Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7909689B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 17:29:29+00:00

Document:
The present application is a continuation application of and claims priority to commonly assigned and co-pending U.S. Application Ser. No. 10/628,544, filed Jul. 28, 2003, by Lardie, titled “Method and Apparatus for Remote Gaming,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Conventional gaming units often allowed a player to wager on, control and view the game initiated at that particular gaming unit. Gaines initiated at another location were not displayed on the gaming unit or otherwise allowed the player control over the remote game via the gaming unit. That is, a player could not wager on a game at a first location and view the progress of that game or make further wagers on that game at a gaming unit at another location. For example, a player who wagers on a conventional multi-player lottery game fills out a card, wagers on chosen numbers and watches a large, public keno display screen to view the progress of the keno game, such as what numbers have or have not been randomly selected. The player must either stay and watch the keno display screen, or return to the keno display screen periodically to check the status of the game (e.g., to see if his numbers were chosen). If the player wants to begin gaming at a gaming unit, which may be at a different location and out of sight of the keno display screen, he is unable to view the progress of the keno game or make a further wager on the keno game without leaving the gaming unit to return to the keno display screen. Sports gaming (e.g., placing a wager on the outcome of a horse race, baseball game, etc.) can result in similar occurrences. Such public display screens were also not personalized to a particular player's gaming decisions and whether the player's gaming decisions coincided with the outcome of the game.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a memory that may include a computer program that may be capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus. The memory may comprise a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that may cause the gaming apparatus to allow a person to make a wager at a first geographic location with a first value input device; a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that may cause the gaming apparatus to cause a first video image representing a first game to be generated on a display unit; a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that may cause the gaming apparatus to determine a first value payout associated with an outcome of the first game; and a fourth memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that may cause the gaming apparatus to cause a second video image to be generated on the display unit. the second video image may represent a second game wagered on at a second geographic location with a second value input device. The first video image may represent a first game selected from the group of games wagered on at the first geographic location, the first group of games including video poker, video blackjack, video slots, and video bingo, in which case the first video image may comprise an image of at least five playing cards if the first game comprises video poker; the first video image may comprise an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if the first game comprises video slots; the first video image may comprise an image of a plurality of playing cards if the first game comprises video blackjack; and the first video image may comprise an image of a bingo grid if the first game comprises video bingo.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘——————’ is hereby defined to mean. . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph.
FIG. 2 illustrates a second possible embodiment of a casino gaming system 10 a that permits a player to remotely monitor and wager on a remote multi-player game such as a lottery game or sports gaming by multiple players on a sporting event. The casino gaming system 10 a may be modeled similar to the casino gaming system 10 described above with reference to FIG. 1. Although the following description addresses the use of a network 12 a of gaming units 20, it should be understood that the network 14 of gaming units 30 may have the same design as or be modified to resemble the network 12 a described below. The network 14 of gaming units 30 may replace the first network 12 a or be operatively coupled to the first network 12 a, as referred to above.
The input terminal 54 may be used by the player as a value input device to place a wager and may be located remotely from the gaming units 20, the kiosks 21, the handheld devices 23 or any other device with a player tracking unit 26 a, 26 b, 26 c, such as in a different floor, a different room, a different area of a room, a different casino, etc. The input terminal 54 may include a coin slot or acceptor, a paper currency acceptor, a ticket reader/printer and a card reader similar to those described below with a gaming unit 20, and which may be used to input value to the input terminal 54. The wager may be on a multi-player game such as a sporting event, a lottery game, etc. The player may use the input terminal 54 to register for a multi-player game using the player identification, designate the amount of the wager, select a sporting event and outcome of the sporting event, or select game numbers from a range of available game numbers for a lottery game. For example, the lottery game may have game numbers ranging from 1-100. The player may select a plurality of game numbers from the range of game numbers or predict an outcome of a sporting event using the input terminal 54 prior to the start of a sporting event or the drawing of a lottery game. The quantity of selected game numbers may be dependent on the amount of the wager and the particular lottery rules being used. In one example, the multi-player gaming controller 52 may randomly select the game numbers or sporting event outcome on behalf of the player. The selected game numbers or selected sporting event outcome may be printed on a ticket and dispensed by the input terminal 54, along with a ticket identification assigned by the multi-player gaming server 58 to identify the wager. In some cases, the player may place a wager with an attendant who would enter the player's gaming decisions (e.g., game numbers selections) into the input terminal, enter the wager and provide the player with a ticket. A card reader, similar to the card reader 64 described below, may be used to encode the player's registration, the wager, the player's gaming decisions and the ticket identification on a player identification device. The input terminal 54 may include a processor and a memory to compare the results of the multi-player game (e.g., the randomly selected numbers or the outcome of the sporting event) to the gaming decisions by the player and determine a payout.
The multi-player gaming display 56 may be used to display multi-player gaming information regarding the sporting event or lottery game being wagered on. For a sporting event, the multi-player gaming display 56 may include a video image of the status of the sporting event (e.g., a score) and the final outcome of the sporting event. The multi-player gaming display 56 may further include a real-time or near real-time video of the actual sporting event. For a lottery game, the multi-player gaming display 56 may include a video image of a plurality of game numbers in a grid pattern representing the range of game numbers for the lottery game. The multi-player gaming display 56 may further display the randomly-selected game numbers by highlighting the randomly-selected game numbers from among the range of game numbers or otherwise distinguish the randomly-selected numbers from the range of game numbers. For example, the randomly-selected game numbers 12, 36, 52, 58, 76, and 82 have been highlighted on the multi-player gaming display 56 to be distinguished from the remaining game numbers. The multi-player gaming display 56 may be located near an input terminal 54 and remotely from the gaming units 20, such as in a different floor, a different room, a different area of a room, a different casino, etc.
One manner in which one or more of the gaming units 20 (and one or more of the gaming units 30) may operate is described below in connection with a number of flowcharts which represent a number of portions or routines of one or more computer programs, which may be stored in one or more of the memories of the controller 100. The computer program(s) or portions thereof may be stored remotely, outside of the gaming unit 20, and may control the operation of the gaming unit 20 from a remote location. Such remote control may be facilitated with the use of a wireless connection, or by an Internet interface that connects the gaming unit 20 with a remote computer (such as one of the network computers 22, 32) having a memory in which the computer program portions are stored. Additionally, the computer program(s) or portions thereof may control the operation of the multi-player gaming server 58 and an input terminal 54 from a remote location such as the gaming unit 20, a kiosk 21 or handheld device 23. Such remote control may be facilitated with the use of a wireless connection, or my an Internet interface that connects the player tracking unit 26 a (or the player tracking units 26 b, 26 c) with the multi-player gaming server 58, the input terminal 54 or the multi-player gaming network 50 generally. The computer program portions may be written in any high level language such as C, C++, C#, Java or the like or any low-level assembly or machine language. By storing the computer program portions therein, various portions of the memories 102, 106 are physically and/or structurally configured in accordance with computer program instructions.
FIG. 7 is an exemplary display 350 that may be shown on the display unit 70 during performance of the video poker routine 210 shown schematically in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 7, the display 350 may include video images 352 of a plurality of playing cards representing the player's hand, such as five cards. To allow the player to control the play of the video poker game, a plurality of player-selectable buttons may be displayed. The buttons may include a “Hold” button 354 disposed directly below each of the playing card images 352, a “Cash Out” button 356, a “See Pays” button 358, a “Bet One Credit” button 360, a “Bet Max Credits” button 362, and a “Deal/Draw” button 364. The display 350 may also include an area 366 in which the number of remaining credits or value is displayed. If the display unit 70 is provided with a touch-sensitive screen, the buttons 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364 may form part of the video display 350. Alternatively, one or more of those buttons may be provided as part of a control panel that is provided separately from the display unit 70.
FIG. 11 is an exemplary display 450 that may be shown on the display unit 70 during performance of the slots routine 230 shown schematically in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 11, the display 450 may include video images 452 of a plurality of slot machine reels, each of the reels having a plurality of reel symbols 454 associated therewith. Although the display 450 shows five reel images 452, each of which may have three reel symbols 454 that are visible at a time, other reel configurations could be utilized.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the video bingo routine 250 shown schematically in FIG. 5. The bingo routine 250 may be utilized in connection with a single gaming unit 20 where a single player is playing a bingo game, or the bingo routine 250 may be utilized in connection with multiple gaming units 20 where multiple players are playing a single bingo game. In the latter case, one or more of the acts described below may be performed either by the controller 100 in each gaming unit 20 or by one of the network computers 22, 32 to which multiple gaming units 20 are operatively connected.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a player identification routine 205 shown schematically in FIG. 5 and may be used to determine whether to display the remote multi-player game and allow the player to control the remote multi-player game from the gaming unit 20. The following description of the player identification routine 205 may likewise be applied to the player identification routine 305 of FIG. 6. The player identification routine 205 may be stored in a memory of the controller 100 and executed by the player tracking unit 26 a. Referring to FIG. 17, the player identification routine 205 may begin operation at block 702 during which a player's identification may be validated. The player identification routine 205 may cause the player tracking unit 26 a to issue a request to the player tracking server 26 to compare the player's identification to a list of player identifications stored by the player tracking server 26. The player tracking server 26 may transmit a result to the player tracking unit 26 a as to whether the player identification matches one of those stored by the player tracking server 26. The player's identification may be encoded on a player identification device which may be in the form of a player tracking card such as a magnetic or optical card including credit cards or a card issued by a casino through a gaming unit 20, an input terminal, an attendant, etc. The player identification device may also be a radio-wave device such as a memory device coupled with a transceiver worn or carried by the player, or other wireless devices including cellular phones, personal digital assistants, etc. The player's identification may be the player identification as assigned by the player tracking server 26 which may be a unique alphanumeric code, a binary code, etc. The player identification may also be the player's name, credit card number, social security number, etc. The player identification may be read by the gaming unit 20 using an identification reader such as radio transceiver, optical transceiver, card reader 64, control panel 68, or any other device capable of reading player identification information encoded on the player identification device. The player may also enter the player identification using the control panel 68. If the player identification does not match one of those stored by the player tracking server 26, control may loop back to recheck the player identification or the player identification device may be rejected by the gaming unit 20. If the player identification is valid, control may pass to block 704.
If the player identification routine 205 determines that the player registered for a remote multi-player game either at block 704 or block 710, control may pass to a remote gaming routine at block 706 for display of the remote multi-player game and options for controlling regarding the remote multi-player game. Following the remote gaming routine 706, control may pass to block 712 for the card to be removed or the player may be allowed to continue with one of the gaming routines 210, 220, 230, 240, 250.
Once the multi-player gaming information has been retrieved and a link established to update the multi-player gaming information, control may pass to block 904 and a menu display may be generated on the display unit 70 to allow the player to select one of the remote multi-player gaming options being displayed. The menu display may include, for example, an option to play favorite gaming selections 908 (e.g., a player's favorite game numbers for a lottery), an option to download the player's credits from previous payouts 910, an option to place a new wager on a remote multi-player game or initiate a new remote multi-player game 912, view multi-player gaming information of an existing remote multi-player game in progress 914 or an option to exit the menu display 916. A selection of one of the menu options may be made by a player input at block 904 and detected at block 906 in various ways, including pressing any button on the gaming unit 20. Following the execution of any of the menu options at blocks 908, 910, 912, 914, control may pass back to block 904 to display the menu options again.
FIGS. 20 and 21 are exemplary displays 1000, 1100 that may be shown on the display unit 70 during performance of the remote gaming routine 706 shown schematically in FIG. 19. The displays 1000, 1100 may be generated on the display unit 70 in response to player selection of the option to view information regarding existing remote multi-player games in progress at block 912. Referring to FIG. 20, the display 1000 may include a video image 1002 of the remote multi-player game in progress. In the present example, the video image 1002 may be a video image of a remote multi-player lottery game in progress. As mentioned above, the video image 1002 of the remote multi-player lottery game may include the same information provided on the multi-player gaming display 56 regarding the existing remote multi-player game, such as the plurality of game numbers in a grid pattern and the randomly-selected game numbers. The randomly-selected game numbers may be highlighted to distinguish them from non-selected game numbers. For example, the randomly-selected game numbers 12, 36, 52, 58, 76, and 82 have been highlighted to be distinguished from the remaining game numbers. The video display 1002 may be updated as new randomly-selected game numbers are selected. Unlike the multi-player gaming display 56, the video image 1002 may include the player's gaming selections for the remote multi-player game. For example, the player selected game numbers 12, 24, 43, 52, 76, and 82 for a remote multi-player lottery game are highlighted or otherwise distinguished from both the randomly-selected game numbers and the remaining game numbers. If one or more of the player selected game numbers and the randomly-selected game numbers are the same, they may be highlighted separately to distinguish them from all remaining numbers. In the present example, the game numbers 12, 52, 76 and 82 have been highlighted to distinguish them from the remaining player selected game numbers, the remaining randomly-selected game numbers and the remaining game numbers. In the case of a sporting event, the team, player, etc. involved in the sporting event that the player wagered on may be highlighted from the remaining teams, players, etc. The specific team, player, etc. that the player wagered on may be highlighted to be distinguished from the remaining teams, players, etc. even further. In the case of wagering on a specific score, spread, etc., the score of the sporting event may be highlighted in a particular color or otherwise distinguished to indicate that the player's prediction of the score, spread, etc. as it stands will result in a payout. For example, if the player has wagered that a football game will have a spread of 6 points, if the current score is within 6 points, the video image of the score may be highlighted in a particular manner to indicate the same.
said second video image comprising an image of a sports score if said second game comprises said multi-player sports game.
2. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to allow said person to make said wager on at least one of said first game and said second game using said first value input device.
3. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to receive data representing a second value payout associated with an outcome of said second game, said second value payout data being determined by a multi-player gaming server of said one or more servers.
4. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first game is a single-player game.
5. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to receive identification information regarding said person, said controller being programmed to receive gaming information regarding said wager on said second game using said identification information, wherein said gaming information includes a gaming decision made by said person.
6. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second video image comprises an image of a gaming decision made by said person in relation to said second game.
7. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 1, said plurality of gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a first network of said plurality of gaming apparatuses.
said multi-player gaming server being programmed to transfer gaming information regarding said second game to said controller, said gaming information including data representing said second value payout, and information regarding gaming decisions by said person for said second game.
said controller being programmed to cause a second video image to be generated on said display unit, said second video image representing a second game wagered on by said person at a second value input device located within a second geographic location other than within said first geographic location of said gaming apparatus, said second video image including content based on information regarding said second game received from one or more servers configured to transmit said information, said first video image and said second video image displayed concurrently on said display unit.
10. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said controller is programmed to allow said person to make said wager on at least one of said first game and said second game using said first value input device.
11. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said controller is programmed to receive data representing a second value payout associated with an outcome of said second game, said second value payout data being determined by a multi-player gaming server of said one or more servers.
12. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said first game is a single-player game and said second game is a multi-player game.
said second video image comprising an image of a sports score if said second game comprises said multi-player sports gaming.
14. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said controller is programmed to receive identification information regarding said person, and said controller being programmed receive gaming information regarding said wager on said second game using said identification information, wherein said gaming information includes a gaming decision made by said person.
15. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second video image comprises an image of a gaming decision made by said person in relation to said second game.
16. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 9, said plurality of gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a first network of said plurality of gaming apparatuses.
18. A gaming system as defined in claim 17, wherein said plurality of gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.
Australian Examination Report dated Oct. 15, 2007 for corresponding Australian Patent Application No. 2004260994.
Australian Examination Report dated Sep. 25, 2008 for corresponding Australian Patent Application No. 2004260994.
Chinese Office Action dated Apr. 10, 2009 for corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 200480023898.9, 4 pgs.
Chinese Office Action dated Sep. 4, 2009 for corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 200480023898.9, 14 pgs.
Chinese Office Action dated Sep. 5, 2008 for corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 200480023898.9.
Chinese Office Action mailed Apr. 22, 2010, from Application No. 200480023898.9.
Examination Report dated Feb. 7, 2008 for corresponding UK Patent Application No. GB0602499.6.
Examination Report dated Jan. 8, 2008 for corresponding UK Patent Application No. GB0602499.6.
Examination Report dated Jul. 6, 2007 for corresponding UK Patent Application No. GB0602499.6.
Examination Report dated May 16, 2006 for corresponding UK Patent Application No. GB0602499.6.
Examination Report dated Oct. 31, 2006 for corresponding UK Patent Application No. GB0602499.6.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability dated Jan. 30, 2006 for corresponding PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2004/021906.
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Nov. 22, 2004 for corresponding PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2004/021906.
Office Action dated Apr. 16, 2007 for related U.S. Appl. No. 10/628,544.
Office Action dated Jun. 20, 2006 for related U.S. Appl. No. 10/628,544.

References: § 112
 Application No. 2004260994
 Application No. 2004260994
 Application No. 200480023898
 Application No. 200480023898
 Application No. 200480023898
 Application No. 200480023898