Server-Based Flat Rate Gaming Session Credit Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaming systems lack efficient methods for managing flat rate play sessions across multiple gaming devices in a networked environment, leading to complexities in credit management and session duration tracking.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a server and gaming devices that facilitate flat rate play sessions by transmitting necessary credits and session counters/timers, allowing for seamless initiation and management of game play sessions with predetermined durations or numbers of games, enabling efficient credit allocation and session tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If flat rate play sessions are managed across multiple gaming devices in a networked environment, then player experience and operational efficiency are enhanced, but credit management and session duration tracking become complex
Solution Approach 1:
A server acts as an intermediary between multiple gaming devices and the central management system. The server receives session initiation requests from gaming devices, calculates the required credits based on flat rate pricing, and transmits both the credits and session counter values to the appropriate devices. This intermediary role simplifies credit management complexity by centralizing the calculation and distribution logic, while still enabling efficient flat rate play sessions across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the credit management function into distinct components: session parameters are stored in a database, the server performs calculation and validation, and individual gaming devices execute the session control. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall operational efficiency while managing complexity through functional decomposition.
2Measurement precision
If session counters and timers are transmitted to gaming devices, then session duration tracking is improved, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits only the essential session parameters (counter and timer values) needed for tracking, rather than continuously transmitting all possible session data. This partial transmission approach maintains accurate session duration tracking while minimizing the quantity of data transmitted across the network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If credits are allocated for predetermined number of games or time duration, then player flexibility is improved, but credit allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server implements a universal credit allocation system that handles both game-count-based and time-based flat rate sessions through the same interface and calculation logic. By making the system multi-functional, it can accommodate different session types (predetermined number of games or time duration) without increasing complexity, as the same core mechanisms serve multiple purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises receiving a request from a gaming device to initiate a session of game play comprising a plurality of game plays to be played, and transmitting to the gaming device an amount of credit required to initiate a first game play of the session on the gaming device.