Abstract:
A method of improving a probability of winning a bingo game played on a first electronic computing device includes: on a second electronic computing device, sending data to the first electronic computing device for rending on the first electronic computing device. A selection of a ball to be added to a hopper is received. The ball is added ball to the hopper so that there are at least two identical balls in the hopper.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Electronic games are growing in popularity. One such game is bingo, which is an electronic version of bingo that is played over the Internet. Playing bingo online offers advantages such as playing bingo with a larger or different group of people than may be played with locally and often provides for winning different and larger prizes than may be available locally. In addition, online bingo permits playing bingo from the comfort of one&#39;s home and is commonly available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 
         [0002]    When bingo is played online, a player typically logs onto a website from a client computer or mobile device. One or more server computers control the content of the website. By controlling bingo content from a central location, enhancements to a bingo experience may be more easily made available to players. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to improving a probability of winning a bingo game played on a first electronic computing device. On a second electronic computing device, data is sent to the first electronic computing device for rending on the first electronic computing device. A selection of a ball to be added to a hopper is received. The ball is added ball to the hopper so that there are at least two identical balls in the hopper. 
         [0004]    In another aspect, a method for modifying bingo cards for a bingo game played on a first electronic computing device comprises: receiving a selection of first bingo number to be replaced on a bingo card rendered on the first electronic computing device; selecting a randomly generated second bingo number to replace the first bingo number; and sending the randomly generated second bingo number to the first electronic computing device. 
         [0005]    In yet another aspect, a method for duplicating a portion of a bingo card used on a bingo game played on a first electronic computing device comprises: on a second electronic computing device, sending online bingo data to the first electronic computing device for rending on the first electronic computing device; receiving a selection of one or more bingo numbers to be included on a bingo card; after the selection of the one or more numbers is received, creating a new bingo card that includes the one or more selected numbers; randomly generating numbers for the new bingo card for all remaining numbers on the new bingo card; and sending data for the new bingo card to the first electronic computing device for rendering the new bingo card on the first electronic computing device. 
         [0006]    In yet another aspect, a method for using a special bingo ball on a bingo game played on a first electronic computing device comprises: on a second electronic computing device, sending data for the special bingo ball to the first electronic computing device for rendering on the first electronic computing device; on the second electronic computing device, determining a reward associated with the special bingo ball; and sending data for the reward associated with the special bingo ball to the first electronic computing device. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect, a method of calling bingo on a first electronic computing device comprises: on the first electronic computing device, rending a bingo game user interface on the first electronic computing device, the bingo game user interface including a rendering of one or more bingo cards, each of the more bingo cards including an area on the one or more bingo cards that a player may use to indicate that the player has won at bingo on one of the bingo cards; receiving an indication that the player has swiped the area on one of the bingo cards; and determining that the player has won at bingo on one of the bingo cards. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows an example system that supports electronic bingo. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows an example bingo user interface that may be displayed on the client computer or mobile computing device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an example bingo user interface that may be displayed on the client computer or mobile computing device of  FIG. 1  to implement an Add Ball feature. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a second example bingo user interface that may be displayed on the client computer or mobile computing device of  FIG. 1  to implement the Add Ball feature. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an example bingo user interface that illustrates a Lotto Daub feature. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows an example bingo user interface that illustrates a Twin Card feature. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a second example bingo user interface that illustrates the Twin Card feature. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows an example bingo user interface that illustrates a Flipper Ball feature. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a second example bingo user interface that illustrates the Flipper Ball feature. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows an example bingo user interface that illustrates a Swipe to Bingo feature. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  shows example physical components of the server computer of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing enhanced features to an electronic gaming experience. The enhanced features include an Add Ball feature, a Lotto Daub feature, a Twin Card feature, a Flipper Ball feature and a Swipe to Bingo feature. These features are explained in detail herein. Other enhancement features are possible. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an example system  100  that supports electronic bingo. The system  100  includes client computer  102 , mobile computing device  104 , network  106  and server computer  108 . An example of client computer  102  is a desktop computer or a laptop computer. An example of mobile computing device  104  is a cellular telephone or a tablet computer. An example of server computer  108  is a web server computer. More than one client computer  102 , mobile computing device  104  or server computer  108  may be used. Typically, network  106  is the Internet. 
         [0021]    A player on client computer  102  or mobile computing device  104  uses a web browser or local application on client computer  102  or mobile computing device  104 , respectively, to logon to server computer  108  over the network  106 . When logged on, server computer  108  sends online bingo user interface data to client computer  102  or mobile computing device  104 . As a result, an online bingo user interface is rendered on client computer  102  or mobile computing device  104 , respectively. Examples of the online bingo user interface are shown and discussed later herein. 
         [0022]    Bingo is typically played using a card having a series of letters at the top and a series of numbers underneath that form a matrix. Letter/number combinations are called (e.g., G52), and the player tracks the letter/number combinations that are called in an attempt to form a specific pattern on the card. Examples of such patterns include a line across the card, four corners, etc. Other configurations are possible. 
