U.S. patent application number 16/580707 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-16 for side pool interleaved wagering system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gamblit Gaming, LLC. Invention is credited to Miles Arnone, Frank Cire, Clifford Kaylin, John Lucier, Eric Meyerhofer.
Application Number | 20200020200 16/580707 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53007427 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-16 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200020200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arnone; Miles ; et
al. |
January 16, 2020 |
SIDE POOL INTERLEAVED WAGERING SYSTEM
Abstract
An electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
is disclosed. The system includes a interactive controller
constructed to: receive an indication to participate in a
competition with one or more other users; communicate application
telemetry associated with the interactive application. The system
also includes a wager controller operatively connected to the
application controller, the wager controller constructed to:
receive a wager request; communicate funds for a side pool;
generate a wager outcome; communicate the wager outcome; and
receive funds from the side pool when the user is a winner of the
competition. The system also includes the application controller
operatively connecting the mobile to the wager controller by a
network, the application controller constructed to: communicate a
wager request based on received application telemetry; and
communicate application resources based on received wager
outcome.
Inventors: |
Arnone; Miles; (Cambridge,
MA) ; Cire; Frank; (Glendale, CA) ; Kaylin;
Clifford; (Los Angeles, CA) ; Lucier; John;
(Cranston, RI) ; Meyerhofer; Eric; (Pasadena,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gamblit Gaming, LLC |
Glendale |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53007427 |
Appl. No.: |
16/580707 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16011116 |
Jun 18, 2018 |
10424159 |
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16580707 |
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15632950 |
Jun 26, 2017 |
10002495 |
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16011116 |
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14535816 |
Nov 7, 2014 |
9691226 |
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15632950 |
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61901430 |
Nov 7, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3276 20130101;
G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/3225 20130101; A63F 13/822 20140902;
G07F 17/3258 20130101; G07F 17/3279 20130101; G06Q 50/34
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20060101
G07F017/32; A63F 13/822 20060101 A63F013/822; G06Q 50/34 20060101
G06Q050/34 |
Claims
1. An electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering,
comprising: an interactive controller constructed to: provide an
interactive application; generate a graphical display of the
interactive application; receive, from a user, an indication to
participate in a competition with one or more other users, wherein
the competition is associated with an interactive application
provided by the interactive controller; distribute, to an
application controller, a user interaction within the interactive
application detected by the interactive controller; and generate a
graphical status display for a side pool competition within the
interactive application; a wager controller operatively connected
to the application controller, the wager controller constructed to:
receive, from the application controller, a wager request;
distribute, to a side pool controller, funds for a side pool;
generate a wager outcome based on the wager request using a random
number generator; communicate, to the application controller, the
wager outcome; and receive, from the side pool controller, funds
from the side pool when the user is a winner of the competition;
and the application controller operatively connecting the
interactive controller to the wager controller, the application
controller constructed to: receive, from the interactive
controller, the user interaction; distribute, to the wager
controller, the wager request based on the received user
interaction; receive, from the wager controller, the wager outcome;
receive, from the side pool controller, the status of the side pool
competition; and distribute, to the interactive controller, the
status of the side pool competition.
2. The electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
of claim 1, wherein the application controller is operatively
connected by a network to the wager controller.
3. The electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
of claim 1, wherein an amount of the funds distributed from the
wager controller to the side pool controller is determined by the
user and the one or more users in the competition.
4. The electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
of claim 1, wherein an amount of funds distributed from the wager
controller to the side pool controller is determined by an operator
of the competition.
5. The electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
of claim 1, wherein the funds for the side pool, distributed from
the wager controller to the side pool controller, are communicated
before generating the wager outcome.
6. The electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
of claim 1, wherein the funds for the side pool are distributed
from the wager controller to the side pool controller when the
wager outcome is successful, and the funds for the side pool are
distributed after generating the wager outcome.
7. The electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
of claim 1, wherein the application controller is further
constructed to: distribute, to a tournament controller, tournament
information comprising the received user interaction; and receive,
from the tournament controller, upon conclusion of the competition,
competition results, and wherein the tournament controller is
constructed to: receive, from the interactive controller, the
tournament information; determine a winner of the competition based
on the received tournament information; and distribute, to the
application controller, competition results, including the winner
of the competition.
8. The electronic gaming machine for side pool interleaved wagering
of claim 7, wherein the tournament controller is further
constructed to receive, from one or more interactive controllers
associated with the one or more other users in the competition,
tournament information associated with the one or more other users,
and wherein the determination of the winner of the competition is
further based on the received tournament information associated
with the one or more other users.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/011,116, filed Jun. 18, 2018, which claims
the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/632,950, filed
Jun. 26, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/535,816, filed Nov. 7, 2014, and issued as U.S. Pat.
No. 9,691,226 on Jun. 27, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/901,430, filed Nov. 7, 2013,
the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety.
[0002] This application references Patent Cooperation Treaty
Application No. PCT/US11/26768, filed Mar. 1, 2011, Patent
Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US11/63587, filed Dec. 6,
2011, and Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US12/58156,
filed Sep. 29, 2012, the contents of each of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention are generally related
to communications within data processing systems. More
particularly, the present invention relates to the communication
and processing of wagering data.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The gaming industry has traditionally developed electronic
gaming machines that present simple wagering games to a user. The
communication and processing needs for these simple wagering games
are easily met using conventional processing systems. However, more
complicated wagering games need communication and processing
systems that are better suited for implementing these more
complicated wagering games. Various aspects of embodiments of the
present invention meet such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the
invention provide a communication and data processing system
constructed for a side pool interleaved wagering system.
[0006] In an embodiment, an electronic gaming machine for side pool
interleaved wagering includes an interactive controller constructed
to provide an interactive application, generate a graphical display
of the interactive application, receive, from a user, an indication
to participate in a competition with one or more other users,
wherein the competition is associated with an interactive
application provided by the interactive controller, distribute, to
an application controller, a user interaction within the
interactive application detected by the interactive controller,
generate a graphical status display for a side pool competition
within the interactive application. The electronic gaming machine
further includes a wager controller operatively connected to the
application controller. The wager controller constructed to
receive, from the application controller, a wager request,
distribute, to a side pool controller, funds for a side pool,
generate a wager outcome based on the wager request using a random
number generator, communicate, to the application controller, the
wager outcome, and receive, from the side pool controller, funds
from the side pool when the user is a winner of the competition.
The application controller operatively connects the interactive
controller to the wager controller. The application controller is
constructed to receive, from the interactive controller, the user
interaction, distribute, to the wager controller, the wager request
based on the received user interaction, receive, from the wager
controller, the wager outcome, receive, from the side pool
controller, the status of the side pool competition, and
distribute, to the interactive controller, the status of the side
pool competition.
[0007] In another embodiment, the application controller is
operatively connected by a network to the wager controller.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, an amount of the funds
distributed from the wager controller to the side pool controller
is determined by the user and the one or more users in the
competition.
[0009] In yet another embodiment, amount of funds distributed from
the wager controller to the side pool controller is determined by
an operator of the competition.
[0010] In yet another embodiment, the funds for the side pool,
distributed from the wager controller to the side pool controller,
are communicated before generating the wager outcome.
[0011] In yet another embodiment, the funds for the side pool are
distributed from the wager controller to the side pool controller
when the wager outcome is successful, and the funds for the side
pool are distributed after generating the wager outcome.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, the application controller is
further constructed to distribute, to a tournament controller,
tournament information comprising the received user interaction,
and receive, from the tournament controller, upon conclusion of the
competition, competition results. The tournament controller is
constructed to receive, from the interactive controller, the
tournament information, determine a winner of the competition based
on the received tournament information, and distribute, to the
application controller, competition results, including the winner
of the competition.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, the tournament controller is
further constructed to receive, from one or more interactive
controllers associated with the one or more other users in the
competition, tournament information associated with the one or more
other users, and the determination of the winner of the competition
is further based on the received tournament information associated
with the one or more other users.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a structure of a side pool
interleaved wagering system in accordance with various embodiments
of the invention.
[0015] FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are illustrations of interactive
controllers of a side pool interleaved wagering system in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
[0016] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are network diagrams of distributed side
pool interleaved wagering systems in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention.
[0017] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a structure of an
interactive controller of a side pool interleaved wagering system
in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
[0018] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a structure of a wager
controller of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with various embodiments of the invention.
[0019] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of a structure of an
application controller of a side pool interleaved wagering system
in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
[0020] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of a structure of a user
management and session controller of a side pool interleaved
wagering system in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram of interactions between
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with various embodiments of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a collaboration diagram for components of a side
pool interleaved wagering system in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a diagram of interactions between various
embodiments of the system and processes in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a diagram of the structure of a side pool
interleaved wagering system in accordance with various embodiments
of the invention.
[0025] FIGS. 12A-12D are diagrams of various embodiments of
structures of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with the invention.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of interactions between
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with various embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] A side pool interleaved wagering system interleaves wagering
with non-wagering activities. In some embodiments of a side pool
interleaved wagering system an interactive application executed by
an interactive controller provides non-wagering components of the
side pool interleaved wagering system. The interactive controller
is operatively connected to an application controller that manages
and configures the interactive application of the interactive
controller and determines when wagers should be interleaved with
the operations of the interactive application. The application
controller is further operatively connected to a wager controller
that provides one or more wagering propositions for one or more
wagers.
[0028] In some embodiments, the interactive controller also
includes a wagering user interface that is used to display data
about a wagering process, including but not limited a wager outcome
of a wager made in accordance with a wagering proposition. The
content of the wagering user interface is controlled by the
application controller and includes content provided by the wager
controller.
[0029] In several embodiments, a user or user interactions are
represented in a side pool interleaved wagering system by the
electronic representation of interactions between the user and the
interactive application, typically received via a user interface of
the interactive application, and a user profile of the side pool
interleaved wagering system associated with the user.
[0030] Many different types of interactive applications may be
utilized with the side pool interleaved wagering system. In some
embodiments, the interactive application reacts to the physical
activity of the user. In these embodiments, the user interacts with
the interactive application through one or more sensors that
monitor the user's physical activities. Such sensors may include,
but are not limited to, physiological sensors that monitor the
physiology of the user, environmental sensors that monitor the
physical environment of the user, accelerometers that monitor
changes in motion of the user, and location sensors that monitor
the location of the user such as global positioning sensors.
[0031] In some embodiments, the interactive application is a
skill-based interactive game that is played by the user.
[0032] In some embodiments, the interactive application is a tool
used by the user to achieve some useful goal.
[0033] In operation, a user interacts with the interactive
application using various types of elements of the interactive
application in an interactive application environment. Elements are
interactive application resources utilized by the user within the
interactive application environment to provide an interactive
experience for the user. Wagers of credits are made in accordance
with a wagering proposition as triggered by the user's use of one
or more of the elements of the interactive application. Wager
outcomes of wagers of credits made in accordance with the wagering
proposition can cause consumption, loss or accrual of credits.
[0034] In accordance with some embodiments, wager outcomes of
wagering events can influence elements in the interactive
application such as, but not limited to, providing one or more new
elements, restoring one or more consumed elements, causing the loss
of one or more elements, and restoration or placement of one or
more fixed elements.
[0035] In various embodiments, the wagers may be made using one or
more credits (Cr).
[0036] In some embodiments, Cr can be one or more credits that are
purchased using, and redeemed in, a real world currency having a
real world value.
[0037] In many embodiments, Cr can be one or more credits in a
virtual currency. Virtual currency is an alternate currency that
can be acquired, purchased or transferred by or to a user, but does
not necessarily directly correlate to a real world currency. In
many such embodiments, Cr in a virtual currency are allowed to be
purchased using a real world currency but are prevented from being
redeemed in a real world currency having a real world value.
[0038] In several embodiments, during interaction with the
interactive application using the elements, a user can optionally
consume and/or accrue application environment credit (AC) within
the interactive application as a result of the user's use of the
interactive application. AC can be in the form of, but is not
limited to, application environment credits, experience points, and
points generally.
[0039] In various embodiments, when the interactive application is
a skill-based interactive game, AC is awarded to a player of the
skill-based interactive game on the basis of the player's skillful
play of the skill-based interactive game. In such embodiments, AC
may be analogous to the score in a typical video game. The
skill-based interactive game can have one or more scoring criteria,
embedded within an application controller and/or an interactive
controller that provides the skill-based interactive game, that
reflect user performance against one or more goals of the
skill-based interactive game.
[0040] In many embodiments, AC can be used to purchase
in-application items, including but not limited to, application
elements that have particular properties, power ups for existing
items, and other item enhancements.
[0041] In some embodiments, AC may be used to earn entrance into a
sweepstakes drawing, to earn entrance in a tournament with prizes,
to score in the tournament, and/or to participate and/or score in
any other game event.
[0042] In several embodiments, AC can be stored on a user-tracking
card or in a network-based user tracking system where the AC is
attributed to a specific user.
[0043] In many embodiments, a wagering proposition includes a wager
of AC for a wager outcome of a randomly generated payout of
interactive application AC, elements, and/or objects in accordance
with a wagering proposition.
[0044] In a number of embodiments, a wager of an amount of Cr
results in a wager outcome of a payout of AC, elements, and/or
objects that have an Cr value if cashed out.
[0045] In some embodiments, in a case that an interactive
application is a skill-based interactive game, interactive
application objects include in-application objects that may be used
by a player of the skill-based interactive game to enhance the
player's gameplay of the skill-based interactive game. Such objects
include, but are not limited to, power-ups, enhanced in-application
items, and the like. In some embodiments, the interactive
application objects include objects that are detrimental to the
player's play of the skill-based interactive game such as, but not
limited to, obstructions in the game space, a temporary player
handicap, an enhanced opponent, and the like.
[0046] In some embodiments, elements in an interactive application
include, but are not limited to, enabling elements (EE) that are
interactive application environment resources utilized during the
user's use of the interactive application and whose utilization by
the user while using the interactive application triggers execution
of a wager in accordance with a wagering proposition. In another
embodiment, elements in an interactive application include, but are
not limited to, a reserve enabling element (REE), that is an
element that converts into one or more enabling elements upon
occurrence of a release event during an interactive user session.
In yet another embodiment, elements in an interactive application
include, but are not limited to, an actionable element (AE) that is
an element that is acted upon during use of the interactive
application to trigger a wager in accordance with a wagering
proposition and may or may not be restorable during normal play of
the interactive application. In yet another embodiment, elements in
an interactive application include, but are not limited to, a
common enabling element (CEE) that is an element that may be shared
by two or more users and causes a wagering event and associated
wager to be triggered in accordance with the wagering proposition
when used by one of the users during use of the interactive
application. In some embodiments, in progressing through
interactive application use, a user can utilize elements during
interactions with a controlled entity (CE). A CE is a character,
entity, inanimate object, device or other object under control of a
user.
