METHOD FOR OPERATING A GAMING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a computer implemented method for operating a gaming system, and specifically a scheme for allowing an electronic user device to be implemented in a simplified manner, where the electronic user device is configured to interact with a game provided in relation to the gaming system. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding gaming system and computer program product.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for operating a gaming system, the gaming system comprising a server and a visualizer provided as an independent hardware module in relation to the server, wherein the server is arranged in network communication with an electronic user device and the method comprises the steps of: receiving, at the server from the electronic user device operated by a player, a request to operate at least a portion of a game using the electronic user device, providing, using the server, a first set of game instructions for the game to the visualizer, forming, using the visualizer, a first set of game visuals based on the first set of game instructions, providing, using the server, the first set of game visuals to the electronic user device to enable the player to interact with the game, receiving, at the server, a player interaction from the electronic user device as a response to the first set of game visuals, and providing, using the server, a second set of game visuals to the electronic user device, wherein the second set of game visuals are at least partly dependent on the received player interaction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein further sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device to progress the operation of the game.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device in a device independent form.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device in an image-based form.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device in a video-based form.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request comprises an identity of the player.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the identity of the player comprises a hardware specification of the electronic user device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the formation of the sets of game visuals at the visualizer is dependent on the hardware specification of the electronic user device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sets of game visuals are formed in real time at the visualizer.

10. A gaming system, the gaming system comprising a server and a visualizer provided as an independent hardware module in relation to the server, wherein the server is arranged in network communication with an electronic user device and the gaming system is arranged to: receive, at the server from the electronic user device operated by a player, a request to operate at least a portion of a game using the electronic user device, provide, using the server, a first set of game instructions for the game to the visualizer, form, using the visualizer, a first set of game visuals based on the first set of game instructions, provide, using the server, the first set of game visuals to the electronic user device to enable the player to interact with the game, receive, at the server, a player interaction from the electronic user device as a response to the first set of game visuals, and provide, using the server, a second set of game visuals to the electronic user device, wherein the second set of game visuals are at least partly dependent on the received player interaction.

11. The gaming system according to claim 10, wherein further sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device to progress the operation of the game.

12. The gaming system according to claim 10, wherein the sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device in a device independent form.

13. The gaming system according to claim 10, wherein the sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device in an image-based form.

14. The gaming system according to claim 10, wherein the sets of game visuals are provided to the electronic user device in a video-based form.

15. The gaming system according to claim 10, further comprising the electronic user device.

16. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for operating a gaming system, the gaming system comprising a server and a visualizer provided as an independent hardware module in relation to the server, wherein the server is arranged in network communication with an electronic user device and the computer program product comprises: code for receiving, at the server from the electronic user device operated by a player, a request to operate at least a portion of a game using the electronic user device, code for providing, using the server, a first set of game instructions for the game to the visualizer, code for forming, using the visualizer, a first set of game visuals based on the first set of game instructions, code for providing, using the server, the first set of game visuals to the electronic user device to enable the player to interact with the game, code for receiving, at the server, a player interaction from the electronic user device as a response to the first set of game visuals, and code for providing, using the server, a second set of game visuals to the electronic user device, wherein the second set of game visuals are at least partly dependent on the received player interaction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The various aspects of the present disclosure, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming system according to the present disclosure is provided, and

[0029] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the exemplary steps for operating the gaming system as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. This present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

[0031] Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is depicted a gaming system 100 according to the present disclosure. The gaming system 100 comprises a server 102 and a visualizer 104, where the server 102 and the visualizer 104 are arranged to communicate over a network connection 106, such as using a WAN or a WLAN connection therebetween. The server 102 and the visualizer 104 may also be connected over the Internet.

[0032] The gaming system 100 is further connected to an electronic user device 108, such as a mobile phone or a tablet, where the electronic user device comprises a display screen (not shown) adapted to display a graphical user interface (GUI). The connection between the gaming system 100 may in some embodiments be provided using a similar network connection 106 as provided between the server 102 and the visualizer 104, possibly wired but preferably wireless.

[0033] Such a wireless network connection may for example be implemented using WLAN, CDMA, GSM, GPRS, 3G mobile communications, 4G mobile communications, 5G mobile communications, or similar. In some embodiments it may be desirable to ensure that the electronic user device 108 is securely connected to the server 102, e.g., using a https communication protocol.

[0034] The electronic user device 108 further comprises a user interface to be operated by a player provided with the electronic user device 108. The GUI of the electronic user device 108 is preferably provided for displaying gaming information to the player when the player is interacting with and playing a game, such as to execute actions within the game. The GUI of the electronic user device 108 may for example be provided with virtual buttons and/or text fields to allow the player to relay information back to the server 102.

