Abstract: Chip-Based Gaming includes methods for playing electronic games of chance or skill that provide players with a greater number of options and greater wagering flexibility than previous methods have afforded them. In the present Chip-Based gaming model, players may select virtual betting chips from an onscreen palette and apply those chips to various wagering opportunities throughout a game. Using this model, players are able to make individual bets on each of a slot machine's paylines or wager on making specific hands in Video Poker. Players are also able to buy and/or wager on symbol “nudges” and to buy symbol “re-spins” within a multi-line slot machine, options which provide the player with a much richer, more flexible gaming experience than he or she had heretofore enjoyed.

Abstract: System architecture and methods for enabling (a) freelance game developers gather intelligence data such as to offer dazzling electronic games to the regulated casino gaming marketplace and receive compensation based on the success of their games, and (b) game operators gather intelligence data to enables them to tailor their regulated game offerings. Intelligence data for both the freelance game developers and the game operators are based on demand/popularity of identical trial games available to the public over a predetermined computer site, the trial games using simulated money only. In addition, players are provided with the location of the casinos offering their favorite game(s) for playing with real money, together with the promotions offered if any. Operators are provided with the contacts of the players and their list of favorite games such as to offer incentives to attract them to their casino.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments of the present Hierarchical-Five Wheel model of gaming include systems in which every wager made on an electronic game of chance may trigger two games: 1) standard play on the machine's primary display and 2) the display of one or more numbers or symbols on the machine's secondary display. The numbers and/or symbols on each machine's secondary display may combine with the numbers or symbols on other player's secondary displays to create a shared game in which certain predetermined symbol combinations equate to jackpots awarded to participating players. Banks of Hierarchical-Five Wheel machines may have two levels of play, as is described above, or may have three, four, five or more levels of game play. Hierarchical Five-Wheel gaming machines are capable of awarding large, life-changing jackpots to players who are not necessarily winners within their primary game, giving the player multiple ways to win.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a processor adapted to execute a program of a game; a biometric reader configured to capture first biometric data from the player, and a trusted cache. The trusted cache includes a nonvolatile memory that is configured to store the first biometric data; a context data save engine configured to save the context of the program to the nonvolatile memory and to associate the stored first biometric data with the saved context of the program upon the processor receiving a request from the player to suspend game play, and a context data recovery engine configured to recover the saved context from the nonvolatile memory and to cause continued execution of the program from the recovered saved context upon the biometric reader capturing second biometric data from the player that matches the stored first biometric data and receiving a request from the player to resume game play.

Abstract: System architecture and methods for enabling (a) freelance game developers gather intelligence data such as to offer dazzling electronic games to the regulated casino gaming marketplace and receive compensation based on the success of their games, and (b) game operators gather intelligence data to enables them to tailor their regulated game offerings. Intelligence data for both the freelance game developers and the game operators are based on demand/popularity of identical trial games available to the public over a predetermined computer site, the trial games using simulated money only. In addition, players are provided with the location of the casinos offering their favorite game(s) for playing with real money, together with the promotions offered if any. Operators are provided with the contacts of the players and their list of favorite games such as to offer incentives to attract them to their casino.

Abstract: An interactive TV device is configured to receive and process multiple broadband input streams simultaneously. The device includes functionality to perform as a Web browser, HF, cable and satellite TV receiver, a digital PVR, an interactive TV set-top box, an advanced central processing unit and a videoconferencing device, thanks to an integrated videoconferencing camera. The present interactive TV device is configured to manage all multimedia sources identically, whether the input is a TV channel, a Web page, or a video stream played back from a data carrier such as a DVD, for example. The present interactive TV device is also configured to enable a user to watch and record a plurality of video streams simultaneously and to display them on four independently manageable quarter screen segments.

Abstract: A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired.

Abstract: A method to enable dynamic configuration of gaming terminals installed in one or a plurality of gaming premises whereby certified games, certified data files and certified support software components are activated in accordance with a predetermined schedule or automatically in response to the observed gaming activity. The method may include allocating an individual PKI certificate to each executable software component and each of its versions, binding the PKI certificate to the executable software, associating a distinctive policy for each certificate and then enforcing the software execution policies in accordance with the desired authorized game configuration and schedule. The PKI certificate's “Subject Name” (or “Issued to” field or “CommonName” field) may be a concatenation of the software component identification, its version number and optionally other identification characters. The method applies equally to other network connected gaming subsystems.

Abstract: A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a new generation of captivating multiplayer casino slot machine games with naught or little changes to the applicable regulatory game standards. In one embodiment thereof, the present invention is a 2-player/1-game casino slot machine wherein (a) a two-seater slot machine allows two players to share in primary game play by providing two seats, two sets of betting controls, and two sets of onscreen meters to track each player's performance, wins and losses, and wherein (b) back end control logic within each two-seater slot machine consolidates all game performance meters in such a way that the slot machine mimics a traditional single seat slot machine (i.e. 1-player/1-game) from accounting and regulatory points of view, thus requiring no changes to the accounting procedures and to the central casino management system.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a processor adapted to execute a program of a game; a biometric reader configured to capture first biometric data from the player, and a trusted cache. The trusted cache includes a nonvolatile memory that is configured to store the first biometric data; a context data save engine configured to save the context of the program to the nonvolatile memory and to associate the stored first biometric data with the saved context of the program upon the processor receiving a request from the player to suspend game play, and a context data recovery engine configured to recover the saved context from the nonvolatile memory and to cause continued execution of the program from the recovered saved context upon the biometric reader capturing second biometric data from the player that matches the stored first biometric data and receiving a request from the player to resume game play.

Abstract: Gaming systems to manage the secure download of data to a very large number of network connected client gaming machines distributed within large geographic areas. The gaming systems utilize adaptive data throttling and make optimal use of network data bandwidth. The gaming systems may advantageously manage simultaneous data downloading to millions of network connected gaming machines via private networks, public networks and/or the Internet. A close-loop download regulation algorithm achieves the highest download capacity for the files without exceeding the maximum network capacity and without degrading the operational traffic performance between the server and the connected client gaming machine.

Abstract: A universal computer-implemented method for submitting source code to an authorized game certification laboratory. Initial source code and subsequent source code patches may be transferred from the manufacturer's software development environment into the laboratory's software development environment in a controlled fashion using packaging installation technology normally used for deploying software applications. The packaging technology contains automation actions for automating the synchronization and/or management of the source code and related files between the two software development environments. The entirety of the source code or any source code patch sequence may be removed by executing the corresponding uninstall function. The package containing the original source code or the source code patch sequences and related files may be code signed such as to provide persistent proof of origin which may be verified at any time.

Abstract: A gaming machine may include a locked enclosure and a first computing device disposed within the locked enclosure. The first computing device may be programmed to enable game play of the gaming machine. A second computing device may be provided that is controlled by policies and disposed within the locked enclosure of the gaming machine. The second computing device may be configured for network access. An interface may also be provided between the first and the second computing devices. The second computing device may be configured to receive game software components over the network that are compatible with the first computing device but not compatible with the second computing device and to transfer the received game software components to the first computing device over the interface.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a primary game that includes a plurality of primary wagering opportunities and a plurality of additional wagering opportunities that are unrelated to the primary wagering opportunities. The primary game may be active for a predetermined period of time determined by a credit of playing time purchased by the player. One or more of the plurality of additional wagering opportunities may be contextually triggered and made available to the player following occurrence of respective predetermined events occurring within the primary game during the game session or following events external to the gaming machine.

Abstract: An electronic game features captivating animations and rich selection criteria while offering the simplicity that makes the popularity of legacy games such as roulette, wheel of fortune and multi-line fruit machines casino games. One implementation of the present electronic game is configured as a 2D game tailored for slot machines. Solid 3D variants of the game extending beyond the established video slot machine form-factor are also described.

Abstract: A method and system for players to purchase a time credit, play a vibrant console type skill game and place countless numbers of bets until the time credit has elapsed. A two-player console type skill game allows two players to enter a fierce challenge and place countless numbers of bets until the time credit has elapsed. Wherever gaming regulation allows time-gaming AutoBet, then the bet outcome result (instead of fixed points) is briefly shown and accumulated each time a winning or losing feature is hit along the play path; otherwise a “BET” or “No Bet” prompt confirms that a betting opportunity has been offered and requests that the player confirm his or her intention to place the bet.

Abstract: Methods and systems that enable cashless gaming dispense with the need to set up and operate a complex centrally controlled system or dispense with the need to distribute expensive smart cards. The patrons' gaming session meters (including, for example, a measure of winning and/or available credit) are distributed amongst an estate of peer networked gaming machines and are stored in redundant storage for fault tolerance.

Abstract: A gaming machine may include memory, a software program loaded into the memory and a trusted cache. The trusted cache may include a context data save engine, a context data recovery engine and a restart engine. The context data save engine may be configured to save the context and state of the gaming machine at least upon sensing a failure condition. The context data recovery engine may be configured to load the context and state from the context data save engine back into memory, and the restart engine may be configured to restart the gaming machine and restore execution of the software program, and may be further configured to carry out a multi-stage recovery process that may include a soft reboot, a hardware reset and a power-off and, after a predetermined delay, a power-on of the gaming machine, attempting to restart the software program between each stage of the process.

Abstract: An interactive TV device is configured to receive and process multiple broadband input streams simultaneously. The device includes functionality to perform as a Web browser, HF, cable and satellite TV receiver, a digital PVR, an interactive TV set-top box, an advanced central processing unit and a videoconferencing device, thanks to an integrated videoconferencing camera. The present interactive TV device is configured to manage all multimedia sources identically, whether the input is a TV channel, a Web page, or a video stream played back from a data carrier such as a DVD, for example. The present interactive TV device is also configured to enable a user to watch and record a plurality of video streams simultaneously and to display them on four independently manageable quarter screen segments.