Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8002623?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=5537618
Timestamp: 2014-12-29 09:42:20
Document Index: 41065305

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 2003279092', 'Application No. 2003279742', 'Application No. 2003237479', 'Application No. 2006203556', 'Application No. 2005201148', 'Application No. 27720', 'Application No. 2005201148', 'Application No. 0427512', 'Application No. 0427512', 'Application No. 07', 'Application No. 07', 'Application No. 03', 'Application No. 03', 'Application No. 03770604', 'Application No. 2005109161', 'Application No. 2005109160']

Patent US8002623 - Methods and devices for displaying multiple game elements - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThis invention provides methods and devices for presenting a plurality of game elements on one or more display devices. The game elements may comprise, for example, bingo cards, playing cards, hands of playing cards, etc. Some implementations of the invention involve displaying a plurality of game elements...http://www.google.com/patents/US8002623?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8002623 - Methods and devices for displaying multiple game elementsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8002623 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/481,666Publication dateAug 23, 2011Filing dateJul 5, 2006Priority dateAug 9, 2001Also published asEP2038856A2, US20060287058, WO2008005278A2, WO2008005278A3Publication number11481666, 481666, US 8002623 B2, US 8002623B2, US-B2-8002623, US8002623 B2, US8002623B2InventorsJoseph Resnick, Steven G. LeMay, Jamal Benbrahim, Richard E. Rowe, Bryan D. WolfOriginal AssigneeIgtExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (102), Non-Patent Citations (148), Referenced by (5), Classifications (9), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethods and devices for displaying multiple game elementsUS 8002623 B2Abstract This invention provides methods and devices for presenting a plurality of game elements on one or more display devices. The game elements may comprise, for example, bingo cards, playing cards, hands of playing cards, etc. Some implementations of the invention involve displaying a plurality of game elements as surfaces of a three-dimensional object. Preferably, the orientation of the three-dimensional object can be varied to display selected game elements. The game elements may be selected by a player and/or by a logic device. In some implementations, the three-dimensional object comprises a �carousel� that can be re-oriented (e.g., rotated) to display game elements.
at least one user input device;
at least one logic device configured to do the following:
determine, based at least in part on input received from the user input device, when a player will use B bingo cards in a bingo game, where B is a number greater than a predetermined number N of bingo cards that can simultaneously be displayed in a first area of the first display device;
select N of the B bingo cards to be displayed in the first area;
control the first display device to display N selected bingo cards in the first area; and
provide a bingo game according to bingo game information received via the network interface
the at least one logic device is further configured to ascertain when a player will use S bingo cards, where S is less than or equal to N, and wherein, when the player will use S bingo cards, a logic device controls the first display device to display the S bingo cards in the first area.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one logic device is further configured to receive bingo card information from a user input device regarding selected bingo cards and wherein the selecting step comprises selecting N bingo cards for which bingo card information was most recently received.
3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the displaying step comprises:
displaying the N bingo cards on N corresponding sides of a bingo card carousel;
displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel; and
rotating the bingo card carousel such that N most recently selected bingo cards are always in view.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein one of the user input devices comprises a graphical user interface (�GUI�) in a second area of the first display device, the GUI configured to allow selection of bingo cards.
5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one logic device is further configured to select N bingo cards having the highest-ranking patterns after bingo number information has been received via the network interface.
6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one logic device is further configured to control the first display device to display the N bingo cards on N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces.
7. The gaming machine of claim 6, wherein the N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces are sides of a bingo card carousel, and wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel.
8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one logic device is further configured to control the first display device to display all B bingo cards in a second area.
9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one logic device is further configured to control the first display device to display selected bingo numbers in a third area.
10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one logic device is further configured to control the first display device to display a bingo outcome of a bingo game in at least the first area and to control a second display device to display a simulated Class III game outcome that is based on the bingo outcome.
11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the simulated Class III game outcome comprises a slot game outcome.
12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein at least one logic device is further configured to receive an indication from a user input device of how many paylines P have been selected and to determine B according to P.
13. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein S is less than N and wherein the displaying step comprises displaying S bingo card fronts and N-S bingo card backs or blanks.
14. A method of displaying multiple bingo cards, the method comprising:
determining when a player will use B bingo cards in a bingo game, where B is a number greater than a predetermined number N of bingo cards that can simultaneously be displayed in a first area of a first display device;
selecting automatically N of the B bingo cards to be displayed in the first area;
displaying N automatically selected bingo cards in the first area and
ascertaining when a player will use S bingo cards, where S is less than or equal to N, and, when the player will use S bingo cards, further comprising the step of displaying the S bingo cards in the first area.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting N bingo cards that were most recently selected by a player.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying step comprises:
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface (�GUI�) in a second area of the first display device, the GUI configured to allow selection of bingo cards.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting N bingo cards having the highest-ranking patterns after bingo numbers have been selected during a bingo game.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the N bingo cards on N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces are sides of a bingo card carousel, and wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel.
21. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying all B bingo cards in a second area of the first display device.
22. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying selected bingo numbers in a third area of the first display device.
displaying a bingo outcome of a bingo game in at least the first area of the first display device; and
displaying a simulated Class III game outcome that is based on the bingo outcome.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the simulated Class III game outcome is displayed on a second display device.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the simulated Class III game outcome comprises a slot game outcome.
receiving an indication of how many paylines P have been selected; and
determining B according to P.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein a number of paylines of the slot game corresponds with B.
28. The method of claim 14, wherein S is less than N and wherein the displaying step comprises displaying S bingo card fronts and N-S bingo card backs or blanks.
29. Software stored in a non-transitory machine-readable medium, the software including stored instructions which, when executed by a gaming machine, control the gaming machine to perform the following steps:
determine when a player will use B bingo cards in a bingo game, where B is a number greater than a predetermined number N of bingo cards that can simultaneously be displayed in a first area of a first display device;
select, when a playing will use B bingo cards, N of the B bingo cards to be displayed in the first area; and
display N selected bingo cards in the first area
controlling the gaming machine to ascertain when a player will use S bingo cards, where S is less than or equal to N, and, when the player will use S bingo cards, display the S bingo cards in the first area.
30. The software of claim 29, further comprising instructions for controlling the gaming machine to display the N bingo cards on N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces.
31. The software of claim 29, further comprising instructions for controlling the gaming machine to display all B bingo cards in a second area of the first display device.
32. The software of claim 29, further comprising instructions for controlling the gaming machine to display a bingo outcome of a bingo game in at least the first area of the first display device and to display a simulated Class III game outcome that is based on the bingo outcome on a second display device.
33. The software of claim 32, wherein the simulated Class III game outcome comprises a slot game outcome.
34. The software of claim 33, further comprising instructions for controlling the gaming machine to receive an indication of how many paylines P have been selected and to determine B according to P.
35. The software of claim 29, further comprising instructions for controlling the gaming machine to do the following:
display the N bingo cards on N corresponding sides of a simulated bingo card carousel;
display a side view of the simulated bingo card carousel; and
rotate the simulated bingo card carousel such that N most recently selected bingo cards are always in view.
36. The software of claim 29, wherein the N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces are sides of a bingo card carousel, and wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/752,014, entitled �BINGO GAMES THAT PROVIDE SIMULATED CLASS III GAME OUTCOMES� and filed Dec. 19, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/112,076, entitled �VIRTUAL CAMERAS AND 3-D GAMING ENVIRONMENTS IN A GAMING MACHINE� and filed Apr. 22, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/927,901, entitled �VIRTUAL CAMERAS AND 3-D GAMING ENVIRONMENTS IN A GAMING MACHINE� and filed Aug. 9, 2001 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,887,157), both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/402,726, entitled �USING MULTIPLE BINGO CARDS TO REPRESENT MULTIPLE SLOT PAYLINES AND OTHER CLASS III GAME OPTIONS� and filed Apr. 11, 2006, which is also hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to game presentation methods for gaming machines such as slot machines and video poker machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As technology in the gaming industry progresses, the traditional mechanically driven reel slot machines are being replaced with electronic counterparts having video displays such as liquid crystal displays (�LCDs�) or the like. These video/electronic gaming advancements enable the presentation of more complex games, which would not otherwise be possible on mechanically driven gaming machines.
Maintaining a game player's interest in game play, such as on a gaming machine or during other gaming activities, is an important consideration for an operator of a gaming establishment. The visual and audio components of the gaming presentation may be used to draw a player's attention to various game features and to heighten the player's interest in additional game play.
One method for maintaining a player's interest is to present multiple game elements at the same time during a game presentation. Such game elements may include, but are not limited to, multiple bingo cards and multiple hands of playing cards. Games involving multiple bingo cards are becoming quite popular. Moreover, some variants of poker include game presentations wherein a hundred or more poker hands are played during each game presentation.
Challenges associated with presenting multiple game elements in a single game presentation include display size and display resolution. For instance, in a poker game wherein one hundred or more poker hands are displayed during each game presentation, each card must be drawn quite small in order to display all of the cards on a single display screen. As the number of game elements presented in a game presentation increases, the amount of detail may be limited by the screen resolution. The lack of detail and small size of each element can make it difficult for players to understand or fully appreciate game events, including but not limited to game outcomes. Therefore, such display limitations may make game play less interesting and may even discourage some people from playing.
It would be desirable to provide methods and devices that allow multiple game elements to be presented on a video gaming machine in a more satisfactory fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention addresses the needs indicated above by providing methods and devices for presenting a plurality of game elements on one or more display devices. The game elements may comprise, for example, bingo cards, playing cards, hands of playing cards, etc. Some implementations of the invention involve displaying a plurality of game elements as surfaces of at least one virtual three-dimensional object. Preferably, the orientation of the virtual three-dimensional object can be varied to display selected game elements. The game elements may be selected by a player and/or by a logic device. In some implementations, the three-dimensional object comprises a �carousel� that can be re-oriented (e.g., rotated) to display game elements.
Some implementations of the invention provide a method of displaying multiple game elements, including but not limited to multiple bingo cards. The method includes these steps: determining when a player will use B bingo cards in a bingo game, where B is a number greater than a predetermined number N of bingo cards that can simultaneously be displayed in a first area of a first display device; selecting automatically N of the B bingo cards to be displayed in the first area; and displaying N automatically selected bingo cards in the first area. In some such implementations, all B bingo cards may be displayed in a second area of the first display device. Selected bingo numbers may be displayed in a third area of the first display device.
The method may include the step of providing a graphical user interface (�GUI�) in a second area of the first display device. The GUI may be configured to allow the selection of bingo cards.
The method may include the step of ascertaining when a player will use S bingo cards, where S is less than or equal to N. When it is ascertained that a player will use S bingo cards, the S bingo cards may be displayed in the first area. If S is less than N, the displaying step may involve displaying S bingo card fronts and N-S bingo card backs, blanks, etc.
The selecting step may involve selecting N bingo cards that were most recently selected by a player. The displaying process may include the following steps: displaying the N bingo cards on N corresponding sides of a bingo card carousel; displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel; and rotating the bingo card carousel such that N most recently selected bingo cards are in view. The selecting step may comprise selecting N bingo cards having the highest-ranking patterns after bingo numbers have been selected during a bingo game.
The displaying step may comprise displaying the N bingo cards on N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces. The N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces may be sides of a bingo card carousel, and the displaying step may involve displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel.
Some such methods of the invention facilitate the presentation of Class II games, such as bingo games, that simulate Class III games. One such method involves the steps of displaying a bingo outcome of a bingo game in at least the first area of the first display device and displaying a simulated Class III game outcome that is based on the bingo outcome. The simulated Class III game outcome may be displayed on the same display device or on a second display device.
In some such implementations, the simulated Class III game outcome comprises a slot game outcome. If so, the method may involve the steps of receiving an indication of how many paylines P have been selected and determining B according to P. In some instances the number of paylines of the slot game corresponds with B, but this is not necessarily the case.
Various method of the invention may be implemented as computer program products, including but not limited to one or more machine-readable media on which program instructions for implementing any of the methods described above are stored. Many methods of this invention may be represented as program instructions and/or data structures, databases, etc. that can be provided on such computer readable media. Similarly, methods of the invention may be implemented in various types of hardware and/or firmware.
For example, some embodiments of the invention provide a gaming machine that includes the following elements: a network interface; at least one user input device; a first display device; and at least one logic device. One of the user input devices may comprise a GUI in a second area of the first display device that is configured to allow selection of bingo cards.
The logic device is configured to do the following: determine, based at least in part on input received from the user input device, when a player will use B bingo cards in a bingo game, where B is a number greater than a predetermined number N of bingo cards that can simultaneously be displayed in a first area of the first display device; select N of the B bingo cards to be displayed in the first area; control the first display device to display N selected bingo cards in the first area; and provide a bingo game according to bingo game information received via the network interface.
A logic device may be further configured to control the first display device to display all B bingo cards in a second area. A logic device may also be configured to control the first display device to display selected bingo numbers in a third area.
A logic device may also be configured to ascertain when a player will use S bingo cards, where S is less than or equal to N. In such embodiments, when it is ascertained that a player will use S bingo cards, a logic device controls the first display device to display the S bingo cards in the first area. If S is less than N, the displaying step may involve displaying S bingo card fronts and N-S bingo card backs, blanks, or the like.
A logic device may also be configured to receive bingo card information from a user input device regarding selected bingo cards. If so, the selecting step may involve selecting N bingo cards for which bingo card information was most recently received. The displaying step may involve the following procedure: displaying the N bingo cards on N corresponding sides of a bingo card carousel; displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel; and rotating the bingo card carousel such that N most recently selected bingo cards are always in view. A logic device may be configured to select N bingo cards having the highest-ranking patterns after bingo number information has been received via the network interface.
A logic device may be configured to control the first display device to display the N bingo cards on N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces. In some such implementations, the N corresponding three-dimensional surfaces are sides of a bingo card carousel, and wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a side view of the bingo card carousel.
A logic device may also be configured to control the first display device to display a bingo outcome of a bingo game in at least the first area and to control a second display device to display a simulated Class III game outcome that is based on the bingo outcome. The simulated Class III game outcome may, for example, comprise a simulated slot game outcome, a simulated poker outcome, a simulated blackjack outcome, a simulated keno outcome or a simulated roulette outcome. For implementations involving the simulation of a slot outcome, a logic device may be further configured to receive an indication from a user input device of how many paylines P have been selected and to determine B according to P.
Alternative methods of displaying multiple bingo cards are provided herein. One such method includes these steps: determining a number B of bingo cards that a player has selected for a bingo game; determining whether B is equal to BMAX, a maximum number of bingo cards that can be used in the bingo game; and displaying fewer than N selected bingo cards on surfaces of a virtual three-dimensional object when B is less than BMAX, wherein N is a maximum number of bingo cards that can simultaneously be displayed on surfaces of the virtual three-dimensional object. N selected bingo cards will be displayed when B equals BMAX.
According to some such methods, N−1 selected bingo cards will be displayed when B is at least N−1 but is less than BMAX. B selected bingo cards when B is at least one but is less than N.
FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of a gaming machine.
FIGS. 12A-12F are perspective drawings of screen input interfaces as modeled in a 3-D gaming environment on a gaming machine.
FIG. 14A illustrates a display for implementing some aspects of the invention.
FIG. 14B illustrates a display for implementing some aspects of the invention.
FIG. 14C illustrates a display for implementing some aspects of the invention.
FIG. 14D illustrates a display for implementing some aspects of the invention.
FIG. 15A illustrates a display layout for implementing alternative aspects of the invention.
FIG. 15B illustrates a display for implementing alternative aspects of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In this application, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to obscure the present invention.
The present invention provides various methods and devices for presenting a plurality of game elements on one or more display devices. Preferred implementations of the invention allow games that can involve a large number of game elements (such as bingo cards, playing cards, hands of playing cards, etc.) to be presented in a manner that is entertaining to a player and that provides a satisfactory amount of information to the player.
Surface textures may be applied to each of the surface elements, such as elements 125, defining the surfaces in the virtual gaming environment 100. The surface textures may allow the 3-D gaming environment to appear more �real� when it is viewed on a display screen on the gaming machine. As an example, colors, textures and reflectance's may be applied to each of the surface elements defining the various objects in the 3-D gaming environment. Millions of different colors may be used to add a realistic �feel� to a given gaming environment. Textures that may be applied include smoothness or surface irregularities such as bumps, craters, lines bump maps, light maps, reflectance maps and refractance maps or other patterns that may be rendered on each element. The textures may be applied as mathematical models stored as �texture maps� on the gaming machine.
In some embodiments, a player may be to select one or more virtual gaming environments used in a game play on a gaming machine. For instance, a first gaming environment may involve a cityscape, such as New York, while a second gaming environment may involve a cityscape, such as Paris. During a game play on a gaming machine, a player may be able to select New York or Paris as a cityscape for the virtual gaming environment used during game play. The different game environments and different scenes generated from the environments may be stored in a memory on the gaming machine as a library of some type.
At any given time during a game presentation viewed on a display screen on the gaming machine, only a portion of the plurality of the games modeled in the 3-D gaming environment may be visible to the player. Thus, a game playing area in a 3-D gaming environment is greater than a 2-D gaming environment because a game of chance may be presented on surfaces modeled in the 3-D gaming environment that may be hidden from view. Since the viewpoint in the 3-D model may be varied, the player or gaming machine may zoom-in on one or more games of interest, some of which may be hidden in a current 2-D view, and select a desirable resolution level. Thus, all of the games or game components do not have to be rendered on a single screen simultaneously.
The gaming machines may be modeled from CAD/CAM drawings of actual gaming machines or other modeling formats. In one embodiment of the present invention, the physical gaming machine on which a game is played may be modeled as a virtual gaming machine in a virtual gaming environment such as 300. The virtual gaming machine in the virtual environment may be used to demonstrate various operating and maintenance features for the real gaming machine. For example, when a player needs to press an input button to play a game, a virtual input button 323 being depressed (see photograph 322) modeled from the physical gaming machine may be shown on the display screen of the gaming machine to aid the player. As another example, a player may be shown how to correctly insert a player tracking card into a card reader on the gaming machine using the virtual gaming machine. In yet another example, the player may be shown how to perform an electronics funds transfer, how to view an alternate video presentation or how to view other entertainment content available on the gaming machine. In another embodiment, a player may be required to use an electronic key with a gaming device connected to the gaming machine. For example, an electronic key may be used to gain access a particular function on the gaming machine. The electronic key may be compatible with one or more communication protocols used by the gaming device such as but not limited to wire communication protocols like USB, serial, parallel, Firewire and wireless communication protocols like IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE802.11b and Bluetooth.
Understand that gaming machine 2 is but one example from a wide range of gaming machine designs on which the present invention may be implemented. For example, not all suitable gaming machines have top boxes or player tracking features. Further, some gaming machines have only a single game display�mechanical or video, while others are designed for bar tables and have displays that face upwards. As another example, a game may be generated in on a host computer and may be displayed on a remote terminal or a remote gaming device. The remote gaming device may be connected to the host computer via a network of some type such as a local area network, a wide area network, an intranet or the Internet. The remote gaming device may be a portable gaming device such as but not limited to a �slim� terminal, a personal computer (such as a laptop or a desktop computer), a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and a wireless game player. Images rendered from 3-D gaming environments may be displayed on portable gaming devices that are used to play a game of chance. Further a gaming machine or server may include gaming logic for commanding a remote gaming device to render an image from a virtual camera in a 3-D gaming environments stored on the remote gaming device and to display the rendered image on a display located on the remote gaming device. Thus, those of skill in the art will understand that the present invention, as described below, can be deployed on most any gaming machine now available or hereafter developed.
In one embodiment of the multi-hand poker game generated in a 3-D gaming environment, the player initiates a game and a first hand consisting of five cards is dealt with the types of cards showing (e.g. face card or number card as well as a suit). The remaining hands are dealt showing only card backs. When the player holds a card, the other hands show the same hold cards, When a player unholds, the other hands unhold. When the player selects redraw, the hands all start drawing the new cards from unique decks (with the original hold cards removed from all of them). To display the game, a virtual camera could fly over each of hands as they are being rendered to generate an effect similar to the text at the beginning of the �Star Wars� movies (e.g. the hands appear to be scrolling up the screen in �space�, shrinking and disappearing into the horizon as the hands move farther away. Once the virtual camera reaches the last hand, it can reset to the main hand i.e., the original dealt hand, which now has its own unique rendered cards. The user could also manually control the camera to review the cards, or start playing again. In addition, the cards could be displayed in multiple game windows of the 3-D interface 800.
To account for a change in game window size, the rendering may involve adjusting the parameters of a transformation performed by a virtual camera in the 3-D gaming environment to produce a �photograph� that fits in the window. This transformation may be performed while the 3-D coordinates of a captured surface in the 3-D gaming environment remain constant. In addition, the transition between the first game window size and the second game window size may be gradual. Thus, the first game window may be rendered in a series of sizes going from the first size to the second size where the 3-D coordinates of the captured surface in the 3-D gaming environment remain constant but the �photograph� from the virtual camera is rendered to fit in each of the window sizes generated during the transition. The method is not limited to reducing the size of game windows and may also be applied to increasing the size of game windows.
In traditional gaming machines, the position of input buttons or input surfaces modeled on a display screen on the gaming machine are fixed. As described above, input buttons that may be used with a touch screen or a screen cursor and screen cursor controller may be modeled in a 3-D gaming environment. In the present invention, the position of these buttons on the display screen may vary as a function of time. For instance, the position of an input button or input surface modeled in a 3-D gaming environment may change on the display screen when a position of a virtual camera in the 3-D gaming environment is changed or an object in the 3-D gaming environment is moved. The position of the input buttons may change as a result of user input into the gaming machines or some other game event. For instance, the position of the button on the display screen may be change or an area occupied by the input button on the display screen may change as a view of the input button is changed. Thus, methods are needed to account for a change of position or size of an input button modeled on the display screen to determine when an input button has been activated. A few methods of accounting for input buttons with variable positions and sizes are described as follows with respect to FIGS. 12A-12F and FIG. 13.
FIGS. 12A-12F are perspective drawings of screen input interfaces modeled in a 3-D gaming environment on a gaming machine. In FIG. 12A, a game display 158 is on a surface 156 comprising a plurality of elements 152 modeled in a 3-D gaming environment with coordinate system 150. A 3-D dimensional input button 159 is also modeled in the game display 158. A virtual camera 154 is positioned in the game environment and used to render a photograph of the game display 158 with the input button 159. In FIG. 12B, the rendered photograph 160 is displayed in game window 161 which may be displayed on a portion of a display screen on a gaming machine. The game window 161 has dimensions I by J which may correspond to a pixel length and a pixel width on the gaming machine. The game window 161 may be divided up into a 2-D grid of pixel locations. The input button 159 occupies a certain number of pixels on the game window 161.
After a collision has been detected on an �active� input button, the input button may be animated in some manner. For instance, the input button may be shown sinking into a surface from which it protrudes as if it were physically depressed. In FIG. 12F, the input button 159 is shown in a depressed position in the 3-D gaming environment. In FIG. 12E, the depressed button is rendered in a photograph 162 shown in the game window 161.
In some implementations of the invention, a plurality of game elements may be displayed as surfaces of at least one virtual three-dimensional object. It is sometimes impractical (or at least not desirable) to display all game elements at the same time on surfaces of the three-dimensional object. This may happen, for example, if more than a threshold number of game elements is active.
Therefore, some such implementations of the invention allow the orientation of the three-dimensional object to be varied (e.g., by rotation about one or more axes) in order to display selected game elements. The game elements may be selected by a player and/or by a logic device. In some such implementations, the orientation of the three-dimensional object is varied to display game elements that are selected on the basis of a game outcome. In some implementations, for example, the virtual three-dimensional object comprises a �carousel� that can be re-oriented (e.g., rotated) to display game elements.
According to some such implementations, a plurality of game elements may be displayed as surfaces of a virtual three-dimensional object in a first window of a display and one or more corresponding game elements may be displayed in a second window of a display. The first and second window may be displayed in the same display device or on different display devices, e.g., on the same screen or on two different screens of the same gaming machine.
For example, game cards (such as bingo cards or other playing cards) may be displayed as surfaces of the carousel in one window of a display and as two-dimensional game cards in another window of the display. In some such implementations, the game elements may be displayed in a larger size in one window than in the other window.
Some specific examples of the foregoing implementations will now be described with reference to FIG. 14A et seq. Referring now to FIG. 14A, display 1400 is an exemplary display that may be used to implement some aspects of the present invention. Display 1400 could be presented, for example, on a display device of a gaming machine.
In this example, display 1400 includes a virtual three-dimensional object (bingo card carousel 1405) in area 1410. Bingo card carousel 1405 is seen from one end, much like the perspective of virtual lens 106 of FIG. 1. A plurality of bingo cards may be displayed as surfaces of bingo card carousel 1405. Although in this implementation the displayed game elements are bingo cards, other implementations provide for the display of other game elements, such as playing cards, hands of playing cards (e.g., poker hands), etc.
Here, the view of bingo card carousel 1405 allows an observer to see five game elements on five corresponding surfaces. Surface 1415 is in the front and the bingo card displayed thereon is most clearly visible. Here, a corresponding bingo card is displayed in window 1440. The bingo cards on surfaces 1420 and 1425 are also visible, but the bingo cards on surfaces 1430 and 1435 are not clearly rendered. Accordingly, in this implementation only 3 bingo cards may be clearly displayed at one time.
It will often be the case that more than 3 game elements (here, bingo cards) will be used during a game. Therefore, the present invention provides various methods for presenting games having additional game elements. In some implementations, as here, the apparent orientation of bingo card carousel 1405 may be altered e.g., by rotation about a vertical axis and/or by opening/unfolding bingo card carousel 1405 to reveal additional surfaces. Changing the orientation of bingo card carousel 1405 allows for the display different cards at different times, as if the cards were otherwise displayed on surfaces of a three-dimensional carousel that were not visible to an observer at all times.
Instead of (or in addition to) changing the orientation of bingo card carousel 1405, some implementations allow the bingo cards to be re-ordered according to user input and/or according to game results. In this implementation, prior to game play a player may select bingo cards by accepting or rejecting a bingo card displayed in area 1440, e.g., via a button, a touch screen, etc. Each time a bingo card is displayed in area 1440, the bingo card is also displayed on surface 1415. Subsequent figures provide examples of bingo cards being displayed according to interim or final game results.
It will sometimes be the case that surfaces are displayed for which there is no corresponding game element. For example, a particular display may allow up to 7 surfaces to be available for displaying a game element, but at time fewer than 7 game elements will be used for a game presentation. If the game is bingo, it will sometimes be the case that a player wishes to player fewer than 7 bingo cards at a time. Some such implementations will cause a �blank� image, a �card back� image (or the like) to be displayed on surfaces having no corresponding game element.
Display 1400 includes other features for playing a game and/or for conveying information to a player. For example, window 1445 indicates the current amount of a progressive jackpot that a player could potentially win by playing the game. Button 1450 provides access to additional displays that explain game play, bingo win patterns, interim win patterns and progressive win patterns, pays, etc. After a player has made a wager and selected bingo cards, window 1440 (or another window) may indicate whether there are enough players available to play a bingo game. For example, one such window could indicate �Waiting for Players� or the like until such time as there are a predetermined number of players available to play. An audio prompt may also be provided.
In some implementations, the game begins automatically after there are sufficient players. In other implementations, a player is notified when there are enough players available to play a bingo game and must take action (e.g., activating play button 1450 of FIG. 14B) to participate in the game. Game play involves at least one round of randomly selecting bingo numbers. These bingo numbers are indicated as balls in �ball draw� area 1460 and as hits on displayed bingo cards.
In this example, the player has selected more bingo cards than can be simultaneously displayed according to this implementation of the invention (here, more than 3 cards). Here, a player can interact with the display in order to view hidden bingo cards. For example, if a player activates area 1420, bingo card carousel 1405 will appear to rotate in the direction of area 1420. Similarly, if a player activates area 1425, bingo card carousel 1405 will appear to rotate in the direction of area 1425.
It will often be the case that the bingo cards displayed prior to the ball draw will not be the cards that have the most hits, the highest-value patterns hit, etc., after the first ball draw. These bingo cards will be of greatest interest to a player and will convey the most useful information. To allow a player to view such bingo cards, some implementations of the invention cause the bingo cards to be re-ordered according to such game results.
One such example is shown in FIG. 14B. Here, the player's bingo cards have been re-ordered such that areas 1415, 1420 and 1425 indicate the bingo cards having the most hits after the ball draw. At the moment captured in the �screen shot,� window 1440 is prompting a player to �DAUB NOW,� indicating that a daub timer is running. The player could daub, e.g., by activating Play button 1455. In this example, the player does not daub before the daub timer runs, so the player's win is slept. (See window 1440 of FIG. 14C.)
However, in the example depicted by FIG. 14D, the player has daubed before the daub timer could run. As before, the selected bingo numbers are indicated in Ball Draw area 1460. The player's bingo cards have once again been re-ordered such that areas 1415, 1420 and 1425 indicate the bingo cards having the most hits after the ball draw.
The best result is indicated by the bingo card most prominently displayed by bingo carousel 1405, which is the bingo card displayed on surface 1415. The same bingo card is displayed in area 1440. Window 1465 indicates that the pattern of hits on this bingo card corresponds to a bingo win. In some implementations, if several bingo cards indicate bingo, interim or progressive wins, these bingo cards will be successively displayed on surface 1415 and in area 1440. Windows 1470 and 1475 can display bingo win and interim win credits.
Referring now to FIGS. 15A and 15B, an alternative layout and display will now be discussed. Referring first to FIG. 15A, display layout 1500 includes carousel 1505 in area 1510. Again, an end view of a virtual three-dimensional carousel is presented in area 1510. Surfaces 1515, 1520 and 1525 are visible to a viewer.
Areas 1530 and 1535 are for the display of a progressive meter and a ball draw, respectively. Area 1540 may be used to convey various types of game information, including but not limited to an indication of a winning pattern that has been achieved by hits on one of the bingo cards.
In window 1545, additional game elements may be displayed. For example, if a player has selected more than 3 bingo cards for a bingo game, some or all of the additional bingo cards can be displayed in area 1550. The game element in window 1545 that corresponds to that displayed in area 1515 may be highlighted.
In some implementations, the scale of game elements displayed in window 1545 will be changed to ensure that all active game elements can be displayed. In other implementations, a fixed number of areas is reserved for the display of game elements in window 1545. According to some such implementations, areas of window 1545 that are not used for the display of game elements in a particular game presentation will indicate �card backs� or the like.
Area 1550 is intended for a button that allows a player to cause game information, including but not limited to payout information, to be displayed. Area 1555 is reserved for a utility to be determined. Area 1560 indicates a daub counter and button 1565 allows an automatic dauber to be invoked. Windows 1570, 1575 and 1580 are for the display of a bingo win meter, an interim win meter and a grand prize meter, respectively. A play/daub button may be displayed in area 1585.
FIG. 15B illustrates one exemplary display 1501 that generally corresponds to layout 1500 of FIG. 15A. At the moment depicted in FIG. 15B, a jackpot of $117,019.33 is indicated in window 1530. Moreover, bingo numbers have been selected and are displayed as numbered balls in ball draw area 1535.
Here, surfaces 1515, 1520 and 1525 of bingo carousel 1505 are displayed clearly enough to read at least some of their numbers and the indicated hits. Surfaces 1522 and 1527 are hidden in shadow. Surface 1515 is not only centered, but is also displayed more clearly the other surfaces and occupies more space. Accordingly, the viewer's attention is drawn to surface 1515.
Here, area 1545 is configured to display up to 17 complete game elements. In this implementation, the game elements are bingo cards for which no numbers or patterns have been rendered. In alternative implementations, patterns and/or numbers are indicated on such game elements.
However, in this example, an appealing �cleaner� display nonetheless indicates which bingo cards indicate wins: here, cards 1-5, 9-11 and 16 indicate interim wins and card 12 indicates a bingo win. Card 11, which is displayed on surface 1515 of bingo carousel 1505, indicates an interim win. The lower portion of surface 1515 indicates the card number and the wager amount. The interim win pattern of card 11 is indicated in area 1540.
Bingo carousel 1505 may be �rotated� in order to display additional bingo cards. Here, bingo carousel 1505 may be rotated to indicate cards to the left of card 11 by activating arrow 1590. Similarly, bingo carousel 1505 may be rotated to indicate cards to the right of card 11 by activating arrow 1595.
Areas 1550, 1570, 1575 and 1585 are substantially as shown in layout 1500. At the instant captured by display 1501, bingo win meter 1570 indicates a bingo win of $4.35 and interim win meter 1575 indicates an interim win of $109.
Multiple-card bingo games allow a player select up to a maximum number of bingo cards, which we will call BMAX. Let us refer to the number of bingo cards played in a bingo game as B. The virtual three-dimensional object is capable of displaying up to N bingo cards. Very often, it will be the case that N<B.
Some implementations of the invention provide an indication when the player is not playing BMAX bingo cards. When it is determined that B<BMAX, some implementations of the invention provide this indication by displaying N−1 bingo cards on surfaces of a virtual three-dimensional object. In other words, such implementations display an empty space, a card back, or the like even when this causes fewer than B bingo cards to be displayed on the virtual three-dimensional object. As long as the player is playing B<BMAX bingo cards, fewer than N bingo cards will be displayed on the virtual three-dimensional object.
Following are some examples, wherein the on the virtual three-dimensional object is a bingo card carousel having 5 surfaces capable of simultaneously displaying bingo cards (N=5). The surfaces will be referred to as surface_1 through surface_5, in left-to-right order. In this example, the bingo game can play a maximum of 20 bingo cards, so BMAX,=20.
When B=1, the carousel display is as follows: surface_1=blank, surface_2=blank, surfaces_3=bingo_card_1, surface_4=blank, surface_5=blank.
When B=2, the carousel display is as follows: surface_1=blank, surface_2=blank, surface_3=bingo_card_1, surface_4=bingo_card_2, surface_5=blank.
When B=3 through 18, the carousel display is as follows: surface_=blank, surface_2=blank, surface_3=bingo_card_1, surface_4=bingo_card_2, surface_5=bingo_card_3.
When B=19, the carousel display is as follows: surface_1=bingo_card_19, surface_2=blank, surface_3=bingo_card_1, surface_4=bingo_card_2, surface_5=bingo_card_3.
When B=20, the carousel display is as follows: surface_1=bingo_card_19, surface_2=bingo_card_20, surface_3=bingo_card_1, surface_4=bingo_card_2, surface_5=bingo_card_3.
This aligns very well with the mental image of a strip of bingo cards winding around the carousel like a bicycle chain around a gear. Each time the number of cards played is incremented, the new card is placed to the right of the previous card.
According to some such implementations, when the bingo carousel is rotated (due to player interaction, or due to automatic displaying of wins), the bingo cards remain in their increasing order. For example, if the carousel is rotated clockwise by two cards, then it will display cards 1 through 5. However, once the next game begins or when the player selects a different number of bingo cards (or paylines) to play, they will always see the blank bingo card representing �card 20 not played.� When the player plays all BMAX bingo cards, the carousel will show N bingo cards and no blank positions.
Gaming in the United States is divided into Class I, Class II and Class III games. Class I gaming includes social games played for minimal prizes, or traditional ceremonial games. Class II gaming includes bingo and bingo-like games. Bingo includes games played for prizes, including monetary prizes, with cards bearing numbers or other designations in which the holder of the cards covers such numbers or designations when objects, similarly numbered or designated, are drawn or electronically determined, and in which the game is won by the first person covering a previously designated arrangement of numbers or designations on such cards. Such an arrangement will sometimes be referred to herein as a �game-winning pattern� or a �game-ending pattern.� Class II gaming may also include pull tab games if played in the same location as bingo games, lotto, punch boards, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo. Class III gaming includes any game that is not a Class I or Class II game, such as a game of chance of the kind typically offered in non-Indian, state-regulated casinos.
Some implementations of the present invention can be particularly advantageous for providing Class II games that simulate Class III games. For example, as described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/402,726, providing and presenting multiple bingo cards can be very useful for presenting bingo games with entertaining displays that simulate Class III games. In some such implementations, one display device of a gaming machine presents a Class II game and another display device presents a corresponding simulated Class III game. According to some such implementations, players may choose from a variety of Class III game themes, each theme having a different entertaining display adapted from a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each Class III game theme will offer play and win dynamics and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game.
The following applications describe pertinent material and are hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/925,710, entitled �Draw Bingo, and filed on Aug. 24, 2004; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/937,227, entitled �Bingo Game Morphed to Display Non-Bingo Outcomes� and filed on Sep. 8, 2004; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/149,828, entitled �Perrius Poker and Other Bingo Game Variations� and filed on Jun. 10, 2005; This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/312,966, entitled �Bingo System with Downloadable Common Patterns� and filed on Dec. 19, 2005; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/312,948, entitled �Bingo Gaming Machine Capable of Selecting Different Bingo Pools� and filed on Dec. 19, 2005 (the �Bingo Pools Application�), collectively, the �Class II/Class III Applications.�
As described in the foregoing applications, providing Class II games that simulate Class III games presents a number of challenges. One of these challenges is to implement such systems while complying with an evolving regulatory framework. It is expected, for example, that Class II regulations will soon require that all gaming machines participating in a single bingo game have the same bingo paytable (the same patterns with the same corresponding probabilities and payouts). This would mean, for example, that an �X� bingo pattern that pays 10 credits and has a 5% probability of occurring in one game, the pattern must pay 10 credits and have a 5% probability of occurring for all games participating in the same bingo pool.
As described in the Bingo Pools Application, such requirements introduce further challenges for Class II games that simulate Class III games having a number of player options that will sometimes be referred to herein as �Class III game options� or the like. Class III game options may be, e.g., the number of paylines in a simulated slot game, a number of hands in a simulated video poker game, a number of spots picked for a simulated keno game or a number of wagers placed on a simulated roulette game. However, in part because of the popularity of slot games, the most commonly referenced Class III game options herein are paylines for simulated slot games.
In a typical Class III slot game, the paytable changes based on the number of paylines played. A player playing one line expects all wins to be a multiple of his wager. Increasing the number of lines played increases the �hit frequency� but reduces the average payout size. Accordingly, players can play longer but are less likely to have substantial payouts when they do win. For example, a player playing 10 paylines expects some wins that are less than his wager (sometimes referred to as �dribble pays� or �cherry dribblers�), but that allow the player to continue playing longer than if only 1 payline were being played. Playing a large number of paylines appeals to players who desire a smooth, low-volatility game that they can play for a relatively long time. On the other hand, playing a small number of paylines appeals to players who prefer a higher-volatility game with less frequent but larger payouts.
In order to comply with the anticipated Class II regulations and more closely match Class III game play, some implementations described in the Bingo Pools Application provide a system wherein separate paytables and bingo pools are formed according to the number of Class III game options. For example, separate paytables and bingo pools may be formed according to the number of paylines played on slot-type game themes and/or the number of hands played on poker game themes. In some such implementations, players will be limited to predetermined numbers of lines (or hands) played, e.g., only 1, 3, 5 or 9 lines. In alternative implementations, a player's options regarding the number of lines played will depend, at least in part, on how many other players are playing any given number of lines on a slot game.
In order to have as many machines as possible participating in the same bingo game, it may be desirable to allow the hit frequency of the game to change when a player selects options of a simulated Class III game (e.g., selects to play more paylines) without switching to a different bingo pool or paytable. Accordingly, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/402,726 provides gaming methods and devices wherein the hit frequency of a bingo game will be modulated by assigning differing numbers of bingo cards according to Class III game options selected by a player.
For example, some implementations described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/402,726 cause the hit frequency of a simulated slot game to change according to the number of paylines played without switching to a different bingo pool. Instead, a multi-card bingo game is provided wherein differing numbers of bingo cards are assigned, depending on the number of paylines selected by a player. In addition to a number of paylines for a simulated slot game, the player's selected Class III game options may involve, for example, a number of hands for a simulated poker game, a number of spots picked for a simulated keno game and/or a number of wagers placed on a simulated roulette game that is provided in accordance with the same paytable of a bingo game.
However, the examples described in greatest detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/402,726 involve bingo games that provide various types of simulated slot games. As a player plays more paylines, he or she is assigned more bingo cards. In some such implementations, the wins for all bingo cards are summed up to form the total bingo game win, which is then represented on the slot game using some or all of the paylines available. Depending on the implementation, there may or may not be a one-to-one correspondence between wins on a single card and wins on a single payline.
Some implementations provide a system wherein a plurality of electronic gaming machines, each of which is configured for presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes, is linked to a single bingo server. By linking many participating electronic gaming machines to a single server, some implementations of the invention allow progressive contributions from all of the participating electronic gaming machines to be pooled into a single progressive jackpot.
Some embodiments of the invention involve gaming machines that are configured with a graphical user interface (�GUI�) or the like that allows a player to select a Class III game theme from a plurality of Class III game themes. In some such embodiments, the gaming machine is configured to present any of the proffered Class III game themes.
Alternatively, or additionally, the game theme of a particular networked gaming machine (or a group of networked gaming machines) may be changed according to instructions received from a central system: some gaming networks described herein include a central system that is configured to download game software and data, including but not limited to the underlying bingo patterns, pays and game outcomes, to networked gaming machines. Such gaming networks allow for the convenient provisioning of networked gaming machines.
Moreover, such gaming networks allow additional game themes to be easily and conveniently added, if desired. If a new game theme requires new bingo patterns to match new payout amounts, preferred implementations of the invention allow a new pattern set (or updates to an old pattern set) to be downloaded to all networked gaming machines. Related software, including but not limited to game software, may be downloaded to networked gaming machines. Relevant information is set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/225,407, by Wolf et al., entitled �METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANAGING GAMING NETWORKS� and filed Sep. 12, 2005, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/757,609 by Nelson et al., entitled �METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GAMING DATA DOWNLOADING� and filed on Jan. 14, 2004, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/938,293 by Benbrahim et al., entitled �METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DATA COMMUNICATION IN A GAMING SYSTEM� and filed on Sep. 10, 2004, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/225,337 by Nguyen et al., filed Sep. 12, 2005 and entitled �DISTRIBUTED GAME SERVICES� and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,442 by Kinsley et al., filed Jul. 1, 2005 and entitled �METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DOWNLOADING GAMES OF CHANCE,� all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. For example, alternative implementations display game elements on surfaces of more than one virtual three-dimensional object (e.g., on 2 or more carousels). Yet other implementations provide for the display of more than 3 surfaces of a bingo card carousel by displaying a �longer� side of the bingo card carousel that has additional surfaces. The scale of the areas used to display game elements (including but not limited to the scale of the virtual three-dimensional object or objects) may be altered, within predetermined limits, according to the number of game elements that need to be displayed. Accordingly, the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and no corresponding limitations should be read into the claims.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3671041Jan 30, 1970Jun 20, 1972Taylor Floyd RElectrically operated bingo game apparatusUS4332389Jun 23, 1980Jun 1, 1982Comer C. Loyd, Jr.Electronic bingo gameUS4365810Sep 28, 1979Dec 28, 1982Selectro-Vision, Ltd.Gaming boardUS4373726Aug 25, 1980Feb 15, 1983Datatrol Inc.Automatic gaming systemUS4455025Aug 11, 1981Jun 19, 1984Yuri ItkisElectronic card and board gameUS4572509Sep 30, 1982Feb 25, 1986Sitrick David HVideo game networkUS4624462May 18, 1984Nov 25, 1986Yuri ItkisElectronic card and board gameUS4634126Mar 26, 1985Jan 6, 1987Kabushiki Kaisha UniversalDevice for converting the amount of a mechanical displacement into electrical signalUS4798387Jan 5, 1987Jan 17, 1989Selectro-Vision, Ltd.Multiple bingo gaming boardUS4823345Jun 15, 1987Apr 18, 1989International Business Machines Corp.Method and apparatus for communication network alert record identificationUS4848771Jan 16, 1986Jul 18, 1989Selectro-Vision, Ltd.Gaming system with session master and gaming boardsUS4856787May 3, 1988Aug 15, 1989Yuri ItkisConcurrent game networkUS4885703Nov 4, 1987Dec 5, 1989Schlumberger Systems, Inc.3-D graphics display system using triangle processor pipelineUS4914607Apr 8, 1987Apr 3, 1990Hitachi, Ltd.Multi-screen display control system and its methodUS4986543Dec 13, 1989Jan 22, 1991Heller Earl ASingle and/or double player pinball machineUS5007649Mar 28, 1989Apr 16, 1991Selectro-Vision, Ltd.Method for managing money during bingoUS5092598Oct 2, 1989Mar 3, 1992Kamille Stuart JMultivalue/multiplay lottery gameUS5192076Nov 14, 1991Mar 9, 1993Sigma, Inc.Keno game playing apparatusUS5227771Jul 10, 1991Jul 13, 1993International Business Machines CorporationMethod and system for incrementally changing window size on a displayUS5242163Aug 27, 1992Sep 7, 1993D.D. Stud Inc.Casino game systemUS5255352Sep 23, 1992Oct 19, 1993Computer Design, Inc.Mapping of two-dimensional surface detail on three-dimensional surfacesUS5297802Jun 5, 1992Mar 29, 1994Terrence PocockTelevised bingo game systemUS5303388Apr 23, 1993Apr 12, 1994Apple Computer, Inc.Method to display and rotate a three-dimensional icon with multiple facesUS5339390Feb 25, 1993Aug 16, 1994Xerox CorporationOperating a processor to display stretched continuation of a workspaceUS5342047Apr 8, 1992Aug 30, 1994Bally Gaming International, Inc.Touch screen video gaming machineUS5351970Sep 16, 1992Oct 4, 1994Fioretti Philip RMethods and apparatus for playing bingo over a wide geographic areaUS5393057Feb 7, 1992Feb 28, 1995Marnell, Ii; Anthony A.Electronic gaming apparatus and methodUS5407199May 28, 1993Apr 18, 1995Vegas Pull Tabs, Inc.Interactive games and method of playingUS5435554Mar 8, 1993Jul 25, 1995Atari Games CorporationBaseball simulation systemUS5455904Nov 22, 1994Oct 3, 1995Bull S.A.Method of sizing or moving windowsUS5469536May 21, 1993Nov 21, 1995Imageware Software, Inc.In a computer systemUS5485197Sep 22, 1994Jan 16, 1996Ictv, Inc.Interactive television information systemUS5594844Jan 25, 1994Jan 14, 1997Hitachi, Ltd.Three dimensional view using ray tracing through voxels subdivided numerically using object based parametersUS5604852Apr 13, 1995Feb 18, 1997Compaq Computer CorporationMethod and apparatus for displaying a parametric curve on a video displayUS5608850Apr 14, 1994Mar 4, 1997Xerox CorporationTransporting a display object coupled to a viewpoint within or between navigable workspacesUS5611729Jan 10, 1995Mar 18, 1997Community Lottery Systems, Inc.System for displaying the output of a game of chance in a different formatUS5621906Feb 13, 1995Apr 15, 1997The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New YorkPerspective-based interface using an extended mastheadUS5639088Aug 16, 1995Jun 17, 1997United Games, Inc.Multiple events award systemUS5643086Jun 29, 1995Jul 1, 1997Silicon Gaming, Inc.Electronic casino gaming apparatus with improved play capacity, authentication and securityUS5678015Sep 1, 1995Oct 14, 1997Silicon Graphics, Inc.Four-dimensional graphical user interfaceUS5689628Apr 14, 1994Nov 18, 1997Xerox CorporationCoupling a display object to a viewpoint in a navigable workspaceUS5729673Apr 7, 1995Mar 17, 1998Avid Technology, Inc.Direct manipulation of two-dimensional moving picture streams in three-dimensional spaceUS5742779Apr 3, 1996Apr 21, 1998Tolfa CorporationMethod of communication using sized icons, text, and audioUS5745109Jun 17, 1996Apr 28, 1998Sony CorporationFor displaying a menu image on a displayUS5755621Sep 19, 1996May 26, 1998Ptt, LlcModified poker card/tournament game and interactive network computer system for implementing sameUS5766074Aug 6, 1996Jun 16, 1998Video Lottery TechnologiesDevice and method for displaying a final gaming resultUS5775993Jan 31, 1996Jul 7, 1998Innovative Gaming Corporation Of AmericaRoulette gaming machineUS5788573Mar 22, 1996Aug 4, 1998International Game TechnologyElectronic game method and apparatus with hierarchy of simulated wheelsUS5805783Mar 10, 1995Sep 8, 1998Eastman Kodak CompanyMethod and apparatus for creating storing and producing three-dimensional font characters and performing three-dimensional typesettingUS5807172Aug 15, 1996Sep 15, 1998Sigma Game Inc.Three reel slot machine with nine ways to winUS5816918Nov 14, 1996Oct 6, 1998Rlt Acquistion, Inc.Prize redemption system for gamesUS5833540Sep 24, 1996Nov 10, 1998United Games, Inc.Cardless distributed video gaming systemUS5836819May 23, 1996Nov 17, 1998Kabushiki Kaisha SankyoImage display type game apparatusUS5880733Apr 30, 1996Mar 9, 1999Microsoft CorporationDisplay system and method for displaying windows of an operating system to provide a three-dimensional workspace for a computer systemUS5903271May 23, 1997May 11, 1999International Business Machines CorporationFacilitating viewer interaction with three-dimensional objects and two-dimensional images in virtual three-dimensional workspace by drag and drop techniqueUS5912671Feb 10, 1997Jun 15, 1999Sony CorporationMethods and apparatus for synthesizing a three-dimensional image signal and producing a two-dimensional visual display therefromUS5934672Feb 20, 1996Aug 10, 1999Digideal CorporationSlot machine and methods of operationUS5941772Dec 2, 1996Aug 24, 1999Paige; Elena LaunzelApparatus and method for enhancing gambling devices with commercial advertising indiciaUS5956038Jul 11, 1996Sep 21, 1999Sony CorporationThree-dimensional virtual reality space sharing method and system, an information recording medium and method, an information transmission medium and method, an information processing method, a client terminal, and a shared server terminalUS5967895Sep 13, 1996Oct 19, 1999Bettina CorporationPortable electronic bingo deviceUS5998803May 29, 1997Dec 7, 1999The Trustees Of Princeton UniversityOrganic light emitting device containing a hole injection enhancement layerUS6002403Jun 17, 1996Dec 14, 1999Sony CorporationGraphical navigation control for selecting applications on visual wallsUS6002853Oct 15, 1997Dec 14, 1999Wegener Internet Projects BvSystem for generating graphics in response to a database searchUS6005579Nov 4, 1997Dec 21, 1999Sony Corporation Of AmericaUser interface for displaying windows on a rectangular parallelepipedUS6009458May 9, 1996Dec 28, 19993Do CompanyNetworked computer game system with persistent playing objectsUS6012984Apr 11, 1997Jan 11, 2000Gamesville.Com,Inc.Systems for providing large arena games over computer networksUS6014142Nov 24, 1998Jan 11, 2000Platinum Technology Ip, Inc.Apparatus and method for three dimensional manipulation of point of view and objectUS6023371Jun 8, 1998Feb 8, 2000Tdk CorporationColor conversion material, and organic electroluminescent color display using the sameUS6027115Mar 25, 1998Feb 22, 2000International Game TechnologySlot machine reels having luminescent display elementsUS6029973Jan 22, 1996Feb 29, 2000Kabushiki Kaisha Ace DenkenGame machineUS6031545Jan 15, 1998Feb 29, 2000Geovector CorporationVision system for viewing a sporting eventUS6033307Mar 2, 1999Mar 7, 2000Mikohn Gaming CorporationGaming machines with bonusingUS6043818Jun 17, 1996Mar 28, 2000Sony CorporationBackground image with a continuously rotating and functional 3D iconUS6050895Mar 24, 1997Apr 18, 2000International Game TechnologyHybrid gaming apparatus and methodUS6057856Sep 16, 1997May 2, 2000Sony Corporation3D virtual reality multi-user interaction with superimposed positional information display for each userUS6062978Dec 11, 1995May 16, 2000Four Star Software, Inc.Rotating cube computer video gamesUS6080063Jan 6, 1997Jun 27, 2000Khosla; VinodSimulated real time game play with live eventUS6089976Oct 14, 1997Jul 18, 2000Casino Data SystemsGaming apparatus and method including a player interactive bonus gameUS6089978Sep 22, 1998Jul 18, 2000Anchor GamingMethod of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicatorUS6093100Oct 1, 1997Jul 25, 2000Ptt, LlcModified poker card/tournament game and interactive network computer system for implementing sameUS6094196Jul 3, 1997Jul 25, 2000International Business Machines CorporationInteraction spheres of three-dimensional objects in three-dimensional workspace displaysUS6104815Jan 9, 1998Aug 15, 2000Silicon Gaming, Inc.Method and apparatus using geographical position and universal time determination means to provide authenticated, secure, on-line communication between remote gaming locationsUS6106396Jun 17, 1996Aug 22, 2000Silicon Gaming, Inc.Electronic casino gaming system with improved play capacity, authentication and securityUS6131909Dec 7, 1998Oct 17, 2000Chilese; John F.Simultaneous inter-related multiple grouping card gameUS6135884Aug 8, 1997Oct 24, 2000International Game TechnologyGaming machine having secondary display for providing video contentUS6149156May 14, 1999Nov 21, 2000Feola; JohnMultiple round card game of chanceUS6149522Jun 29, 1998Nov 21, 2000Silicon Gaming - NevadaMethod of authenticating game data sets in an electronic casino gaming systemUS6159095Nov 22, 1999Dec 12, 2000Wms Gaming Inc.Video gaming device having multiple stacking featuresUS6168521Sep 12, 1997Jan 2, 2001Robert A. LucianoVideo lottery gameUS6183361Jun 5, 1998Feb 6, 2001Leisure Time Technology, Inc.Finite and pari-mutual video kenoUS6203009Aug 4, 1998Mar 20, 2001Digideal CorporationSlot-type gaming machine with variable drop zone symbolsUS6203428 *Sep 9, 1999Mar 20, 2001Wms Gaming Inc.Video gaming device having multiple stacking featuresUS6206782Sep 14, 1998Mar 27, 2001Walker Digital, Llc.System and method for facilitating casino team playUS6220593Jul 14, 1999Apr 24, 2001Mikohn Gaming CorporationPachinko stand-alone and bonusing gameUS6234901Nov 21, 1997May 22, 2001Kabushiki Kaisha Sega EnterprisesGame device, picture data and flare forming methodUS6254483May 29, 1998Jul 3, 2001Acres Gaming IncorporatedMethod and apparatus for controlling the cost of playing an electronic gaming deviceUS6267669Nov 29, 1999Jul 31, 2001International Game TechnologyHybrid gaming apparatus and methodUS6271842Apr 4, 1997Aug 7, 2001International Business Machines CorporationNavigation via environmental objects in three-dimensional workspace interactive displaysUS6280325May 13, 1999Aug 28, 2001Netgain Technologies, LlcComputer network management of wide-area multi-player bingo gameUS6287201Mar 12, 1999Sep 11, 2001Midway Games WestArcade game with keypad inputUS7291068 *May 2, 2001Nov 6, 2007Aristocrat Technologies AustraliaGaming machine with loyalty bonusUS7318774 *May 2, 2001Jan 15, 2008Aristocrat Technologies Austalia Pty. Ltd.Gaming machine-membership reward system* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1"Improving your Bingo odds", (2002-2005) 10 Best Bingo Sites, [downloaded on Dec. 13, 2010 at http://web.archive.org/web/20050629010907/http://10bestbingosites.com/bingo�odds.php].2"PowerVR Technologies Debuts KYRO II SE Graphics Processor at CeBIT 2002", Tech/Zone, Mar. 13, 2002, available at http://www.techzone.pcvsconsole.com/news.php?tzd=1246, 3 pages.33D Modelers Are Running under Linux LinuxFocus: vol. Nr 4, May 1998 http://mercury.chem.pitt.edu/�tiho/LinuxFocus/English/May1998/index.html printed on Oct. 11, 2002, 4 pages.4A Primer form Mercury Research The Basics of 3D Graphics Technology The Meter available at http://www.themeter.com/artilces/3DBasics.shtml printed on Jan. 31, 2003 pp. 1-2.5Australian Examiner's first report dated Feb. 16, 2009 issued in Application No. 2003279092.6Australian Examiner's first report dated Feb. 6, 2009 issued in Application No. 2003279742.7Australian Examiner's first report dated Jun. 18, 2008 in Application No. 2003237479.8Australian Examiner's first report dated Jun. 26, 2008 from AU Application No. 2006203556.9Australian Examiner's first report dated Mar. 12, 2010 issued in Application No. 2005201148.10Australian Examiner's first report dated Nov. 21, 2005 issued in AU Patent Application No. 27720/02.11Australian Examiner's Report No. 2 dated Aug. 10, 2010 issued in Application No. 2005201148.12Bienvenue et al., U.S. Appl. No. 11/312,966, "Bingo System With Downloadable Common Patterns", filed Dec. 19, 2005.13British Examination Report dated Dec. 9, 2009 from Application No. GB 0505328.5.14British Examination Report dated Jun. 9, 2005 issued in UK Application No. 0427512.9, 2 pgs.15British Examination Report dated May 14, 2009 issued in Application No. GB 0505328.5.16British Examination Report dated Nov. 7, 2006 issued in Application No. 0427512.9.17Carson G. S.: "Standards Pipeline The OpenGL Specification" Computer Graphics, ACM, US, vol. 31, No. 2, May 1997, pp. 17-18, XP000939297, ISSN: 097-8930.18Chinese First Office Action dated Feb. 12, 2010 issued in CN 200680051371.6.0.19Chinese First Office Action dated Jan. 22, 2010 issued in CN 200680052457.0.20Chinese First Office Action dated Jan. 22, 2010 issued in CN 200680052834.0.21Chinese First Office Action dated Jan. 29, 2010 issued in CN 200680052896.1.22David Einstein, 3D Web Browsing on the Horizon, Nov. 27, 2000, http://www.forbes.com/2001/11/27/1127threed.html., Forbes.com.23England and Wales High Court (Patent Court) Decisions; Neutral Citation No. [2005] EWHC 2416 (Pat) Case No. CH/2005/APP/0232 http://www.bailii.org/we/cases/EWHC/Patents/2005/2416.html (5 pgs.).24EP Examination Report dated Jun. 3, 2009 issued in Application No. 07 809 991.8-2221.25EP Result of Consultation dated Sep. 1, 2009 issued in Application No. 07 809 991.8-2221.26European Examination Report dated Dec. 15, 2005 issued in EP Application No. 03 773 084.3-2218.27European Office Action dated Jun. 29, 2007 issued in EP Application No. 03 773 084.3-2218, 3 pages.28European Office Action dated Nov. 24, 2005 from a related EP Application No. 03770604.1 (4 pages).29Gail, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,726, "Using Multiple Bingo Cards to Represent Multiple Slot Paylines and Other Class III Game Options", filed Apr. 11, 2006.30Game Machine, Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2001-252393, published Sep. 18, 2001, 17 pages.31Game Machine, Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2001-252394, published Sep. 18, 2001, 13 pages.32GameSpot Staff. "15 Most Influential Games of All Time" Gamespot [online], retrieved May 30, 2007]. Retrieved from the Internet http://web.archive.org/web/20010618175937/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/most�influential/p16.html, 1 page.33Learn How to Program 3D Graphics LinuxFocus vol. NR 2, Jan. 1998 1-2 pages http://mercury.chem.pitt.edu/�tiho/LinuxFocus/English/January1998/index/html.34M2 Presswire, Aristocrat Technologies to use PowerVR technology in casino video machines; Australian company leads market for video machine games of chance, Oct. 17, 2000, http://www.aristocrat.com.au/PR181000.htm, Copyright 2000 M2 Communications, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.35Mason Woo, Jackie Neider, Tom Davis, Dave Shreiner, OpenGL Program Guide: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL, Introduction to OpenGL Chapter 1, Version 1.2, 3rd edition, OpenGL Architecture Review Board, Addison-Wesley Publishing, Co., 1999, ISBN: 0201604582.36Microsoft Press. Computer Dictionary Third Edition. Redmond, WA 1997. p. 406.37Miguel Angel Sepulveda, "Open GL Programming: The 3D Scene" pp. 1-7 http://mercury.chem.pitt.edu/�tiho/LinuxFocus/English/May1998/article46.html.38Miguel Angel Sepulveda, "What is OpenGL?" LinuxFocus vol. 2 pp. 1-5 http://mercury.chem.pitt.edu/�tiho/LinuxFocus/English/January1998/article15.html printed on Oct. 11, 2002.39Patents Act 1977: Examining for Patentability Article http://www.patent.gov.uk/patent/notices/practice/examforpat.htm (3 pgs.).40Pattern Display Device, Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2002-085624, published Mar. 26, 2002, 9 pages.41PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion dated Dec. 7, 2009 issued in PCT/US2008/066196.42PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion dated Jan. 6, 2009 issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/015015.43PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion dated Jun. 24, 2008 issued in WO2007/075401 (PCT/US2006/047887).44PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion dated Jun. 24, 2008 issued in WO2007/075486 (PCT/US2006/048064).45PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion dated Jun. 24, 2008 issued in WO2007/075582 (PCT/US2006/048264).46PCT International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion dated Jun. 24, 2008 issued in WO2007/078828 (PCT/US2006/047714).47PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 12, 2008 issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/015015, 15 pages.48PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 4, 2007 issued in WO2007/078828 (PCT/US2006/047714).49PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Oct. 24, 2008 issued in PCT/US2008/066196.50PCT International Search Report dated Aug. 8, 2007 issued in WO2007/075401 (PCT/US2006/047887).51PCT International Search Report dated Jan. 13, 2004 issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2003/018028.52PCT International Search Report dated Jul. 5, 2007 issued in W02007/075486 (PCT/US2006/048064).53PCT International Search Report dated Jun. 6, 2007 issued in WO2007/075582 (PCT/US2006/048264).54PCT International Search Report dated Mar. 1, 2004 issued in PCT/US2003/031138.55PCT International Search Report dated Mar. 19, 2004 issued in PCT/US2003/031158.56Phillip Ross, "Hardware Review: 3Dfx Graphics Card" LinuxFocus vol. 2, pp. 1-7 http://mercury.chem.pitt.edu/�tiho/LinuxFocus/English/January1998/article18.ht printed on Oct. 11, 2002.57Powell et al., U.S. Appl. No. 11/312,948, "Bingo Gaming Machine Capable of Selecting Different Bingo Pools", filed Dec. 19, 2005.58Powell, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 11/442,029, "Bingo System With Discrete Paycout Categories", filed May 26, 2006.59PowerVR (PowerVR), 3D Graphical Processing, Nov. 14, 2000, � Power VR 2000.60Rose, "Nevada A.G. Finds Free Internet Gambling is Still Gambling", Mar. 2001, printed from http://rose.casinocitytimes.com/articles/974.html, pp. 1-4.61Russian Advisory Action dated Jul. 19, 2007 issued in Russian Application No. 2005109161/09 (010840) 7 pages.62Russian Office Action dated Jul. 19, 2007 issued in RU Application No. 2005109160/09 (010839), 9 pages.63Scarne, John., Scarne on Cards, 1949, Crown Publishers, p. 243.64Scott et al. "An Overview of the VISUALIZE fx Graphics Accelerator Hardware" Article 4 Hewlet Packard Company May 1998 HP Journal, 7 pages.65Segal et al., "The OpenGL Graphics System: A Specification (Version 1.3)", 2001, printed from http://www.opengl.org/documentation/specs/version1.3/glspec13.pdf, pp. 1-11, 66-73 and 181-189 (29 pages).66Segal et al., "The OpenGL Graphics System: A Specification (Version 1.3)", 2001, printed from http://www.opengl.org/documentation/specs/version1.3/glspec13.pdf, pp. 1-11, 66-73 and 181-189 (40 pages).67Slot Machine, Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 2001-062032, published Mar. 13, 2001, 32 pages.68TE 5 Graphics Accelerator Technology Preview NEC Aug. 2001, 7 pages.69The Basics of 3D: Adding Parallelism, The Meter, available at http://www.themeter.com/articles/3DBasics-4.shtml, printed on Jan. 31, 2003 pp. 1-2.70The Basics of 3D: Balancing the Pipeline, The Meter, available at http://www.themeter.com/articles/3DBasics-3.shtml, printed on Jan. 31, 2003 pp. 1-2.71The Basics of 3D: Tackling the Pipeline, The Meter, available at http://www.themeter.com/articles/3DBasics-2.shtml, printed on Jan. 31, 2003 pp. 1-2.72The Basics of 3D: The Next Generation, The Meter, available at http://www.themeter.com/articles/3DBasics-7.shtml, printed on Jan. 31, 2003 pp. 1-2.73The Basics of 3D: Transform and Lighting, The Meter, available at http://www.themeter.com/articles/3DBasics-6.shtml, printed on Jan. 31, 2003 pp. 1-2.74The Basics of 3D: What's Next, The Meter, available at http://www.themeter.com/articles/3DBasics-5.shtml, printed on Jan. 31, 2003 p. 1.75U.S. Action-Examiner's Answer re Brief on Appeal, dated Jun. 22, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.76U.S. Action�Examiner's Answer re Brief on Appeal, dated Jun. 22, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.77U.S. Action-Examiner's Communication re IDS Considered dated Jul. 27, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.78U.S. Action�Examiner's Communication re IDS Considered dated Jul. 27, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.79U.S. Action-Examiner's Communication re Reply Brief filed Aug. 3, 2009, dated Aug. 27, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.80U.S. Action�Examiner's Communication re Reply Brief filed Aug. 3, 2009, dated Aug. 27, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.81U.S. Examiner Interview Summary dated Jul. 27, 2004 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 09/927,901.82U.S. Examiner Interview Summary dated Mar. 16, 2004 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 09/927,901.83U.S. Examiner Interview Summary of interview Jan. 19, 2011, dated Jan. 26, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/101,921.84U.S. Final Office Action dated Dec. 22, 2003 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 09/927,901.85U.S. Final Office Action dated Jan. 28, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/759,825.86U.S. Final Office Action dated Jan. 30, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.87U.S. Final Office Action dated Jul. 1, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,726.88U.S. Final Office Action dated Jun. 9, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/024,931.89U.S. Final Office Action dated May 10, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.90U.S. Final Office Action dated Oct. 1, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.91U.S. Final Office Action dated Oct. 29, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/101,921.92U.S. Notice of Allowance and Examiner Interview Summary dated Mar. 1, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,726.93U.S. Notice of Allowance and Examiners Communication dated Nov. 3, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.94U.S. Notice of Allowance and Supplemental Notice of Allowability dated Jun. 3, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,726.95U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Aug. 16, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/264,877.96U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Aug. 6, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.97U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Dec. 16, 2004 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 09/927,901.98U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Jan. 27, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.99U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Jul. 12, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.100U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Mar. 11, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.101U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 1, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/264,877.102U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 15, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/024,931.103U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 30, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.104U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Sep. 15, 2008 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/112,076.105U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Sep. 20, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/024,931.106U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Sep. 24, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/676,719.107U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Sep. 8, 2008 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/829,807.108U.S. Notice of Non-Compliant Amendment (37 CFR 1.121) dated Aug. 11, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/024,931.109U.S. Office Action (IDS considered) dated Feb. 10, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.110U.S. Office Action (IDS considered) dated Feb. 14, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.111U.S. Office Action (IDS considered) dated Feb. 8, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/024,931.112U.S. Office Action (IDS considered) dated Mar. 24, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/264,877.113U.S. Office Action (Notice of Panel Decision on Pre-Appeal Brief Review) dated Apr. 6, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/759,825.114U.S. Office Action (Notice of Panel Decision on Pre-Appeal Brief Review) dated Aug. 2, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/272,788.115U.S. Office Action dated Aug. 21, 2008 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.116U.S. Office Action dated Aug. 25, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/759,825.117U.S. Office Action dated Dec. 10, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/112,076.118U.S. Office Action dated Dec. 12, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/829,807.119U.S. Office Action dated Dec. 31, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/024,931.120U.S. Office Action dated Feb. 12, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/676,719.121U.S. Office Action dated Feb. 15, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/101,921.122U.S. Office Action dated Feb. 20, 2008 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.123U.S. Office Action dated Feb. 22, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/272,788.124U.S. Office Action dated Feb. 8, 2005 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/272,788.125U.S. Office Action dated Jan. 23, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.126U.S. Office Action dated Jun. 1, 2006 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/272,788.127U.S. Office Action dated Jun. 12, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/674,884.128U.S. Office Action dated Jun. 13, 2003 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 09/927,901.129U.S. Office Action dated Jun. 17, 2005 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.130U.S. Office Action dated Jun. 21, 2004 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 09/927,901.131U.S. Office Action dated Jun. 24, 2008 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.132U.S. Office Action dated Jun. 27, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.133U.S. Office Action dated Mar. 15, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/264,877.134U.S. Office Action dated May 15, 2009 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/187,343.135U.S. Office Action dated May 18, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/101,921.136U.S. Office Action dated May 25, 2005 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/272,788.137U.S. Office Action dated Nov. 25, 2008 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/402,726.138U.S. Office Action dated Nov. 5, 2008 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/024,931.139U.S. Office Action dated Oct. 26, 2006 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/272,788.140U.S. Office Action dated Oct. 7, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/312,948.141U.S. Office Action dated Sep. 28, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/312,966.142U.S. Office Action dated Sep. 3, 2010 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/442,029.143U.S. Office Action dated Sep. 6, 2007 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 10/803,233.144UK Combined Search and Examination Report under Sections 17 and 18(3) dated Mar. 15, 2006 issued in GB0600005.3, 5 pgs.145UK Search Report under Section 17(5) dated Jun. 22, 2005 issued in GB 0505328.5.146US Office Action dated Mar. 17, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/312,966.147US Office Action Final dated Apr. 1, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/312,948.148US Office Action Final dated Feb. 18, 2011 issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/442,029.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8523672Jul 23, 2012Sep 3, 2013Igt3-D reels and 3-D wheels in a gaming machineUS8608550Nov 11, 2011Dec 17, 2013Wms Gaming, IncCoordinating three dimensional wagering game content presentationsUS8777718Apr 6, 2012Jul 15, 2014Ray SmithShort-line bingo method and apparatusUS8784206Apr 14, 2012Jul 22, 2014Wms Gaming, Inc.Modifying presentation of three-dimensional, wagering-game contentUS20090061981 *Aug 5, 2008Mar 5, 2009Kodiak Gaming Ventures, LlcElectronic bingo-based roulette game* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification463/19, 463/42, 463/13, 463/12International ClassificationA63F9/24Cooperative ClassificationG07F17/3211, G07F17/3202European ClassificationG07F17/32C2F, G07F17/32CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 5, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: IGT, NEVADAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RESNICK, JOSEPH;LEMAY, STEVEN G.;BENBRAHIM, JAMAL;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:018086/0485;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060623 TO 20060628Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RESNICK, JOSEPH;LEMAY, STEVEN G.;BENBRAHIM, JAMAL;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060623 TO 20060628;REEL/FRAME:018086/0485RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google