(12) United States Patent
`Wiltshire et al.
`
`USOO64096O2B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,409,602 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jun. 25, 2002
`
`(54) SLIM TERMINAL GAMING SYSTEM
`(75) Inventors: Michael S. Wiltshire; James J.
`Lisenbee, both of Reno, NV (US);
`Jayant S. Karmarkar, Aptos, CA
`(US); Timothy A. Wiltshire, Reno, NV
`(US)
`(73) Assignee: New Millenium Gaming Limited,
`Reno, NV (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/199,529
`(22) Filed:
`Nov. 24, 1998
`Related U.S. Application Data
`63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/187,135, filed on
`p
`pp
`Nov. 6, 1998, now abandoned.
`(51) Int. Cl." ................................................. A63F 13/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 463/42; 463/16
`(58) Field of Search .............................. 463/42, 12, 13,
`463/16, 18, 19, 24, 26, 27, 29, 36, 37,
`38, 39, 40, 41, 43; 707/1, 2, 3, 101, 102,
`104, 501, 513; 700/91, 92,93; 273/148 B
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`2/1986 Sitrick ......................... 273/85
`4,572,509 A
`4,856,787 A 8/1989 Itkis .............
`... 273/237
`4.866,515 A 9/1989 Tagawa et al. ............... 358/86
`(List continued on next page.)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO
`
`11/1997 ........... HO4L/29/06
`WO 97/43846
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Bolot, et al., “Adding Voice To Distributed Games On The
`Internet”, IEEE Infocom 98, vol. 2, pp. 480–487 (Mar.
`29-Apr. 1998).
`
`Bricker, et al., “Experience With DREGS'. Proceedings of
`the Summer 1987 UNSENIX Conference, pp. 471-481 (Jun.
`8–12, 1987).
`Vanderheiden, "Anywhere anytime (+ anyone) access to the
`next-generation WWW, Computer Networks and ISDN
`Systems 29, pp. 1439–1446 (1997).
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Morrill
`
`Primary Examiner Jessica J. Harrison
`(74) Attorney,
`Agent,
`or Firm-Skjerven
`MacPherson LLP; Fabio E. Marino
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A computer gaming System and method of operation thereof
`are provided that both drastically reduce the cost of gaming
`Stations and allow contemporaneous access to multiple game
`programs from a Single gaming Station. The computer gam
`ing System of the present invention allows for transparent
`modifications and upgrades to the gaming programs by
`executing gaming programs on a Server/host computer con
`nected to a plurality of client/terminal computers via com
`munication pathways. Each client/terminal computer com
`prises a client/terminal program that allows input and output
`Streams of the gaming program executed on the Server/host
`computer to be separated and redirected to the client/
`terminal computers. Since the gaming programs are
`executed entirely on the Server/host computer, with only
`wagering input and display output operations being executed
`on the client/terminal computers, the cost of the hardware
`and Software required for each client/terminal computer is
`greatly reduced. A patron of a client/terminal computer can
`acceSS any of the gaming programs executed on the Server/
`host computer. Modifications and upgrades of the gaming
`programs only need to be performed on the Server/host
`computer. By using a Stereo head-mounted display together
`with a joystick input device and wireleSS communication
`pathways, the present invention allows a patron to partici
`pate in a mobile gaming environment.
`
`29 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
`
`100
`Wager
`- E
`Acceptor
`EEs in
`N.
`
`OOOO
`
`Joystick
`input device
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Wager
`
`150
`
`*
`
`
`
`
`
`l
`
`Wager
`Acceptor
`
`ar
`
`
`
`Wager
`ACCeptor
`
`
`
`I
`
`W ager
`
`

`

`US 6,409,602 B1
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`5,971,271. A * 10/1999 Wynn et al. ............ 235/380 X
`5,971,849 A * 10/1999 Falciglia ...................... 463/16
`5.974.409 A 10/1999 Sanu et al. ................. 707/3 X
`5,980,093 A * 11/1999 Jones et al. ............. 364/489 X
`5,983,190 A * 11/1999 Trower, II et al. ...... 704/276 X
`5.991,760 A * 11/1999 Gauvin et al. ............ 707/10 X
`5.991,790 A 11/1999 Shah et al. ............. 709/100 X
`5.996,068 A 11/1999 Dwyer, III et al. ..... 712/228 X
`6,003,066. A 12/1999 Ryan et al. ............. 709/201 X
`6,085.247 A * 7/2000 Parsons, Jr. et al. ........ 709/227
`6,141,737 A * 10/2000 Krantz et al. ............... 711/171
`
`5,179.517 A 1/1993 Sarbin et al. ............... 364/410
`5,305,195 A 4/1994 Murphy ........