[0047] In accordance with some embodiments of a side pool
interleaved wagering system, the triggering of the wagering event
and/or wager can be dependent upon an interactive application
environment variable such as, but not limited to, a required object
(RO), a required environmental condition (REC), or a controlled
entity characteristic (CEC). A RO is a specific interactive
application object in an interactive application acted upon for an
AE to be completed. A non-limiting example of an RO is a specific
key needed to open a door. An REC is an interactive application
state present within an interactive application for an AE to be
completed. A non-limiting example of an REC is daylight whose
presence enables a character to walk through woods. A CEC is a
status of the CE within an interactive application for an AE to be
completed. A non-limiting example of a CEC is requirement that a CE
have full health points before entering battle. Although various
interactive application resources such as, but not limited to, the
types of interactive application elements as discussed herein may
be used to trigger a wager in accordance with a wagering
proposition, one skilled in the art will recognize that any
interactive application resource can be utilized in a side pool
interleaved wagering system to trigger of a wager as appropriate to
the specification of a specific application in accordance with
various embodiments of the invention.
[0048] In several embodiments, a side pool interleaved wagering
system can utilize an application controller to monitor use of the
interactive application executed by an interactive controller for
detecting a trigger of a wagering event. The trigger for the
wagering event can be detected by the application controller from
the utilization of the interactive application in accordance with
at least one wagering event occurrence rule. The trigger of the
wagering event can be communicated to a wager controller. In
response to notification of the trigger, the wager controller
executes a wager in accordance with a wagering proposition. In
addition, use of an interactive application in a side pool
interleaved wagering system can be modified by the application
controller based upon the wager outcome.
[0049] In several embodiments, a wagering event occurrence can be
determined from one or more application environment variables
within an interactive application that are used to trigger a wager
and/or associated wager in accordance with a wagering proposition.
Application environment variables can include, but are not limited
to, passage of a period of time during side pool interleaved
wagering system interactive application use, a result from a side
pool interleaved wagering system interactive application user
session (such as, but not limited to, achieving a goal or a
particular score), a user action that is a consumption of an
element, or a user action that achieves a combination of elements
to be associated with a user profile.
[0050] In numerous embodiments, an interactive application
instruction is an instruction to an interactive controller and/or
an interactive application to modify an interactive application
application state or modify one or more interactive application
resources. In some embodiments, the interactive application
instructions may be based upon one or more of a wager outcome and
application environment variables. An interactive application
instruction can modify any aspect of an interactive application,
such as, but not limited to, an addition of a period of time
available for a current interactive application user session for
the interactive application of side pool interleaved wagering
system, an addition of a period of time available for a future side
pool interleaved wagering system interactive application user
session or any other modification to the interactive application
elements that can be utilized during interactive application use.
In some embodiments, an interactive application instruction can
modify a type of element whose consumption triggers a wagering
event occurrence. In many embodiments, an interactive application
instruction can modify a type of element whose consumption is not
required in a wagering event occurrence.
[0051] In a number of embodiments, a user interface can be utilized
that depicts a status of the interactive application in the side
pool interleaved wagering system. A user interface can depict any
aspect of an interactive application including, but not limited to,
an illustration of side pool interleaved wagering system
interactive application use advancement as a user uses the side
pool interleaved wagering system.
[0052] In some embodiments, a side pool interleaved wagering system
including an application controller operatively connected to a
wager controller and operatively connected to an interactive
controller may provide for interleaving entertainment content from
an interactive application. The side pool interleaved wagering
system provides for random wager outcomes in accordance with the
wagering proposition that are independent of user skill while
providing an interactive experience to the user that may be shaped
by the user's skill.
[0053] In several embodiments, an application controller of a side
pool interleaved wagering system may provide for a communications
interface for asynchronous communications between a wager
controller and an interactive application provided by an
interactive controller, by operatively connecting the interactive
controller, and thus the interactive controller's interactive
application, with the wager controller. In some embodiments,
asynchronous communications provided for by a side pool interleaved
wagering system may reduce an amount of idle waiting time by an
interactive controller of the side pool interleaved wagering
system, thus increasing an amount of processing resources that the
interactive controller may provide to an interactive application or
other processes of the interactive controller. In many embodiments,
asynchronous communications provided for by a side pool interleaved
wagering system reduces an amount of idle waiting time by a wager
controller, thus increasing an amount of processing resources that
the wager controller may provide to execution of wagers to
determine wager outcomes, and other processes provided by the wager
controller. In some embodiments, a wager controller of a side pool
interleaved wagering system may be operatively connected to a
plurality of interactive controllers through one or more
application controllers and the asynchronous communications
provided for by the one or more application controllers allows the
wager controller to operate more efficiently and provide wager
outcomes to a larger number of interactive controllers than would
be achievable without the one or more application controllers of
the side pool interleaved wagering system.
[0054] In some embodiments, a side pool interleaved wagering system
including an application controller operatively connected to a
wager controller and operatively connected to an interactive
controller may provide for simplified communication protocols for
communications of the interactive controller as the interactive
controller may communicate user interactions with an interactive
application provided by the interactive controller to the
application controller without regard to a nature of a wagering
proposition to be interleaved with processes of the interactive
application.
[0055] In various embodiments, a side pool interleaved wagering
system including an application controller operatively connected to
a wager controller and operatively connected to an interactive
controller may provide for simplified communication protocols for
communications of the wager controller as the wager controller may
receive wager requests and communicate wager outcomes without
regard to a nature of an interactive application provided by the
interactive controller.
[0056] Various types interleaved wagering systems are discussed in
Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US11/26768, filed
Mar. 1, 2011, Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No.
PCT/US11/63587, filed Dec. 6, 2011, and Patent Cooperation Treaty
Application No. PCT/US12/58156, filed Sep. 29, 2012, the contents
of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
Side Pool Wagering Interleaved Systems
[0057] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a structure of a side pool
interleaved wagering system in accordance with various embodiments
of the invention. The side pool interleaved wagering system 128
includes an interactive controller 120, an application controller
112, and a wager controller 102. The interactive controller 120 is
operatively connected to, and communicates with, the application
controller 112. The application controller 112 is also operatively
connected to, and communicates with, the wager controller 102.
[0058] In several embodiments, the wager controller 102 is a
controller for providing one or more wagering propositions provided
by the side pool interleaved wagering system 128 and executes
wagers in accordance with the wagering propositions. Types of value
of a wager can be one or more of several different types. Types of
value of a wager can include, but are not limited to, a wager of an
amount of Cr corresponding to a real currency or a virtual
currency, a wager of an amount of AC earned by the player through
use of an interactive application, a wager of an amount of elements
of an interactive application, and a wager of an amount of objects
used in an interactive application. A wager outcome determined for
a wager in accordance with a wagering proposition can increase or
decrease an amount of the type of value used in the wager, such as,
but not limited to, increasing an amount of Cr for a wager of Cr.
In various embodiments, a wager outcome determined for a wager in
accordance with a wagering proposition can increase or decrease an
amount of a type of value that is different than a type of value of
the wager, such as, but not limited to, increasing an amount of an
object of an interactive application for a wager of Cr.
[0059] In many embodiments, the wager controller 120 includes one
or more pseudo random or random number generators (P/RNG) 106 for
generating random results, one or more paytables 108 for
determining a wager outcome from the random results, and one or
more credit or value meters 110 for storing amounts of wagered and
won credits.
[0060] The one or more P/RNG generators 106 execute processes that
can generate random or pseudo random results. The one or more
paytables 108 are tables that can be used in conjunction with the
random or pseudo random results to determine a wager outcome
including an amount of Cr, AC, elements or objects won as a
function of side pool interleaved wagering system use. There can be
one or more paytables 108 in the wager controller 102. The
paytables 108 are used to implement one or more wagering
propositions in conjunction with a random output of the random or
pseudo random results.
[0061] In some embodiments, selection of a paytable to use to
execute a wager can be based on factors including, but not limited
to, interactive application progress a user has achieved through
use of the interactive application, user identification, and
eligibility of the user for bonus rounds.
[0062] In various embodiments, the interactive controller 120
provides an interactive application 143 and provides human input
devices (HIDs) and output devices for interacting with the user
140. The interactive controller 120 provides for user interactions
142 with the interactive application 143 by receiving input from a
user through the HIDs and providing outputs such as video, audio
and/or other sensory output to the user using the output
devices.
[0063] The interactive controller 120 is operatively connected to,
and communicates with, the application controller 112. The
interactive controller communicates application telemetry data 124
to the application controller 112 and receives application
instructions and resources 136 from the application controller 112.
Via the communication of application instructions and resources
136, the application controller 112 can communicate certain
interactive application resources including control parameters to
the interactive application 143 to affect the interactive
application's execution by the interactive controller 120. In
various embodiments, these interactive application control
parameters can be based on a wager outcome of a wager that was
triggered by an element in the interactive application being
utilized or acted upon by the user.
[0064] In some embodiments, execution of the interactive
application by the interactive controller 120 communicates user
interactions with the interactive application to the application
controller 112. The application telemetry data 124 includes, but is
not limited to, the user's utilization of the elements in the
interactive application.
[0065] In some embodiments, the interactive application 143 is a
skill-based interactive game. In such embodiments, execution of the
skill-based interactive game by the interactive controller 120 is
based on the user's skillful play of the skill-based interactive
game. The interactive controller 120 can also communicate user
choices made in the skill-based interactive game to the application
controller 112 included in the application telemetry data 124 such
as, but not limited to, the user's utilization of the elements of
the skill-based interactive game during the user's skillful play of
the skill-based interactive game. In such an embodiment, the
application controller is interfaced to the interactive controller
120 in order to allow the coupling of the skill-based interactive
game to wagers made in accordance with a wagering proposition.
[0066] In some embodiments, the interactive controller 120 includes
one or more sensors 138 that sense various aspects of the physical
environment of the interactive controller 120. Examples of sensors
include, but are not limited to: global positioning sensors (GPSs)
for sensing communications from a GPS system to determine a
position or location of the interactive controller; temperature
sensors; accelerometers; pressure sensors; and the like. Sensor
telemetry data 128 is communicated by the interactive controller to
the application controller 112. The application controller 112
receives the sensor telemetry data 128 and uses the sensory
telemetry data to make wager decisions.
[0067] In many embodiments, the interactive controller includes a
wagering user interface 148 used to display wagering data to the
user.
[0068] In various embodiments, an application control layer 131
resident in the interactive controller 120 provides an interface
between the interactive controller 120 and the application
controller 112.
[0069] In many embodiments, application controller 112 provides an
interface between the interactive application 143 provided by the
interactive controller 120 and a wagering proposition provided by
the wager controller 102.
[0070] In some embodiments, the application controller 112 includes
an interactive controller interface 160 to an interactive
controller. The interactive controller interface 160 provides for
the communication of data between the interactive controller and
the application controller, including but not limited to wager
telemetry data 146, application instructions and resources 136,
application telemetry data 124, and sensor telemetry data 128.
[0071] In various embodiments, the application controller 112
includes a wager controller interface 162 to a wager controller.
The wager controller interface 162 provides for communication of
data between the application controller 112 and the wager
controller, including but not limited to wager outcome data 130 and
wager data 129.
[0072] In some embodiments, the application controller 112 includes
a user management and session controller interface 164 to a user
management and session controller. The user management and session
controller interface 164 provides for communication of data between
the application controller 112 and the user management and session
controller, including but not limited to user session control data
154 and user session telemetry data 152.
[0073] The application controller 112 includes a business rule
decision engine 122 that receives telemetry data, such as
application telemetry data 124 and sensor telemetry data 128, from
the interactive controller 120. The business rule decision engine
122 uses the telemetry data, along with trigger logic 126 to
generate wager data 129 used to trigger a wager in the wager
controller 102.
[0074] In some embodiments, the application telemetry data 124
includes, but is not limited to, application environment variables
that indicate the state of the interactive application 143 being
used by a user 140, interactive controller data indicating the
state of the interactive controller, and user actions and
interactions 142 between the user and the interactive application
143 provided by the interactive controller 120. The wagering and/or
wager data 129 may include, but is not limited to, an amount and
type of the wager, a trigger of the wager, and a selection of a
paytable 108 to be used when executing the wager.
[0075] In some embodiments, the business rule decision engine 122
also receives wager outcome data 130 from the wager controller 102.
The decision engine 122 uses the wager outcome data 130, in
conjunction with the telemetry data and application logic 132 to
generate application decisions 134 communicated to an application
resource generator 138. The application resource generator 138
receives the application decisions and uses the application
decisions to generate application instructions and application
resources 136 to be communicated to the interactive application
143.
[0076] In many embodiments, the application controller 112 includes
a pseudo random or random result generator used to generate random
results that are communicated to the application resource generator
138. The application resource generator 138 uses the random results
to generate application instructions and application resources 136
to be communicated to the interactive application 143.
[0077] In various embodiments, the business rule decision engine
122 also determines an amount of AC to award to the user 140 based
at least in part on the user's use of the interactive application
of the side pool interleaved wagering system as determined from the
application telemetry data 124. In some embodiments, wager outcome
data 130 may also be used to determine the amount of AC that should
be awarded to the user.
[0078] In numerous embodiments, the interactive application is a
skill-based interactive game and the AC is awarded to the user for
the user's skillful play of the skill-based interactive game.
[0079] In some embodiments, the application decisions 134 and wager
outcome data 130 are communicated to a wagering user interface
generator 144. The wagering user interface generator 144 receives
the application decisions 134 and wager outcome data 130 and
generates wager telemetry data 146 describing the state of wagering
and credit accumulation and loss for the side pool interleaved
wagering system. In some embodiments, the wager telemetry data 146
may include, but is not limited to, amounts of AC and elements
earned, lost or accumulated by the user through use of the
interactive application as determined from the application
decisions, and Cr amounts won, lost or accumulated as determined
from the wager outcome data 130 and the one or more meters 110.
[0080] In some embodiments, the wager outcome data 130 also
includes data about one or more game states of a gambling game
executed in accordance with a wagering proposition by the wager
controller 102. In various such embodiments, the wagering user
interface generator 144 generates a gambling game process display
and/or gambling game state display using the one or more game
states of the gambling game. The gambling game process display
and/or gambling game state display is included in the wager
telemetry data 146 that is communicated to the interactive
controller 120. The gambling game process display and/or a gambling
game state display is displayed by the wagering user interface 148
to the user 140. In other such embodiments, the one or more game
states of the gambling game are communicated to the interactive
controller 120 and the wagering user interface 148 generates the
gambling game process display and/or gambling game state display
using the one or more game states of the gambling game for display
to the user 140.
[0081] The application controller 112 can further operatively
connect to the wager controller 102 to determine an amount of
credit or elements available and other wagering metrics of a
wagering proposition. Thus, the application controller 112 may
potentially affect an amount of Cr in play for participation in the
wagering events of a wagering game provided by the wager controller
102 in some embodiments. The application controller 112 may
additionally include various audit logs and activity meters. In
some embodiments, the application controller 112 can also couple to
a centralized server for exchanging various data related to the
user and the activities of the user during game play of a side pool
interleaved wagering system.
