Prior art — US Patent 9978205

Analysis of Prior Art for U.S. Patent 9,978,205

An analysis of the prior art cited during the examination of U.S. Patent 9,978,205 reveals several key references that the USPTO examiner considered. These references describe various aspects of networked gaming, wagering, and location-based services. The following sections detail the most relevant cited patents and their potential impact on the claims of the '205 patent.

Key Prior Art and Potential Anticipation

The following prior art references were cited by the examiner during the prosecution of the application that led to US 9,978,205. The analysis below outlines how each reference could be viewed as anticipating specific claims of the patent.

1. U.S. Patent No. 7,682,239 B2

Full Citation: US 7,682,239 B2, "Gaming system having a location-aware player interface," assigned to IGT.
Publication/Filing Date: Published March 23, 2010; Filed August 10, 2004.
Brief Description: This patent describes a gaming system that uses location information to control various aspects of a game. It discloses a system with a portable gaming device that communicates with a central server. The server can determine the device's location and, based on that location, enable or disable games, modify game features, or alter wagering options to comply with local regulations. For instance, it can restrict gaming to authorized areas like a casino floor.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference appears to anticipate the core concepts of claims 1, 12, 19, and 28.
- Claim 1 & 12: The '239 patent describes a method and system for creating a list of available games based on the "current location of the player" to ensure compliance with legal requirements, which aligns with the central limitation of these claims.
- Claim 19: It discloses a system architecture with a client device (player interface), a central server (administration server), and game servers, which mirrors the structure described in claim 19.
- Claim 28: The system in the '239 patent presents gaming options on the player's device after identifying which games are permitted at that location, directly mapping to the steps in claim 28.

2. U.S. Patent No. 8,535,145 B2

Full Citation: US 8,535,145 B2, "Method and apparatus for facilitating play of a peer-to-peer game," assigned to WMS Gaming Inc.
Publication/Filing Date: Published September 17, 2013; Filed May 1, 2008.
Brief Description: This patent details a system for facilitating peer-to-peer wagering games. It describes a central controller that manages game sessions between multiple players. The system can present a list of available games, match players, handle wagers, and determine outcomes. Crucially, it discusses operating within a regulated gaming environment and using player location to determine eligibility to play.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference is highly relevant to claims 1, 6, 9, and 23.
- Claim 1: The '145 patent's system facilitates peer-to-peer games by presenting options, matching competitors, and collecting bets, similar to the method in claim 1. Its discussion of regulatory compliance implies location-based restrictions.
- Claim 6 & 23 (Matching Engine): It explicitly describes a "matching" function where the central controller finds and connects compatible players based on game choice and wager amounts, which is a key element of the dependent claims.
- Claim 9 (Initiating Contact): The process of presenting a list of competitors and allowing a player to challenge another is a described embodiment, potentially anticipating this claim.

3. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0259717 A1

Full Citation: US 2007/0259717 A1, "Server based gaming system with location determination," by inventors such as Gerson et al.
Publication/Filing Date: Published November 8, 2007; Filed May 4, 2006.
Brief Description: This application describes a server-based gaming system for mobile devices where the player's physical location is a critical component. The system verifies the player's location to ensure they are within a legally permissible jurisdiction (e.g., a specific state or casino property) before allowing real-money wagering. It discloses a central system that authorizes game play and presents game options only after confirming the location is valid.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This publication presents a strong case for anticipating the main inventive concept of claims 1, 12, 19, and 28.
- Claim 1 & 12: The '717 application's primary focus is limiting gaming options to those that are legal in the "current location of the player," including restrictions on wagering. This directly reflects the language and intent of claims 1 and 12.
- Claim 19 & 28: It outlines a system where a central server creates and sends a list of permissible games to a player's client device based on location, which is the foundation of the systems described in these claims. The server then initiates and monitors the game.