`... 364/401
`5,404,567 A 4/1995 DePietro et al. .............. 455/63
`5,429,361 A 7/1995 Raven et al. .....
`... 273/138
`5,430,791 A 7/1995 Feit et al. ..................... 379/67
`5,465,082. A 11/1995 Chaco ...
`... 34.0/825.54
`5,476,259 A 12/1995 Weingardt ................... 273/85
`5,530.232 A
`6/1996 Taylor .......
`235/380
`5.530,469 A 6/1996 Garfinkle ....................... 348/1
`5,553,864 A
`9/1996 Sitrick ......................... 463/31
`5,559,313 A 9/1996 Claus et al.
`... 235/380
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`5. A E. ER,n".
`5. Richardson, et al., “Virtual Network Computing, IEEE Inter
`5,586,937. A 12/1996 Menashe ...
`. c.341
`net Computing, 6 pp. (Jan.-Feb. 1998).
`5,617,331 A 4/1997 Wakai et al. ..
`... 364/514
`Zukowski, et al. “Metis: A Thin-client Application Frame
`5,630,757 A
`5/1997 Gagin et al. .................. 463/43
`work', Conference On Object-Oriented Technologies and
`5,640,192 A 6/1997 Garfinkle ....................... 348/1
`Systems, pp. 103-114 (Jun. 16-20, 1997).
`5,649,118 A 7/1997 Carlisle et al.
`... 395/241
`Nance, “Wireless Wonder", Review from Byte, p. 115 (Sep.
`5,655.961. A * 8/1997 Acres et al. .............. 463/27 X 1997).
`3. A : s F.C. R et al - - - - - - - - - - - - "isE. s
`Lavitt, “Entertainment Firm Bets. On In-Flight Video Gam
`2 - - 2
`arks et al. .............
`f
`bling”, Aviation Week & Space Technology, International
`5,800,268 A 9/1998 Molnick ...................... 463/40
`5,833,540 A 11/1998 Miodunski et al. ........... ...
`Product News, p. 56 (Feb. 19, 1996).
`5,845.283 A * 12/1998 Williams et al......... 707/ox
`Hendry, Smart Card Security and Applications, Artech
`5,851,149 A 12/1998 Xidos et al. .................. 463/42
`House, Inc., pp. 195-206 (1997).
`6,003,094. A 2/1999 Dean .........
`... 709/303 X
`Busey, “Secrets of the MUD Wizard', First Edition, Sams
`5,903,732 A * 5/1999 Reed et al. ......... 395/200.59 X .net Publishing, entire book (1995).
`5,905,248 A * 5/1999 Russell et al. .......... 235/462 X Maloni, et al., “netgamesTM Your Guide to the Games People
`5,913,164 A * 6/1999 Pawa et al. ............. 455/427 X Play on the Electronic Highway', Random House Electronic
`5,918,039 A
`6/1999 Buswell et al. ..........
`52
`Publishing, entre book (1994).