[0082] In many embodiments, one or more users can be engaged in
using the interactive application executed by the interactive
controller 120. In various embodiments, a side pool interleaved
wagering system can include an interactive application that
provides a skill-based interactive game that includes head-to-head
play between a single user and a computing device, between two or
more users against one another, or multiple users playing against a
computer device and/or each other. In some embodiments, the
interactive application can be a skill-based interactive game where
the user is not skillfully playing against the computer or any
other user such as skill-based interactive games where the user is
effectively skillfully playing against himself or herself.
[0083] In some embodiments, the operation of the application
controller 112 does not affect the provision of a wagering
proposition by the wager controller 102 except for user choice
parameters that are allowable in accordance with the wagering
proposition. Examples of user choice parameters include, but are
not limited to: wager terms such as but not limited to a wager
amount; speed of game play (for example, by pressing a button or
pulling a handle of a slot machine); and/or agreement to wager into
a bonus round.
[0084] In various embodiments, wager outcome data 130 communicated
from the wager controller 102 can also be used to convey a status
operation of the wager controller 102.
[0085] In a number of embodiments, communication of the wager data
129 between the wager controller 102 and the application controller
112 can further be used to communicate various wagering control
factors that the wager controller 102 uses as input. Examples of
wagering control factors include, but are not limited to, an amount
of Cr, AC, elements, or objects consumed per wagering event, and/or
the user's election to enter a jackpot round.
[0086] In some embodiments, the application controller 112 utilizes
the wagering user interface 148 to communicate certain interactive
application data to the user, including but not limited to, club
points, user status, control of the selection of choices, and
messages which a user can find useful in order to adjust the
interactive application experience or understand the wagering
status of the user in accordance with the wagering proposition in
the wager controller 102.
[0087] In some embodiments, the application controller 112 utilizes
the wagering user interface 148 to communicate aspects of a
wagering proposition to the user including, but not limited to,
odds of certain wager outcomes, amount of Cr, AC, elements, or
objects in play, and amounts of Cr, AC, elements, or objects
available.
[0088] In a number of embodiments, the wager controller 102 can
accept wager proposition factors including, but not limited to,
modifications in the amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects wagered
on each individual wagering event, a number of wagering events per
minute the wager controller 102 can resolve, entrance into a bonus
round, and other factors. An example of a varying wager amount that
the user can choose can include, but is not limited to, using a
more difficult interactive application level associated with an
amount of a wager. These factors can increase or decrease an amount
wagered per individual wagering proposition in the same manner that
a standard slot machine player can decide to wager more or less
credits for each pull of the handle. In several embodiments, the
wager controller 102 can communicate a number of factors back and
forth to the application controller 112, via an interface, such
that an increase/decrease in a wagered amount can be related to the
change in user profile of the user in the interactive application.
In this manner, a user can control a wager amount per wagering
event in accordance with the wagering proposition with the change
mapping to a parameter or component that is applicable to the
interactive application experience.
[0089] In some embodiments, a user management and session
controller 150 is used to authorize a side pool interleaved
wagering system user session. The user management and session
controller receives game user session data 152, that may include,
but is not limited to, user, interactive controller, application
controller and wager controller data from the application
controller 112. The user management and session controller 150 uses
the user, interactive controller, application controller and wager
controller data to regulate a side pool interleaved wagering system
user session. In some embodiments, the user management and session
controller may also assert control of a side pool interleaved
wagering system game user session 154. Such control may include,
but is not limited to, ending a side pool interleaved wagering
system game user session, initiating wagering in a side pool
interleaved wagering system game user session, ending wagering in a
side pool interleaved wagering system game user session but not
ending a user's play of the interactive application portion of the
side pool interleaved wagering system game, and changing from real
credit wagering in a side pool interleaved wagering system to
virtual credit wagering, or vice versa.
[0090] In various embodiments, the application controller operates
as an interface between the interactive controller and the wager
controller. By virtue of this construction, the wager controller is
isolated from the interactive controller allowing the interactive
controller to operate in an unregulated environment will allowing
the wager controller to operate in a regulated environment.
[0091] In some embodiments, a single wager controller may provide
services to two or more interactive controllers and/or two or more
application controllers, thus allowing a side pool interleaved
wagering system to operate over a large range of scaling.
[0092] In various embodiments, multiple types of interactive
controllers using different operating systems may be interfaced to
a single type of application controller and/or wager controller
without requiring customization of the application controller
and/or the wager controller.
[0093] In many embodiments, an interactive controller may be
provided as a user device under control of a user while maintaining
the wager controller in an environment under the control of a
regulated operator of wagering equipment.
[0094] In several embodiments, data communicated between the
controllers may be encrypted to increase security of the side pool
interleaved wagering system.
[0095] In some embodiments, the application controller isolates
trigger logic and application logic as unregulated logic from a
regulated wager controller, thus allowing errors in the application
logic and/or trigger logic to be corrected, new application logic
and/or trigger logic to be used, or modifications to be made to the
application logic and/or trigger logic without a need for
regulatory approval.
Side Pool Interleaved Wagering System Controllers
[0096] FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are illustrations of interactive
controllers of a side pool interleaved wagering system in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention. An
interactive controller, such as interactive controller 120 of FIG.
1, may be constructed from or configured using one or more
processing devices configured to perform the operations of the
interactive controller. An interactive controller may be
constructed from or configured using an electronic gaming machine
200 as shown in FIG. 2A. The electronic gaming machine 200 may be
physically located in various types of gaming establishments. An
interactive controller may be constructed from or configured using
a portable device 202 as shown in FIG. 2B. The portable device 202
is a device that may wirelessly connect to a network. Examples of
portable devices include, but are not limited to, a tablet
computer, a personal digital assistant, and a smartphone. An
interactive controller may be constructed from or configured using
a gaming console 204 as shown in FIG. 2C. An interactive controller
may be constructed from or configured using a personal computer 206
as shown in FIG. 2D. Indeed, an interactive controller in a side
pool interleaved wagering system may be constructed from or
configured using any processing device including sufficient
processing and communication capabilities that may be configured to
perform the processes of an interactive controller in accordance
with various embodiments of the invention.
[0097] Some side pool interleaved wagering systems in accordance
with many embodiments of the invention can operate with their
components being network connected or can communicate with other
side pool interleaved wagering systems. In many embodiments,
operations associated with components of a side pool interleaved
wagering system can be performed on a single device or across
multiple devices. These multiple devices can be constructed from or
configured using a single server or a plurality of servers such
that a side pool interleaved wagering system is executed as a
system in a virtualized space such as, but not limited to, where a
wager controller and an application controller are large scale
centralized servers in the cloud operatively connected to widely
distributed interactive controllers via a wide area network such as
the Internet or a local area network. In such embodiments, the
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system may
communicate using a networking protocol or other type of
device-to-device communications protocol.
[0098] In many embodiments, a centralized wager controller is
operatively connected to, and communicates with, one or more
application controllers via a network. The centralized wager
controller can generate wager outcomes for wagers in accordance
with one or more wagering propositions. The centralized wager
controller can execute a number of simultaneous or
pseudo-simultaneous wagers in order to generate wager outcomes for
a variety of wagering propositions that one or more networked side
pool interleaved wagering systems can use.
[0099] In several embodiments, a centralized application controller
is operatively connected to one or more interactive controllers and
one or more wager controllers via a network. The centralized
application controller can perform the functionality of an
application controller across various side pool interleaved
wagering systems.
[0100] In a variety of embodiments, management of user profile data
can be performed by a user management and session controller
operatively connected to, and communicating with, one or more
application controllers, wager controllers and interactive
controllers via a network. A user management and session controller
can manage data related to a user profile. The managed data in the
user profile may include, but is not limited to, data concerning
controlled entities (characters) in interactive application use,
user performance metrics for a type or class of interactive
application, interactive application elements acquired by a user;
Cr and AC associated with a particular user, and tournament
reservations.
[0101] Although a user management and session controller is
discussed as being separate from an application controller server,
a centralized application controller server may also perform the
functions of a user management and session controller in some
embodiments.
[0102] In a number of embodiments, an application controller of a
side pool interleaved wagering system can communicate data to a
user management and session controller. The data communicated by
the application controller to the user management and session
controller may include, but is not limited to, AC and Cr used in an
interactive application; user profile data; user interaction
activity; profile data for users; synchronization data between a
wager controller and an interactive application; and data about
other aspects of a side pool interleaved wagering system. In
several embodiments, a user management and session controller can
communicate user data to an application controller of a side pool
interleaved wagering system. The user data may include, but is not
limited to, interactive application title and type; tournament
data; special offers; character or profile setup and
synchronization data between a wagering game and an interactive
application; and data about any other aspect of a side pool
interleaved wagering system.
[0103] In numerous embodiments, an interactive application server
provides a host for managing head-to-head play operating over a
network of interactive controllers connected to the interactive
application server via a network. The interactive application
server provides an environment where users can compete directly
with one another and interact with other users.
[0104] Processing devices connected via a network to construct side
pool interleaved wagering systems in accordance with many
embodiments of the invention can communicate with each other to
provide services utilized by a side pool interleaved wagering
system. In several embodiments, a wager controller can communicate
with an application controller over a network. In some embodiments,
the wager controller can communicate with an application controller
to communicate any type of data as appropriate for a specific
application. Examples of the data that may be communicated include,
but are not limited to, data used to configure the various
simultaneous or pseudo simultaneous wager controllers executing in
parallel within the wager controller to accomplish side pool
interleaved wagering system functionalities; data used to determine
metrics of wager controller performance such as wagers run and/or
wager outcomes for tracking system performance; data used to
perform audits and/or provide operator reports; and data used to
request the results of a wager outcome for use in one or more
function(s) operating within the application controller such as,
but not limited to, automatic drawings for prizes that are a
function of interactive controller performance.
[0105] In several embodiments, an application controller can
communicate with an interactive application server via a network
when the interactive application server is also communicating with
one or more interactive controllers over a network. An application
controller can communicate with an interactive application server
to communicate any type of data as appropriate for a specific
application. The data that may be communicated between an
application controller and an interactive application server
includes, but is not limited to, the data for management of an
interactive application server by an application controller server
during a side pool interleaved wagering system tournament. In an
example embodiment, an application controller may not be aware of
the relationship of the application controller to the rest of a
tournament since the actual tournament play may be managed by the
interactive application server. Therefore, management of a side
pool interleaved wagering system can include, but is not limited to
tasks including, but not limited to, conducting tournaments
according to system programming that can be coordinated by an
operator of the side pool interleaved wagering system; allowing
entry of a particular user into a tournament; communicating the
number of users in a tournament; and the status of the tournament
(such as, but not limited to the amount of surviving users, the
status of each surviving user within the game, and time remaining
on the tournament); communicating the performance of users within
the tournament; communicating the scores of the various users in
the tournament; and providing a synchronizing link to connect the
application controllers in a tournament with their respective
interactive controllers.
[0106] In several embodiments, an application controller can
communicate with a user management and session controller via a
network. An application controller can communicate with a user
management and session controller to communicate any type of data
as appropriate for a specific application. Examples of data
communicated between an application controller and a user
management and session controller include, but are not limited to,
data for configuring tournaments according to system programming
conducted by an operator of a side pool interleaved wagering
system; data for exchange of data used to link a user's user
profile to an ability to participate in various forms of side pool
interleaved wagering system use (such as but not limited to the
difficulty of play set by the application controller server for an
interactive application that is a skill-based interactive game);
data for determining a user's ability to participate in a
tournament as a function of a user's characteristics (such as but
not limited to a user's prowess or other metrics used for
tournament screening); data for configuring application controller
and interactive controller performance to suit preferences of a
user on a particular side pool interleaved wagering system; and
data for determining a user's use and wagering performance for the
purposes of marketing intelligence; and data for logging secondary
drawing awards, tournament prizes, Cr and/or AC into the user
profile.
[0107] In many embodiments, the actual location of where various
process are executed can be located either on a single device
(wager controller, application controller, interactive controller),
on servers (wager controller, application controller, or
interactive application server), or a combination of both devices
and servers. In a number of embodiments, certain functions of a
wager controller, application controller, user management and
session controller and/or interactive application server can
operate on a local wager controller, application controller and/or
interactive controller used to construct a side pool interleaved
wagering system being provided locally on a device. In some
embodiments, a controller or server can be part of a server system
including multiple servers, where applications can be run on one or
more physical devices. Similarly, in particular embodiments,
multiple servers can be combined on a single physical device.
[0108] Some side pool interleaved wagering systems in accordance
with many embodiments of the invention can be distributed across a
network in various configurations. FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are network
diagrams of networked side pool interleaved wagering systems in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention. Turning now
to FIG. 3A, one or more interactive controllers of a networked side
pool interleaved wagering system, such as but not limited to, a
mobile or wireless device 300, a gaming console 302, a personal
computer 304, and an electronic gaming machine 305, are operatively
connected with a wager controller 306 of a networked side pool
interleaved wagering system over a network 308. Network 308 is
communications network that allows processing systems communicate
with each other and to share data. Examples of the network 308 can
include, but are not limited to, a Local Area Network (LAN) and a
Wide Area Network (WAN). In some embodiments, one or more processes
of an interactive controller and an application controller as
described herein are executed on the individual interactive
controllers 300, 302, 304 and 305 while one or more processes of a
wager controller as described herein can be executed by the wager
controller 306.
[0109] A networked side pool interleaved wagering system in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention is illustrated
in FIG. 3B. As illustrated, one or more interactive controllers of
a networked side pool interleaved wagering system, such as but not
limited to, a mobile or wireless device 310, a gaming console 312,
a personal computer 314, and an electronic gaming machine 315, are
operatively connected with a wager controller server 316 and an
application controller 318 over a network 320. Network 320 is a
communications network that allows processing systems to
communicate and share data. Examples of the network 320 can
include, but are not limited to, a Local Area Network (LAN) and a
Wide Area Network (WAN). In some embodiments, the processes of an
interactive controller as described herein are executed on the
individual interactive controllers 310, 312, 314 and 315. One or
more processes of a wager controller as described herein are
executed by the wager controller 316, and one or more processes of
an application controller as described herein are executed by the
application controller 318.
[0110] A networked side pool interleaved wagering systems in
accordance with still another embodiment of the invention is
illustrated in FIG. 3C. As illustrated, one or more interactive
controllers of a networked side pool interleaved wagering system,
such as but not limited to, a mobile device 342, a gaming console
344, a personal computer 346, and an electronic gaming machine 340
are operatively connected with a wager controller 348 and an
application controller 350, and an interactive application server
352 over a network 354. Network 354 is a communications network
that allows processing systems communicate and to share data.