[0035] The electronic user device 108 further comprises a control unit (not explicitly shown), where the control unit is connected to the display and the user interface. For reference, the control unit may be manifested as a general-purpose processor, an application specific processor, a circuit containing processing components, a group of distributed processing components, a group of distributed computers configured for processing, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The processor may be or include any number of hardware components for conducting data or signal processing or for executing computer code stored in memory. The memory may be one or more devices for storing data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating the various methods described in the present description. The memory may include volatile memory or non-volatile memory. The memory may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities of the present description. According to an exemplary embodiment, any distributed or local memory device may be utilized with the systems and methods of this description. According to an exemplary embodiment the memory is communicably connected to the processor (e.g., via a circuit or any other wired, wireless, or network connection) and includes computer code for executing one or more processes described herein.

[0036] Even though the server 102 and the visualizer 104 in FIG. 1 are provided as separate hardware entities, they may likewise be implemented as a single component, where possibly the visualizer functionality may be implemented as a software module of the server 102. Conversely, the functionality of the server 102 and the visualizer 104 may be geographically located at different positions, such as possibly within different countries. Such an implementation may have advantages from a legal perspective, e.g., relating to where the game is in fact operated or played. Accordingly, the server 102 may be arranged in a first country, and the visualizer 104 may be provided in a second and different country. The second country may be the same country as where the player is located.

[0037] During operation of the gaming system 100, with further reference to FIG. 2, the game is initiated when the server 102 receives, S1, a request to operate at least a portion of a game using the electronic user device 108. The server 102 will then provide, S2, a first set of game instructions for the game to the visualizer. The game instructions should conceptually be seen as information that can be used for forming a graphical representation of the game at a display screen of the electronic user device. The game instructions are however generally provided as metadata rather than graphical content. That is, the game instructions are generally “text based” as compared to “image based”.

[0038] The game instructions are then, once received at the visualizer 104, used by the visualizer to form, S3, a first set of game visuals. The game visuals are, compared to the game instructions, generally “image based” as compared to “text based”. It should however be understood that each of the game instructions and the game visuals in part may comprise both image based and text based content.

[0039] The server 102 will then provide, S4, the first set of game visuals to the electronic user device 108 to enable the player to interact with the game. The game visuals are here, as elaborated above, generally visualized within a GUI of the electronic user device 108. The visualization of the game visuals may for example be performed using a graphical accelerator provided as a component of the electronic user device 108.

[0040] The server 102 will subsequently receive, S5, a player interaction from the electronic user device 108 as a response to the first set of game visuals. The player interaction may for example be provided by the player using virtual buttons, etc. provided within the GUI of the electronic user device 108.

[0041] Once the player interaction has been received at the server 102, the server 102 may form and provide, S6, in conjunction with the visualizer 104, a second set of game visuals to the electronic user device 108, where the second set of game visuals are at least partly dependent on the received player interaction. The visualizer 104 will as such function interactively based on the operation of the player. The visualizer 104 will however generally also be provided with further information from the server 102, where such information for example may relate to an outcome of the game provided by the gaming system 100.

[0042] In summary, the present disclosure relates to a computer implemented method for operating a gaming system, the gaming system comprising a server and a visualizer, the server and visualizer arranged in network communication with an electronic user device, wherein the method comprises the steps of receiving, at the server from the electronic user device operated by a player, a request to operate at least a portion of a game using the electronic user device, providing, using the server, a first set of game instructions for the game to the visualizer, forming, using the visualizer, a first set of game visuals based on the first set of game instructions, providing, using the server, the first set of game visuals to the electronic user device to enable the player to interact with the game, receiving, at the server, a player interaction from the electronic user device as a response to the first set of game visuals, and providing, using the server, a second set of game visuals to the electronic user device, wherein the second set of game visuals are at least partly dependent on the received player interaction.

[0043] Advantages with the present disclosure includes the possibility of reducing the amount of graphical processing that is performed at the electronic user device. Consequently, and advantageously, the game may be provided to electronic user devices having an in comparison low processing capability, allowing the game to be operated by an increased number of potential players. Furthermore, the scheme as is provided by means of the present disclosure allows for less general adaptations of the game when new types of electronic user devices are released, reducing the general adaptation need for an operator of the game, whilst also being able to provide the best quality visuals across a broader range of user devices.

[0044] In addition, the control functionality of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures, and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

[0045] Although the figures may show a sequence the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps. Additionally, even though the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Further, a single unit may perform the functions of several means recited in the claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting to the claim. Furthermore, in the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

[0046] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed present disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments.