to detect that the player has stopped playing the game conducted by the game program that the controller unit executes;wherein the controller unit is configured to execute the game program identified by the game recommendation data that the input receiver unit has received, when the play monitor unit has detected that the player has stopped playing the game.

6. A gaming terminal configured to perform two-way communication with a server comprising a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs, the gaming terminal comprising: a console unit configured to allow a player to select one of the game programs stored in the memory unit, and change the status of the game conducted by a selected game program;a display unit configured to display a game screen in accordance with game status;a terminal communications unit configured to transmit a request for a game program selected through the console unit to the server when the console unit has received data showing the type of game program selected, and receive the selected game program and game recommendation data from the server;a controller unit configured to execute the selected game program received from the server; anda play monitor unit configured to detect that the player has stopped playing the game conducted by the game program that the controller unit executes;wherein the controller unit is configured to execute the game program identified by the game recommendation data that the terminal communications unit has received, when the play monitor unit has detected that the player has stopped playing the game.

7. A gaming machine comprising: a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs;a console unit configured to allow a player to select one of the game programs stored in the memory unit, and change the status of the game conducted by a selected game program;a display unit configured to display a game screen in accordance with game status;a controller unit configured to execute the game program selected through the console unit;an input receiver unit configured to receive game recommendation data that identifies one or more types of the game programs stored in the memory unit; anda selection urging unit configured to cause the display unit or another display unit to display an image for urging the player to select a type of game program identified by the game recommendation data that the input receiver unit has received, before the console unit receives data showing the type of the game program selected.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 7, comprising a selection screen control unit configured to cause the display unit or another display unit to display a selection screen for use in the selection of the game programs, after the selection urging unit causes the display unit or another display unit to display the image.

9. A gaming machine comprising: a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs;a console unit configured to allow a player to select one of the game programs stored in the memory unit, and change the status of the game conducted by a selected game program;a display unit configured to display a game screen in accordance with game status;a controller unit configured to execute the game program selected through the console unit;an input receiver unit configured to receive game recommendation data that identifies one type of the game programs stored in the memory unit; anda play monitor unit configured to detect that the player has stopped playing the game conducted by the game program that the controller unit executes;wherein the controller unit is configured to execute the game program identified by the game recommendation data that the input receiver unit has received, when the play monitor unit has detected that the player has stopped playing the game.