Abstract:
A system for enabling a player to use residual credits on a gaming machine to provide the player with a chance to win a prize. The system includes means for determining a range of values as a function of a jackpot pool to generate randomly an outcome in the range of values, random number generation means for generating the random outcome, means for determining a range of outcome values of the player that provides a chance of the player winning the jackpot pool, and means for determining whether the generated random outcome matches any outcome value of the player.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/825,698, having a filing date of Apr. 15, 2004, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2003901807, filed Apr. 15, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     [Not Applicable] 
     MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE 
     [Not Applicable] 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a system and method for using residual credits derived from a gaming system for the chance to win a prize where the residual credits are otherwise not collectable by a user or player. 
     Where gaming systems and more particularly gaming machines dispense a unit of monetary value that is more than the present residual credit on the machine owing to the player, there is no method or system to enable that player to acquire a monetary value equivalent to the credit. In such situations the player may have decided to stop playing on a particular machine and has a residual amount of credit that is unable to be presented or resolved as a whole credit. 
     Known prior art systems include double up features, residual credit removal features, CDS tokeniser applications, hyperlink jackpots, stand alone jackpots and link progressive jackpots. 
     The present invention seeks to overcome these problems by providing the player with an opportunity to risk the residual amount of credit in exchange for the possibility of a significant gain or prize. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using a residual credit of a player of a gaming machine to enable the player to win a prize, the method comprising the steps of:
         deriving a value of a jackpot pool;   determining a range of values as a function of the size of the jackpot pool;   using the range of values to generate randomly an outcome in the range of values;   determining a range of outcome values of the player that provides a chance of the player winning the jackpot pool;   generating the outcome; and   determining whether the generated outcome matches any of the outcome values of the player.       

     Preferably where the generated outcome matches an outcome value of the player, the jackpot pool is awarded to the player. An upper limit of the range of values from which an outcome is generated randomly is preferably the value of the jackpot pool divided by the denomination of the gaming machine. 
     Preferably the outcome values of the player are determined on the basis of the residual credit of the player and the denomination of the gaming machine. Preferably the jackpot pool is defined by an upper limit and comprises contributions of residual credit from a plurality of players of gaming machines, such that the jackpot pool accumulates up to the upper limit. 
     Preferably the number of outcome values provided to a player is equal to the residual credit of the player divided by the denomination of the gaming machine. The current value of the jackpot pool may determine the number and outcome values of the player when the player offers their residual credit. The player may be assigned a unique identification which is stored in storage means together with the outcome values of the player. Preferably more than one outcome is generated randomly and each generated outcome is compared to any outcome values of the player or players. Where more than one outcome value is allocated to a player these outcome values may be sequential in number. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a system for enabling a player to use residual credits on a gaming machine to provide the player with a chance to win a prize, the system comprising:
         means for determining a range of values as a function of a jackpot pool to generate randomly an outcome in the range of values;   random number generation means for generating the random outcome;   means for determining a range of outcome values of the player that provides a chance of the player winning the jackpot pool; and   means for determining whether the generated random outcome matches any outcome value of the player.       

     The means for determining a range of values preferably calculates an upper limit for the range by dividing the jackpot value by the denomination of the gaming machine. The means for determining a range of outcome values preferably calculates the outcome values by dividing the residual credit of the player by the denomination of the gaming machine. 
     A plurality of players may use their residual credits to contribute to the jackpot pool, the jackpot pool being set at a specified amount or upper limit. Preferably the jackpot pool accumulates to the specified amount or upper limit as more players contribute their residual credits to the jackpot pool. 
     Preferably the current value of the jackpot pool determines the number of and outcome values of a player who has offered their residual credit. The system may further comprise storage means for storing the outcome values of each player and a unique identification identifying each player. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a flow diagram showing processes involved with a residual credit jackpot using an instant resolution type; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of components of a game machine to enable a prize allocation to a player or players using residual credits; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram showing processes involved with a delayed residual credit jackpot; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing an overall gaming system used to allocate a prize to a number of players using the residual credits derived from playing on single game machines linked to a central controller; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing a sequential allocation of winning numbers based on the delayed residual credit jackpots; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing a non-sequential allocation of numbers to a player or players using the delayed residual credit jackpot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Players of gaming machines are allowed to risk residual credits, where a particular gaming system or gaming machine is unable to dispense units of monetary value equivalent to the residual credit. In return for that risk the player is given the chance to win a prize of some significance, such as a jackpot pool. Sources of the prizes of a residual credit jackpot which the player undertakes may be jackpots or other prizes. 
