Database Communications for a Gaming Network

Abstract

Techniques for database communications within a gaming network are presented. A gaming device includes a first database and a remote processing site includes a second database. The gaming device and the remote processing site establish two-way communications between one another via database commands associated with the databases.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a local database command from a remote processing site having a remote database, wherein the local database command is in a database definition format understood by a gaming device that maintains the local database and wherein the remote site dynamically discovers the data base definition format from prior transactions with the gaming device; and   processing the local database command against a local database.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, issuing a remote database command from the local database to the remote database. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, transmitting a schema associated with the local database to the remote processing site, wherein the schema defines the database definition format for the local database. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving further includes receiving the local database command as at least one of an update operation to the local database, a database configuration operation for the local database, and a query operation directed to the local database. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, dynamically altering a game executed on the gaming device in response to processing the local database command against the local database within the gaming device. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, processing the local command to dynamically configure the local database. 
   
   
       7 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a first database command from a remote processing site to a gaming device which has a first database, wherein the first database command is in a database definition format that is understood by the first database of the gaming device; and   receiving a second database command from the gaming device associated with the second database, wherein the first database is interfaced to the second database by means of the remote processing site and wherein the second database command is in a different database definition format from the first database and is understood by the second database of the remote site.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, configuring the first database with the first database command. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, recording metrics associated with one or more games executing on the gaming device within the second database in response to the second database command. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, updating the first database on the gaming device when the gaming device processes the first database command against the first database on the gaming device. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein updating further includes adding a new game to execute on the gaming device by processing the first database command on the gaming device. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein updating further includes modifying an existing game that executes on the gaming device by processing the first database command on the gaming device. 
   
   
       13 . A database interface, comprising:
 a first interface adapted to process first database commands associated with a first database, wherein the first database is integrated in a gaming device and wherein the first database commands are adapted be received over a network from a remote processing site in a first database definition format recognized by the first database; and   a second interface adapted to construct and transmit second database commands associated with a second database, wherein the second database is locally interfaced to the remote processing site and the second database commands are in a second database definition format recognized by the second database.   
   
   
       14 . The database interface of  claim 13 , wherein the network is at least one of secure, hardwired, and wireless. 
   
   
       15 . The database interface of  claim 13 , wherein the gaming device is a standalone machine adapted to execute one or more games associated with betting. 
   
   
       16 . The database interface of  claim 13 , wherein the gaming device is a logical device adapted to be processed within a machine as instructions associated with one or more betting games. 
   
   
       17 . The database interface of  claim 16 , wherein the gaming device is adapted to process within a browser and the network is the Internet. 
   
   
       18 . The database interface of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second database interfaces cooperate to establish two-way communications between the gaming device and the remote processing site via the first and second database commands. 
   
   
       19 . A system, comprising:
 a gaming device; and   a remote processing site, wherein the gaming device includes a first database having a first database definition format and the remote processing site includes a second database having a second database definition format, and wherein the gaming device and the remote processing site are adapted to establish two-way communications with one another through database commands transmitted between one another over a network to the first and second databases and wherein each command transmitted is in a target database definition format of a receiving party's database.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the gaming device is at least one of a standalone machine and a logical device embedded within a composite machine. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the remote processing site is adapted to transmit and to form a number of the database commands over the network to configure the first database of the gaming device. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the remote processing site is adapted to transmit and to form a number of the database commands to discover a schema associated with the first database that represents the first database definition format. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the remote processing site is adapted to transmit and to form a number of database commands to alter an existing game defined within the first database or to add a new game definition for a new game within the first database. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the gaming device is adapted to transmit and to form a number of database commands that confirm to the remote processing site an existing configuration for the first database or for a selective portion of the first database. 
   
   
       25 . A gaming device, comprising:
 memory;   a processor;   a database; and   a database interface, wherein the database interface is adapted to receive database commands from a remote processing site and adapted to process the database commands on the processor in cooperation with the memory, and wherein the database interface is adapted to establish two-way communications via the database commands with the remote processing site over a network using a database definition format associated with the database and discovered by the remote processing site via prior dynamic transactions with the gaming device.   
   
   
       26 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the database interface is further adapted to form a number of the database commands and to direct them to a remote database interfaced to the remote processing site. 
   
   
       27 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the gaming device is adapted to use selective portions of the database to drive selective gaming applications executing on the processor in cooperation with the memory. 
   
   
       28 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the gaming device is adapted to configure or to update the database in response to a number of the database commands received from the remote processing site. 
   
   
       29 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the gaming device is adapted to dynamically effect modifications in existing games executed within the processor and the memory in response to a number of database commands received from the remote processing site. 
   
   
       30 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the gaming device is adapted to record and report game player information or game accounting in response to a number of database commands received from the remote processing site. 
   
   
       31 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the gaming device is adapted to enter a progressive game in response to a number of database commands received from the remote processing site.