Patent Publication Number: US-2007108700-A1

Title: Playing a game of chance in space

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to gaming and in particular for playing a game of chance in space.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      There are a variety of popular games that have traditionally relied upon the use of a number of uniquely identifiable game pieces pooled together in a container, mixed in a random fashion, and chosen from the pool one at a time pursuant to the rules of the particular game. Often these game pieces are in the form of balls, however the present invention is not so limited. Such games of chance include, among others, Bingo, Keno, Powerball, and a variety of lottery related games.  
      In most instances, players can view the action of the balls being bounced around in the container and then a ball being chosen from the pool. An air of excitement develops as the players watch in anticipation of the drawing of the balls from the pool. Each player hoping the balls chosen will provide them the opportunity to win the game.  
      This is repeated innumerable times in homes and gaming establishments around the world every day. While the types of games and the rules vary, many games are familiar to player worldwide. One such game is bingo.  
      In bingo each player has at least one Bingo card. The card has a matrix of five rows and five columns. The columns are lettered B I N G  0  from left to right across the top of the matrix and each bingo card has five numbers in each row except the center I column which has a “free space” at the intersection of the third row and the third column. Numbers 1-15 are assigned to the first or “B” row, 16-30 to the “I” row, etc. In play, there are 75 individually numbered balls mixed together and then balls are selected one at a time. When each ball is withdrawn, the number is announced to the players, who cover any corresponding number on their bingo card. When five matrix locations are covered in a vertical column, a horizontal row or along one of the two diagonals, that player yells out “Bingo!” and he wins he game.  
      Variations of the game exist to peek the interest of players and provide variety. In one such variation an extra colored ball can be added as a wildcard. Rather than achieving five matrix locations in a row, a pattern such as four corner spots, or each corner of the card could be identified as a winning combination. In English Bingo the pool of balls ranges from 1 to 99.  
      This variety attracts an assortment of players to the game and provides the players a diverse range of interesting games to play. A profitable gaming industry has risen from drawing the players into the action of the games by displaying the random movement of the balls, the numerous variations of the rules, offering of prizes to the winners, and exalting the winners with public notoriety and recognition.  
      However, while each adaptation may appear to be distinct from the other, there is one common thread running through the variants. The games are all being played on the planet Earth.  
      A variant not yet explored is playing the games in the zero gravity environment of space. In this venue, the manner in which balls are randomized must account for the lack of a gravitational field. Also, the players are given a new incentive to play.  
      The players would be participating in more than a game of chance. They would be integral players in a space-based enterprise allowing them to take part in the experience of space exploration and commercialization. A new level of excitement could be offered to players that would not be available on the Earth.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a method of playing a game of chance in space. A container, a number of game pieces each having a unique value, a display screen, display screen controller, at least one camera, and a communications system are placed into space. The game pieces reside in a container and are moved about in the container. A number of game pieces are chosen one at a time. A camera receives the image of the value of the chosen game piece. The communications system transmits the camera image to a ground station. The value is also transmitted to a display screen controller that controls the display screen and the display screen displays the values of the chosen game pieces. A camera receives the image of the display screen. The communications system transmits the image of the display screen to a ground station. At the end of a game, the chosen game pieces are returned to the container and the display screen is cleared. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a cutaway view of a container for playing a game;  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram identifying the transmission of the game piece image information from the structure;  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram identifying transmission of the display information from the structure; and  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram identifying transmission of the camera information from the structure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
      The present invention is directed to the use of uniquely identifiable game pieces in a game of chance. Such game piece could be, but not limited to, coin-like, square, octagonal, or other shapes. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to the use of balls. In alternate embodiments the mechanical structures used with the game pieces may vary significantly, however the principles identified remain substantially the same.  
      When a gaming device using balls is operated on Earth, the gravity figures into the method chosen for randomly moving the balls. The situation is different where gravity may be negligible such as when a spacecraft is in orbit about the Earth. In this situation, the method for moving the balls must account for the lack of gravity.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment for a gaming device that is adapted for use in a low gravity environment. The container  10  contains a plurality of balls  12 . Fans  14  are used to rotate the air  16  and thereby cause the balls  12  to move within the container  10 . This movement is characterized herein as random even though the fans can be used in a fashion to move the balls in a desired direction. Vents  18  allow for air  16  to flow from the container into the structure  20 .  
      With the air  16  flowing through the container  10 , the balls  12  collide with one another and with the container  10 . Periodically, a valve  22  is opened. The valve  22  has small vent openings that allow for the passage of air when the valve is closed, but not the passage of a ball  12  when the valve is closed.  
      The opened valve  22  allows a ball to enter into a reservoir  26 . The valve  22  is the closed and the ball is retained within the reservoir  26 . This is the manner in which a ball  12  is separated from the balls  12  in the container  10 .  
      It will be appreciated by those familiar with gaming equipment and the physics of space flight that the balls can be moved in a number of ways that are not limited to the air flow of the preferred embodiment. Magnetized balls and electromagnetic forces are examples of a number of alternatives that can be utilized to move the balls.  
      Furthermore, a valve is just one way a ball  12  can be separated from the balls  12  in the container  10 . In another embodiment, a magnetized ball can be attached to an area of the wall of the container. Thus, removing the ball from play and still allowing a camera to view the unique identifier on the ball. Persons skilled in the art would appreciate the variety of ways a ball could be separated and viewed.  
      The positioning of the fans  14  and the air currents created can be optimized so that the chances of a ball striking the valve  22  are high enough to allow impacts on a regular basis.  
      A camera  28  records the image on the ball  12 . The image corresponds to the unique value of each ball. Other means may also be employed to identify the value of the ball. In an alternate embodiment each ball could contain a unique magnetic signature corresponding to the value of the ball. The signature could be read to reveal the value of the ball. In another embodiment, each ball could have a bar code on the outside of the ball that would allow a bar code reader to identify the value of the ball. Still in other embodiments, each ball could have a micro controller for transferring information correlating the value of the ball. A person skilled in the art would appreciate the various ways in which to determine the unique identifier.  
      In  FIG. 1 , a reader  29  can be used to identify the value of a ball.  
      After the camera  28  records the image, another valve  30  that is similar to the first valve  24  is opened. A fan  32  directs air in such a fashion as to force the. ball  12  into a compartment  34 .  
      The balls  12  that are separated out remain in the compartment  34  until the end of the game.  
      Once the game ends, the fans  14  are turned off, the valves  22 ,  30  and  36  are opened and the fan  32  directs a current or air that forces the balls  12  from the compartment  34  back into the container  10 .  
      The valves are then closed and another game can be played.  
      Turning to  FIG. 2 , the information  38  recorded by the camera  28  is sent to a communications device  40  that transmits the information through an antenna  42  outside of the structure  20 . This can include the information identified by the reader and sent to the communications device  40 . A ground-based receiver  44  can then receive the signal. In an alternate embodiment, the signal could be bounced off other satellites or sent to a satellite for relaying the information to Earth.  
      While this indicates a one-way transmission, information can be sent from a ground station to the structure  20 . In one case, the information sent from the ground station could include commands to reset the game by returning all the balls  12  into the container  10 . In another instance, the information sent from the ground station could include commands for operating the fans  14  at certain levels or individually.  
      Furthermore, the camera  28 , or other cameras, could be used to receive images of the balls  12  bouncing inside the container  10 . These images could be sent to a communications device and from there forwarded to a ground station.  
      In  FIG. 3 , the information  38  received from the camera  28  is received by a display controller  46 . The display controller  46  operates a display  48  that identifies the numbers that have been identified. Information from the reader  29  can also be sent to the display controller  46 . The display controller  46  would translate the information for the reader  29  to correspond to a particular value by means well known in the art. The value would then be displayed on the display  48 . It will be appreciated that the display  48  can take on many forms. While the display  48  in  FIG. 3  is a matrix type display comprised of columns and rows, other types of displays can be used. In the preferred embodiment, the display is comprised of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can be lighted to indicate a particular value. In alternate embodiments, the display can be comprised of specific values with a backlight to illuminate the value as desired. A camera  50  receives the image of the display  48 .  
      Turning to  FIG. 4 , the information  52  from camera  50  is received by a communications device  40  that transmits the information through an antenna  42  outside of the structure  20 . A ground-based receiver  44  can then receive the signal.  
      In alternate embodiments, the transmission of information from the antennas could be directed to other satellites of space objects.  
      A novel method for playing a game of chance in space has thus been described. It is important to note that many configurations can be constructed from the ideas presented. Thus, nothing in the specification should be construed to limit the scope of the claims. Further, the embodiments identified are not limiting as to the scope of the invention.