         [0023]    The Add Ball feature allows players to change the number of balls in the bingo hopper to influence the chance that desired balls will be called. 
         [0024]    In bingo there are a predetermined number of balls that go into the bingo hopper at the beginning of the game. The predetermined number of balls is generally 75, 80, or 90 balls. However, the predetermined number of balls may vary, depending on the bingo type played. The balls in the bingo hopper are then drawn one at a time at random. 
         [0025]    The odds of a next ball being a ball a player desires is 1/X where X is the number of balls remaining in the hopper. The Add Ball feature permits players to put more balls into the hopper to increase the odds in their favor. For example, if a player needs the ball G53, the player could add this ball (perhaps for a price) and change the odds to 2/X. There is now double the chance that G53 will be called next from the bingo hopper. Different rules may apply to the amount of times or frequency that players may enact the Add Ball feature. Once a ball is called, the ball cannot be selected to be added again to the hopper. 
         [0026]    As an example of the Add Ball feature, refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 2  shows an example bingo screen  200  that may be displayed on client computer  102 . The example bingo screen  200  includes two electronic bingo cards,  202  and  204 . The bingo screen  200  also includes a ball call indicator  206  that indicates how many balls have been called during the present game (in this case  2 ) and the predetermined number of balls for the game (in this case  75 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , two numbers have been called (O70 and G58), as indicated by reference  208 . The bingo screen  200  displays an example message  210 , informing a player to select a number to add to the hopper. In this example, the player selects G53 to be added, as indicated by reference  212 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows an example bingo screen  300  that may be displayed on client computer  102 . The example bingo screen  300  includes two electronic bingo cards,  302  and  304 . The ball call indicator  306  shows that five ball have been called. The five balls are G58, O70, B5, N36 and  126 , as indicated by reference  308 . The bingo screen  300  shows that G53, as indicated by reference  310 , is to be added to the hopper. When bingo ball G53 is added to the hopper, there are two G53 balls in the hopper. This increases the odds that G53 may be drawn from 1/(75-Y) to 2/(75-Y), where Y equals the number of balls already drawn. 
         [0028]    The Lotto Daub feature enables players to attempt to change uncalled numbers on their bingo cards for called numbers. 
         [0029]    In bingo, balls are grouped in different ranges. For instance in 75 ball bingo, balls are grouped into five groups of 15 numbers and identified by the letters B-I-N-G-O (for example, B10 or G55). In other games of bingo the numbers are grouped by value ranges (for example, 90 ball bingo has six groups of 15 numbers). On bingo cards, the numbers are often arranged by their grouping in a vertical or horizontal line. A player may require a number in a group at a time when many of other numbers within that group have already been called. 
         [0030]    For example, the player may need B10, but eight numbers from the B group may have already been called, but not B10. In this situation the player may wish to enact the Lotto Daub feature. When the Lotto Daub feature is selected, a number on the player&#39;s bingo card is replaced with a new randomly selected number from available numbers, excluding the number that is being lotto daubed. For example, if the player selects B10 from daubing, the server computer  108  returns one of 14 numbers from the population of available numbers (any number but B10). 
         [0031]    Depending on how many numbers have been already called from this group (in this example eight numbers have been called), the player may improve his/her chances of having the new number called. In addition, the Lotto Daub feature may be used more than once, for example by replacing a second number, a third number, etc. on the player&#39;s bingo game card. In some examples, multiple numbers may be selected for lotto daubing at the same time. 
         [0032]    An equation for the probability (P) of replacing an uncalled number with a called number using the Lotto Daub feature is 
         [0000]        P=X/ ( Y−Z ), where       X=the amount of called numbers within the group,   Y=the amount of available numbers in the group, and   Z=the amount of numbers being replaced (usually 1).         
         [0036]    In this example (where eight numbers have been called) the probability that B10 may be replaced with a called number is (8/(15−1))=57%. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows an example bingo screen  400  that illustrates the Lotto Daub feature. When a player selects the Lotto Daub feature, an example message  402  is displayed on the bingo screen  400  indicating that the player should select a square for lotto daubing. In this example, the player selects the square G58 for lotto daubing. In this example, G58 appears on each of the player&#39;s two cards, as indicated by references  404  and  406 . 
         [0038]    The Twin Card feature allows players to multiply or “twin” well performing cards. In bingo, players have a number of cards ranging from  1  to hundreds. Depending on the random numbers called from the hopper, some cards approach a bingo faster than others. The Twin Card feature allows players to replicate a well performing card by duplicating the card. A new card is created where all numbers that been called and marked remain on the card, but all uncalled numbers are shuffled to new random uncalled numbers. Now the player has two well performing cards. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows an example bingo screen  500  that illustrates the Twin Card feature. When the Twin Card feature is selected, an example message  504  is displayed on the bingo screen  500  indicating that a card is to be selected for copying. In this example, the player selects card  502 . When card  502  is selected, an example bingo card  600 , shown in  FIG. 6  is displayed. The player then selects bingo numbers on card  502  to be included in the twin card. In this example, the player selects  70 ,  28  and  58 . An example message  602  is displayed indicating that the player should verify that the selected bingo numbers should be copied. The player then either confirms that the selected bingo numbers should be copied or cancels. As shown in  FIG. 6 , each of the selected bingo numbers is a square shape. In other examples, other shapes, for example circles, may be used. 