`5,951,653 A * 9/1999 Hill et al. ............... 709/304 X
`5,958,028 A * 9/1999 Bean et al. ............... 710/62 X
`cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 18
`
`US 6,409,602 B1
`
`Server/HOSt
`Computer
`
`100
`
`NetWOrk Interface
`
`110
`
`115
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Client/
`Terminal
`Computer
`
`Wager
`Acceptor
`
`150
`
`112
`
`114
`
`116
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Server I/F Program
`RTIOS
`
`Fig. 1B
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
`Jun. 25, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 18
`Sheet 2 0f 18
`
`US 6,409,602 B1
`US 6,409,602 B1
`
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`Petitioners EX-1017, Page 4 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 18
`
`US 6,409,602 B1
`
`NO
`
`
`
`Server/Host
`Computer
`
`Network
`Communication
`Pathway
`
`inal
`Cli
`ient/Termina
`Computer
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`
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`No
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`200
`
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`
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`input Command
`On SerWer
`
`270
`
`
`
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`input Command
`to SerWer
`
`260
`
`Initialize System
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Execute game
`program on
`SerWer
`
`Displayl
`update
`image?
`
`YeS
`
`Send video
`Stream to client
`
`Receive Video
`Stream to client
`
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`Stream On
`Client'S SCreen
`
`Input
`COmmand On
`Client?
`
`210
`
`220
`
`230
`
`235
`
`240
`
`Fig. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 18
`
`US 6,409,602 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`Initialize System
`
`300
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`program
`
`Install client
`program
`
`310
`
`320
`
`330
`
`Connect client program
`to server I/Fprogram
`
`Execute Computer
`gaming Software
`
`Terminate
`SeSSion ?
`
`Yes
`
`End
`
`Fig. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
`Jun. 25 2002
`
`Sheet 5 of 18
`
`US 6,409,602 B1
`US 6,409,602 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`rs Ex-1017, Page 7 of27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
`Jun. 25, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 of 18
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`US 6,409,602 B1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
`
`Sheet 7 of 18
`
`US 6,409,602 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 25, 2002
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`Sheet 8 of 18
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`US 6,409,602 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 25, 2002
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`US 6,409,602 B1
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`Jun. 25, 2002
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 25, 2002
`Jun. 25, 2002
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 25, 2002
`Jun. 25, 2002
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`Jun. 25, 2002
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`US 6,409,602 B1
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`Jun. 25, 2002
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`Jun. 25, 2002
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`

`1
`SLIM TERMINAL GAMING SYSTEM
`
`US 6,409,602 B1
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/187,135, filed Nov. 6, 1998 now
`abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to computers and,
`more particularly, to computer-implemented gaming Sys
`temS.
`2. Related Art
`Computer gaming Systems are typically comprised of
`computer Stations including a display device, a wager or
`bet-acceptor, and controls Such as buttons, keyboards, levers
`or the like. Typically, computer gaming Stations are dedi
`cated to only one type of game (e.g., video poker, blackjack,
`slot machine) and their physical appearance, as well as the
`location of the controls, are customized for the game pro
`Vided. Gaming Stations may be modified to provide a
`different type of game, but this typically requires hardware
`modifications to be performed (e.g., changing an electronic
`card on which the game program is stored).
`The terms “game' and "gaming, as used herein, include
`all types of electronic, electromechanical or mechanical
`gambling and casino game facsimiles (as defined in 15
`U.S.C. 11719(a)(2) or (3), such as faro, monte, roulette,
`keno, bingo, fan-tan, twenty-one, blackjack, Seven-and-a-
`half, big injun, klondike, craps, poker, chuck-a-luck, Chi
`nese chuck-a-luck (daishu), wheel of fortune, chemin de fir,
`baccarat, pai gow, beat the banker, panguingui, slot
`machines, Video poker machines, etc.; lottery, Sports betting
`and pari-mutuel wagering as well as games of Skill and or
`Strategy Such as chess, checkers, backgammon, “board'
`games Such as Monopoly and Scrabble, card games Such as
`Pinochle, Hearts, Spades, Video based games Such as Doom,
`Pong, Packman, Myst, Video games based on Sports Such as
`golf, baseball, football, basketball, Soccer, rugby, arcade
`type games, non-house Stake games between two or more
`players, games defined by IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory
`Act) as class II games.
`Physical embodiments of various games from the past
`have been reimplemented into microcomputer-based video
`gaming Stations during the last 20 years. This reimplemen
`tation has been motivated by reliability, manufacturability,
`and ultimately, total cost of maintaining the computer
`(video) gaming Station during its useful life.