Examples of the network 354 can include, but are not limited to, a
Local Area Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN). In some
embodiments, one or more processes of a display and user interface
of an interactive controller as described herein are executed on
the individual interactive controllers 340, 342, 344 and 346. One
or more processes of a wager controller as described herein can be
executed by the wager controller server 348. One or more processes
of an application controller as described herein can be executed by
the application controller server 350 and one or more processes of
an interactive controller excluding the display and user interfaces
can be executed by the interactive application server 352.
[0111] In various embodiments, a user management and session
controller may be operatively connected to components of a side
pool interleaved wagering system via a network. In other
embodiments, a number of other peripheral systems, such as a user
management system, a gaming establishment management system, a
regulatory system, and/or hosting servers are also operatively
connected with the side pool interleaved wagering systems over a
network. Also, other servers can reside outside the bounds of a
network within a firewall of the operator to provide additional
services for network connected side pool interleaved wagering
systems.
[0112] Although various networked side pool interleaved wagering
systems are described herein, side pool interleaved wagering
systems can be networked in any configuration as appropriate to the
specification of a specific application in accordance with
embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, components of a
networked side pool interleaved wagering system, such as an
application controller, wager controller, interactive controller,
or other servers that perform services for an application
controller, wager controller and/or interactive controller, can be
networked in different configurations for a specific networked side
pool interleaved wagering system application.
[0113] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a structure of an
interactive controller of a side pool interleaved wagering system
in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. An
interactive controller may be constructed from or configured using
one or more processing devices configured to perform the operations
of the interactive controller. In many embodiments, an interactive
controller can be constructed from or configured using various
types of processing devices including, but not limited to, a mobile
device such as a smartphone or the like, a personal digital
assistant, a wireless device such as a tablet computer or the like,
an electronic gaming machine, a personal computer, a gaming
console, a set-top box, a computing device, a controller, or the
like.
[0114] Referring now to FIG. 4A, an interactive controller 400,
suitable for use as interactive controller 120 of FIG. 1, provides
an execution environment for an interactive application 402 of a
side pool interleaved wagering system. In several embodiments, an
interactive controller 400 of a side pool interleaved wagering
system provides an interactive application 402 that generates an
application user interface 404 for interaction with by a user. The
interactive application 402 generates a user presentation 406 that
is presented to the user through the application user interface
404. The user presentation 406 may include audio features, visual
features or tactile features, or any combination of these features.
The application user interface 404 further includes one or more
human input devices (HIDs) interfaces that communicate with one or
more HIDs (e.g., the input devices 514 of FIG. 4b) that the user
can use to interact with the side pool interleaved wagering system.
The user's interactions 408 are included by the interactive
application 402 in application telemetry data 410 that is
communicated by interactive controller 400 to various other
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system as described
herein. The interactive application 402 receives application
instructions and resources 412 communicated from various other
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system as described
herein.
[0115] In some embodiments, various components of the interactive
application 402 can read data from an application state 414 in
order to provide one or more features of the interactive
application. In various embodiments, components of the interactive
application 402 can include, but are not limited to, a physics
engine, a rules engine, and/or a graphics engine. The physics
engine is used to simulate physical interactions between virtual
objects in the interactive application 402. The rules engine
implements the rules of the interactive application and a P/RNG
that may be used for influencing or determining certain variables
and/or outcomes to provide a randomizing influence on the
operations of the interactive application. The graphics engine is
used to generate a visual representation of the interactive
application state to the user. Furthermore, the components may also
include an audio engine to generate audio outputs for the user
interface.
[0116] During operation, the interactive application reads and
writes application resources 416 stored on a data store of the
interactive controller host. The application resources 416 may
include objects having graphics and/or control logic used to
provide application environment objects of the interactive
application. In various embodiments, the resources may also
include, but are not limited to, video files that are used to
generate a portion of the user presentation 406; audio files used
to generate music, sound effects, etc. within the interactive
application; configuration files used to configure the features of
the interactive application; scripts or other types of control code
used to provide various features of the interactive application;
and graphics resources such as textures, objects, etc. that are
used by a graphics engine to render objects displayed in an
interactive application.
[0117] In operation, components of the interactive application 402
read portions of the application state 414 and generate the user
presentation 406 for the user that is presented to the user using
the user interface 404. The user perceives the user presentation
and provides user interactions 408 using the HIDs. The
corresponding user interactions are received as user actions or
inputs by various components of the interactive application 402.
The interactive application 402 translates the user actions into
interactions with the virtual objects of the application
environment stored in the application state 414. Components of the
interactive application use the user interactions with the virtual
objects of the interactive application and the interactive
application state 414 to update the application state 414 and
update the user presentation 406 presented to the user. The process
loops continuously while the user interacts with the interactive
application of the side pool interleaved wagering system.
[0118] The interactive controller 400 provides one or more
interfaces 418 between the interactive controller 400 and other
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system, such as, but
not limited to, an application controller. The interactive
controller 400 and the other side pool interleaved wagering system
components communicate with each other using the interfaces. The
interface may be used to pass various types of data, and to
communicate and receive messages, status data, commands and the
like. In certain embodiments, the interactive controller 400 and an
application controller communicate application instructions and
environment resources 412 and application telemetry data 410. In
some embodiments, the communications include requests by the
application controller that the interactive controller 400 update
the application state 414 using data provided by the application
controller.
[0119] In many embodiments, a communication by an application
controller includes a request that the interactive controller 400
update one or more resources 416 using data provided by the
application controller. In a number of embodiments, the interactive
controller 400 provides all or a portion of the application state
to the application controller. In some embodiments, the interactive
controller 400 may also provide data about one or more of the
application resources 416 to the application controller. In some
embodiments, the communication includes user interactions that the
interactive controller 400 communicates to the application
controller. The user interactions may be low level user
interactions with the user interface 404, such as manipulation of a
HID, or may be high level interactions with game objects as
determined by the interactive application. The user interactions
may also include resultant actions such as modifications to the
application state 414 or game resources 416 resulting from the
user's interactions taken in the side pool interleaved wagering
system interactive application. In some embodiments, user
interactions include, but are not limited to, actions taken by
entities such as non-player characters (NPC) of the interactive
application that act on behalf of or under the control of the
user.
[0120] In some embodiments, the interactive controller 400 includes
a wagering user interface 420 used to communicate side pool
interleaved wagering system telemetry data 422 to and from the
user. The side pool interleaved wagering system telemetry data 422
from the side pool interleaved wagering system include, but are not
limited to, data used by the user to configure Cr, AC and element
wagers, and data about the wagering game Cr, AC and element wagers
such as, but not limited to, Cr, AC and element balances and Cr, AC
and element amounts wagered.
[0121] In some embodiments, the interactive controller includes one
or more sensors 424. Such sensors may include, but are not limited
to, physiological sensors that monitor the physiology of the user,
environmental sensors that monitor the physical environment of the
interactive controller, accelerometers that monitor changes in
motion of the interactive controller, and location sensors that
monitor the location of the interactive controller such as global
positioning sensors (GPSs). The interactive controller 400
communicates sensor telemetry data 426 to one or more components of
the side pool interleaved wagering system.
[0122] Referring now to FIG. 4B, interactive controller 400
includes a bus 502 that provides an interface for one or more
processors 504, random access memory (RAM) 506, read only memory
(ROM) 508, machine-readable storage medium 510, one or more user
output devices 512, one or more user input devices 514, and one or
more communication interface devices 516.
[0123] The one or more processors 504 may take many forms, such as,
but not limited to: a central processing unit (CPU); a
multi-processor unit (MPU); an ARM processor; a controller; a
programmable logic device; or the like.
[0124] In the example embodiment, the one or more processors 504
and the random access memory (RAM) 506 form an interactive
controller processing unit 599. In some embodiments, the
interactive controller processing unit includes one or more
processors operatively connected to one or more of a RAM, ROM, and
machine-readable storage medium; the one or more processors of the
interactive controller processing unit receive instructions stored
by the one or more of a RAM, ROM, and machine-readable storage
medium via a bus; and the one or more processors execute the
received instructions. In some embodiments, the interactive
controller processing unit is an ASIC (Application-Specific
Integrated Circuit). In some embodiments, the interactive
controller processing unit is a SoC (System-on-Chip).
[0125] Examples of output devices 512 include, but are not limited
to, display screens; light panels; and/or lighted displays. In
accordance with particular embodiments, the one or more processors
504 are operatively connected to audio output devices such as, but
not limited to: speakers; and/or sound amplifiers. In accordance
with many of these embodiments, the one or more processors 504 are
operatively connected to tactile output devices like vibrators,
and/or manipulators.
[0126] Examples of user input devices 514 include, but are not
limited to: tactile devices including but not limited to,
keyboards, keypads, foot pads, touch screens, and/or trackballs;
non-contact devices such as audio input devices; motion sensors and
motion capture devices that the interactive controller can use to
receive inputs from a user when the user interacts with the
interactive controller; physiological sensors that monitor the
physiology of the user; environmental sensors that monitor the
physical environment of the interactive controller; accelerometers
that monitor changes in motion of the interactive controller; and
location sensors that monitor the location of the interactive
controller such as global positioning sensors.
[0127] The one or more communication interface devices 516 provide
one or more wired or wireless interfaces for communicating data and
commands between the interactive controller 400 and other devices
that may be included in a side pool interleaved wagering system.
Such wired and wireless interfaces include, but are not limited to:
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface; a Bluetooth interface; a
Wi-Fi interface; an Ethernet interface; a Near Field Communication
(NFC) interface; a plain old telephone system (POTS) interface, a
cellular or satellite telephone network interface; and the
like.
[0128] The machine-readable storage medium 510 stores
machine-executable instructions for various components of the
interactive controller, such as but not limited to: an operating
system 518; one or more device drivers 522; one or more application
programs 520 including but not limited to an interactive
application; and side pool interleaved wagering system interactive
controller instructions 524 for use by the one or more processors
504 to provide the features of an interactive controller as
described herein. In some embodiments, the machine-executable
instructions further include application control layer/application
control interface instructions 526 for use by the one or more
processors 504 to provide the features of an application control
layer/application control interface as described herein.
[0129] In various embodiments, the machine-readable storage medium
510 is one of a (or a combination of two or more of) a hard drive,
a flash drive, a DVD, a CD, a flash storage, a solid state drive, a
ROM, an EEPROM, and the like.
[0130] In operation, the machine-executable instructions are loaded
into memory 506 from the machine-readable storage medium 510, the
ROM 508 or any other storage location. The respective
machine-executable instructions are accessed by the one or more
processors 504 via the bus 502, and then executed by the one or
more processors 504. Data used by the one or more processors 504
are also stored in memory 506, and the one or more processors 504
access such data during execution of the machine-executable
instructions. Execution of the machine-executable instructions
causes the one or more processors 504 to control the interactive
controller 400 to provide the features of a side pool interleaved
wagering system interactive controller as described herein
[0131] Although the interactive controller is described herein as
being constructed from or configured using one or more processors
and instructions stored and executed by hardware components, the
interactive controller can be constructed from or configured using
only hardware components in accordance with other embodiments. In
addition, although the storage medium 510 is described as being
operatively connected to the one or more processors through a bus,
those skilled in the art of interactive controllers will understand
that the storage medium can include removable media such as, but
not limited to, a USB memory device, an optical CD ROM, magnetic
media such as tape and disks. In some embodiments, the storage
medium 510 can be accessed by the one or more processors 504
through one of the communication interface devices 516 or over a
network. Furthermore, any of the user input devices or user output
devices can be operatively connected to the one or more processors
504 via one of the communication interface devices 516 or over a
network.
[0132] In some embodiments, the interactive controller 400 can be
distributed across a plurality of different devices. In many such
embodiments, an interactive controller of a side pool interleaved
wagering system includes an interactive application server
operatively connected to an interactive client over a network. The
interactive application server and interactive application client
cooperate to provide the features of an interactive controller as
described herein.
[0133] In various embodiments, the interactive controller 400 may
be used to construct other components of a side pool interleaved
wagering system as described herein.
[0134] In some embodiments, components of an interactive controller
and an application controller of a side pool wagering interleaved
system may be constructed from or configured using a single device
using processes that communicate using an interprocess
communication protocol. In other such embodiments, the components
of an interactive controller and an application controller of a
side pool wagering interleaved system may communicate by passing
messages, parameters or the like.
[0135] In some embodiments, components of an interactive
controller, an application controller and a wager controller of a
side pool wagering interleaved system may be constructed from or
configured using a single device using processes that communicate
using an interprocess communication protocol. In other such
embodiments, the components of an interactive controller, an
application controller and a wager controller of a side pool
wagering interleaved system may communicate by passing messages,
parameters or the like.
[0136] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a structure of a wager
controller of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with various embodiments of the invention. A wager controller may
be constructed from or configured using one or more processing
devices configured to perform the operations of the wager
controller. In many embodiments, a wager controller can be
constructed from or configured using various types of processing
devices including, but not limited to, a mobile device such as a
smartphone or the like, a personal digital assistant, a wireless
device such as a tablet computer or the like, an electronic gaming
machine, a personal computer, a gaming console, a set-top box, a
computing device, a controller, or the like.
[0137] Referring now to FIG. 5A, in various embodiments, a wager
controller 604, suitable for use as wager controller 102 of FIG. 1,
includes a pseudorandom or random number generator (P/RNG) 620 to
produce random results or pseudo random results; one or more
paytables 623 which includes a plurality of factors indexed by the
random result to be multiplied with an amount of Cr, AC, elements,
or objects committed in a wager; and a wagering control module 622
whose processes may include, but are not limited to, generating
random results, looking up factors in the paytables, multiplying
the factors by an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects wagered,
and administering one or more Cr, AC, element, or object meters
626. The various wager controller components can interface with
each other via an internal bus 625 and/or other appropriate
communication mechanism.
[0138] An interface 628 allows the wager controller 604 to
operatively connect to an external device, such as one or more
application controllers as described herein. The interface 628
provides for receiving of wager data 629 from the external device
that is used to specify wager parameters and/or trigger execution
of a wager by the wager controller 604. The interface 628 may also
provide for communicating wager outcome data 631 to an external
device. In numerous embodiments, the interface between the wager
controller 604 and other systems/devices may be a wide area network
(WAN) such as the Internet. However, other methods of communication
may be used including, but not limited to, a local area network
(LAN), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and/or some other
method by which two electronic devices could communicate with each
other.
[0139] In various embodiments, a wager controller 604 may use a
P/RNG provided by an external system. The external system may be
connected to the wager controller 604 by a suitable communication
network such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network
(WAN). In some embodiments, the external P/RNG is a central
deterministic system that provides random or pseudo random results
to one or more connected wager controllers.