     There are two basic types of residual credit jackpots being instant resolution and delayed resolution both of which will be described in further detail below. 
     A player that completes the gambling games and has credits remaining within the gaming system, but which are insufficient to collect as a whole credit may be offered a range of options to use or deal with the remaining or residual credit. The player may continue playing the particular gaming machine until enough credit is raised or realised to enable the machine to pay out units of monetary value that are equivalent to or achieve as much credit owing to the player. Alternatively, as in the present invention the player can select a residual credit jackpot redemption feature. The residual credit triggers a prize based on one of the three scenarios which are outlined in the following description. 
     Firstly, where the residual jackpot is an instant resolution, the residual stake of the player is calculated as a percentage of the possible prize or prizes, such as a jackpot pool. This is the percentage chance that the residual stake results in winning. A random number is then generated and if this number is less than or equal to the percentage chance to win then an appropriate prize is awarded to the player. 
     Referring to the instant resolution in further detail with reference to  FIG. 1  at step  100 , the residual credit lottery system is initialised and then at step  102  a prize value is obtained. At step  104  the upper limit of the random number generator range is determined whereby the limit of the range is equivalent to the prize divided by the denomination. The process moves to step  106  where a determination is made of the range of outcomes that would result in a win. Thus the winning range upper limit would equal the residual credit divided by the denomination. The process then moves to step  108  where an outcome is generated from the random number generator and a decision is made at step  110  as to whether the outcome has resulted in a win. In other words, if the outcome is a value between 1 and the winning range upper limit, then a prize is awarded at step  112  and the residual credit lottery is terminated at step  114 . If the outcome is not a win, then the process moves to step  114  where the residual credit lottery is terminated. 
     As an example of how the above flow chart works and how the instant resolution is determined, a player may have 50 cents remaining for a system that dispenses dollar coins only. The denomination of the system is 10 cents. The player is offered a selection of residual credit resolution options of which the player selects residual credit jackpot redemption. The single prize award is $1,000 so that the player has a five in ten thousand chance of winning the $1,000 prize. This has been determined by the fact that the player has 50 cents remaining and the prize is $1,000. The upper range of the random number generation outcome is determined by the prize divided by the denomination which is equivalent to 1,000 divided by 0.10 equal to 10,000. Thus the total range of the random number generation is 1.gtoreq.outcome.gtoreq.10,000. The winning range is determined to have an upper limit equivalent to the residual credit which is 50 cents divided by the denomination of 10 cents which gives the result of 5. Therefore, if the outcome is any one of the numerals 1 to 5, then the player will win the prize of $1,000. 
     Shown in  FIG. 2  is a controller  120  that forms part of the game machine having a processor  122 , data storage means  124  and memory means  126 . Linked to the controller  120  is a mechanism  128  that inputs pulses to the controller  120  to indicate that the player has provided sufficient credit in playing. The controller  120  preferably drives a video display screen (not shown) and receives input signals from sensors to determine actions of the player. The controller  120  further drives a payout mechanism (not shown) which for example may be a coin output. Also provided is a random number generator  130  which is input to the controller  120 . The processor  122  specifically determines an upper limit for the random number generating range according to step  104  in  FIG. 1  and already has inputs from the mechanism  128  to determine the amount of credit remaining for a player and will also from the memory  126  have access to the denomination of the gaming system or machine. Therefore various player outcomes can be set up and calculated knowing the residual credit and denomination. Once the random number generator  130  generates a number or an outcome this is then compared by the processor to the outcomes of the player. If a match is determined then a prize is awarded to the player. Computer programs that implement a game and game features are stored in memory  126  and runs on a standard gaming console control processor which may be processor  122 . 
     Another possible type of residual credit jackpot is that of delayed resolution. In this scenario a residual stake of the player is stored along with residual stakes of other players. The means of associating the ownership of the stake to an individual or a group is also stored along with the respective residual stake. The residual stakes are accumulated until the total of the residual stakes is equal in value to the total of all prizes. Each residual individual stake then represents a finite portion of the prize and also represents a percentage chance to win a prize. A random number is then generated by a random number generator and if the number falls into the finite segment that represents a specific stake of a player, then that stake is determined as winning a prize and the player is accordingly awarded a prize. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the process is described and shown in more detail. Firstly, at step  200  the residual credit lottery is created and at step  202  the residual credit lottery is initialised to zero and this initial value is then stored in a storage module  222  (or equivalently  308 ) for the residual credit lottery. At step  204 , a residual credit upper limit is defined being the prize divided by the denomination. Then at step  206  the residual credit lottery initialisation is terminated. 
     At step  210  the player residual credit lottery is commenced and at step  212  the residual credit and unique identity of the owner of the stake is obtained. The total number of residual lottery numbers allocated to a particular player equals the residual credit divided by the denomination. At step  214  a determination is made as to the number and value of outcomes that results in a win. At step  216  each residual lottery value is stored together with the owner identity in a storage module such as  308 . This occurs for all of the players involved in this lottery. At step  218  the residual credit is added to the residual credit lottery in the data storage module  222  (or  308 ) and at step  220  the player residual credit lottery is terminated. 
     In order to resolve the residual credit lottery  224 , the current value taken from the residual credit lottery data storage module  222  (or  308 ) is input into a comparator at step  226  which compares that current value to the upper limit of the residual credit derived from step  204 . The process then moves to step  228  where a determination is made as to whether the current value equals the upper limit. If not the process reverts to step  226  but if the current value does equal the residual credit upper limit an outcome is generated by the random number generator at step  230 . At step  232  the generated outcome is compared to all of the residual stakes. At step  234  a determination is made as to whether the generated outcome equals an allocated residual lottery number or numbers. If not, the process returns to step  232  but if the outcome equals one or more of an allocated residual lottery number then the winner is identified at step  236  and the winner contacted to collect the prize at step  238 . 
     As an example of the delayed residual credit jackpot scenario the following can be considered. A player has 60 cents remaining in residual credit for a system that dispenses only dollar coins. The denomination of the system is 10 cents. The player is known to the system and identified under an identification code such as (xxx . . . xxx) which is unique to an individual. The total prize is currently worth $66.10 and a single prize award of $100 will be offered that will be resolved when the system accumulates enough residual credit stakes from all of the players when it totals $100. The player is offered a selection of residual credit resolution options of which the player selects residual credit jackpot redemption. The total prize is now worth $66.70 given that 60 cents of that player is added to the current total prize of $66.10. The player identified by (xxx . . . xxx) is allocated the numbers  662 ,  663 ,  664 ,  665 ,  666  and  667  as the player has a residual credit of 60 cents and the denomination is 10 cents giving the player six numbers so allocated. As the single prize is $100 and the denomination is 10 cents, the upper limit of the range will be 1,000 numbers. The residual credit upper limit is $100 and at step  226  this is compared to the current value of the residual credit lottery formed by the residual amounts of each of the players. Thus in  FIG. 5  it is noted that the sequence of numbers from  662  up to  667  as a wager belongs to the player identified as (xxx . . . xxx). Other numbers between 1 and 1,000 and outside of the range  662  to  667  would belong to other players. 
     Eventually the accumulated prize reaches $100 and the range of the random number generation outcome is determined to be between 1 and 1,000. Any random number generated that falls in the range  662  through to  667  results in the player identified under code (xxx . . . xxx) winning $100. 
     Alternatively the numbers allocated to the player need not be sequential as in the above scenario. For example with reference to  FIG. 6 , out of the 1,000 numbers n 1 , n 3  and n 6  may belong to a player identified as (yyy . . . yyy) and numbers identified by n 2 , n 4  and n 5  may belong as a total wager to the player identified by (zzz . . . zzz). 
     Shown in  FIG. 4  is an overall game controller  300  that receives inputs from various game machines  302 ,  304 ,  306  and any number of other game machines operated on by players. It receives updates from each of the game machines on residual credits that are owing to players which cannot be otherwise paid out to the player, for example due to the coin denomination of the machine. It has a data storage means  308 , a memory means  310  and a processor  312  and also receives inputs from a random number generator  314 . A prize limit is set and players that opt to add their residual credit to form a cumulative total of the prize are given outcome values based on the current cumulative total of the prize and this is determined by the processor  312  and stored in the data storage means  308 . Player identifications are also stored in the data storage means  308  with the outcome values. Once the random number generator  314  generates one or more random outcomes these are compared with the stored player outcomes and any matches are determined by the processor  312  to identify winners. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.