         [0040]    The Flipper Ball is a special ball that is drawn from the bingo hopper and does not represent a number, but gives the player rewards. The reward may be more in-game currency, or any other prize (or penalty) that can be integrated into the bingo game. The reward may be given to the player immediately or dropped onto bingo cards on particular squares for the player to collect when they daub that square. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the Flipper Ball feature.  FIG. 7  shows an example bingo screen  700 . The bingo screen  700  shows that instead of a number being drawn from the bingo hopper, an example flipper ball  702  is drawn instead. The flipper ball  702  has a distinctive design, in this case a yellow star, to indicate that a flipper ball has been drawn.  FIG. 8  shows an example screen  800  illustrating a conversion from flipper ball  702  to a reward. In this example, the flipper ball  702  is converted into a dollar ball  802 , indicating that the reward is money. 
         [0042]    The Swipe to Bingo feature is a method of calling bingo on a touch screen interface like an iPhone or iPad. In bingo, players typically have to push a button to call Bingo. Instead, the Swipe to Bingo feature permits players to swipe their fingers across an area on the screen to call a bingo. 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  shows an example bingo screen  900  that illustrates the Swipe to Bingo feature. The bingo screen  900  shows that each card  902 ,  904  on the screen has “Slide to Call Bingo” module  906  displayed on the top of each card. The “Slide to Call Bingo” module  906  has a first end  908  and a second end  910 . When a player has bingo, the player can call bingo by swiping his/her finger over the “Slide to Call Bingo” module  906  from the first end  908  to the second end  910  of the card that has bingo. 
         [0044]    In addition, although some of the examples described herein are provided in the online context, the concepts are equally applicable to other electronic gaming scenarios. For example, the features can be applied to electronic gaming applications that are installed on one or more devices. In another example, many of the features described may be used on digital terminals locally linked in a traditional bingo hall that has electronic screens. 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  illustrates example physical components of the server computer  108 . The description of the physical components of server computer  108  herein also applies to client computer  102  and generally applies to mobile computing device  104 . 
         [0046]    As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 10 , the server computer  108  includes at least one central processing unit (“CPU”)  1002 , a system memory  1008 , and a system bus  1022  that couples the system memory  1008  to the CPU  1002 . The system memory  1008  includes a random access memory (“RAM”)  1010  and a read-only memory (“ROM”)  1012 . A basic input/output system contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the server computer  108 , such as during startup, is stored in the ROM  1012 . The server computer  108  further includes a mass storage device  1014 . The mass storage device  1014  is able to store software instructions and data. 
         [0047]    The mass storage device  1014  is connected to the CPU  1002  through a mass storage controller (not shown) connected to the system bus  1022 . The mass storage device  1014  and its associated computer-readable data storage media provide non-volatile, non-transitory storage for the server computer  108 . Although the description of computer-readable data storage media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such as a hard disk or solid state disk, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable data storage media can be any available non-transitory, physical device or article of manufacture from which the central display station can read data and/or instructions. 
         [0048]    Computer-readable data storage media include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable software instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Example types of computer-readable data storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROMs, digital versatile discs (“DVDs”), other optical storage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the server computer  108 . 
         [0049]    According to various embodiments of the invention, the server computer  108  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote network devices through the network  106 , such as a local network, the Internet, or another type of network. The server computer  108  may connect to the network  106  through a network interface unit  1004  connected to the system bus  1022 . It should be appreciated that the network interface unit  1004  may also be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remote computing systems. The server computer  108  also includes an input/output controller  1006  for receiving and processing input from a number of other devices, including a keyboard, a mouse, a touch user interface display screen, or another type of input device. Similarly, the input/output controller  1006  may provide output to a touch user interface display screen, a printer, or other type of output device. 
         [0050]    As mentioned briefly above, the mass storage device  1014  and the RAM  1010  of the server computer  108  can store software instructions and data. The software instructions include an operating system  1018  suitable for controlling the operation of the server computer  108 . The mass storage device  1014  and/or the RAM  1010  also store software instructions, that when executed by the CPU  1002 , cause the server computer  108  to provide the functionality of the server computer  108  discussed in this document. For example, the mass storage device  1014  and/or the RAM  1010  can store software instructions that, when executed by the CPU  1002 , cause the server computer  108  to display received physiological data on the display screen of the server computer  108 . 
         [0051]    Although various embodiments are described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the disclosure in any way be limited by the examples provided.