`In addition, computer Systems have been devised where a
`cluster of gaming Stations are controlled by a central com
`puter. The central computer can “download” and thereby
`change the game program executed by a gaming Station or
`even allow players at different gaming Stations to play
`against one another, with the house (or casino) levying a
`periodic fee for the privilege of using the gaming Station.
`Finally, casino gaming websites allow casino games to be
`played on a website connected to the Internet. In Such
`Systems, a user connects to the website via the Internet using
`a web browser. A web page (HTML code) is then down
`loaded from a server/host computer associated with the
`website to the user's computer. Typically, the web page
`comprises formatted text, graphics and links to other web
`pages. In addition, the web page may contain one or more
`applets. When a web page containing an applet is down
`loaded onto the user computer, JAVATM bytecodes associ
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
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`ated with the applet are also downloaded to and executed on
`the user's computer. Web pages can also contain Java
`ScriptTM and/or Visual Basic (VB) script and use Common
`Gateway Interface (CGI) based Scripting to provide dynamic
`Web pages.
`However, in all of these non-website-based systems the
`gaming program is executed in whole or in part on the
`individual gaming Station. As a result, each gaming Station
`becomes expensive to manufacture. Because the physical
`Structure of the gaming Stations is designed to accommodate
`a particular game, multiple game Stations require additional
`hardware and, therefore, further increase the cost of a cluster
`of these Stations.
`In addition, Since the games are executed on individual
`gaming Stations, modifications and upgrades to the gaming
`programs require access to the individual gaming Stations,
`which renders the gaming Stations inaccessible to the patron
`during the modification and/or upgrade process.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a computer gaming Sys
`tem and method of operation thereof that both drastically
`reduces the cost and Substantially increases the tamper
`resistance of individual gaming Stations. The computer
`gaming System of the present invention allows concurrent
`access to multiple computer gaming programs from indi
`vidual gaming Stations by a patron. Moreover, the computer
`gaming System of the present invention allows for transpar
`ent modifications and upgrades to the computer gaming
`programs and the associated pay tables. Furthermore, the
`computer gaming System of the present invention enables
`concurrent, non-intrusive Status monitoring of clustered
`gaming Stations for engineering maintenance and regulatory
`purposes. This functionality is implemented by executing
`Various gaming and related game management programs
`exclusively on a Server/host computer connected to a plu
`rality of remote client/terminal computers via communica
`tion pathways. Each client/terminal computer comprises a
`client/terminal program that allows the computer gaming
`program executed on the Server/host computer to accept
`input from the patrons, and control the gaming content of an
`output information Stream directed to the client/terminal
`computers.
`Since the gaming programs and the associated gaming
`display generation programs are executed entirely on the
`Server/host computer, with only input wagering and output
`Screen display related operations being executed on the
`client/terminal computers, the cost of the hardware and
`Software required for each client/terminal computer is
`greatly reduced. Moreover, the “fairness or regulatory com
`pliance' of the various computer gaming programs being
`executed on the Server/host computer can be continually
`monitored by the duly authorized regulators in whose juris
`diction the Server/host computer and client/terminal com
`puters reside. Furthermore, the periodic maintenance lead
`ing to reliability and availability improvements can also be
`performed largely on the Server/host computer. Additionally,
`a patron using any one of the cluster of client/terminal
`computers can access any of the computer gaming programs
`being concurrently executed on the Server/host computer.
`Modifications and upgrades of the computer gaming pro
`grams only need to be performed on the Server/host
`computer, thereby minimizing the unavailability of the gam
`ing Stations.
`Finally, by using a touch Screen display device, the
`computer gaming System of the present invention allows
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`customization of game controls for each computer gaming
`program without requiring additional hardware controls to
`be provided on each gaming Station.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a computer gaming System,
`in accordance to an embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the Software/hardware
`structure of the server/host computer of FIG. 1A.
`FIG. 1C is a block diagram of the Software/hardware
`structure of a client/terminal computer of FIG. 1A.
`FIG. 1D is a diagram of an embodiment of the computer
`gaming System of FIG. 1A.
`FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the operation of computer
`gaming System of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the operation of computer
`gaming System of FIG. 1, where the communication/
`pathways are a global network.
`FIG. 4A is an image displayed on a Screen of a client/
`terminal computer of FIG. 1 in attract mode.
`FIG. 4B is an image displayed on a Screen of a client/
`terminal computer of FIG. 1, showing a virtual casino
`floor.
`FIG. 5A is an image displayed on a Screen of a client/
`terminal computer of FIG. 1, showing a front view of a slot
`machine.
`FIG. 5B is an image of the slot machine of FIG. 5A, after
`Spinning the reel.
`FIG. 6A is an image displayed on a Screen of a client/
`terminal computer of FIG. 1, showing a top view of a black
`jack table.
`FIG. 6B is an image of the slot machine of FIG. 6A, after
`playing a hand of blackjack.
`FIG. 7A is an image displayed on a Screen of a client/
`terminal computer of FIG. 1, showing a Video poker area of
`the virtual casino floor of FIG. 4B.
`FIG. 7B is an image of a video poker board shown on a
`screen of a client/terminal computer of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 8A is an image displayed on a Screen of a client/
`terminal computer of FIG. 1, showing a Slot machine
`area of the virtual casino floor of FIG. 4B.
`FIG. 8B is an image of a slot machine board shown on a
`screen of a client/terminal computer of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 9A is an image displayed on a Screen of a client/
`terminal computer of FIG. 1, showing a keno area of the
`virtual casino floor of FIG. 4B.
`FIG.9B is an image of a keno board shown on a screen
`of a client/terminal computer of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 9C is an image of a keno board shown on a screen
`of a client/terminal computer of FIG. 1, after the user has
`picked a plurality of numbers from the keno board.
`FIG. 9D is an image of a keno board shown on a screen
`of a client/terminal computer of FIG. 1, after keno numbers
`have been electronically drawn and shown on the keno
`board.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`EMBODIMENTS
`A computer gaming System 100, in accordance to one
`embodiment of the invention, is shown in FIG. 1A. Com
`puter gaming System 100 includes a Server/host computer
`110 connected to a plurality of remote client/terminal com
`puters 120 via network interface 115 and communication
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`pathways 130. Each of client/terminal computers 120 is
`connected to a display device 140. Communication path
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`ways 130 are implemented with electrical cables, optical
`fibers, RF links, IR links and protocol interfaces such as
`LAN, WAN, or any combination thereof.
`In some embodiments, display devices 140 are touch
`Screen display devices- that allow a patron to enter input
`commands by Simply touching the Screen of display device
`140. The use of touch screen display devices eliminates the
`need for Separate input controls to be provided on client/
`terminal computerS 120 Such as a keyboard. As a result, the
`hardware cost for each client/terminal computer 120 is
`reduced. Moreover, Since the context and meaning of input
`controls on a touch Screen display device can be dynami
`cally modified without requiring hardware modifications,
`input controls can be customized for different gaming pro
`grams executed on computer gaming System 100. However,
`those skilled in the art realize that display devices other than
`touch Screen display devices can be used in accordance to
`the principles of the invention. For example, conventional
`CRT, LCD displays or (stereo) head mounted displays with
`Separate input controls Such as a six degrees of freedom
`joystick/mouse can be used in place of touch Screen display
`devices. Moreover, in Some embodiments, display devices
`140 may also include a mechanical reel System, in lieu of or
`in combination with a monitor, to display game results using
`“virtual reel” technology as described, for example, in U.S.
`Pat. No. 4,448,419 to Telnaes, entitled “Electronic Gaming
`Device Utilizing a Random Number Generator for Selecting
`the Reel Stop Positions.” Accordingly, the invention is not
`limited to any particular type of display or input device.
`Furthermore, in Some embodiments of the invention, each
`client/terminal computer 120 includes a wagering or bet
`acceptor device 150 such as a coin collector, a bill collector,
`a Smart-card reader, a credit-card reader, etc.
`FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating the hardware/
`Software control structure of server/host computer 110. One
`or more game programs 112 executed on Server/host com
`puter 110 runs on top of the Server/host interface program
`114, also executed on server/host computer 110. Server/host
`interface program 114, in turn, is executed on top of a
`computer operating System 116. Finally, the computer oper
`ating system 116 controls the hardware layer 118 of server/
`host computer 110.
`FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating the hardware/
`Software control structure of client/terminal computer 120. A
`non-gaming-related client/terminal program 122 executed
`on the client/terminal computer 120 runs on top of the
`operating System 124, which in turn runs on top of the actual
`hardware 126 of client/terminal computer 120.
`The server/host computer 110 can be any type of general
`purpose computer such as an Intel(R) x86 or Pentium(E) based
`computer, or a Mac(R) PowerPC computer, or a SunE)
`SPARCTM computer, etc. To ensure optimal performance of
`the entire computer gaming System 100, Server/host com
`puter 110 should have Sufficient Storage, memory and pro
`cessing power, to Support the plurality (e.g., at least eight) of
`client/terminal computers 120 to which it is connected via
`network interface 115 and communication pathways 130 in
`order to provide acceptable response time to random inputs
`from all the patrons. For instance, in Some embodiments, the
`server/host computer 110 has the following hardware con
`figuration: Pentium(E) II motherboard, 400 Mhz. Pentium(R II
`processors, 512 MB of 100 Mhz. SDRAM, dual channel
`U2W SCSI controller, dual 2.0 GB U2W SSD mirrored
`drives, AGP video card, 1000 Base-T PCI NIC card, 1.44
`inch. floppy disk drive and 32X IDE CD-ROM drive.
`In Some embodiments a separate accounting Server/host
`computer, also connected to communication pathways 130,
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`is used to keep track of the accounts of various patrons and
`other gaming management functions. The hardware configu
`ration of the accounting Server/host computer is as follows:
`Pentium (E) II motherboard, 400 Mhz. Pentium (E) II
`processors, 512 MB of 100 Mhz. SDRAM,96 GB hardware
`based RAID array, 96 GB tape backup, AGP video card,
`1000 Base-T PCI NIC card, 1.44 inch floppy disk drive and
`32X IDE CD-ROM drive. When the accounting server is
`used, the casino gaming System 100 may also perform Some
`of the casino management tasks Such as player tracking and
`compensation, player gaming license tracking, gaming sta
`tion maintenance and regulatory management, linkage to
`local, wide and global area progressive jackpots, etc.
`Client/terminal computers 120 can also be any type of
`cost effective Special purpose or general purpose computer
`such as an Intel(R) x86 or Pentium(R) based computer, a Mac(R)
`PowerPC computer, a Sung SPARC(R), etc. However,
`unlike, the server/host computer 110, the client/terminal
`computerS 120 only need to have minimal Storage, memory
`and processing power to ensure optimum functional opera
`tion of the overall multi-computer system 100, since the
`overwhelming majority of the gaming related and regulated
`processing is performed on the Server/host computer 110. AS
`a result, the cost of the hardware required for each client/
`terminal computer 120 is greatly reduced with respect to
`prior art computer Video gaming Systems.
`In some embodiments, the client/terminal computers 120
`are WinTermTM 3315SE terminals available from Wyse
`Technology, Inc. of San Jose, Calif.
`The communication pathways 130 is any type of local
`area, wide area or global communication pathways, includ
`ing the Internet and the World Wide Web. In some embodi
`ments network interface 115 has the following hardware
`configuration: 8-port 1000 base-T Switch, two sets of fiber
`optic 1000 base-T rated cables, two 12-port 100 base-T
`backbones Switches with 1000 base-T uplink port, twenty
`four 12-port 10 MB switches with 100 MB uplink port.
`Communication pathways 130 are any communication path
`ways suitable for connecting server/host computer 110 to
`client/terminal computers 120 via network interface 115. In
`Some embodiments, communication pathways 130 has the
`following hardware configuration: CAT-5 twisted pair
`cabling.
`Game program 112 is any type of gaming program that
`runs on an operating System 116 executed on Server/host
`computer 110. The operation of Specific examples of casino
`games Supported by game program 112 are further discussed
`below with respect to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A,
`7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D. Server/host interface
`program 114 is any program that allows a program executed
`on a Server/host computer to Separate the input and output at
`the application layer of the protocol stack as defined by OSI
`and redirect the I/O over a communication pathways to be
`performed on client/terminal computers 120 via client/
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`terminal program 122 executed on the client/terminal com
`puters 120. What is meant by “the game program controlling
`input and output operations performed on the client/terminal
`computer is that the game program determines which
`images are to be displayed on a Screen of the client/terminal
`computer and that input commands Such as mouse
`movements, mouse clicks or keystrokes or lever activation
`detected by the client/terminal computer are Sent directly to
`the Server/host based game program for context interpretive
`processing.
`Moreover, in Some embodiments, multiple display
`devices 140 are connected directly to display adapters of
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`Server/host computer 110. In these embodiments, operating
`System 116 allows multiple gaming threads of game pro
`gram 112 to be executed at one time, with each instance of
`game program 112 driving a separate display device 140. A
`thread, as used herein, is intended as an atomic unit of
`processing Supported by operating System program 116.
`Accordingly, a thread may be either a proceSS or a Sub
`component of a process, depending on the implementation
`of operating System program 116. In a multithreading oper
`ating System, multiple threads can be executed at the same
`time by the operating System, with the operating System
`controlling the amount of processing time allocated to each
`thread. This process is Sometimes referred to as preemptive
`multitasking. When a thread is a Sub-component of a
`process, multiple threads within a proceSS Share the same
`memory address Space.
`In Some embodiments, the Server/host interface program
`114 is WinFrame(E) or MetaFrameTM, available from Citrix
`Systems, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale Fla. Alternatively, the server/
`host interface program 114 may be Windows NT Server 4.0
`Terminal Server EditionTM, available from Microsoft Corp.
`of Redmond, Wash., or Tarantella TM, available from The
`Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. of Santa Cruz, Calif., or
`Go-GlobalTM, available from Graphon Corp. of Campbell
`Calif., or Liftoff E server available from New Moon
`Software, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif. or Applica U2 or
`Applica Workgroup available from Concurrent Controls,
`Inc., of South San Francisco, Calif., or Netwinder WS,
`available from Corel Computer Corp. of Ottawa, Canada or
`any Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICAGR)
`compatible Server/host interface program.
`The Server/host operating System 116 is any operating
`system that can be executed on hardware 118 of server/host
`computer 110. In some embodiments, the server/host oper
`ating system 116 is Windows NTR 4.0, Windows95(E),
`Windows 98(R), or the forthcoming Windows2000(R), avail
`able from Microsoft, Corp. of Redmond, Wash.
`Alternatively, the operating system 118 can be Mac OSTM
`8.5, available from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino,
`Calif. or SolarisTM available from Sun MicroSystems of
`Mountain View, Calif., or Red Hat Linux 5.1, available from
`Red Hat Software of Research Triangle Park, N.C., or any
`other Suitable operating System known in the art.
`Client/terminal program 122 is any computer program
`residing on the client/terminal that allows game manage
`ment program 112 to control input and output operations
`performed on client/terminal computers 120 via server/host
`interface program 114. In Some embodiments, the client/
`terminal program 122 is a WinFrame(R) 1.7 DOS client.
`Alternatively, client/terminal program 112n can be a
`MetaFrameTM client, any Citrix ICACR compatible client
`program, Go-BetweenTM, available from Graphon Corp. of
`Campbell Calif., or LiftoffE Client available from New
`Moon Software, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif.
`Client operating System 124 is any operating System that
`can be executed on hardware 126 of client/terminal com
`puter 120. In Some embodiments, operating System 124 is
`MS-DOSCE), Windows98TM or Windows NTE) 4