Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Suspension or restoration
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-25
2004-10-05
Harrison, Jessica (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Suspension or restoration
C463S016000, C463S017000, C463S018000, C463S019000, C463S020000, C463S021000, C463S022000, C463S023000, C463S025000, C463S027000, C463S029000, C273S459000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06800027
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to games of chance and, more particularly, to a system and method for storing the status of a paused game of chance at a central database linked to and remote from a gaming machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning on each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operators. Traditional gaming machines use mechanical slot reels or video depictions of such reels to display games and outcomes to players. Further, many traditional gaming machines use simulations of standard casino games such as cards, dice, bingo and the like to attract players. These traditional machines may become repetitive over time, and it is believed that more innovative displays and gameplay features will find success by offering players an interesting and exciting alternative to traditional games. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game. In particular, there is a need for engaging and entertaining games that can hold a player's interest more than existing games. The present invention is directed to satisfying this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3281149 (1966-10-01), Miller
patent: 4095795 (1978-06-01), Saxton et al.
patent: 4306768 (1981-12-01), Egging
patent: 4335809 (1982-06-01), Wain
patent: 4448419 (1984-05-01), Telnaes
patent: 4508345 (1985-04-01), Okada
patent: 4624459 (1986-11-01), Kaufman
patent: 4721307 (1988-01-01), Okada
patent: 4752068 (1988-06-01), Endo
patent: 4763256 (1988-08-01), DeMar
patent: 4772023 (1988-09-01), Okada
patent: 4805907 (1989-02-01), Hagiwara
patent: 4871171 (1989-10-01), Rivero
patent: 5083785 (1992-01-01), Okada
patent: 5169147 (1992-12-01), Hamano
patent: 5205555 (1993-04-01), Hamano
patent: 5259616 (1993-11-01), Bergmann
patent: 5292127 (1994-03-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5342047 (1994-08-01), Heidel et al.
patent: 5342049 (1994-08-01), Wichinsky et al.
patent: 5380008 (1995-01-01), Mathis et al.
patent: 5393057 (1995-02-01), Marnell, II
patent: 5401024 (1995-03-01), Simunek
patent: 5415404 (1995-05-01), Joshi et al.
patent: 5429361 (1995-07-01), Raven et al.
patent: 5449173 (1995-09-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5456465 (1995-10-01), Durham
patent: 5456466 (1995-10-01), Miles
patent: 5542669 (1996-08-01), Charron et al.
patent: 5547192 (1996-08-01), Ishibashi
patent: 5609525 (1997-03-01), Ohno et al.
patent: 5624119 (1997-04-01), Leake
patent: 5647798 (1997-07-01), Falciglia
patent: 5664781 (1997-09-01), Feola
patent: 5697843 (1997-12-01), Manship et al.
patent: 5704835 (1998-01-01), Dietz, II
patent: 5722891 (1998-03-01), Inoue
patent: 5769714 (1998-06-01), Wiener et al.
patent: 5779545 (1998-07-01), Berg et al.
patent: 5788573 (1998-08-01), Baerlocher et al.
patent: 5823874 (1998-10-01), Adams
patent: 5848932 (1998-12-01), Adams
patent: 5951397 (1999-09-01), Dickinson
patent: 6007427 (1999-12-01), Wiener et al.
patent: 6012983 (2000-01-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6077163 (2000-06-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6135885 (2000-10-01), Lermusiaux
patent: 6165071 (2000-12-01), Weiss
patent: 6234896 (2001-05-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6273820 (2001-08-01), Haste, III
patent: 6319127 (2001-11-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6364765 (2002-04-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6431983 (2002-08-01), Acres
patent: 37 00 861 (1988-07-01), None
patent: 40 14 477 (1991-07-01), None
patent: 0 142 371 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 0 148 001 (1985-07-01), None
patent: 0 333 338 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 0 577 415 (1994-01-01), None
patent: 1 474 617 (1966-04-01), None
patent: 1129607 (1968-10-01), None
patent: 1 476 848 (1977-06-01), None
patent: 1 591 623 (1981-06-01), None
patent: 2 066 991 (1981-07-01), None
patent: 2 072 395 (1981-09-01), None
patent: 2 083 936 (1982-03-01), None
patent: 2 084 371 (1982-04-01), None
patent: 2 096 376 (1982-10-01), None
patent: 2 097 160 (1982-10-01), None
patent: 2 105 891 (1983-03-01), None
patent: 2 106 685 (1983-04-01), None
patent: 2 117 952 (1983-10-01), None
patent: 2 147 442 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 2 147 773 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 2 152 262 (1985-07-01), None
patent: 2 153 572 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 2 157 047 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 2 165 385 (1986-04-01), None
patent: 2 170 636 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 2 180 087 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 2 181 589 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 2 183 882 (1987-06-01), None
patent: 2 191 030 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 2 197 974 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 2 202 984 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 2 204 436 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 2 210 191 (1989-06-01), None
patent: 2 222 712 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 2 226 907 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 2 229 565 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 2 230 373 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 2 233 806 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 2 242 300 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 2 253 154 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 2 262 642 (1993-06-01), None
patent: 2 270 787 (1994-03-01), None
patent: 2 273 384 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 2 287 567 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 2 297 857 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 2 298 508 (1996-09-01), None
patent: WO 8808179 (1988-10-01), None
patent: WO 8912875 (1989-12-01), None
patent: WO 9210818 (1992-06-01), None
patent: WO 9401840 (1994-01-01), None
Brochure Williams Gaming, Inc., “Batter Up!”.
Brochure of Monopoly SWP Game; JPM Ltd., 4 pgs.; date unknown.
WMS' Big Money Advertisement Sheet; WMS Gaming Inc.; 1 pg.; date unknown.
WMS' Piggy Bankin' Advertisement Sheet; WMS Gaming Inc.; 1 pg.; date unknown.
WMS' Pirate's Thunder Advertisement Sheet; WMS Gaming Inc.; 1 pg.; date unknown.
Bally Circus Ad, excerpt from “Lemons, Cherries and Bell Fruit Gum”; Richard M. Bueschel; 3 pgs.; date unknown.
Bally Bingo Ad, excerpt from “Lemons, Cherries and Bell Fruit Gum”; Richard M. Bueschel; 1 pg.; date unknown.
Las Vegas Slot Machine Ad, excerpt from “Lemons, Cherries and Bell Fruit Gum”; Richard M. Bueschel; 1 pg.; date unknown.
Phantom Haus website publication; Williams Electronics Games, Inc.; 2 pgs.; date unknown.
Arabian Riches website publication; Silicon Gaming Inc.; 2 pgs.; date Jul. 17, 1998.
Buccaneer Gold website publication; Silicon Gaming Inc.; 2 pgs.; date Jul. 17, 1998.
Fort Knox website publication; Silicon Gaming Inc.; 2 pgs.; date Jul. 17, 1998.
Lady of Fortune website publication; Silicon Gaming Inc.; 2 pgs.; date Jul. 17, 1998.
Riddle of the Sphinx website publication; Silicon Gaming Inc.; 2 pgs.; date Jul. 17, 1998.
Information Sheets
Giobbi John J.
Pacey Larry J.
Cherubin Yveste
Harrison Jessica
Jenkens & Gilchrist
WMS Gaming Inc.
LandOfFree
System and method for saving status of paused game of chance does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for saving status of paused game of chance, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for saving status of paused game of chance will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3273935