U.S. patent application number 10/981878 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for apparatus, method, and program product for conducting a bingo game to produce card game-type results.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multimedia Games, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lind, Clifton, Lind, Jefferson C..
Application Number | 20050221883 10/981878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35055069 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050221883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lind, Clifton ; et
al. |
October 6, 2005 |
Apparatus, method, and program product for conducting a bingo game
to produce card game-type results
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and program products for a bingo game are
described for selecting a group of designations from an overall set
of designations and matching the selected group of designations to
designations associated with the locations on a player card. Each
designation in the overall set of designations corresponds to a
playing card in a standard playing card deck. Matching the group of
designations with the player card designations produces a number of
matched locations on the player card. These matched locations are
used to determine a playing card hand and a player is awarded the
result of the game based on the playing card hand.
Inventors: |
Lind, Clifton; (Austin,
TX) ; Lind, Jefferson C.; (Austin, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE CULBERTSON GROUP, P.C.
1114 LOST CREEK BLVD.
SUITE 420
AUSTIN
TX
78746
US
|
Assignee: |
Multimedia Games, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
35055069 |
Appl. No.: |
10/981878 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60557899 |
Mar 31, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3293 20130101; G07F 17/3276 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/019 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming method including the steps of: (a) selecting at least
one group of designations for a game, each designation included in
the respective group being selected from an overall set of
designations wherein each designation in the overall set
corresponds to a respective playing card of a standard playing card
deck; (b) matching each group of designations to a player card for
a respective player, the player card including a number of card
locations, each respective card location corresponding to a
different playing card in the standard playing card deck so that
matching each group of designations to the player card produces a
number of matched locations on the player card; and (c) awarding a
result of the game to the player based upon a playing card hand
achieved by the matched locations on the player card.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of awarding the result is
performed based upon the matched locations resulting after matching
a single group of designations with the player card.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the player card is made up of a
two-dimensional array of card locations defined by four different
rows of card locations aligned along a first axis and thirteen
different rows of card locations aligned along a second axis, each
row along the first axis corresponding to a different suit in the
standard playing card deck and each row along the second axis
corresponding to a different face value for playing cards in the
standard playing card deck.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein: (a) selecting at least one group
of designations for the game includes selecting a primary group of
designations and at least one draw sequence group of designations;
and (b) matching each group of designations to a player card for
the respective player includes first matching the primary group of
designations and then matching each respective draw sequence group
of designations separately after enabling the player to discard one
or more matched locations remaining after matching the immediately
preceding group of designations.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of awarding the result is
performed based upon the matched locations remaining after matching
a final one of the at least one draw sequence group of
designations.
6. The method of claim 4 further including the step of charging the
player an amount for each matched location discarded by the
player.
7. The method of claim 5 further including the step of increasing
the amount charged for each matched location discarded by the
player for each respective draw sequence group of designations.
8. A gaming apparatus including: (a) a display device; (b) a player
interface device; (c) a designation set controller for selecting at
least one group of designations for a game, each designation
included in the respective group being selected from an overall set
of designations wherein each designation in the overall set
corresponds to a respective playing card of a standard playing card
deck; (d) a matching controller operatively connected for
communication with the player interface device and the designation
set controller, the matching controller for receiving each group of
designations from the designation set controller and matching each
respective group of designations to a player card for a respective
player in response to a corresponding respective player input
initiated through the player input device, the player card
including a number of card locations, each respective card location
corresponding to a different playing card in the standard playing
card deck so that matching each group of designations to the player
card produces a number of matched locations on the player card; and
(e) an award controller operatively connected for communication
with the matching controller and the display device, the award
controller for receiving the matched locations from the matching
controller, for awarding a result of the game to the player based
upon a playing card hand achieved by the matched locations on the
player card, and for directing the display device to produce a
representation that communicates the result of the game to the
player.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the display device, player
input device, designation set controller, matching controller, and
award controller are all mounted on a common player station.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the designation set
controller, matching controller, and award controller are all
implemented in a common data processing device.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the display device and player
input device are both mounted on a common player station, and
wherein the designation set controller, matching controller, and
award controller are all implemented in a central processing device
separate from the player station and including a communication
arrangement facilitating communications between the central
processing device and components on the player station.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a number of
additional player stations each including a respective additional
display device and a respective additional player input device, and
wherein the award controller is also for receiving the matched
locations from the matching controller for a second player at one
of the additional player stations, for awarding a result of the
game to the second player based upon a playing card hand achieved
by the matched locations on the player card, and for directing the
respective additional display device at the respective additional
player station to produce a respective representation that
communicates the result of the game to the second player.
13. A program product stored on a computer readable medium, the
program product including: (a) designation set program code, the
designation set program code being operable when executed to select
at least one group of designations for a game, each designation
included in the respective group being selected from an overall set
of designations wherein each designation in the overall set
corresponds to a respective playing card of a standard playing card
deck; (b) matching program code, the matching program code being
operable when executed to match each group of designations to a
player card for a respective player, the player card including a
number of card locations, each respective card location
corresponding to a different playing card in the standard playing
card deck so that matching each group of designations to the player
card produces a number of matched locations on the player card; and
(c) award program code, the award program code being operable when
executed to award a result of the game to the player based upon a
playing card hand achieved by the matched locations on the player
card.
14. The program product of claim 13 wherein the award program code
awards the result based upon the matched locations resulting after
the matching program code matches a single group of designations
with the player card.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein: (a) the designation set program
code selects a primary group of designations and at least one draw
sequence group of designations; and (b) the matching program code
matches the primary group of designations and then matches each
respective draw sequence group of designations separately each
after enabling the player to discard one or more matched locations
remaining after matching the immediately preceding group of
designations.
16. The program product of claim 15 wherein the award program code
awards the result based upon the matched locations remaining after
matching a final one of the at least one draw sequence group of
designations.
17. The program product of claim 15 further including wagering
program code, the wagering program code being operable when
executed to charge the player an amount for each matched location
discarded by the player.
18. The program product of claim 17 wherein the wagering program
code is also operable when executed to increase the amount charged
for each matched location discarded by the player for each
respective draw sequence group of designations.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The Applicants claim the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/557,899 filed
Mar. 31, 2004, and entitled "Apparatus, Method, And Program Product
For Conducting A Bingo Game To Produce Card Game-Type Results." The
entire content of this provisional application is incorporated
herein by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to gaming and gaming systems, and,
more particularly, to a bingo gaming system that may be used to
simulate the play of a card game such as poker.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The game known as "bingo" is played with predefined bingo
cards that each include a number of bingo designations such as
numbers, letters, or other symbols, randomly arranged in a desired
manner, commonly in a grid. The bingo designations on the cards are
selected from an overall set of available designations. In
traditional bingo games the cards are physically printed on paper
or other suitable material. These traditional printed cards are
purchased by players prior to the start of a game. After a buy-in
period in which players purchase bingo cards for a game,
designations from the available set of designations are selected at
random. As the designations are selected and announced in the game,
the players match the randomly selected designations with the
designations printed on their respective card or cards. This
matching and marking of matched designations on the bingo card is
commonly referred to as "daubing" the card. The player first
producing a predetermined pattern of matches between the randomly
selected designations and the printed card designations on a single
card, and then announcing "bingo" to claim the win, is considered
the winner. Consolation prizes may be awarded to players having
cards matched to produce consolation prize patterns at the time of
the winning pattern. Additional prizes may be awarded during the
course of a traditional bingo game to players matching other
patterns prior to the time the game ending or winning pattern is
first produced.
[0004] There are numerous variations of the traditional bingo game.
One particular variation is played with electronic bingo card
representations rather than the traditional printed bingo cards. In
these electronic bingo games, each bingo card is represented by a
data structure that defines the various card locations and
designations associated with the locations. The game is played
through player stations connected via a communications network. A
central computer system or game server in the network may be
responsible for storing the bingo card representations and
distributing or communicating bingo card representations to players
at the player stations. The player stations display the bingo cards
defined by the card representations and also allow the players to
daub or mark designation matches on their cards as the designations
associated with the ball draw are announced in the game. A primary
advantage of this type of electronic bingo game is that the games
may be played at a much faster pace than is practical with
traditional paper bingo games.
[0005] Although paper and electronically implemented bingo games
remain popular to many gaming participants, there have
traditionally been aspects of bingo games which limit acceptance of
bingo by a wider audience. Most importantly, the graphical
presentation of prior bingo games may seem relatively uninteresting
or less exciting than competing games, such as reel-type (slot
machine) games, and other traditional casino game games,
particularly casino card games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention includes a method, apparatus, and
program product for conducting a bingo game to produce card
game-type results. By producing card game-type results, a bingo
game according to the present invention may imitate popular card
games such as poker, and thereby increase player interest.
[0007] A method embodying the principles of the invention includes
selecting a group of designations for a game. This step of
selecting a group of designations corresponds to, and may in fact
be, a ball draw such as those used in traditional or electronically
implemented bingo games. Thus, each of the designations included in
the group are selected from an overall set of designations that are
available in the bingo game. Unlike prior art bingo games, however,
each designation in the overall set corresponds to a particular
playing card in a standard playing card deck. After the group of
designations is selected, the group is matched to a player card for
a particular player. Unlike prior art bingo cards, each player card
location or spot in the player card used in the present invention
corresponds to a different playing card in the standard playing
card deck. Thus, matching the group of designations to the player
card produces a number of matched locations on the player card that
together comprise or represent a particular playing card hand.
According to the present invention, a player is awarded a result of
the game based on the matched locations included in the playing
card hand.
[0008] One preferred form of the invention includes selecting a
primary group of designations and at least one draw sequence group
of designations as part of selecting a group of designations for a
game. After the primary group of designations is matched to a
player card, the player may choose to discard one or more of the
matched locations. A respective draw sequence group of designations
is then matched with the player card. The step of discarding
matched locations and applying draw sequence groups of designations
may be repeated a number of times. This use of one or more draw
sequence groups of designations after a primary group of
designations may be used to imitate draw poker and similar card
games.
[0009] A gaming apparatus according to the present invention
includes a display device and a player interface device. In
addition, the gaming apparatus includes a designation set
controller for selecting at least one group of designations for a
game and a matching controller operatively connected for
communication with the player interface device and the designation
set controller. The matching controller matches each group of
designations to a player card for a particular player in response
to a player input initiated through the player input device to
produce a number of matched locations on the player card. The
gaming apparatus also includes an award controller operatively
connected for communication with the matching controller and the
display device for awarding a result of the game to the player and
for directing the display device to produce a representation that
communicates the result of the game to the player.
[0010] A program product according to the present invention
includes a set of machine-readable instructions that when executed,
carry out the methods of the present invention described above.
Designation set program code selects at least one group of
designations for a game, including a primary group of designations
and any draw sequence groups of designations, and matching program
code matches each selected group of designations with a player
card. In addition, award program code awards a result of the game
to a player based on the matched locations on the player card and
wagering program code charges a player an amount for any matched
locations discarded by a player.
[0011] These and other features, and advantages of the invention
will be apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a gaming apparatus
embodying the principles of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a representation of a bingo card suitable for use
in playing poker-type card games according to the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing
system that may be used in an embodiment of the invention in which
one or more processing tasks are distributed to a processing system
separate from the player station or stations.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a player station that
may be used in a gaming system embodying the principles of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the process steps for
performing a method embodying the principles of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The claims at the end of this application set out novel
features which the Applicants believe are characteristics of the
invention. The various advantages and features of the invention
together with preferred modes of use of the invention will best be
understood by reference to the following description of
illustrative embodiments read in conjunction with the drawings
introduced above.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, a gaming apparatus 100 embodying the
principles of the invention includes at least one player display
device 101 and a respective player interface device 102. Each
respective pair of player display device 101 and player interface
device 102 is preferably included in a respective player station
103. Gaming apparatus 100 also includes a central processing device
or system 104 which implements a designation set controller 106, a
matching controller 108, and an award controller 110.
