Method and system for displaying information related to an evolving game process

Abstract

According to embodiments, the invention may be implemented as methods, systems, controllers and computer programs. Embodiments of the invention are adapted to monitor states of an evolving game process, initiate a real-time continuous communication process when a criterion is fulfilled through which information derived from the evolving game process is displayed on a display, and to monitor and evaluate when to terminate the real-time communication process. Thereby, embodiments provide means and methods for providing and displaying derived information regarding an evolving game process during a selected period.

1 . A method for controlling, in real time, display of information derived from an evolving game process in relation with a game of chance, the method comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring, in real time, states achieved by said evolving game process;    evaluating said states in view of a displaying criterion;    upon fulfillment of said displaying criterion, initiating a communication process for continuously communicating, in real time, signals for enabling the display in real time of said evolving-game-process-derived information;    monitoring, in real time, further states achieved by said evolving game process;    evaluating said further states in view of a display terminating criterion; and    upon fulfillment of the display terminating criterion, terminating said communication process.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said communication process comprises the steps of: 
 continuously transmitting, in real time, said signals to a displaying means; and    displaying, in real time, at said displaying means, said evolving-game-process derived information according to said signals received by said displaying means.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of continuously transmitting comprises broadcasting said signals to said displaying means remotely located from a system component conducting said evolving game process.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising selecting said displaying means based on at least one of: a status of said displaying means; an identified parameter of said displaying means; an identified parameter of a player playing said evolving game process; an identified parameter of a user of said displaying means; a parameter of a system component conducting said evolving game process; and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said displaying means comprises at least one of: a gaming machine display; a display of a gaming machine remotely located from a system component conducting the evolving game process; a display visible by a plurality of patrons in a casino; a personal computer in communication through the Internet; a back-room computer; and an attendant's wireless device in a casino.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising conducting at least two evolving game processes, and modifying at least one of: said step of evaluating said states in view of a displaying criterion; and said step of evaluating said further states in view of a display terminating criterion following one of said evolving game processes initiating said communication process.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising conducting at least two evolving game processes, and modifying said communication process following a second one of said evolving game processes initiating said communication process.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating history information upon said step of terminating said communication process.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a monitoring of specific data in said evolving game process, and preventing said step of initiating said communication process based on said monitored data in said evolving game process.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a monitoring of specific data in said evolving game process, and initiating said step of terminating said communication process based on said monitored data in said evolving game process.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said evolving game process is one of: a bonus feature triggered in said game of chance; a feature conducted over a plurality of outcomes of said game of chance; and a continual feature conducted along said game of chance.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evolving game process is conducted in a non-competitive manner between a plurality of players.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said evolving game process is one of: a synchronous-tournament participation; and a tournament participation wherein said participation in said tournament is conducted asynchronously from another participation in said tournament.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying criterion comprises at least one of: a probability; a win value; an expected value; a predetermined evolving-game-process state; and a comparison to at least one other evolving game process.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said display terminating criterion comprises at least one of: a duration; a number of said further states in said evolving game process; a probability; a win value; an expected value; a predetermined evolving-game process state; and a comparison to at least one other evolving game process.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 evaluating said states against prize criteria; and    awarding a prize to a player based on said evaluation.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said prize is awarded in one of: a point-value format; a comp-value format; a credit-value format, a limited-use credit-value format; a redeemable voucher format, a feature-participation format; a progressive-prize-value format; and a gift format.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said evolving game process and said game of chance are non-distinguishable.  
     
     
         19 . A system for controlling display of information derived from an evolving game process in relation with a game of chance, the system comprising: 
 a gaming apparatus for conducting said game of chance and providing outcomes of said game of chance to a player;    evolving-game-process controlling means for controlling conduct of said evolving game process;    monitoring means for monitoring, in real time, states achieved by said evolving game process;    evaluating means for evaluating said states achieved by said evolving game process in view of one of a displaying criterion and a display terminating criterion;    displaying means for displaying information derived from said evolving game process;    display controlling means for controlling a communication process for continuously communicating, in real time, signals for enabling the display in real time of said evolving-game-process derived information; and    communicating means for communicating information between the gaming apparatus, the evolving-process controlling means, the monitoring means, the evaluating means, the display controlling means and the displaying means,    wherein, upon positive evaluation of the displaying criterion by the evaluating means, the display controlling means initiates said communication process for continuously communicating, in real time, said signals and wherein, upon positive evaluation of the display terminating criterion by the evaluating means, the display controlling means terminates said communication process.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising storing means for storing system data, wherein said system data are evaluated to select said displaying means to display said evolving-game-process derived information.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising selecting means for selecting said displaying means to display said derived information based on said system data.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of said displaying means is remotely located from said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said displaying means is embodied in one of: a gaming machine display; a display visible to a plurality of patrons in a casino; a personal computer; a casino back-room computer; and an attendant's wireless device in a casino.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising, when at least two evolving game processes are conducted simultaneously, multi-process managing means for managing at least one of: i) said communication process, and ii) said evaluation process performed by said evaluating means based on states achieved by said at least two evolving game processes.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said system is embodied in a networked system comprising a game server and a bank of gaming machines.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said evolving game process is one of: a bonus feature triggered in said game of chance; a feature conducted over a plurality of outcomes of said game of chance; and a continual feature conducted along said game of chance.  
     
     
         27 . A display controller for controlling, in real time, display of information derived from an evolving game process in relation with a game of chance, the display controller comprising: 
 storing means for storing a displaying criterion and a display terminating criterion;    monitoring means for monitoring, in real time, states achieved by the evolving game process;    evaluating means for evaluating, in real time, the states achieved by the evolving game process in view of one of a displaying criterion and a display terminating criterion;    controlling means for controlling a communication process for continuously communicating, in real time, signals for enabling the display in real time of said evolving-game-process derived information; and    communicating means for communicating information and/or signals to and/or from a displaying means,    wherein, upon positive evaluation of the displaying criterion, the controlling means initiates the communication process of said signals with the displaying means, and wherein, upon positive evaluation of the display terminating criterion, the controlling means terminates the communication process.    
     
     
         28 . The display controller of  claim 27 , wherein said display controller is embodied in a game server part of a networked system comprising gaming machines.  
     
     
         29 . The display controller of  claim 27 , wherein said evolving game process is one of: a bonus feature triggered in said game of chance; a feature conducted over a plurality of outcomes of said game of chance; and a continual feature conducted along said game of chance.  
     
     
         30 . Computer program embodied on a computer readable medium or in processor-readable memory having codes adapted for: 
 monitoring, in real time, states achieved by an evolving game process in relation with a game of chance;    evaluating said states achieved by said evolving game process in view of one of a displaying criterion and a display terminating criterion; and    controlling a communication process for continuously communicating, in real time, signals to be used to display in real time information derived from the evolving game process on a displaying means,    wherein, upon positive evaluation of the displaying criterion, the communication process is initiated and, upon positive evaluation of the display terminating criterion, the communication process is terminated.    
     
     
         31 . The computer program of  claim 30 , wherein said evolving game process is one of: a bonus feature triggered in said game of chance; a feature conducted over a plurality of outcomes of said game of chance; and a continual feature conducted along said game of chance.