[0140] During operation of the wager controller, the external
system communicates wager data 629 to the wager controller 604. The
wager controller 604 receives the wager data and uses the wager
data to trigger execution of a wager in accordance with a wagering
proposition. The wager controller 604 executes the wager and
determines a wager outcome for the wager. The wager controller
communicates wager outcome data 631 of the wager outcome to the
external system.
[0141] In some embodiments, the wager controller uses the wager
data to select a paytable 628 to use and/or an amount of Cr, AC,
elements, or objects to wager.
[0142] In some embodiments, the wager outcome data may include, but
is not limited to, an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects won in
the wager.
[0143] In various embodiments, the wager outcome data may include,
but is not limited to, an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects in
the one or more meters 626.
[0144] In some embodiments, the wager outcome data includes state
data for the wagering proposition of the executed wager. The state
data may correspond to one or more game states of a gambling game
that is associated with the wagering proposition. Examples of state
data include, but are not limited to, reel strips in an operation
state or a final state for a reel-based gambling game, one or more
dice positions for a dice-based gambling game, positions of a
roulette wheel and roulette ball, position of a wheel of fortune,
or the like.
[0145] In various embodiments, the wagering control module 622
determines an amount of a wager and a paytable to use from the one
or more paytables 623. In such embodiments, in response to the
wager data triggering execution of the wager, the wager control
module 622 executes the wager by requesting a P/RNG result from the
P/RNG 620; retrieving a paytable from the one or more paytables
623; adjusting the one or more credit meters 626 for an amount of
the wager; applying the P/RNG result to the retrieved paytable;
multiplying the resultant factor from the paytable by an amount
wagered to determine a wager outcome; updating the one or more
meters 626 based on the wager outcome; and communicating the wager
outcome to the external device.
[0146] In various embodiments, an external system communicates a
request for a P/RNG result from the wager controller 604. In
response, the wager controller 604 returns a P/RNG result as a
function of an internal P/RNG or a P/RNG external to the external
system to which the wager controller 604 is operatively
connected.
[0147] In some embodiments, a communication exchange between the
wager controller 604 and an external system relate to the external
system support for coupling a P/RNG result to a particular paytable
contained in the wager controller 604. In such an exchange, the
external system communicates to the wager controller 604 as to
which of the one or more paytables 623 to use, and requests a
result whereby the P/RNG result would be associated with the
requested paytable 623. The result of the coupling is returned to
the external system. In such an exchange, no actual Cr, AC,
element, or object wager is conducted, but might be useful in
coupling certain non-value wagering interactive application
behaviors and propositions to the same final resultant wagering
return which is understood for the side pool interleaved wagering
system to conduct wagering.
[0148] In some embodiments, the wager controller 604 may also
include storage for statuses, wagers, wager outcomes, meters and
other historical events in a storage device 616.
[0149] In some embodiments, an authorization access module provides
a process to permit access and command exchange with the wager
controller 604 and access to the one or more credit meters 626 for
the amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects being wagered by the
user in the side pool interleaved wagering system.
[0150] In numerous embodiments, communication occurs between
various types of a wager controller and an external system 630,
such as application controller. In some of these embodiments, the
purpose of the wager controller is to allocate wagers to pools,
detect occurrences of one or more events upon which the wagers were
made, and determine the wager outcomes for each individual wager
based on the number of winning wagers and the amount paid into the
pool.
[0151] In some embodiments, the wager controller manages accounts
for individual users wherein the users make deposits into the
accounts, amounts are deducted from the accounts, and amounts are
credited to the users' accounts based on the wager outcomes.
[0152] In some embodiments a wager controller is a pari-mutuel
wagering system such as used for wagering on an events such as
horse races, greyhound races, sporting events and the like. In a
pari-mutuel wagering system, user's wagers on the outcome of an
event are allocated to a pool. When the event occurs, wager
outcomes are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning
wagers.
[0153] In various embodiments, a wager controller is a central
determination system, such as but not limited to a central
determination system for a Class II wagering system or a wagering
system in support of a "scratch off" style lottery. In such a
wagering system, a player plays against other players and competes
for a common prize. In a given set of wager outcomes, there are a
certain number of wins and losses. Once a certain wager outcome has
been determined, the same wager outcome cannot occur again until a
new set of wager outcomes is generated.
[0154] In numerous embodiments, communication occurs between
various components of a wager controller 604 and an external
system, such as an application controller. In some of these
embodiments, the purpose of the wager controller 604 is to manage
wagering on wagering events and to provide random (or pseudo
random) results from a P/RNG.
[0155] Referring now to FIG. 5B, wager controller 604 includes a
bus 732 that provides an interface for one or more processors 734,
random access memory (RAM) 736, read only memory (ROM) 738,
machine-readable storage medium 740, one or more user output
devices 742, one or more user input devices 744, and one or more
communication interface and/or network interface devices 746.
[0156] The one or more processors 734 may take many forms, such as,
but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a
multi-processor unit (MPU), an ARM processor, a controller, a
programmable logic device, or the like.
[0157] In the example embodiment, the one or more processors 734
and the random access memory (RAM) 736 form a wager controller
processing unit 799. In some embodiments, the wager controller
processing unit includes one or more processors operatively
connected to one or more of a RAM, ROM, and machine-readable
storage medium; the one or more processors of the wager controller
processing unit receive instructions stored by the one or more of a
RAM, ROM, and machine-readable storage medium via a bus; and the
one or more processors execute the received instructions. In some
embodiments, the wager controller processing unit is an ASIC
(Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). In some embodiments, the
wager controller processing unit is a SoC (System-on-Chip).
[0158] Examples of output devices 742 include, but are not limited
to, display screens, light panels, and/or lighted displays. In
accordance with particular embodiments, the one or more processors
734 are operatively connected to audio output devices such as, but
not limited to speakers, and/or sound amplifiers. In accordance
with many of these embodiments, the one or more processors 734 are
operatively connected to tactile output devices like vibrators,
and/or manipulators.
[0159] Examples of user input devices 734 include, but are not
limited to, tactile devices including but not limited to,
keyboards, keypads, touch screens, and/or trackballs; non-contact
devices such as audio input devices; motion sensors and motion
capture devices that the wager controller can use to receive inputs
from a user when the user interacts with the wager controller
604.
[0160] The one or more communication interface and/or network
interface devices 746 provide one or more wired or wireless
interfaces for exchanging data and commands between the wager
controller 604 and other devices that may be included in a side
pool interleaved wagering system. Such wired and wireless
interfaces include, but are not limited to: a Universal Serial Bus
(USB) interface; a Bluetooth interface; a Wi-Fi interface; an
Ethernet interface; a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface; a
plain old telephone system (POTS) interface; a cellular or
satellite telephone network interface; and the like.
[0161] The machine-readable storage medium 740 stores
machine-executable instructions for various components of a wager
controller, such as but not limited to: an operating system 748;
one or more application programs 750; one or more device drivers
752; and side pool interleaved wagering system wager controller
instructions 754 for use by the one or more processors 734 to
provide the features of a side pool interleaved wagering system
wager controller as described herein.
[0162] In various embodiments, the machine-readable storage medium
740 is one of a (or a combination of two or more of) a hard drive,
a flash drive, a DVD, a CD, a flash storage, a solid state drive, a
ROM, an EEPROM, and the like.
[0163] In operation, the machine-executable instructions are loaded
into memory 736 from the machine-readable storage medium 740, the
ROM 738 or any other storage location. The respective
machine-executable instructions are accessed by the one or more
processors 734 via the bus 732, and then executed by the one or
more processors 734. Data used by the one or more processors 734
are also stored in memory 736, and the one or more processors 734
access such data during execution of the machine-executable
instructions. Execution of the machine-executable instructions
causes the one or more processors 734 to control the wager
controller 604 to provide the features of a side pool interleaved
wagering system wager controller as described herein
[0164] Although the wager controller 604 is described herein as
being constructed from or configured using one or more processors
and machine-executable instructions stored and executed by hardware
components, the wager controller can be composed of only hardware
components in accordance with other embodiments. In addition,
although the storage medium 740 is described as being operatively
connected to the one or more processors through a bus, those
skilled in the art of processing devices will understand that the
storage medium can include removable media such as, but not limited
to, a USB memory device, an optical CD ROM, magnetic media such as
tape and disks. In some embodiments, the storage medium 740 can be
accessed by the one or more processors 734 through one of the
interfaces or over a network. Furthermore, any of the user input
devices or user output devices can be operatively connected to the
one or more processors 734 via one of the interfaces or over a
network.
[0165] In various embodiments, the wager controller 604 may be used
to construct other components of a side pool interleaved wagering
system as described herein.
[0166] In some embodiments, components of a wager controller and an
application controller of a side pool wagering interleaved system
may be constructed from or configured using a single device using
processes that communicate using an interprocess communication
protocol. In other such embodiments, the components of a wager
controller and an application controller of a side pool wagering
interleaved system may communicate by passing messages, parameters
or the like.
[0167] It should be understood that there may be many embodiments
of a wager controller 604 which could be possible, including forms
where many modules and components of the wager controller are
located in various servers and locations, so the foregoing is not
meant to be exhaustive or all inclusive, but rather provide data on
various embodiments of a wager controller 604.
[0168] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of a structure of an
application controller of a side pool interleaved wagering system
in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. An
application controller may be constructed from or configured using
one or more processing devices configured to perform the operations
of the application controller. In many embodiments, an application
controller can be constructed from or configured using various
types of processing devices including, but not limited to, a mobile
device such as a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a
wireless device such as a tablet computer or the like, an
electronic gaming machine, a personal computer, a gaming console, a
set-top box, a computing device, a controller, or the like.
[0169] Referring now to FIG. 6A, in many embodiments, an
application controller 860, suitable for use as application
controller 112 of FIG. 1, manages operation of a side pool
interleaved wagering system, with a wager controller and an
interactive controller being support units to the application
controller 860. The application controller 860 provides an
interface between the interactive application, provided by an
interactive controller, and a wagering proposition, provided by a
wager controller.
[0170] In some embodiments, the application controller 860 includes
an interactive controller interface 800 to an interactive
controller. The interactive controller interface 800 provides for
communication of data between an interactive controller and the
application controller 860, including but not limited to wager
telemetry data 802, application instructions and resources 804,
application telemetry data 806, and sensor telemetry data 810.
[0171] In various embodiments, the application controller 860
includes a wager controller interface 812 to a wager controller.
The wager controller interface 812 provides for communication of
data between the application controller 860 and a wager controller,
including but not limited to wager outcomes 814 and wager data
816.
[0172] In some embodiments, the application controller 860 includes
a user management and session controller interface 818 to a user
management and session controller. The user management and session
controller interface 818 provides for communication of data between
the application controller 860 and a user management and session
controller, including but not limited to user session control data
820 and user session telemetry data 822.
[0173] The application controller 860 includes a business rule
decision engine 824 that receives telemetry data, such as
application telemetry data and sensor telemetry data, from an
interactive controller. The business rule decision engine 824 uses
the telemetry data, along with trigger logic 826 to generate wager
data used to trigger a wager in a wager controller.
[0174] In some embodiments, the application telemetry data
includes, but is not limited to, application environment variables
that indicate the state of an interactive application being used by
a user, interactive controller data indicating a state of an
interactive controller, and user actions and interactions between a
user and an interactive application provided by an interactive
controller. The wagering and/or wager data may include, but is not
limited to, an amount and type of the wager, a trigger of the
wager, and a selection of a paytable to be used when executing the
wager.
[0175] In some embodiments, the business rule decision engine 824
also receives wager outcome data from a wager controller. The
decision engine 824 uses the wager outcome data, in conjunction
with telemetry data and application logic 828 to generate
application decisions 830 communicated to an application resource
generator 832. The application resource generator 832 receives the
application decisions and uses the application decisions to
generate application instructions and application resources to be
communicated to an interactive application.
[0176] In many embodiments, the application controller 860 includes
a pseudo random or random result generator used to generate random
results that are communicated to the application resource generator
832. The application resource generator uses the random results to
generate application instructions and application resources to be
communicated to an interactive controller for use by an interactive
application.
[0177] In various embodiments, the business rule decision engine
824 also determines an amount of AC to award to a user based at
least in part on the user's use of an interactive application of
the side pool interleaved wagering system as determined from
application telemetry data. In some embodiments, wager outcome data
may also be used to determine the amount of AC that should be
awarded to the user.
[0178] In numerous embodiments, an interactive application is a
skill-based interactive game and the AC is awarded to the user for
the user's skillful play of the skill-based interactive game.
[0179] In some embodiments, the application decisions and wager
outcome data are communicated to a wagering user interface
generator 834. The wagering user interface generator 834 receives
the application decisions and wager outcome data and generates
wager telemetry data describing the state of wagering and credit
accumulation and loss for the side pool interleaved wagering
system. In some embodiments, the wager telemetry data 146 may
include, but is not limited to, amounts of AC and elements earned,
lost or accumulated by the user through use of the interactive
application as determined from the application decisions, and Cr
amounts won, lost or accumulated as determined from the wager
outcome data and the one or more credit meters.
[0180] In some embodiments, the wager outcome data 814 also
includes data about one or more game states of a gambling game
executed in accordance with a wagering proposition by a wager
controller. In various such embodiments, the wagering user
interface generator 834 generates a gambling game process display
and/or gambling game state display using the one or more game
states of the gambling game. The gambling game process display
and/or gambling game state display is included in wager telemetry
data that is communicated to an interactive controller. The
gambling game process display and/or a gambling game state display
is displayed by a wagering user interface of the interactive
controller to a user. In other such embodiments, the one or more
game states of the gambling game are communicated to an interactive
controller and a wagering user interface of the interactive
controller generates a gambling game process display and/or
gambling game state display using the one or more game states of
the gambling game for display to a user.
[0181] The application controller 860 can further operatively
connect to a wager controller to determine an amount of credit or
elements available and other wagering metrics of a wagering
proposition. Thus, the application controller 860 may potentially
affect an amount of Cr in play for participation in the wagering
events of a wagering game provided by the wager controller. The
application controller 860 may additionally include various audit
logs and activity meters. In some embodiments, the application
controller 860 can also couple to a centralized server for
exchanging various data related to the user and the activities of
the user during game play of a side pool interleaved wagering
system.
[0182] In some embodiments, the operation of the application
controller 860 does not affect the provision of a wagering
proposition by a wager controller except for user choice parameters
that are allowable in accordance with the wagering proposition.
Examples of user choice parameters include, but are not limited to:
wager terms such as but not limited to a wager amount; speed of
game play (for example, by pressing a button or pulling a handle of
a slot machine); and/or agreement to wager into a bonus round.
[0183] In a number of embodiments, communication of wager data
between a wager controller and the application controller 860 can
further be used to communicate various wagering control factors
that the wager controller uses as input. Examples of wagering
control factors include, but are not limited to, an amount of Cr,
AC, elements, or objects consumed per wagering event, and/or the
user's election to enter a jackpot round.