[0019] As will be described further below in connection with the
flow diagram of FIG. 5, designation set controller 106 selects at
least one group of designations for a game. Each designation
included in the respective group is selected from an overall set of
designations, where each designation in the overall set corresponds
to a respective playing card of a standard playing card deck. An
example of one type of standard playing card deck within the scope
of the present invention comprises a standard poker deck including
fifty-two cards made up of four suits (Spades, Diamonds, Clubs, and
Hearts) with thirteen cards in each suit (cards 2 through 10, a
Jack, Queen, King, and Ace). An overall set of designations
corresponding to this example standard playing card deck would
include fifty-two designations, one corresponding to the Ace of
Spades, one corresponding to the Ace of Diamonds, and so forth
through the entire deck. An example of a group of designations
selected by designation set controller 106 for a game might be a
group of five designations for a straight five card draw or five
card stud poker game according to the invention. In this example,
the group of designations might correspond to the playing cards
Five of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts, Ten of Clubs, and
Four of Diamonds. However, as will be described further below with
reference to FIG. 5, designation set controller 106 may select any
number of designations for a game from one designation to seven or
more designations depending upon the rules of the card game being
simulated by the present bingo gaming system.
[0020] As used in this disclosure a "standard playing card deck"
comprises a deck of cards commonly used in the play of a particular
card game. Under this definition, another standard playing card
deck for poker would be a fifty-two card deck as described above
with two Joker cards.
[0021] Matching controller 108 is operatively connected for
communication with the player interface device 102 for a given
player for whom the game is being conducted, and is also
operatively connected for communication with designation set
controller 106. In some preferred forms of the invention, matching
controller 108 is also connected for communication with display
device 101 for the player for whom the game is being conducted.
Matching controller 108 receives each group of designations from
the designation set controller 106 and matches each respective
group of designations to a player card for the respective player
for whom the game is being conducted. This matching function is
preferably performed in response to a corresponding respective
player input initiated through the player's respective player
interface device 102. As will be discussed in detail below with
reference to FIG. 5, the player input may be an input requesting an
initial deal in the card game being simulated, an input requesting
a replacement card in the game being simulated, or an input
requesting the next card in a stud poker hand. The structure of a
player card that may be used according to the present invention
will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. 2.
However, it will be noted here that the matching performed by
matching controller 108 produces a number of matched locations on
the player card.
[0022] Award controller 110 is operatively connected for
communication with at least matching controller 108 and the
player's respective display device 101. Award controller 110
receives the matched player card locations from matching controller
108, and awards a result of the game to the player based upon a
playing card hand achieved by the matched locations on the player
card. Award controller 110 also directs the respective player's
display device 101 to produce a suitable representation that
communicates the result of the game to the player. The
representations produced on the player's display device 101 in the
course of a game according to the present invention will be
described below with reference to FIG. 5.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows an example of a player card 200 that is
particularly suited for use in a bingo game according to the
present invention that simulates a poker-type card game. Player
card 200 includes a number of card locations 201. Each respective
card location 201 corresponds to a different playing card in the
standard playing card deck for the respective game according to the
present invention. In the example, player card 200 shown in FIG. 2,
there are fifty-two card locations, one corresponding to each
playing card in the fifty-two card standard playing card deck. That
is, player card 200 includes a respective card location
corresponding to the Ace of each suit in the deck, the King of each
suit in the deck and so on. This example player card 200 comprises
a two-dimensional array of card locations 201 arranged in four rows
202 along a first axis, each row along the first axis corresponding
to a different suit in the card deck, and thirteen rows 203 along a
second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis. Each row 203
along the second axis corresponds to a different card face value,
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, and so on. It will be appreciated that
matching a given group of designations to the player card produces
a number of matched locations on the player card and that these
matched locations may be used to simulate or represent a hand in a
card game. For example, in the earlier presented example of a group
of five designations, corresponding to the playing cards Five of
Hearts, Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts, Ten of Clubs, and Four of
Diamonds, the value of the resulting five card poker hand would be
one pair or two-of-a-kind.
[0024] It will be noted from FIG. 2 that a poker hand may be
defined in terms of card locations matched on player card 200. For
example, the hand "four-of-a-kind" is defined as any single row 203
having all the card locations matched and "three-of-a-kind" is
defined as any single row 203 having three card locations matched.
A Flush is defined as any row 202 having five matched locations
with at least one matched location not being in a row 203 adjacent
to the other rows 203 containing matched locations, and a Straight
Flush is defined as any row 202 having card locations matched in
five adjacent rows 203. A Straight is defined as any five adjacent
rows 203 having one matched location with at least one matched
location of the five being in a row 202 different from one or more
of the other matched locations. The remaining poker hand values may
be similarly defined in terms of player card locations in the
player card shown in FIG. 2.
[0025] It will be appreciated that there are many arrangements of
hardware that may be used to implement the basic gaming apparatus
shown in FIG. 1. For example, a respective display device 101 and
player interface device 102, together with one or more data
processing devices implementing designation set controller 106,
matching controller 108, and award controller 110 may all be
mounted on a common player station 103.
[0026] Alternatively, an apparatus according to the invention may
include a respective player display device 101 and player interface
device 102 both mounted on a common player station, with
designation set controller 106, matching controller 108, and award
controller 110 all implemented in a central processing device
separate from the player station. In this alternative form of the
invention, a communication arrangement between the central
processing device and player stations 103 facilitates the required
communications as will be described further below. This arrangement
in which designation set controller 106, matching controller 108,
and award controller 110 are implemented in a central processing
device facilitates a system including multiple player stations 103,
and in which the central processing device performs the designation
set selection function, matching function, and awarding functions
of the controllers 106, 108, and 110 for each of the different
player stations. That is, the centralized designation set
controller 106 produces the group or groups of designations for
each game requested through a respective player station 103,
matching controller 108 matches the group or groups of designations
to the respective player's card for each respective player station
to identify the respective matched locations for each player
participating in the game, and award controller 110 awards a result
of the game to each respective player at their respective player
station 103 based upon a playing card hand achieved by the
respective matched locations on the respective player card. The
centralized award controller 110 would also direct each respective
player display device 101 at each respective player station 103 to
produce a respective representation that communicates the result of
the game to the respective player.
[0027] It will be noted that an apparatus according to the
invention may include multiple player stations 103 all sharing a
common central processing device or system 104 to implement the
controllers 106, 108, and 110, where all of the devices are housed
in a common console or housing. Even where a central processing
device implements the functions of controllers 106, 108, and 110,
the player stations 103 need not be housed in separate player
station housings. However, forms of the invention may include
separate player station housings or cabinets for player stations
103 and communications between the central processing device
implementing the controllers may be accomplished by TCP/IP
communications, serial communications, or any other suitable
communication protocol over wire or wireless.
[0028] It will be further noted that the functions of controllers
106, 108, and 110 may be distributed in any suitable fashion in a
gaming apparatus according to the invention. For example, a central
processing device shared by two or more player stations 103 may
implement only designation set controller 106 and the functions of
matching controller 108 and award controller 110 for each
respective player station may be performed at a processing device
associated with the respective player station. Similarly, the
functions of both the designation set controller 106 and matching
controller 108 may be performed at a central processing device
while the award controller 110 function may be performed for each
respective player station through a processing device associated
with the respective player station.
[0029] FIG. 3 provides a diagrammatic representation of a data
processing system 300 that may be used to perform the functions of
one or more of the controllers 106, 108, and 110 for preferably
several different player stations 103.
[0030] Data processing system 300 may include one or more
processors 301, nonvolatile memory 302, volatile memory 303, a user
interface arrangement 304, and a communications interface 305, all
connected to a system bus 306. It will be appreciated that user
interface arrangement 304 may include a number of different devices
such as a keyboard, a display, and a pointing device such as a
mouse or trackball for example, although not shown in FIG. 3.
Alternatively to the integrated user interface arrangement 304
shown in FIG. 3, a user interface for system 300 may be provided
through a separate computer (not shown) in communication with the
system 300.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows an example of a player station 103 that may be
used in a gaming system such as that shown in FIG. 1. In addition
to player display device 101, the example player station 103 shown
in FIG. 4 includes a processor 400, volatile memory 401,
nonvolatile memory 402, and a communications interface 403. The
volatile and nonvolatile memory stores computer program codes that
may be executed by processor 400 to cause the processor to perform
or direct the various functions provided by player station 103.
Communications interface 403 allows communications between player
station 103 and a processing system such as that shown in FIG. 3
which may implement one or more of the controllers 106, 108, and
110. The player interface arrangement for the example player
station 103 shown in FIG. 4 includes not just a single player
interface device, but a number of different player interface
devices for various player interface purposes. This preferred
interface arrangement includes player controls 404, a sound system
406, and perhaps other features 407 such as alarms or special
displays or alerting devices. The player interface device may also
include a touch screen element incorporated with player display
device 101. Each player station 103 also preferably includes a
convenient system for allowing the player to input player-specific
information and for receiving wagers and dispensing winnings. For
example, the player station 103 shown in FIG. 4 includes a player
account card reader 408 that is adapted to read player-specific
information from a player account card inserted into the reader. A
player account card may, for example, include player information or
simply a player identifier encoded on a magnetic medium (mag
stripe) associated with the card, or encoded on bar code, or a
memory device associated with the player account card.
[0032] The player station 103 illustrated in FIG. 4 also includes a
device 409 for receiving value and issuing value in the course of
play. This device may accept currency, vouchers, or tokens, for
example, and also output currency, vouchers, or tokens. Of course,
a separate device may be used to receive and issue value for games
played according to the present invention. Alternatively or in
addition to value in/out device 409, player stations 103 may read
player account information from the player account card or player
information otherwise input at the player station, and account for
wagers and winnings in the manner set out in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/044,478, filed Jan. 10, 2002, entitled
"Distributed Account Based Gaming System," the entire content of
which is incorporated herein by this reference.
[0033] Gaming methods embodying the principles of the invention may
be described with particular reference to the high level flow chart
shown in FIG. 5. It will be appreciated that the references to
physical components are references to the components shown in FIGS.
1-4, and that the physical components for performing the various
steps shown in FIG. 5 are not shown in FIG. 5.
[0034] As shown at block 501 in FIG. 5, a gaming method includes
selecting at least one group of designations for a game. Each
designation included in a respective group is selected from an
overall set of designations where each designation in the overall
set corresponds to a respective playing card of a standard playing
card deck. The method also includes matching each group of
designations to a player card for a respective player as indicated
at block 502. As discussed above with reference to FIG. 2, the
player card includes a number of card locations 201 in that figure,
each of which corresponds to a different playing card in the
standard playing card deck. Thus, the matching step shown at 502 in
FIG. 5 produces a number of matched locations on the player card.
As shown at block 503 the method further includes awarding a result
of the game to the player based upon a playing card hand achieved
by the matched locations on the player card.
[0035] In one preferred form of the invention, the awarding step
shown at block 503 is performed based upon the matched locations
resulting after matching a single group of designations with the
player card. For example, assume that the designation selection
step at block 501 results in the selection of five designations,
and that the selected designations correspond to the designations
of the earlier example, the five of Hearts, the Ace of Diamonds,
the Ace of Hearts, the ten of Clubs, and the four of Diamonds. For
this example, an appropriate player card would comprise the player
card 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. Using this group of designations
and the player card 200 shown in FIG. 2, the matching step at block
502 would result in two matched locations in the row 203 dedicated
to Aces and a single matched location each in the respective row
203 dedicated to fours, fives, and tens. This matching result would
be defined according to the invention as a two-of-a-kind hand. The
award at block 503, in FIG. 5, would be an award based on the
playing card hand two-of-a-kind. This example, illustrates how the
present bingo gaming system may simulate straight poker with no
ability to draw after the initial hand.
[0036] The matching step preformed at block 502 and the awarding
step performed at block 503 may be performed in any suitable
fashion according to the present invention. For example, the player
card (for example 200 in FIG. 2) may be stored electronically in
some suitable fashion so that a match at each respective location
on the card may be mapped to the respective playing card
represented by that respective card location. The playing card hand
resulting after the matching step may then be analyzed, preferably
under control of a suitable computer program, to identify the type
of hand or value of the playing card hand. That is, the playing
card hand resulting after the matching step at block 502 may be
analyzed to identify if the type or value of the hand is
two-of-a-kind, three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, etc. It will be
noted that this analysis or evaluation to identify the value of the
playing card hand represented by the resulting matched player card
locations may be performed as part of the matching step 502 under
control of matching controller 108 (FIG. 1), or as part of the
awarding step 503 under control of award controller 110 (FIG. 1),
within the scope of the invention. In any event, once the value of
the playing card hand represented to the matched player card
locations is identified, the awarding step at block 503 may include
conducting a look up in a stored table that correlates all
potential playing card hand values with a respective award or
result value in the game. For example, a playing card hand value
"two-of-a-kind" may be correlated to an award/result value "5
credits," while a playing card hand value "three-of-a-kind" may be
correlated to an award/result value "10 credits," and so forth for
each potential playing card hand value. This look up or other
analysis to identify an award/result for the matches produced at
matching step 502 is preferably performed by the award controller
described above.
[0037] Another method according to the invention comprises an
extension of the basic method steps shown at blocks 501, 502, and
503 in FIG. 5, and simulates draw poker. In this form of the
invention, the selecting step at block 501 includes selecting a
primary group of designations and at least one draw sequence group
of designations. Each draw sequence group of designations is
preferably selected after the primary group of designations is
matched to the player card, and after the player is advised of the
matched locations and is given an option to discard one or more of
the matched locations after matching with the primary group of
designations. As indicated by decision block 504 in FIG. 5, the
player may be given an option to discard one or more matched
locations. If the player has an option to discard any matched
player card locations, the method according to the invention
branches from decision block 504 in FIG. 5 to player input block
505. If the player input at block 505 discards one or more matched
player card locations, the process loops back to selection block
501. At this point, a draw sequence group of designations is
selected at block 501 equal in number to the number of discarded
matched locations indicated at player input block 505. The process
then proceeds to the matching step 502 where the new draw sequence
group of designations is matched to the player card and considered
with the matched locations remaining from the primary group of
designations after disregarding the discarded matched location or
locations. The player may be given another chance to discard one or
more matched locations at this point. If the player is not given
the option to discard further matched card locations, the process
continues on to block 503 and the result is awarded based upon the
resulting playing card hand, that is, the resulting matched pattern
of locations on the player card.
[0038] The draw poker simulation with the bingo game according to
the invention may be illustrated with the following example. Assume
the primary group of designations comprises the designations for
the five of Hearts, the Ace of Diamonds, the Ace of Hearts, the ten
of Clubs, and the four of Diamonds. After the selection and
matching steps at blocks 501 and 502, the player is given the
option to discard one or more matched locations. The player may
choose to discard the matched locations corresponding to the five
card, ten card, and four card. The selection step at block 501
would then include selecting a group of three designations to
replace the designations associated with the discarded matched
locations. Assume that this group of three designations included
the eight of Diamonds, the Ace of Spades, and the two of Diamonds.
The resulting matched player card locations, disregarding the
discarded matched locations would include three matched locations
in the row dedicated to Aces, and one matched location each in the
row dedicated to eights and in the row dedicated to twos. This
pattern of matches would be defined in the bingo game as
"three-of-a-kind," and the player would be awarded the prize
corresponding to that playing card hand at block 503.
[0039] It will be noted that even if the player is given the option
to discard one or more matched player card locations, it is
possible that the player will choose not to discard. For example,
the player may achieve a Royal Flush upon matching the primary
group of designations. In such a case, the player would not discard
any of the matched player card locations. This refusal to discard
is itself considered a player input at block 505 in FIG. 5 and
results in the process continuing on from block 505 to the awarding
block 503.
[0040] It will be appreciated from the above discussion that a game
according to the invention may be configured to allow a player to
discard matched locations once, or multiple times in an effort to
improve their result. In these forms of the invention, the step of
awarding the result at block 503 is performed based upon the
matched locations remaining after matching a final one of the draw
sequence groups of designations.
[0041] In forms of the invention in which the player is given one
or more chances to discard one or more matched player card
locations, the invention may further include charging the player an
amount for each matched location discarded by the player. That is,
the player may be allowed to obtain one or more designations to
replace previously matched designations, however, each new
designation may result in a debit or charge to the player. In one
form of the invention, the cost associated with replacement
designations may increase with each round of new designations. For
example, after the primary group of designations, the player may be
charged 25 credits for each discarded matched location (that is,
each replacement designation). After the first draw sequence group
of designations, the player may be charged 50 credits for each
discarded matched location and then 100 credits after the second
draw sequence group of designations.
[0042] Allowing players to discard one or more matched locations
and obtain or purchase replacement designations allows the bingo
gaming arrangement according to the present invention to simulate
draw poker. The invention may also be used to simulate stud poker.
To simulate stud poker, the player input at block 505 is to show
the next card or to fold. For example, a primary group of
designations may include two designations which are matched at
block 502 and disclosed to the player. The player may then make an
input at block 505 to either purchase another designation or group
of designations or to fold. As with the draw poker example
described above, the cost of obtaining each successive designation
or group of designations may increase after each input or
selection.
[0043] Designations may be selected in any suitable way at process
block 501. For example, the designation selection may be by a
physical ball draw. More preferably, designations are selected by a
random number generator with numbers being mapped to respective
designations in the overall set of designations. The designation
selection process, however it is performed, may be conducted before
or after the player initiates a game. In one form of the invention
a separate selection process is performed each time at block 501.
For example, five designations are selected for the primary group
of designations and then a separate selection process is performed
for each draw sequence group of designations. Alternatively, the
invention encompasses ordering the entire overall set of
designations in some random order and then selecting designations
as needed sequentially from the randomly ordered overall set. For
example, a randomization process may be run to produce a random
sequence of designations. The selection step at block 501 for the
primary group of designations may then include selecting the first
five designations in that randomly ordered sequence. If the player
discards matched locations, the selection process for replacement
designations would include selecting the next X designations in the
randomly ordered set.
[0044] The present invention may include many variations in the
manner in which the game is presented to the player at a player
station 103 in FIG. 1. In one preferred form of the invention, an
initial graphic produced on display device 101 in FIG. 1 may have a
card game theme such as a poker theme. Once the player starts the
game through an appropriate input at player station 103, and after
the primary group of designations are selected and matched to the
player card, the invention may include producing a graphic at
display device 101 to show the player the playing card hand
resulting from the matched player card locations. The individual
playing cards in the hand may even be shown one at a time as
designations are selected or otherwise to simulate playing cards
being dealt to the player as they would be in a live card game. Any
of the controllers 106, 108, or 110 shown in FIG. 1 may be
responsible for instructing or driving the player display device
101 to show the initial playing card hand. However, either
designation set controller 106 or matching controller 108 are
preferably responsible for instructing/driving the display to show
the initial playing card hand. After producing the graphic for the
initial playing card hand, versions of the invention that give the
player options may drive an appropriate graphic through which the
player may make their selections. Using touch screen technology for
example, a player may touch a displayed representation of a playing
card in their initial hand to discard the corresponding matched
location or may touch the displayed representation to indicate the
card(s)/matched locations the player wishes to keep. Once the
player has no further options or otherwise settles on a final group
of matched player card locations for the game, the award controller
110 preferably instructs/drives the respective player's display
device 101 to indicate the result or award associated with the
player's play in the game. For example, award controller 110 may
cause the display device to produce a graphic that includes the
notice "!!!3 of a kind wins 50 credits!!!" where the player's final
set of matched player card locations corresponds to the playing
card hand value "three-of-a-kind."
[0045] It will be appreciated that the method steps and apparatus
functions described above are preferably performed by data
processing devices under the control of computer program code. The
invention encompasses a program product containing such program
code stored on a computer readable medium. The program product
includes designation set program code that is executed to select
the group or groups of designations for a game as indicated at
block 501 in FIG. 5. The program product further includes matching
program code that is executed to match each group of designations
to the player card as described above with reference to FIG. 2.
Award program code is included in the program product to award a
result of the game to the player based upon the playing card hand
achieved by the matched locations on the player card.
[0046] The award program code may operate to award the result based
upon the matched locations resulting after the matching program
code matches a single group of designations with the player card.
Alternatively, the award program code may award the result based
upon the matched locations remaining after a final group of
designations is selected by the designation set program code after
a player input discarding one or more matched locations and then
matched to the player card by the matching program code.
[0047] The program product according to the invention may also
include wagering program code that is operable upon execution to
charge the player an amount for each matched location discarded by
the player. Wagering program code may also be responsible for
identifying an initial wager placed by the player at the start of a
game. The wagering program code may further be adapted to increase
the amount charged for each matched location discarded by the
player for each respective draw sequence group of designations.
[0048] The above described preferred embodiments are intended to
illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the
scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications
to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the
art without departing from the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *