U.S. patent application number 11/060715 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for method and apparatus to play a roulette game.
Invention is credited to Duhamel, Gerald.
Application Number | 20050255904 11/060715 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35310093 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050255904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Duhamel, Gerald |
November 17, 2005 |
Method and apparatus to play a roulette game
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of playing a roulette
game played along with a primary game, comprising: obtaining a
roulette game triggering event in the primary game, determining a
player indicia, activating a roulette device and randomly
determining roulette indicia. The player indicia is compared to the
roulette indicia to determine a roulette outcome. A method of
playing a shared roulette game and a method of awarding a prize in
conjunction with such a game, are also provided. This invention
also provides a roulette device, a game system and computer
programs to apply such a roulette game.
Inventors: |
Duhamel, Gerald;
(Drummondville, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LABTRONIX CONCEPT INC.
C/O OGILVY RENAULT
1981 MC GILL COLLEGE AVENUE
SUITE 1600
MONTREAL, QUEBEC
H3A 2Y3
CA
|
Family ID: |
35310093 |
Appl. No.: |
11/060715 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60570462 |
May 13, 2004 |
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60623740 |
Nov 2, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 5/02 20130101; G07F
17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3267 20130101; A63F 5/00 20130101; G07F
17/3262 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/017 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of playing a roulette game played along with a primary
game, comprising: obtaining a roulette game triggering event in
said primary game; determining a player indicia; activating a
roulette device; randomly determining roulette indicia; and
comparing the player indicia to the roulette indicia to determine a
roulette outcome.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining a roulette
game triggering event comprises gathering a roulette game access
permission.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a player
indicia comprises receiving a player selection of said player
indicia.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a player
selection comprises archiving said player indicia for a later
roulette game play.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of comparing comprises
comparing the roulette indicia to archived player indicia.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of comparing comprises
erasing the archived player indicia after the roulette outcome is
determined.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the
roulette device comprises obtaining a roulette activation
triggering event.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing comprises
awarding a prize according to game rules.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the player indicia comprise one of
a) a number; b) a combination of numbers; c) a color or d) a
characteristic; and the roulette indicia comprise a number and its
associated color and characteristics.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising sharing said bonus
roulette game between a plurality of players.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein players having a roulette game
access permission participate in the roulette game together.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of comparing comprises
awarding a prize according to game rules.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of awarding a prize
comprises awarding a participation prize to all players
participating in a winning roulette game.
14. A method of playing a shared roulette game comprising:
obtaining a roulette game triggering event in a primary game;
determining a player indicia; activating a roulette device;
randomly determining roulette indicia; and comparing the player
indicia to the roulette indicia to determine a roulette
outcome.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of obtaining a
roulette game triggering event comprises gathering a roulette game
access permission.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of activating the
roulette device comprises allowing players having a roulette game
access permission to participate in the roulette game together.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining a
player indicia comprises receiving a player selection of said
player indicia.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining a
player indicia comprises archiving said player indicia for a later
roulette game play.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of comparing comprises
comparing the roulette indicia to archived player indicia.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of comparing comprises
erasing the archived player indicia after the roulette outcome is
determined.
21. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of activating the
roulette device comprises obtaining a roulette activation
triggering event.
22. The method of claim 14 wherein the player indicia comprise one
of a) a number; b) a combination of numbers; c) a color or d) a
characteristic; and the roulette indicia comprise a number and its
associated color and characteristics.
23. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of comparing comprises
awarding a prize according to game rules.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of awarding a prize
comprises awarding a participation prize to all players
participating in a winning roulette game.
25. A method of awarding a prize in a roulette game played along
with a primary game comprising: receiving a wager from a player;
determining an outcome in said primary game; upon occurrence of a
roulette game triggering event in said primary game, determining a
player indicia; activating a roulette device; randomly determining
a roulette indicia; comparing the player indicia to the roulette
indicia to determine a roulette outcome; and determining and
awarding a prize based on said comparison.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of determining a prize
comprises determining said prize based on standard roulette
rules.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of comparing the
player indicia to the roulette indicia comprises determining the
number of characteristics shared by said player indicia and said
roulette indicia
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of determining a prize
comprises determining said prize based on the number of
characteristic shared by said player indicia and said roulette
indicia.
29. The method of claim 25, wherein the steps of randomly
determining a roulette indicia and comparing the player indicia to
the roulette indicia are repeated.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the steps of randomly
determining a roulette indicia and comparing the player indicia to
the roulette indicia are repeated until a predetermined number of
roulette indicia determination has been used up.
31. A roulette device which play is tied to a primary game
comprising: a physical or virtual roulette wheel; control means to
activate said roulette wheel; indicating means to determine and
indicate roulette indicia; and communication means to
communicatively link said roulette device to one or more gaming
machine.
32. The roulette device of claim 31, further comprising selection
means to receive a player selection of a player indicia.
33. A game system comprising: a gaming machine to play a primary
game;, a roulette device to play a roulette game; and controller
means to communicatively link the gaming machine and the roulette
device and to control the play of said roulette device according to
primary game information.
34. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium or in
processor-readable memory having codes adapted to: obtain a
roulette game triggering event in a primary game; determine a
player indicia; activate a roulette device; randomly determine
roulette indicia; and compare the player indicia to the roulette
indicia to determine a roulette outcome.
35. A computer program carried on an electrical or electro-magnetic
carrier signal having codes adapted to: obtain a roulette game
triggering event in a primary game; determine a player indicia;
activate a roulette device; randomly determine roulette indicia;
and compare the player indicia to the roulette indicia to determine
a roulette outcome.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35USC.sctn.119(e) of
U.S. provisional patent application 60/542,279 filed Feb. 18th
2004, U.S. provisional patent application 60/570,462 filed May
13.sup.th 2004, and U.S. provisional patent application 60/623,740
filed Nov. 2.sup.nd 2004, the specifications of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a roulette game apparatus
communicatively linked to at least one game apparatus and the
method to play a roulette game. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Gambling has evolved a lot during the last few years, and
game manufacturers are always searching for new methods to interest
and entertain players. Players are always demanding more features
and payout schemes.
[0004] Improvements in these kinds of games are desired to enhance
the player's interest and entertainment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of
playing a roulette game played along with a primary game,
comprising: obtaining a roulette game triggering event in the
primary game, determining a player indicia, activating a roulette
device and randomly determining roulette indicia. The player
indicia is compared to the roulette indicia to determine a roulette
outcome.
[0006] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of playing a shared roulette game comprising: obtaining a
roulette game triggering event in a primary game, determining a
player indicia, activating a roulette device and randomly
determining roulette indicia. The player indicia is compared to the
roulette indicia to determine a roulette outcome.
[0007] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of awarding a prize in a roulette game played along with a
primary game comprising: receiving a wager from a player and
determining an outcome in the primary game. Upon occurrence of a
roulette game triggering event in the primary game, a player
indicia is determined, the roulette device is activated and a
roulette indicia is randomly determined. The player indicia is
compared to the roulette indicia to determine a roulette outcome
and a prize based on the comparison is determined and awarded.
[0008] In still another embodiment, the present invention provides
a roulette device which play is tied to a primary game comprising:
a physical or virtual roulette wheel, control means to activate the
roulette wheel, indicating means to determine and indicate roulette
indicia and communication means to communicatively link the
roulette device to one or more gaming machine.
[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a game
system comprising a gaming machine to play a primary game, a
roulette device to play a roulette game and controller means to
communicatively link the gaming machine and the roulette device and
to control the play of the roulette device according to primary
game information.
[0010] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a
computer program embodied on a computer readable medium or in
processor-readable memory having codes adapted to obtain a roulette
game triggering event in a primary game, determine a player
indicia, activate a roulette device and randomly determine roulette
indicia. The player indicia is compared to the roulette indicia to
determine a roulette outcome.
[0011] In still another embodiment, the present invention provides
a computer program carried on an electrical or electromagnetic
carrier signal having codes adapted to obtain a roulette game
triggering event in a primary game, determine a player indicia,
activate a roulette device and randomly determine roulette indicia.
The player indicia is compared to the roulette indicia to determine
a roulette outcome.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken
in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of
a gaming machine suitable for the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a bloc diagram illustrating the components of the
gaming machine of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of
a roulette device bearing player stations and suitable for the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of
a roulette device connected to a plurality of player terminals and
suitable for the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a game process in accordance with
the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a remote game process in
accordance with the present invention.
[0019] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] The present invention is preferably carried out in
conjunction with a gaming machine, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Said gaming machine 10 comprises display means 16, such as a video
screen, a LCD screen or mechanical reels; credit-receiving means 18
such as a card reader, or a coin and/or bill acceptor; input means
20, such as buttons, levers or a touch screen; awarding means 22,
such as a ticket printer, a card reader or a hopper; memory means
24 and a game controller means 26. Bonus display means (not shown)
may also be added.
[0021] The invention may also be applied in conjunction with a
computer program, or at a remote terminal, the game information
(not shown) being distributed via a network, such as linked
machines or the Internet, or broadcasted using an electrical or
electro-magnetic signal.
[0022] The bonus roulette apparatus may be a device added to the
gaming machine, like a second screen (FIG. 1) ; a physical roulette
device connected to at least one remote gaming machine (FIG. 3),
bearing player stations or not; a physical roulette device
connected to at least one player terminal (FIG. 4); a server or a
computer offering a virtual roulette game, allowing a player to
play the roulette game. The physical roulette device may be an
electronic portable or movable device, usually having at least one
player station.
[0023] In a first embodiment, the roulette device is used on a
stand-alone gaming apparatus 10 and comprises a second screen 12
installed on top of the actual gaming apparatus, as illustrated on
FIG. 1. This device is a roulette-like mechanical or video wheel
display 14. The game process for a game applying this embodiment is
illustrated on FIG. 5. After a player has placed a wager (step 30),
a primary game outcome is determined (step 32). If said primary
game outcome comprises a roulette triggering event (step 34), the
determination of a player indicia (step 36) is realized randomly,
by using the primary game outcome as a determination means or by
inviting the player to select a number, a combination of numbers
(by selecting the intersection of a plurality of numbered squares),
a color (red or black) or a characteristic (odd, even, "1 to 12",
"13 to 24", "25 to 36", etc.). The roulette device is activated
(step 38). When the roulette device stops, a randomly selected
roulette indicia (comprising a number, its associated color and
characteristics) is determined (step 40). The roulette indicia
(number, color and characteristics) is compared to the player
indicia (step 42) to establish an outcome (step 44) and a prize is
awarded according to a pay table (step 46).
[0024] Another embodiment comprises a separate roulette device as
illustrated on FIG. 3. It comprises a roulette wheel 27 and player
selection means 28, which may be a touch screen, a keyboard or any
other selection means. The roulette device is communicatively
linked to at least one gaming machine (not shown). In this
embodiment, the player leaves his gaming apparatus to follow the
roulette game play on this separate device. The steps of this
embodiment are described in FIG. 6. Upon occurrence of a roulette
game trigger (step 50), the player locks his gaming machine (step
52), using a Personal Identification Number (PIN) or any other
locking means, and physically accesses the roulette device (step
54). If the roulette device is available, using his PIN or another
unlocking means, the player accesses a player selection means and
selects an indicia (step 56). The roulette device is activated 58
and a roulette indicia is randomly selected (step 60). The roulette
indicia is compared to the player indicia (step 62), establishing a
roulette outcome (step 64), and a prize is awarded (step 66),
according to said roulette outcome and a pay table.
[0025] The roulette device illustrated on FIG. 4 comprises not only
the roulette wheel 27 but also player terminals 29, which are used
as gaming machines to play both the primary game and the roulette
game. In this embodiment, the player does not have to leave his
gaming machine to play the roulette game, and also has the
advantage of following the roulette game on a physical roulette
device.
[0026] In another embodiment, the roulette game play is delayed
until a condition is met (such as the occurrence of a roulette
activation triggering event in the primary game) or when the player
desires to play the roulette game. In this embodiment, upon
occurrence of a roulette game trigger, the player is awarded a
roulette game access permission, or "ticket". Examples of the
condition triggering the actual access to the roulette game are,
not exclusively: a predetermined number of "tickets" have been
gathered; the roulette device becomes available; the credit meter
reaches a value of zero (0) credit or the player cashes out; a
roulette activation triggering event occurs in the primary game; or
a predetermined or randomly determined length of time since the
last roulette game play elapses. The, player indicia determination
is done one indicia at a time, upon occurrence of a roulette game
trigger, or all at the same time, upon roulette game play. During
roulette game play, the roulette indicia is compared to all the
player indicia and a prize is awarded, based on the result of the
comparison.
[0027] The roulette game may also be shared by a plurality of
gaming machines, the roulette device being played by a player at a
time or shared by a plurality of players in a competitive or a
collaborative embodiment. In a competitive embodiment, the roulette
indicia is compared to each player indicia independently and each
player receives a prize based on their own performance in the game
while in a collaborative embodiment, even though the roulette
indicia is compared individually to each player indicia, all the
players receive a prize if one of the player indicia matches the
roulette indicia. In this embodiment, the prize for matching may be
equally divided among the participating players; divided according
to the number of "tickets" each player had in play in the roulette
game; or most of the prize may be awarded to the player to whom the
winning player indicia belonged, the rest of the prize being
divided among the other players.
[0028] Another competitive embodiment may be a game wherein all the
roulette numbers are distributed before the roulette game may be
played. In this embodiment, the players choose a number each time a
roulette triggering event occurs or a number is attributed to a
player upon a win in the primary game, this attributed number being
determined by the winning outcome (for example the roulette indicia
if the primary game is a roulette game). Upon distribution of all
roulette numbers to the participating players, the roulette device
is activated and roulette indicia is determined. The player to whom
the winning number belongs is awarded a prize.
[0029] The methods used to evaluate and award a prize may also
vary. A first embodiment comprises a method of awarding a prize
according to standard roulette evaluation: a player selects (or is
attributed) a number, a combination of numbers (by selecting the
intersection of a plurality of number squares), a color, or a
characteristic (odd or even, "1 to 12", "13 to 24", "25 to 36") and
is awarded a prize according to a pay table if the roulette number
and its characteristics match the player selection (or
attribution).
[0030] A second prize awarding embodiment depends on the
characteristics shared by the player indicia and the roulette
indicia. Accordingly, closer are both indicia, more important is
the prize. The characteristics considered to determine the prize
are: red/black, odd/even, tiers ("1-12", "13-24", "25-36"). For
example, the player selects the number "2", which is black. The
roulette indicia is "35", which is also black. The player is
awarded the prize corresponding to "1 characteristic" in the pay
table since both indicia only share the color as common
characteristic. On the other hand, if the roulette indicia is "4",
the player is awarded the prize corresponding to "3
characteristics" since both indicia are black, even and in the
first tier.
[0031] Other prize determination embodiments, offered with single
player embodiments, imply that more than one roulette indicia is
determined and compared to the player indicia. The comparison may
ask for a total match (same number) or a partial match (at least
one common characteristic) to be determined as a winning match. A
first of such embodiments offers increasing payout amounts, as long
as the player indicia match the roulette indicia. Accordingly, upon
a match with a first roulette indicia, a second roulette indicia is
determined and compared to the player indicia. If this second
roulette indicia also matches the player indicia, a higher payout
amount is awarded to the player and so on until a roulette indicia
doesn't match or a predetermined number of roulette indicia
determination has been used up. Another embodiment offers
decreasing payout amounts. Accordingly, if the player indicia
doesn't match a first roulette indicia, a second roulette indicia
is determined and compared to the player indicia. If the player
indicia matches the roulette indicia, a prize, having a lower value
than the prize awarded for a match with the first roulette indicia,
is awarded. If not, a third roulette indicia is determined, and so
on until a match or a predetermined number of roulette indicia
determination has been used up.
[0032] The prize determination embodiments may also be used in
conjunction with each other to construct a payout schedule offering
a prize in all roulette game plays. For example, a total match
(same number) may result in a second roulette indicia determination
to award a higher prize to the player, while a totally unsuccessful
match (no common characteristic) may offer a second roulette
indicia to compare with a decreased payout amount.
[0033] While illustrated in the block diagrams as groups of
discrete components communicating with each other via distinct data
signal connections, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that the preferred embodiments are provided by a combination of
hardware and software components, with some components being
implemented by a given function or operation of a hardware or
software system, and many of the data paths illustrated being
implemented by data communication within a computer application or
operating system. The structure illustrated is thus provided for
efficiency of teaching the present preferred embodiment.
[0034] It should be noted that the present invention can be carried
out as a method, can be embodied in a system, a computer readable
medium, processor-readable memory or an electrical or
electromagnetic signal.
[0035] The embodiments of the invention described above are
intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is
therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *