Menu Selection System and Method of Operation Thereof

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A menu selection system (1) including a game server (2) and a user access facility in the form of a computer work-station (3) with an associated display (5) and a pointing device (5a). The workstation (3) is remotely located from the game server (2) and communication between the two is provided across communications network (4).

1.  A menu selection system, comprising: a categorisation facility operable to categorise a number of casino games playable by a user in an on-line casino environment, into a number of different categories; and a display means instructable to display to the user display data relating to all the casino games in any selectable one of the number of different game categories. 
     
     
         2.  A menu selection as claimed in  claim 1  in which each one of the number of casino games is categorisable in a plurality of different game categories. 
     
     
         3.  A menu selection system as claimed in either one of the  claim 1  in which the different game categories to include any one or more of progressive jackpot games, table games, video poker games, slots games and new games. 
     
     
         4.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 2  in which a further one of the different game categories relates to casino games that are preferred by the user. 
     
     
         5.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the display data corresponding to each casino game includes primary and secondary game data. 
     
     
         6.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 5  in which the primary game data includes a name of the casino game and a type of the casino game. 
     
     
         7.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 5  in which the secondary game data includes any one or more of the name of the casino game, the type of the casino game, data relating to a jackpot which can be won on the casino game, a description of the casino game, a set of rules applicable to the casino game, and a game status indicator. 
     
     
         8.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 7  in which the game status is an active status when the casino game is ready for playing by the user, and an inactive status when the game is not ready for playing by the user. 
     
     
         9.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 8  in which the game is ready for playing by the user when the casino game has been previously downloaded from a gaming server, or when an updated version of the casino game has been downloaded from the gaming server. 
     
     
         10.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the display means includes a display screen having an associated pointing device. 
     
     
         11.   A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 10  in which the display means is also instructable to display the different game categories as tabbed categories on the display screen. 
     
     
         12.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 11  in which the primary game data of all the games in a selected tabbed game category is displayed in a scrollable window on the display screen. 
     
     
         13.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 12  in which the secondary game data corresponding to any particular game in the selected game category is displayed in an adjacent non-scrollable window on the display screen when the primary game data in the scrollable window is brought into focus by means of the pointing device. 
     
     
         14.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 4  in which the menu selection system includes a selection means activatable by the user to categorise and de-categorise any one or more of the casino games in the category of casino games preferred by the user. 
     
     
         15.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the display means is instructable to display the game categories and the casino games in each category by means of a conventional fly-out menu interface display. 
     
     
         16.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 4  that includes a recommendation facility operable to provide the user with a personalised recommendation of any one or more of the number of casino games that is likely to be of interest to the user. 
     
     
         17.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 16  in which the recommendation facility provides the user with the personalised recommendation as a function of the casino games contained in the category of casino games preferred by the user. 
     
     
         18.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 16  in which the recommendation facility provides the user with the personalised recommendation as a function of a history of a number of games most recently played by the user. 
     
     
         19.  A menu selection system as claimed in  claim 16  in which the recommendation facility provides the user with the personalised recommendation as a function of a user-supplied profile of preferred games. 
     
     
         20.  A method of operation of a menu selection system, comprising the steps of: categorising a number of casino games playable by a user in an on-line casino environment into a number of different categories; and displaying to the user display data relating to all the casino games in any one of the number of different game categories. 
     
     
         21.  A method as claimed in  claim 20  in which each one of the number of casino games is categorised into a plurality of different game categories. 
     
     
         22.  A method as claimed in  claim 20  in which the casino games are categorised into the categories of progressive jackpot games, table games, video poker games, slots games and new games. 
     
     
         23.  A method as claimed in  claim 21  that includes the step of providing a further game category relating to casino games which are preferred by the user. 
     
     
         24.  A method as claimed in  claim 20  in which the display data corresponding to each casino game is classified into primary and secondary game data. 
     
     
         25.  A method as claimed in  claim 24  that has the step of including in the primary game data a name of the casino game and a type of the casino game. 
     
     
         26.  A method as claimed in  claim 24  which has the step of including in the secondary game data any one or more of the name of the casino game, the type of the casino game, data relating to a jackpot which can be won on the casino game, a description of the casino game, a set of rules applicable to the casino game, and a game status indicator. 
     
     
         27.  A method as claimed in  claim 26  in which the game status indicator is set to be active when the casino game is ready for playing by the user, and inactive when the game is not ready for playing by the user. 
     
     
         28.  A method as claimed in  claim 26  in which the game status indicator is set to be inactive when the casino game has not previously been downloaded from a gaming server, or when an updated version of the casino game must be downloaded from the gaming server. 
     
     
         29.  A method as claimed in  claim 20  in which the data relating to the casino games is displayed on a display screen having an associated pointing device. 
     
     
         30.  A method as claimed in  claim 21  in which the different game categories are displayed on the display screen as tabbed categories. 
     
     
         31.  A method as claimed in  claim 30  in which the primary game data of all the games in a selected tabbed game category is displayed in a scrollable window on the display screen. 
     
     
         32.  A method as claimed in  claim 31  in which the secondary game data corresponding to any particular game in the selected game category is displayed in an adjacent non-scrollable window when the corresponding primary game data in the scrollable window is brought into focus by means of the pointing device. 
     
     
         33.  A method as claimed in  claim 23 , which includes the further steps of: adding any desired one or more of the casino games to the category of casino games preferred by the user; and removing any casino game from this category when it is no longer preferred by the user. 
     
     
         34.  A method as claimed in  claim 20  in which the game categories and the casino games in each game category are selectively displayed by means of a conventional fly-out menu interface display on the display screen. 
     
     
         35.  A method as claimed in  claim 23  that includes the step of providing the user with a personalised recommendation of any one or more of the number of casino games which is likely to be of interest to the user. 
     
     
         36.  A method as claimed in  claim 35  in which the user is provided with a personalised recommendation as a function of the casino games contained in the category of casino games preferred by the user. 
     
     
         37.  A method as claimed in  claim 35  in which the user is provided with the personalised recommendation as a function of a history of a number of games most recently played by the user. 
     
     
         38.  A method as claimed in  claim 35  in which the user is provided with the personalised recommendation as a function of a user-supplied profile of preferred games.