[0184] In some embodiments, the application controller 860 utilizes
a wagering user interface to communicate certain interactive
application data to the user, including but not limited to, club
points, user status, control of the selection of user choices, and
messages which a user can find useful in order to adjust the
interactive application experience or understand the wagering
status of the user in accordance with the wagering proposition in
the wager controller.
[0185] In some embodiments, the application controller 860 utilizes
a wagering user interface to communicate aspects of a wagering
proposition to the user including, but not limited to, odds of
certain wager outcomes, amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects in
play, and amounts of Cr, AC, elements, or objects available.
[0186] In a number of embodiments, a wager controller can accept
wager proposition factors including, but not limited to,
modifications in the amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects wagered
on each individual wagering event, a number of wagering events per
minute the wager controller can resolve, entrance into a bonus
round, and other factors. In several embodiments, the application
controller 860 can communicate a number of factors back and forth
to the wager controller, such that an increase/decrease in a
wagered amount can be related to the change in user profile of the
user in the interactive application. In this manner, a user can
control a wager amount per wagering event in accordance with the
wagering proposition with the change mapping to a parameter or
component that is applicable to the interactive application
experience.
[0187] Referring now to FIG. 6B, application controller 860
includes a bus 861 providing an interface for one or more
processors 863, random access memory (RAM) 864, read only memory
(ROM) 865, machine-readable storage medium 866, one or more user
output devices 867, one or more user input devices 868, and one or
more communication interface and/or network interface devices
869.
[0188] The one or more processors 863 may take many forms, such as,
but not limited to: a central processing unit (CPU); a
multi-processor unit (MPU); an ARM processor; a programmable logic
device; or the like.
[0189] Examples of output devices 867 include, include, but are not
limited to: display screens; light panels; and/or lighted displays.
In accordance with particular embodiments, the one or more
processors 863 are operatively connected to audio output devices
such as, but not limited to: speakers; and/or sound amplifiers. In
accordance with many of these embodiments, the one or more
processors 863 are operatively connected to tactile output devices
like vibrators, and/or manipulators.
[0190] In the example embodiment, the one or more processors 863
and the random access memory (RAM) 864 form an application
controller processing unit 870. In some embodiments, the
application controller processing unit includes one or more
processors operatively connected to one or more of a RAM, ROM, and
machine-readable storage medium; the one or more processors of the
application controller processing unit receive instructions stored
by the one or more of a RAM, ROM, and machine-readable storage
medium via a bus; and the one or more processors execute the
received instructions. In some embodiments, the application
controller processing unit is an ASIC (Application-Specific
Integrated Circuit). In some embodiments, the application
controller processing unit is a SoC (System-on-Chip).
[0191] Examples of user input devices 868 include, but are not
limited to: tactile devices including but not limited to,
keyboards, keypads, foot pads, touch screens, and/or trackballs;
non-contact devices such as audio input devices; motion sensors and
motion capture devices that the application controller can use to
receive inputs from a user when the user interacts with the
application controller 860.
[0192] The one or more communication interface and/or network
interface devices 869 provide one or more wired or wireless
interfaces for exchanging data and commands between the application
controller 860 and other devices that may be included in a side
pool interleaved wagering system. Such wired and wireless
interfaces include, but are not limited to: a Universal Serial Bus
(USB) interface; a Bluetooth interface; a Wi-Fi interface; an
Ethernet interface; a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface; a
plain old telephone system (POTS), cellular, or satellite telephone
network interface; and the like.
[0193] The machine-readable storage medium 866 stores
machine-executable instructions for various components of the
application controller 860 such as, but not limited to: an
operating system 871; one or more applications 872; one or more
device drivers 873; and side pool interleaved wagering system
application controller instructions 874 for use by the one or more
processors 863 to provide the features of an application controller
as described herein.
[0194] In various embodiments, the machine-readable storage medium
870 is one of a (or a combination of two or more of) a hard drive,
a flash drive, a DVD, a CD, a flash storage, a solid state drive, a
ROM, an EEPROM, and the like.
[0195] In operation, the machine-executable instructions are loaded
into memory 864 from the machine-readable storage medium 866, the
ROM 865 or any other storage location. The respective
machine-executable instructions are accessed by the one or more
processors 863 via the bus 861, and then executed by the one or
more processors 863. Data used by the one or more processors 863
are also stored in memory 864, and the one or more processors 863
access such data during execution of the machine-executable
instructions. Execution of the machine-executable instructions
causes the one or more processors 863 to control the application
controller 860 to provide the features of a side pool interleaved
wagering system application controller as described herein.
[0196] Although the application controller 860 is described herein
as being constructed from or configured using one or more
processors and instructions stored and executed by hardware
components, the application controller can be composed of only
hardware components in accordance with other embodiments. In
addition, although the storage medium 866 is described as being
operatively connected to the one or more processors through a bus,
those skilled in the art of application controllers will understand
that the storage medium can include removable media such as, but
not limited to, a USB memory device, an optical CD ROM, magnetic
media such as tape and disks. Also, in some embodiments, the
storage medium 866 may be accessed by processor 863 through one of
the interfaces or over a network. Furthermore, any of the user
input devices or user output devices may be operatively connected
to the one or more processors 863 via one of the interfaces or over
a network.
[0197] In various embodiments, the application controller 860 may
be used to construct other components of a side pool interleaved
wagering system as described herein.
[0198] In some embodiments, components of a wager controller and an
application controller of a side pool wagering interleaved system
may be constructed from or configured using a single device using
processes that communicate using an interprocess communication
protocol. In other such embodiments, the components of a wager
controller and an application controller of a side pool wagering
interleaved system may communicate by passing messages, parameters
or the like.
[0199] In some embodiments, components of an interactive controller
and an application controller of a side pool wagering interleaved
system may be constructed from or configured using a single device
using processes that communicate using an interprocess
communication protocol. In other such embodiments, the components
of an interactive controller and an application controller of a
side pool wagering interleaved system may communicate by passing
messages, parameters or the like.
[0200] In numerous embodiments, any of a wager controller, an
application controller, or an interactive controller as described
herein can be constructed from or configured using multiple
processing devices, whether dedicated, shared, or distributed in
any combination thereof, or can be constructed from or configured
using a single processing device. In addition, while certain
aspects and features of side pool interleaved wagering system
processes described herein have been attributed to a wager
controller, an application controller, or an interactive
controller, these aspects and features can be provided in a
distributed form where any of the features or aspects can be
provided by any of a wager controller, an application controller,
and/or an interactive controller within a side pool interleaved
wagering system without deviating from the spirit of the
invention.
[0201] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of a structure of a user
management and session controller of a side pool interleaved
wagering system in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention. A user management and session controller may be
constructed from or configured using one or more processing devices
configured to perform the operations of the user management and
session controller. In many embodiments, a wager user session can
be constructed from or configured using various types of processing
devices including, but not limited to, a mobile device such as a
smartphone or the like, a personal digital assistant, a wireless
device such as a tablet computer or the like, an electronic gaming
machine, a personal computer, a gaming console, a set-top box, a
computing device, a controller, a server, or the like.
[0202] Referring now to FIG. 7A, in various embodiments, a user
management and session controller 1104, suitable for use as user
management and session controller 150 of FIG. 1, includes a user
management and session control module 1106 whose processes may
include, but are not limited to, registering users of a side pool
wagering interleaved system, validating users of a side pool
wagering interleaved system using user registration data, managing
various types of user sessions for users of the side pool wagering
interleaved system, and the like.
[0203] The user management and session controller 1104 may further
include a datastore 1108 storing user data used to manage user
registration and validation. The user management and session
controller 1104 may further include a datastore 1110 storing user
session data used to manage one or more user sessions.
[0204] The various user management and session controller
components can interface with each other via an internal bus 1112
and/or other appropriate communication mechanism.
[0205] An interface 1114 allows the user management and session
controller 1104 to operatively connect to one or more external
devices, such as one or more application controllers, wager
controllers and/or interactive controllers as described herein. The
interface provides for receiving session telemetry data 1116 from
the one more external devices. The user session telemetry data
includes, but is not limited to, amounts of AC earned by one or
more users, requests for entering into a side pool user session as
described herein, and telemetry data regarding the progress of one
or more users during a side pool user session. The interface 1114
may also provide for communicating secession control data 1118 used
to manage a user session.
[0206] In numerous embodiments, the interface between the user
management and session controller and other systems/devices may be
a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. However, other
methods of communication may be used including, but not limited to,
a local area network (LAN), a universal serial bus (USB) interface,
and/or some other method by which two electronic devices could
communicate with each other.
[0207] During operation of the user management and session
controller, the external system communicates user session telemetry
data to the user management and session controller. The user
management and session controller receives the user session
telemetry data and uses the user session telemetry data to generate
user session control data as described herein. The user management
and session controller communicates the user session control data
to the external system.
[0208] Referring now to FIG. 7B, user management and session
controller 1104 includes a bus 1132 that provides an interface for
one or more processors 1134, random access memory (RAM) 1136, read
only memory (ROM) 1138, machine-readable storage medium 1140, one
or more user output devices 1142, one or more user input devices
1144, and one or more communication interface and/or network
interface devices 1146.
[0209] The one or more processors 1134 may take many forms, such
as, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a
multi-processor unit (MPU), an ARM processor, a controller, a
programmable logic device, or the like.
[0210] In the example embodiment, the one or more processors 1134
and the random access memory (RAM) 1136 form a user management and
session controller processing unit 1199. In some embodiments, the
user management and session controller processing unit includes one
or more processors operatively connected to one or more of a RAM,
ROM, and machine-readable storage medium; the one or more
processors of the user management and session controller processing
unit receive instructions stored by the one or more of a RAM, ROM,
and machine-readable storage medium via a bus; and the one or more
processors execute the received instructions. In some embodiments,
the user management and session controller processing unit is an
ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). In some
embodiments, the user management and session controller processing
unit is a SoC (System-on-Chip).
[0211] Examples of output devices 1142 include, but are not limited
to, display screens, light panels, and/or lighted displays. In
accordance with particular embodiments, the one or more processors
1134 are operatively connected to audio output devices such as, but
not limited to speakers, and/or sound amplifiers. In accordance
with many of these embodiments, the one or more processors 1134 are
operatively connected to tactile output devices like vibrators,
and/or manipulators.
[0212] Examples of user input devices 1144 include, but are not
limited to, tactile devices including but not limited to,
keyboards, keypads, touch screens, and/or trackballs; non-contact
devices such as audio input devices; motion sensors and motion
capture devices that the user management and session controller can
use to receive inputs from a user when the user interacts with the
user management and session controller 1104.
[0213] The one or more communication interface and/or network
interface devices 1146 provide one or more wired or wireless
interfaces for exchanging data and commands between the user
management and session controller 1104 and other devices that may
be included in a side pool interleaved wagering system. Such wired
and wireless interfaces include, but are not limited to: a
Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface; a Bluetooth interface; a
Wi-Fi interface; an Ethernet interface; a Near Field Communication
(NFC) interface; a plain old telephone system (POTS) interface; a
cellular or satellite telephone network interface; and the
like.
[0214] The machine-readable storage medium 1140 stores
machine-executable instructions for various components of a user
management and session controller, such as but not limited to: an
operating system 1148; one or more application programs 1150; one
or more device drivers 1152; and side pool interleaved wagering
system user management and session controller instructions 1154 for
use by the one or more processors 1134 to provide the features of a
side pool interleaved wagering system user management and session
controller as described herein.
[0215] In various embodiments, the machine-readable storage medium
1140 is one of a (or a combination of two or more of) a hard drive,
a flash drive, a DVD, a CD, a flash storage, a solid state drive, a
ROM, an EEPROM, and the like.
[0216] In operation, the machine-executable instructions are loaded
into memory 736 from the machine-readable storage medium 1140, the
ROM 1138 or any other storage location. The respective
machine-executable instructions are accessed by the one or more
processors 1134 via the bus 1132, and then executed by the one or
more processors 1134. Data used by the one or more processors 1134
are also stored in memory 1136, and the one or more processors 1134
access such data during execution of the machine-executable
instructions. Execution of the machine-executable instructions
causes the one or more processors 1134 to control the user
management and session controller 1104 to provide the features of a
side pool interleaved wagering system user management and session
controller as described herein
[0217] Although the user management and session controller 1104 is
described herein as being constructed from or configured using one
or more processors and machine-executable instructions stored and
executed by hardware components, the user management and session
controller can be composed of only hardware components in
accordance with other embodiments. In addition, although the
storage medium 1140 is described as being operatively connected to
the one or more processors through a bus, those skilled in the art
of processing devices will understand that the storage medium can
include removable media such as, but not limited to, a USB memory
device, an optical CD ROM, magnetic media such as tape and disks.
In some embodiments, the storage medium 1140 can be accessed by the
one or more processors 1134 through one of the interfaces or over a
network. Furthermore, any of the user input devices or user output
devices can be operatively connected to the one or more processors
1134 via one of the interfaces or over a network.
[0218] In various embodiments, the user management and session
controller 1104 may be used to construct other components of a side
pool interleaved wagering system as described herein.
[0219] In some embodiments, components of a user management and
session controller and an application controller of a side pool
wagering interleaved system may be constructed from or configured
using a single device using processes that communicate using an
interprocess communication protocol. In other such embodiments, the
components of a user management and session controller and an
application controller of a side pool wagering interleaved system
may communicate by passing messages, parameters or the like.
[0220] In some embodiments, components of a user management and
session controller and a wager controller of a side pool wagering
interleaved system may be constructed from or configured using a
single device using processes that communicate using an
interprocess communication protocol. In other such embodiments, the
components of a user management and session controller and an
application controller of a side pool wagering interleaved system
may communicate by passing messages, parameters or the like.
[0221] It should be understood that there may be many embodiments
of a user management and session controller 1104 which could be
possible, including forms where many modules and components of the
user management and session controller are located in various
servers and locations, so the foregoing is not meant to be
exhaustive or all inclusive, but rather provide data on various
embodiments of a user management and session controller 1104.
[0222] In numerous embodiments, any of a wager controller, an
application controller, an interactive controller, or a user
management and session controller as described herein can be
constructed from or configured using multiple processing devices,
whether dedicated, shared, or distributed in any combination
thereof, or can be constructed from or configured using a single
processing device. In addition, while certain aspects and features
of side pool interleaved wagering system processes described herein
have been attributed to a wager controller, an application
controller, an interactive controller, or a user management and
session controller, these aspects and features can be provided in a
distributed form where any of the features or aspects can be
provided by any of a user management and session controller, a
wager controller, an application controller, and/or an interactive
controller within a side pool interleaved wagering system without
deviating from the spirit of the invention.
[0223] Although various components of side pool interleaved
wagering systems are discussed herein, side pool interleaved
wagering systems can be configured with any component as
appropriate to the specification of a specific application in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. In certain
embodiments, components of a side pool interleaved wagering system,
such as user management and session controller, an application
controller, a wager controller, and/or an interactive controller,
can be configured in different ways for a specific side pool
interleaved wagering system.
Operation of Side Pool Wagering Interleaved Systems
[0224] FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram of interactions between
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with various embodiments of the invention. The components of the
side pool interleaved wagering system include a wager controller
902, such as wager controller 102 of FIG. 1, an application
controller 904, such as application controller 112 of FIG. 1, and
an interactive controller 906, such as interactive controller 120
of FIG. 1. The process begins with the interactive controller 906
detecting a user performing a user interaction in a user interface
of an interactive application provided by the interactive
controller 906. The interactive controller 906 communicates
application telemetry data 908 to the application controller 904.
The application telemetry data includes, but is not limited to, the
user interaction detected by the interactive controller 906.
[0225] The application controller 904 receives the application
telemetry data 908. Upon determination by the application
controller 904 that the user interaction indicates a wagering
event, the application controller 904 communicates wager data 912
including a wager request to the wager controller 902. The request
for a wager event may include wager terms associated with a
wagering proposition.
[0226] The wager controller receives the wager data and uses the
wager data to execute (913) a wager in accordance with a wagering
proposition. The wager controller 902 communicates a wager outcome
914 of the executed wager to the application controller 904.
[0227] The application controller 904 receives the wager outcome
and determines (915) interactive application instructions and
resources 916 for the interactive application. The application
controller 904 communicates the interactive application
instructions and resources 916 to the interactive controller 906.
The application controller also communicates wagering telemetry
data 920 including the wager outcome to the interactive controller
906.
[0228] The interactive controller 906 receives the interactive
application instructions and resources 916 and wagering telemetry
data 918. The interactive controller 906 incorporates the received
interactive application resources and executes the received
interactive application instructions (918). The interactive
controller updates (922) an application user interface of the
interactive application provided by the interactive controller
using the interactive application instructions and the resources,
and updates (922) a wagering user interface using the wagering
telemetry data.
[0229] In several embodiments, a user can interact with a side pool
interleaved wagering system by using Cr for wagering in accordance
with a wagering proposition along with AC and elements in
interactions with an interactive application. Wagering can be
executed by a wager controller while an interactive application can
be executed by an interactive controller and managed with an
application controller.
[0230] FIG. 9 is a collaboration diagram that illustrates how
resources such as AC, Cr, elements, and objects are utilized in a
side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention. The collaboration diagram 1000
illustrates that Cr 1002, interactive application resources
including elements and objects 1004 and AC 1006 can be utilized by
a user 1008 in interactions with a wager controller 1010, such as
wager controller 102 of FIG. 1, an application controller 1012,
such as wager controller 112 of FIG. 1, and an interactive
controller 1014, such as interactive controller 120 of FIG. 1, of a
side pool interleaved wagering system. The contribution of elements
and objects such as included in resources 1004, can be linked to a
user's access to credits, such as Cr 1002 and/or AC 1006.
Electronic receipt of these credits can come via a smart card,
voucher or other portable media, or as received over a network from
a server. In some embodiments, these credits can be drawn on demand
from a user profile located in a database locally on a side pool
interleaved wagering system or in a remote server.
[0231] A user's actions and/or decisions can affect an interactive
application of interactive controller 1014 that consume and/or
accumulate AC 1004 and/or resources 1004 in an interactive
application executed by an interactive controller 1014, a wager
controller 101 and an application controller 1012. The application
controller 1012 can monitor the activities taking place within an
interactive application executed by an interactive controller 1014
for wagering event occurrences. The application controller 1012 can
also communicate the wagering event occurrences to the wager
controller 1010 that triggers a wager of Cr 1002 in accordance with
a wagering proposition executed by the wager controller 1010.
[0232] In several embodiments, the user commences interaction with
the side pool interleaved wagering system by contributing credit to
a side pool interleaved wagering system such as, but not limited
to, Cr 1002 that may be credit in a real currency or may be credit
in a virtual currency that is not fungible with a real currency, AC
1006 that may be application environment credits, and specified
types of interactive application elements and/or objects 1004. One
or more of these contributions may be provided directly as currency
and/or transferred in electronically. Electronic transfer may come
via a smart card, voucher or other portable media, or as
transferred in over a network from a user data server or side pool
interleaved wagering system user management and session controller.
In many embodiments, contributions may be drawn on demand from user
accounts located in servers residing on the network or in the cloud
on a real time basis as the credits, elements and/or object are
committed or consumed by the side pool interleaved wagering system.
Generally, Cr is utilized and accounted for by the wager controller
1010; and the resources 1004 and AC 1006 are utilized and accounted
for by the application controller 1012 and/or the interactive
controller 1014. The user interacts (a) with an interactive
application provided by the interactive controller 1014 with the
interaction representing an action by the user within the context
of the interactive application. The interactive controller 1014
receives the user interaction and communicates (b) the interaction
to the application controller 1012. The application controller 1012
receives the interaction and determines from the interaction
whether or not a wager should be triggered. If a wager should be
triggered, the application controller 1012 communicates (c) wager
data about a wager in accordance with a wagering proposition
associated with the interaction and thereby triggers a wager. The
wager controller receives the wager data and executes the wager in
accordance with the wagering proposition, and consumes (d) an
appropriate amount of Cr 1002 for the wager. The wager controller
1010 adjusts (e) the Cr 1002 based upon a wager outcome of the
wager and communicates (f) the wager outcome to the application
controller 1012 as to the outcome of the wager triggered by the
application controller 1012. The application controller 1012
receives the wager outcome. The application controller determines
what resources 1004 should be provided to the interactive
controller and communicates (g) the resources 1004 to the
interactive controller. The interactive controller receives the
resources from the application control and integrates them into the
execution of the interactive application provided by the
interactive controller 1014.
[0233] In some embodiments, the application controller 1012
communicates (h) data about the wager outcome to the interactive
controller. The interactive controller receives the wager outcome
and displays the wager outcome to the user 1008.
[0234] In some embodiments, the application controller 1012
determines what resources and instructions to provide to the
interactive controller 1014 for use by the interactive application
provided by the interactive controller 1014 partially on the basis
of the wager outcome. In some such embodiments, resources are
provided in a case that the wager was a winning wager for the user.
In other such embodiments, fewer or no resources are provided in a
case of a losing wager.
[0235] In some embodiments, the application controller 1012
determines what resources to provide based on internal logic of the
application controller 1012. In some such embodiments, the
application controller 1012 employs a random result generator, such
as a P/RNG, to generate a random result and the random result is
used to determine what resources are provided to the interactive
controller 1014.
[0236] In several embodiments, the application controller 1012
determines an increment or a decrement of an amount of AC 1006
using the interactions received from the interactive controller.
The increment or decremented amount is communicated (i) to the
interactive controller for display to the user.
[0237] In some embodiments, the application controller 1012
executes a wager of Cr as a virtual currency, AC, elements or
objects. In some such embodiments, the application controller 1012
employs a random result generator, such as a P/RNG, to generate a
random result and the random result is used to determine a wager
outcome in Cr as a virtual currency, AC, elements or objects.
[0238] The following is description of an embodiment of the
described collaboration where an interactive application provided
by an interactive controller of a side pool interleaved wagering
system is a first person shooter game. The process begins by a user
selecting a machine gun to use in the game and then fires a burst
of bullets at an opponent. The interactive controller can
communicate to the application controller of the user's choice of
weapon, that a burst of bullets was fired, and/or the outcome of
the burst. The application controller communicates to the wager
controller that 3 credits (Cr) are to be wagered on the outcome of
a wagering event to match the three bullets consumed. The wager
controller then performs the wagering event and determines the
result of the wager and may determine the winnings from a paytable.
The wager controller consumes 3 credits of Cr for the wager and
executes the specified wager. By way of example, the wager
controller may determine that the user hit a jackpot of 6 credits
and returns the 6 credits to the Cr and communicates to the
application controller that 3 net credits were won by the user.
[0239] The application controller communicates to the interactive
controller to add 3 bullets to an ammunition clip. The interactive
controller adds 3 bullets back to the ammo clip. The ammunition may
be added by directly adding the ammunition to the clip or by
allowing the user to find extra ammunition during use. The
application controller logs the new user score (AC) in the game (as
a function of the successful hit on the opponent) based on the
interactive controller communication, and adds 2 extra points to
the user score since a jackpot has been won. The application
controller then adds 10 points to the user score (AC) given the
success of the hit which in this example is worth 8 points, plus
the 2 extra point. Note that this example is only intended to
provide an illustration of how credits flow in a side pool
interleaved wagering system, but is not intended to be exhaustive
and only lists only one of numerous possibilities of how a side
pool interleaved wagering system may be configured to manage its
fundamental credits.
[0240] In many embodiments, user management and session controller
1020, such as user account controller 150 of FIG. 1, of a side pool
interleaved wagering system is used to store AC for use of the
user. In such an embodiment, AC is generated by the application
controller based on the user's use of the side pool interleaved
wagering system and an amount of the AC is communicated to the user
management and session controller 1020. The user management and
session controller stores the amount of AC between user sessions.
In some embodiments, the user management and session controller
communicates an amount of AC to the application controller at the
start of a user session for use by the user during a user
session.
[0241] A side pool for an interleaved wagering system may provide
for multiple users to compete against each other. In some
embodiments, a score attained by each of the users for the
interactive application may be compared against each other to
determine one or more winners. In some embodiments, the interactive
application is an interactive game. In some embodiments, the
interactive game is a skill-based interactive game. In some
embodiments, the interactive game is a chance-based interactive
game. In some embodiments, the multiple user competition is a
tournament. In some embodiments, wagering outcomes are not
considered as part of the score, for comparison between users, and
only skill-based aspects of the user's interaction with the
interleaved wagering system are considered in determining the
score.
[0242] As users participate in the competition, a portion of each
wager the interleaved wagering system makes based on the user's
actions taken during the user's skillful execution of the
interactive application is placed in a side pool. In some
embodiments, the user who wins the competition between one or more
other users is awarded the funds in the side pool. In some
embodiments, the winner is determined based on a score. In an
embodiment where the competition is a tournament with multiple
participants, the side pool is awarded to the winner of the
tournament. In this way, the user with the most skillful execution
of the interactive application may be rewarded with proceeds
contributed from the individual wagers that have occurred
throughout all of the users' interactions with the interleaved
wagering system. In some embodiments, more than one user may have
the funds in the side pool divided amongst them.
[0243] In some embodiments, the side pool is used to fund a
tournament, wherein the winner of each head to head competition
advances to a next round where the process is then repeated. The
winner of the tournament is awarded with the proceeds from the side
pool. In many embodiments, the side pool could also be used to pay
out runners up as well as other participants.
[0244] In some embodiments, an in-application screen displays the
size of the side pool at that time. In a tournament setting, the in
game screen additionally shows how many users remain in a
bracket.
[0245] FIG. 10 is a diagram of interactions between various
embodiments of the system and processes in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention. FIG. 10 illustrates a competition
session with two users. The first user 1202 is associated with a
first interactive controller 1214, a first application controller
1222, and a first wager controller 1238, each as described herein.
The second user 1204 is associated with a second interactive
controller 1216, a second application controller 1224, and a second
wager controller 1240, each as described herein.
[0246] The first interactive controller 1214 provides a
presentation to the first user 1202 (1210). The first user 1202
communicates first user actions 1206 to the first interactive
controller 1214. The first interactive controller 1214 receives the
first user actions 1206 from the first user 1202. In some
embodiments, the first user actions are indications of commands to
elements of the interactive application via an input device. In an
example embodiment, the first user actions comprise manipulation of
characters in an interactive sports game, using a keyboard and
mouse, or a touchscreen input.
[0247] The first interactive controller 1214 communicates first
user actions to the first application controller 1222, and the
first application controller 1222 receives the first user actions
from the first interactive controller 1214 (1218). The first
application controller 1222 communicates interactive application
resources to the first interactive controller 1214, and the first
interactive controller 1214 receives the interactive application
resources from the first application controller 1222 (1218).
[0248] Similarly, the second interactive controller 1216 provides a
presentation to the second user 1204 (1212). The second user 1204
communicates second user actions 1208 to the second interactive
controller 1216. The second interactive controller 1216 receives
the second user actions 1208 from the second user 1204. In some
embodiments, the second user actions are indications of commands to
elements of the interactive application via an input device. In an
example embodiment, the second user actions 1208 comprise
manipulation of characters in an interactive sports game, using a
keyboard and mouse, or a touchscreen input.
[0249] The second interactive controller 1216 communicates second
user actions to the second application controller 1224, and the
second application controller 1224 receives the second user actions
from the second interactive controller 1216 (1220). The second
application controller 1224 communicates interactive application
resources to the second interactive controller 1216, and the second
interactive controller 1216 receives the interactive application
resources from the second application controller 1224 (1220).
[0250] The first application controller 1222 communicates first
user wagers to the first wager controller 1238 based on the
received first user actions, and the first wager controller 1238
receives the first user wagers from the first application
controller 1222 (1234). The first wager controller 1238 generates a
wager outcome and communicates the wager outcome to the first
application controller 1222, and the first application controller
1222 receives the generated wager outcome from the first wager
controller 1238 (1234). Based on the wager outcome, the first
application controller 1222 communicates first user AC to the first
user AC storage 1230 (1226). The first user AC storage 1230
receives the first user AC from the first application controller
1222 (1226).
[0251] Similarly, the second application controller 1224
communicates second user wagers to the second wager controller 1240
based on the received second user actions, and the second wager
controller 1240 receives the second user wagers from the second
application controller 1224 (1236). The second wager controller
1240 generates a wager outcome and communicates the wager outcome
to the second application controller 1224, and the second
application controller 1224 receives the generated wager outcome
from the second wager controller 1240 (1236). Based on the wager
outcome, the second application controller 1224 communicates second
user AC to the second user AC storage 1232 (1228). The second user
AC storage 1232 receives the second user AC from the second
application controller 1224 (1228).
[0252] The first wager controller 1238, in executing a wager,
receives first user wagers 1246 from an RC meter associated with
the first user 1250. The amount wagered may be determined by the
user. The first user RC meter 1250 communicates first user wagers
1246 to the first wager controller 1238. If the wager outcome is a
success, the RC meter 1250 receives first user winnings 1242 from
the first wager controller 1238. The first wager controller 1238
communicates first user winnings 1242 to the RC meter 1250.
[0253] Similarly, the second wager controller 1240, in executing a
wager, receives second user wagers 1244 from an RC meter 1252
associated with the second user. The RC meter 1252 communicates
second user wagers 1244 to the second wager controller 1240. If the
wager outcome is a success, the RC meter 1252 receives second user
winnings 1248 from the second wager controller 1240. The second
wager controller 1240 communicates second user winnings 1248 to the
RC meter 1252.
[0254] During the wagering, the first wager controller 1238 may
communicate to the side RC pool 1266, a contribution of funds. The
manner of contribution, including the amount won and the source of
the funds may be determined by a mode used. In some embodiments,
the users contributes the same amount of RC at each wager request.
In some embodiments, the users may agree on the amount to be
contributed to the side pool, or the amount may be set by the
competition operator. In some embodiments, the amounts contributed
by each user are different. In some embodiments, an application
manager's hold mode 1254, a user commitment mode 1256, and/or a
user winnings mode 1258 may be used. The application manager's hold
mode 1254 is a mode where the contribution amount is adjusted in
proportion to the ratio of the users' denominated wagers. For
example, if the first user 1202 is making wagers of 100 credits for
each wager, and a second user 1204 is making wagers of only 10
credits for each wager, the contribution from the first user's
wagers is reduced such that both the first user 1202 and the second
user 1204 are contributing equally to the pool. In the user
commitment mode, the contribution to the RC side pool 1266 is made
before the wager is executed. That is, the contribution is deducted
from each user's RC meter regardless of whether the user's wager
outcome is successful or not. In contrast, in the user winnings
mode 1258, the contribution is deducted from the winnings of a
user. That is, there is no contribution to the RC side pool 1266
from a user unless the user's wager outcome is successful.
[0255] Similarly, during the wagering, the second wager controller
1240 may communicate to the side RC pool 1266, a fund contribution
using the application manager's hold mode 1260, the user commitment
mode 1264, and/or the user winnings mode 1262, as described
herein.
[0256] Upon conclusion of the competition and a determination of
one or more winners being made, the funds in the RC side pool 1266
may be communicated to the appropriate RC meter (e.g., 1250 or
1252). The indication regarding the winner of the competition may
be received from an interactive controller or a tournament manager,
as described herein.
[0257] FIG. 11 is a diagram of the structure of a side pool
interleaved wagering system in accordance with various embodiments
of the invention. The system includes an interactive controller
1302, an application controller, 1304, and a wager controller 1306,
as described herein. The interactive controller 1302 may provide an
interactive application. In some embodiments, the interactive
application is an interactive game. In some embodiments, the
interactive game is a skill-based interactive game. In some
embodiments, the interactive game is a chance-based interactive
game.
[0258] The system further includes a side pool controller 1308. The
side pool controller 1308 may be operatively connected to the
application controller 1304, the wager controller 1306, and a
tournament controller 1310. In some embodiments, the connection is
via a network. The side pool controller 1308 is responsible for
managing the side pool. The side pool controller 1308 receives,
from the wager controller 1306 funds to contribute to the side
pool. The side pool controller 1308 may receive funds to contribute
to the side pool from other wager controllers (not shown). The side
pool controller 1308 also receives an indication regarding the
outcome of the competition, and communicates funds to the wager
controller associated with the winning user. The side pool
controller 1308 may also be responsible for managing the rules by
which contributions are made to the side pool. In an example
embodiment, the wager controller 1306 communicates a request to the
side pool controller 1308 for a rule regarding the contribution of
funds to the side pool. The side pool controller 1308 receives the
request for the rule regarding the contribution of funds to the
side pool, and the side pool controller 1308 communicates to the
wager controller 1306, the rule regarding the contribution of funds
to the side pool. The wager controller 1306 receives the rule from
the side pool controller 1308 and implements the rule when making
contributions to the side pool.
[0259] In some embodiments, if players are wagering in different
denominations, the users may be grouped by wagering denomination or
the total amount contributed per wager is equal to the lower better
(so the player with the higher wagers commits less to the pot on a
percentage basis). In some embodiments, p players are awarded the
side pool when they win the skill-based entertainment game even if
they are no longer making wagers. The award could be limited in
this embodiment. Such a mechanism reinforces the fact that winning
the game will result in a monetary prize.
[0260] The system further includes a tournament controller 1310.
The tournament controller 1310 may be operatively connected to the
application controller 1304 and the side pool controller 1308. In
some embodiments, the connection is via a network. The tournament
controller 1310 is responsible for managing the competition between
the users. In some embodiments, the tournament controller 1310
receives information from the application controller 1304 regarding
a user's performance information, such as a user score for the
interactive application. The application controller 1304
communicates the user's performance information to the tournament
controller 1310. In some embodiments, the tournament controller
1310 communicates an indication regarding the outcome of the
competition, to the side pool controller 1308. The side pool
controller 1308 receives, from the tournament controller 1310, the
indication regarding the outcome of the competition and
communicates the funds of the side pool to the appropriate wager
controllers.
[0261] In some embodiments, a group of individual users may
participate in a head-to-head interactive application that is an
interactive game, wherein each of the users accrues a game score
for their skillful execution of the interactive game. In such a
game, awards of one or more portions of the side pool are made at
the end of the game based on the rankings of the individual
users.
[0262] In some embodiments, two or more groups of individual user
may participate in a head-to-head interactive application that is
an interactive game, wherein each group of users and each of the
users accrues a game score for their skillful execution of the
interactive game. In such a game, awards of one or more portions of
the side pool are made at the end of the game based on the rankings
of the individual players within the group or groups that won the
interactive game competition.
[0263] As described herein, the wager controller 1306 makes
contributions to the side pool based on a contribution mode. The
contribution mode may be chosen by the user. The user indicates, to
the interactive controller 1302 the contribution mode. The
interactive controller 1302 receives, from the user, the
contribution mode. The interactive controller 1302 communicates the
contribution mode to the application controller 1304. The
application controller 1304 receives the contribution mode from the
interactive controller 1302 and communicates the contribution mode
to the wager controller 1306. The wager controller 1306 receives
the contribution mode from the application controller 1304 and
makes contributions to the side pool controller 1308 based on the
received contribution mode.
[0264] In some embodiments, the side pool controller 1308 receives
the contribution mode as well. The side pool controller 1308 may
determine a contribution amount for each user based on the
contribution mode. In an example embodiment, if a first user
chooses a contribution mode where each user contributes 10 real
world credits, and a second user chooses a contribution mode where
each user contributes 100 real world credits, the side pool
controller 1308 may determine that the lower amount should be used.
Upon determining the contribution mode, which includes the
determination of the contribution of 10 real world credits, the
side pool controller 1308 communicates the contribution mode to the
wager controller 1306. The wager controller 1306 receives the
contribution mode from the side pool controller 1308 and makes
contributions based on the received contribution mode.
[0265] FIGS. 12A-12D are diagrams of various embodiments of
structures of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with the invention. In each of the embodiments, two users are
shown, but any number of users may be included in the system.
[0266] FIG. 12A includes a first user 1402 and a second user 1404.
The first user 1402 and the second user 1404 share use of the
interactive controller 1406. The system includes an interactive
controller 1406, an application controller 1408, a wager controller
1410, a side pool controller 1412, and a tournament controller
1414, each as described herein. In this embodiment, the interactive
controller 1406, which provides the interactive application, may be
shared by the first user 1402 and the second user 1404. In some
embodiments, the first user 1402 and the second user 1404 share the
interactive controller 1406 by alternating turns. In some
embodiments, the first user 1402 and the second user 1404 share the
interactive controller 1406 by simultaneous use of the interactive
controller 1406. In some embodiments, the device that includes the
interactive controller 1406 is operative to allow for simultaneous
use by one or more users. Each user may have their own individual
accounts for management of credits. As described herein, the users
compete using the system and in addition the funds that may be
awarded based on the wagering outcome, funds accumulated in the
side pool are awarded to an RC meter associated with the winning
user.
[0267] FIG. 12B includes a first user 1416 and a second user 1418.
The first user 1416 and the second user 1418 are each associated
with a corresponding interactive controller (1420 and 1426,
respectively), a corresponding application controller (1422 and
1428, respectively), and a wager controller (1424 and 1430,
respectively). The interactive controllers, application
controllers, and the wager controllers are as described herein.
Each application controller (1422 and 1428) is connected to the
tournament controller 1434 and the side pool controller 1432. The
interactive controllers (1420 and 1426) are also connected to each
other. In some embodiments, the connection between the interactive
controllers is a peer to peer configuration or network. The
interactive controllers exchange information regarding the
interactive application competition. The first interactive
controller 1420 communicates information associated with the
interactive application competition to the second interactive
controller 1426. The second interactive controller 1426 receives
the information associated with the interactive application
competition from the first interactive controller 1420.
[0268] The information associated with the interactive application
competition may include: a score of the user, an identifier of the
user, a time elapsed, or an amount of credits wagered or amount of
credits earned. One or all of the interactive controllers (1420 and
1426) may determine which user is the winner of the competition,
and communicate this information to the tournament controller 1434.
The tournament controller 1434, upon receiving the information
regarding the winner of the competition, communicates an
identification of the winning user to the side pool controller
1432. The side pool controller 1432 receives the identification
from the tournament controller 1434 and transfers the funds for the
side pool to the wager controller (1424 or 1430) associated with
the winning user.
[0269] FIG. 12C includes a first user 1436 and a second user 1438.
The first user 1436 and the second user 1438 each have a
corresponding interactive controller (1440 and 1446, respectively),
a corresponding application controller (1442 and 1448,
respectively), and a wager controller (1444 and 1450,
respectively). The interactive controllers, application
controllers, and the wager controllers are as described herein.
Each application controller (1442 and 1448) is connected to the
tournament controller 1456 and the side pool controller 1454. Each
interactive controller (1440 and 1446) is connected to a session
manager 1452, which maintains a mutual or master application state.
Compared with the interactive controllers of FIG. 12B, the
interactive controllers in FIG. 12C are not connected to each
other. Instead, they are connected to the session manager 1452,
which receives competition information from each of the interactive
controllers (1440 and 1446) and determines a winner of the
competition. The session manager 1452 communicates to the
tournament controller 1456, the winner of the competition. The
tournament controller 1456 receives, from the session manager, the
identification of the winner of the competition and communicates to
the side pool controller 1454 the identification of the winner of
the competition. The side pool controller 1454 receives, from the
tournament controller 1456 the identification of the winner of the
competition and communicates funds associated with the side pool to
the wager controller associated with the winning user.
[0270] FIG. 12D includes a first user 1458 and a second user 1460.
The first user 1458 and the second user 1460 each have a
corresponding interactive controller (1462 and 1464, respectively).
The system includes an application controller 1466, a wager
controller 1468, a side pool controller 1470, and a tournament
controller 1472, each as described herein. The interactive
controllers (1462 and 1464) are connected to the application
controller 1466. The interactive controllers (1462 and 1464)
communicate to the application controller 1466, information
associated with the interactive application competition, as
described herein. The application controller 1466 receives the
information associated with the interactive application competition
and determines a winner of the competition. The application
controller 1466 communicates to the tournament controller 1472 an
identification of the winner of the competition. The tournament
controller 1472 receives the identification of the winner of the
competition and communicates the identification of the winner of
the competition to the side pool controller 1470. The side pool
controller 1470 receives the identification of the winner of the
competition and communicates the funds associated with the side
pool to the wager controller associated with the winner of the
competition.
[0271] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of interactions between
components of a side pool interleaved wagering system in accordance
with various embodiments of the invention. The system includes an
interactive controller 1502, an application controller 1504, a
wager controller 1506, a side pool controller 1508, and a
tournament controller 1510, each as described herein. The
interactive controller 1502 provides an interactive application. In
some embodiments, the interactive application is an interactive
game. In some embodiments, the interactive game is a skill-based
game. In some embodiments, the interactive game is a chance-based
game. In some embodiments, a user of the interactive application
may participate in a competition between one or more other users of
the interactive application.
[0272] The interactive controller 1502 communicates application
telemetry to the application controller 1504 (1512). The
application telemetry may include information associated with an
interactive application competition. The information may include
user identification, user score, or time elapsed during a session
of the interactive application. The application controller 1504
receives the application telemetry from the interactive controller
1502 (1512).
[0273] The application controller 1504 communicates tournament
information to the tournament controller 1510 (1514). The
tournament information may include the application telemetry
received from the interactive controller 1502. The tournament
information may also include an identifier associated with the
application controller 1504 and the wager controller 1506. The
tournament controller 1510 receives the tournament information from
the application controller 1504 (1514).
[0274] The application controller 1504 also generates a wager
request based on the received application telemetry, and
communicates the wager request to the wager controller 1506 (1516).
The wager controller 1506 receives the wager request from the
application controller 1504 (1516). The wager controller 1506
communicates funds for the side pool to the side pool controller
1508 (1518). The amount of funds to be communicated to the side
pool controller 1508 and the situations in which funds are
communicated to the side pool controller 1508 are as described
herein. The side pool controller 1508 receives funds for the side
pool from the wager controller 1506. In some embodiments, the side
pool controller 1508 receives funds for the side pool from multiple
wager controllers.
[0275] The wager controller 1506 generates a wager outcome (1520)
based on the received wager request and communicates the wager
outcome to the application controller 1504 (1522). The application
controller 1504 receives the wager outcome from the wager
controller 1506 (1522). The application controller 1504 determines
application resources to be awarded based on the received wager
outcome and communicates the application resources to the
interactive controller 1502 (1524). The interactive controller 1502
receives the application resources from the application controller
1504 (1524).
[0276] Upon completion of the competition, the tournament
controller 1510 communicates competition results to the application
controller 1504 (1526). The application controller 1504 receives
the competition results from the tournament controller 1510 (1526).
The application controller 1510 communicates the competition
results to the interactive controller 1502 (1528). The interactive
controller 1502 receives the competition results from the
interactive controller 1502 (1528). The interactive controller may
display the results to the user. The application controller 1504
may award application resources based on the competition
results.
[0277] In addition, upon completion of the competition, the
tournament controller 1510 communicates to the side pool controller
1508 an identification of the side pool winner (1530). The side
pool controller 1508 receives, from the tournament controller 1510,
the identification of the side pool winner (1530). The
identification of the side pool winner may include the user
identification associated with the winning user of the competition
and also the amount won by the user. In some embodiments, the
tournament controller 1510 receives the identification of the
winner from the interactive controller, the application controller,
a session manager, or the tournament controller 1510 determines the
identification of the winner.
[0278] The side pool controller 1508 communicates the funds for the
side pool award to the wager controller 1506 (1532). The wager
controller 1506 receives the funds for the side pool award from the
side pool controller 1508 (1532). The wager controller 1506 that
receives the funds for the side pool award is the wager controller
associated with the winning user. In some embodiments, more than
one user is a winner, so the side pool controller 1508 communicates
funds to the wager controllers associated with the winning
users.
[0279] While the above description may include many specific
embodiments of the invention, these should not be construed as
limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples
of embodiments thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the
present invention can be practiced otherwise than specifically
described, without departing from the scope and spirit of the
present invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention
described herein should be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *