Client-server network configurations for gaming systems

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided wherein a plurality of gaming system clusters are positioned in a casino, wherein each cluster includes a server computing system and a plurality of client computer systems arranged in proximity to one another. A plurality of client computer systems are provided, wherein each client computing system includes a client software program, a display device and random access memory. A plurality of wagering game machine program components are used by the client software program to provide a game to a user. The server computing system includes one or more server software components and one or more data storage devices, with the server computing system in communication with the client computer systems. One or more of the wagering game machine program components are stored in the one or more data storage devices. With the one or more server software components adapted to provide gaming program components to one or more of the client computer systems. A server computing system in at least one of the gaming system clusters communicates with a server computing system in at least one other gaming system cluster.

1 . A method, comprising:
 positioning a plurality of gaming system clusters in a casino, wherein each cluster includes:
 a server computing system; 
 a plurality of client computer systems arranged in proximity to one another, wherein each client computing system includes a client software program, a display device and random access memory; 
 a plurality of wagering game machine program components used by the client software program to provide a game to a user; 
 the server computing system including one or more server software components and one or more data storage devices, the server computing system in communication with the client computer systems; 
 one or more of the wagering game machine program components stored in the one or more data storage devices; 
 the one or more server software components adapted to provide gaming program components to one or more of the client computer systems; and 
   a server computing system in at least one of the gaming system clusters communicating with a server computing system in at least one other gaming system cluster.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein one or more of the server software components include a math model for the probabilities of the game. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the client computing systems are mounted in a wagering game machine cabinet. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the client computing share storage capacity on the one or more data storage devices on the server computing system. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein at least one of the components stored in the server computing system comprises art work elements displayed on the display device of a client computing system. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein the server computing system includes an image management function to store and serve images used by the client computing system. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein the server computing system includes at least one software component to authenticate one or more of the client computing systems. 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein games running on the client computing systems have credit balances, and further wherein the client computing system includes one or more software components to track the credit balances. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein the method includes one or more software components to establish a credit balance in the event of the failure of a client computing system or server computing system. 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein at least one client computing system includes at least one software element to recognize a player credit entered into the hosted game and to send a communication to the server computing system indicating the recognized player credit. 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 1  further including a further server computing system adapted to communicate with the server computing system for each of the clusters. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 1  further including a coin dispenser adapted to deliver coins to at least two of the client computing systems to provide coin payouts to players. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein at least one server computing system is connected to at least one client computing system over at least one fiber optic data transmission element. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 1  further including at least two of the client computing systems in a cluster connected directly together to provide a communication path from one of the client computing systems through another client computing system to the server computing system. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claims 1  further including at least one backup server computing system for each cluster wherein the backup server computing system is adapted to communicate with the client computing systems in the cluster to provide server computing system functions for the client computing systems. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 1  further including a hierarchy of server computing systems. 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein each client computing system includes a random number generator component used to generate random numbers for a game of chance. 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the server computing system or at least one client computing system, or both, include one or more software components adapted to cache a group of images likely to be used by a game executing on the client computing system, wherein the images can be accessed without a latency detrimental to the enjoyment of the game by a player. 
   
   
       34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein one or more of the client computing systems are adapted to serve images in response to commands from the server computing system, and further wherein input from a player is sent to the server computing system to be processed to determine output to be displayed on the client computing system. 
   
   
       38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . (canceled) 
   
   
       44 . Gaming apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of gaming system clusters positioned in a casino, wherein each cluster includes:
 a server computing system; 
 a plurality of client computer systems arranged in proximity to one another, wherein each client computing system includes a client software program, a display device and random access memory; 
 a plurality of wagering game machine program components used by the client software program to provide a game to a user; 
 the server computing system including one or more server software components and one or more data storage devices, the server computing system in communication with the client computer systems; 
 one or more of the wagering game machine program components stored in the one or more data storage devices; 
 the one or more server software components adapted to provide gaming program components to one or more of the client computer systems; and 
   a server computing system in at least one of the gaming system clusters communicating with a server computing system in at least one other gaming system cluster.