U.S. patent application number 11/396768 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for dynamic session bingo gaming system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multimedia Games, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert Lannert, Gary Muller, Rodney L. Willyard.
Application Number | 20070060288 11/396768 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37855942 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070060288 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Willyard; Rodney L. ; et
al. |
March 15, 2007 |
Dynamic session bingo gaming system
Abstract
A number of bingo games are conducted serially one after the
other, and each of a number of players across a network are enabled
to initiate a respective bingo game session by entering a
respective bingo game in the ongoing series of bingo games. Each
bingo game session is associated with a respective player, a number
of respective bingo games entered by the respective player, and an
outcome for the respective player for each such bingo game. A
session score is maintained for each respective bingo game session
based upon the outcomes associated with the respective player's
bingo games in the bingo game session. A session prize is awarded
for each bingo game session having a session score that meets or
exceeds a predetermined prize winning session score. This session
prize is awarded to the player associated with the respective bingo
game session.
Inventors: |
Willyard; Rodney L.; (Flower
Mound, TX) ; Muller; Gary; (Plano, TX) ;
Lannert; Robert; (Broken Arrow, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE CULBERTSON GROUP, P.C.
1114 LOST CREEK BLVD.
SUITE 420
AUSTIN
TX
78746
US
|
Assignee: |
Multimedia Games, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
37855942 |
Appl. No.: |
11/396768 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60716797 |
Sep 13, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3286 20130101;
A63F 2003/086 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101; A63F 3/062
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/019 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method including: (a) conducting a number of bingo games; (b)
enabling each of a number of players across a network to initiate a
respective bingo game session by entering respective bingo games in
the number of bingo games, each bingo game session being associated
with a respective player, a number of respective bingo games
entered by the respective player, and an outcome for the respective
player for each bingo game entered by the respective player; (c)
maintaining a session score for each bingo game session, the
session score for the respective bingo game session being based
upon the outcomes associated with the respective bingo game
session; and (d) awarding a session prize for each bingo game
session in which the respective session score meets a predetermined
prize winning session score, the session prize being awarded to the
respective player associated with the respective bingo game
session.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein each respective bingo game session
includes two or more consecutive bingo games in the number of bingo
games.
3. The method of claim 1 including assigning a respective numerical
value to each bingo game outcome for the respective player and
wherein the session score for the respective bingo game session
comprises a total of the respective numerical values.
4. The method of claim 1 further including defining two or more
different session prize levels, each respective session prize level
being associated with a respective predetermined session prize
level score and wherein awarding the session prize includes
awarding the session prize at one of the session prize levels.
5. The method of claim 1 further including displaying to each
respective player a respective session display, the respective
session display showing the respective player's session score for
the player's current bingo game session.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the respective session display
also shows each bingo game outcome for the respective player's
current bingo game session.
7. The method of claim 1 further including awarding a must go prize
to a winning player for each respective bingo game.
8. The method of claim 1 further including resetting the bingo game
session for a player in the event the player fails to enter one of
a number of consecutive bingo games included in the number of bingo
games.
9. An apparatus including: (a) a number of player stations, each
player station including player controls that are operable to
enable a player to enter a bingo game play request; (b) a bingo
game controller operatively connected for communications with each
of the number of player stations, the bingo game controller for
conducting a number of bingo games based upon game play requests
entered through the player stations; (c) a session tracking
controller for maintaining a session score for each of a number of
bingo game sessions, each bingo game session being initiated by a
respective player through one of the player stations, each bingo
game session being associated with a number of respective bingo
games for which the respective player entered respective game play
requests, and also being associated with an outcome for the
respective player for each bingo game associated with the
respective bingo game session; and (d) a session award controller
for awarding a session prize for each bingo game session in which
the respective session score meets a predetermined prize winning
session score, the session prize being awarded to the player
initiating the respective bingo game session.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each respective bingo game
session includes two or more consecutive bingo games in the number
of bingo games.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the session tracking
controller is also for assigning a respective numerical value to
each bingo game outcome for the respective player and wherein the
session score for a respective bingo game session comprises a total
of the respective numerical values.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the session prize controller
maintains two or more different session prize levels, each
respective session prize level being associated with a respective
predetermined session prize level score, and wherein the session
prize controller awards the session prize at one of the session
prize levels.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each player station includes a
display device for displaying a respective session display to a
respective player at the player station, the respective session
display showing the respective player's session score for the
player's current bingo game session.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the respective session
display also shows each bingo game outcome for the respective
player's current bingo game session.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the session tracking
controller is also for resetting the bingo game session for a
player in the event the player fails to enter one of a number of
consecutive bingo games included in the number of bingo games.
16. A program product stored on one or more computer readable
devices, the program product including: (a) session tracking
program code being executable for maintaining a session score for
each of a number of bingo game sessions, each bingo game session
being uniquely associated with a respective player, each bingo game
session being associated with a number of respective bingo games
for which the respective player entered respective game play
requests, and also being associated with an outcome for the
respective player for each bingo game associated with the
respective bingo game session; and (b) session award program code
being executable for awarding a session prize for each bingo game
session having a respective session score that meets a
predetermined prize winning session score, the session prize being
awarded to the player uniquely associated with the respective bingo
game session.
17. The program product of claim 16 further including player
station program code executable at a player station to enable a
respective player to enter a game play request for a respective
bingo game.
18. The program product of claim 17 further including bingo engine
program code executable to conduct a number of bingo games.
19. The program product of claim 17 wherein the player station
program code is also executable for directing a display device to
display a respective session display to a respective player at the
player station, the respective session display showing the
respective player's session score for the player's current bingo
game session.
20. The program product of claim 16 wherein the session tracking
program code is also executable for resetting the bingo game
session for a player in the event the player fails to enter one of
a number of consecutive bingo games.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The Applicant claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/716,797 filed
Sep. 13, 2005, and entitled "DYNAMIC SESSION BINGO GAMING SYSTEM."
The entire content of this provisional application is incorporated
herein by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to electronic gaming systems enabling
players from many different gaming locations to participate in
bingo game sessions. More particularly, the invention is directed
to apparatus, methods, and program products for aiding players in
bingo gaming sessions and for enhancing player participation in
bingo gaming sessions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The game referred to generally as "Bingo" is played with
predetermined bingo cards that include a number of designations
randomly arranged in a grid or other layout of spots or locations.
The bingo cards may be physically printed on paper or another
suitable material, or may be represented by a data structure which
defines the various card locations and designations associated with
the locations. In the traditional bingo game sequence, a number of
the predetermined bingo cards are put in play for a particular
game. After the sale of bingo cards is closed for a given game,
designations are randomly selected from a pool of available
designations and matched to the designations on each bingo card
that is in play in the game. This matching of bingo designations
randomly selected for a game and bingo designations associated with
a card in play in the game is commonly referred to as daubing the
card and results in a pattern or arrangement of matched spots or
card locations. Daubing was done manually by the player holding the
bingo card in traditional bingo games, and then by a game
administrator to verify a win in the game. More recent bingo gaming
systems automatically check for winning patterns on a bingo card as
designations are randomly selected for a game. Regardless of how
the bingo cards in play in a game are daubed, the first card which
is daubed in some predefined way is considered a winning card for
the game. The predefined way in which a card must be matched or
daubed to produce a win in the game is commonly defined in terms of
some identifiable pattern of matched or daubed locations on the
card. In some cases, prizes are awarded for bingo cards achieving
some predefined pattern other than the pattern that ends the bingo
game.
[0004] Although traditional paper bingo games remain popular,
networked electronic bingo gaming systems have been developed to
facilitate more rapid play than is possible in traditional paper
bingo operations. In these electronic bingo gaming systems, players
participate in bingo games through electronic player stations which
allow a player to purchase a bingo card and place it in play in a
bingo game conducted between various players at other electronic
player stations.
[0005] Bingo is commonly played in sessions made up of a number of
bingo games. Bingo played in sessions is commonly referred to as
"session bingo." Session bingo typically offers various session
prizes in addition to the regular prizes offered in the individual
bingo games which make up a session. Although the additional
session prizes that may be available in session bingo may increase
player interest in participating in the various sessions, there
have been problems in implementing session bingo in an electronic,
wide-area format. Amongst the greatest problems associated with
session bingo arises from having to coordinate play in the various
bingo game sessions. A player wishing to participate in a bingo
game session may be forced to wait an unacceptably long time before
a new session starts. Yet starting play in an ongoing bingo game
session typically reduces the player's chances winning a session
prize. Thus, the player has a choice of waiting an unacceptably
long time for the next bingo game session to start, or starting
play in the middle of an ongoing bingo game session.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a session bingo gaming system
in which different bingo game sessions are dynamically defined for
each respective player in the system. According to the invention, a
player may start their respective bingo game session with any bingo
game conducted by the system. The invention eliminates the problem
of requiring that a player either wait for a new bingo game session
or enter in the middle of an ongoing session.
[0007] One preferred method according to the invention includes
conducting a number of bingo games, preferably serially one after
the other. Each of a number of players across a network are enabled
to initiate a respective bingo game session by entering a
respective bingo game in the ongoing series of bingo games. Each
bingo game session is associated with a respective player, a number
of respective bingo games entered by the respective player, and an
outcome for the respective player for each such bingo game. This
preferred method further includes maintaining a session score for
each bingo game session. The session score for a respective bingo
game session is based upon the outcomes associated with the
respective bingo game session. One score keeping arrangement awards
a predefined number of points for a win in a bingo game included in
the player's session and perhaps a predefined number of points for
certain non-winning outcomes in a bingo game included in the
player's session. Regardless of how the score is defined and
maintained, this preferred method includes awarding a session prize
for each bingo game session having a session score that meets a
predetermined prize winning session score. This session prize is
awarded to the player associated with the respective bingo game
session.
[0008] One preferred apparatus according to the invention includes
a number of player stations, a bingo game controller, a session
tracking controller, and a session award controller. Each player
station includes player controls that are operable to enable a
player to enter a bingo game play request. The bingo game
controller is operatively connected for communications with each of
the number of player stations, either directly or indirectly, and
conducts a number of bingo games based upon game play requests
entered through the player stations. The session tracking
controller maintains the session score for each of the different
bingo game sessions initiated by players from the various player
stations. As indicated above with respect to methods according to
the invention, each bingo game session scored by the session
tracking controller is associated with a number of respective bingo
games entered by the respective player, and is also associated with
an outcome for the respective player for each such bingo game
associated with the bingo game session. The session award
controller awards the session prize to the appropriate player for
each bingo game session having a session score that meets a
predetermined prize winning session score.
[0009] The invention also encompasses a program product for
directing various processing devices to implement session bingo
methods. The program products and numerous variations on the above
described preferred methods and apparatus will be described below
in connection with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a high level diagrammatic representation of a
session bingo gaming system embodying the principles of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a computer system
arrangement that may be used for the central game server and local
area servers included in the system shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an electronic
player station that may be used in the system shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart providing a high level description of
the overall process performed in the session bingo gaming system
shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart providing a high level description of
a process executed at the bingo game controller according to the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a flowchart providing a high level description of
the process executed at the player stations according to one form
of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a flowchart providing a high level description of
a process executed by a session tracking controller according to
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a bingo card
definition file that may be used in a bingo gaming system according
to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a representation of a graphic display that may be
presented to a session bingo player at a player station according
to one form the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a gaming system 100 including a game server
(CGS) 101 that cooperates with a number of other components to
enable bingo players, preferably at many different remote gaming
sites, to participate in bingo games and bingo game sessions. Each
gaming site includes a local server (LAS) 102 and a number of
player stations (EPSs) 103. As will be discussed in detail below, a
player at any player station 103 in gaming system 100 may
participate in a given bingo game with players at any other player
stations 103 in the system. Thus, players at different gaming sites
may be grouped together for a given bingo game administered through
gaming system 100.
[0020] Although gaming system 100 facilitates playing bingo games
very rapidly, the underlying game remains a standard bingo game
played in the traditional sequence of play for bingo games. That
is, each player obtains or is assigned a bingo card representation,
all bingo card representations in play in the game are daubed (that
is, checked for matches with a randomly generated sequence of
designations), and the first bingo card representation in the bingo
game o of designations to produce a predefined game winning pattern
wins the bingo game.
[0021] Central server 101 may comprise a computer system such as
the basic system shown in FIG. 2. The basic system may include one
or more processors 200, nonvolatile memory 201, volatile memory
202, a user interface arrangement 203, and a communications
interface 204, all connected to a system bus 205. It will be
appreciated that user interface arrangement 203 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. 2. Alternatively to the integrated user interface
arrangement 203 shown in FIG. 2, a user interface for central
server 101 may be provided through a separate computer (not shown)
in communication with the central server. In either case, user
interface arrangement 203 provides an interface for use by system
operators. Regardless of the particular configuration for central
server 101, the central server performs the functions of the bingo
game controller according to one preferred form of the invention.
That is, central server 101 groups players for participation in
bingo games offered through the system, produces or obtains
sequences of designations (ball draws, for example) for the play of
the bingo games, checks for the results in the bingo games, and
communicates the results to local servers 102. Central server 101
may also implement the session award controller according to the
invention. Specific processes performed by central server 101 to
provide these functions will be described below with reference to
FIG. 5.
[0022] As used in this disclosure any sequence of designations that
may be matched against bingo card representations in the present
gaming system will be referred to as a "ball draw" regardless of
how the sequence is actually generated. Under this definition, it
will be appreciated that a ball draw may be produced by a random
number generator, a pseudo random number generator, or any other
suitable device or system, and not necessarily a physical ball draw
device.
[0023] Each local server 102 included in gaming system 100 as shown
in FIG. 1 may comprise a computer system having the same basic
structure as shown in FIG. 2. That is, each local server 102 may
include one or more processors 200, nonvolatile memory 201,
volatile memory 202, user interface arrangement 203, and
communications interface 204 all connected to system bus 205. As
with central server 101, the user interface for the respective
local server 102 provides an operator interface and may be provided
through a separate computer in communication with the local server
rather than the integrated user interface arrangement 203 shown in
FIG. 2. Regardless of the specific configuration of a local server
102, each local server relays information from its respective
player stations 103 to central server 101 and relays information
from the central server to the local server's respective player
stations. Each local server 102 also preferably performs the
functions of the session tracking controller for the various player
stations 103 with which it is in communication. Specific processes
that may be performed by local servers 102 according to the
invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 6.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows an example of a player station 103 that may be
used in a gaming system embodying the principles of the present
invention. The illustrated player station 103 includes a processor
300, volatile memory 301, nonvolatile memory 302, and a
communications interface 303. The volatile and nonvolatile memory
stores player station program code that may be executed by
processor 300 to cause the processor to perform or direct the
various functions provided by player station 103. Communications
interface 303 allows communications between the respective player
station 103 and its respective local server 102 and/or central
server 101. Player station 103 also includes a special user
interface arrangement to facilitate player participation in the
bingo games and bingo game sessions offered through gaming system
100 shown in FIG. 1. This interface includes player controls 304, a
display or touch screen display 305, a sound system 306, and
perhaps other features 307 such as alarms or special displays or
alerting devices. 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. 3
includes a player card reader 308 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
in a bar code, or a memory device associated with the player card.
The illustrated player station 103 also includes a device 309 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 309, player stations 103 may read player
account information from the player 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
publication No. 2002-0132666-A1, entitled "Distributed Account
Based Gaming System," the entire content of which is hereby
incorporated herein by this reference.
[0025] It will be appreciated that the particular configuration of
devices shown in FIG. 1 is shown only for purposes of example. A
bingo gaming system according to the present invention may omit
some or all of the separate local servers 102 at the various gaming
sites so that the player stations 103 communicate directly with
central server 101. Also, various regions or different gaming sites
may be divided up into separate systems each having a respective
central server such as central server 101. Furthermore, a gaming
system embodying the principles of the invention may include
multiple central servers rather that a single central server 101 as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] In the following description of FIG. 4 and the other process
flow charts in this disclosure, it will be appreciated that the
references to the physical components are references to the
diagrams in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 that show those components. The
components, such as player stations 103, local servers 102, and
central server 101 discussed with reference to the flow charts are
not shown in the flow charts themselves but are shown particularly
in FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows the overall process performed by the dynamic
session bingo gaming system 100 according to the invention. After
start up and initiation of the session bingo gaming system, the
process includes enabling players to enter a bingo game as
indicated at process block 401. Once conditions are satisfied for
conducting a bingo game, the process includes conducting the bingo
game as indicated at process block 402. Session scores are
maintained as indicated at process block 403, and session prizes
are awarded based on the session scores as indicated at process
block 404. The series of process steps shown at process blocks 401,
402, 403, and 404 represent one cycle for a given bingo game
conducted through session bingo gaming system 100. This sequence of
process steps is performed for each bingo game conducted in the
system. Thus, as indicated at decision block 405 unless session
bingo gaming system 100 is being shut down, the process loops back
to start another cycle through the process steps shown at process
blocks 401 through 404.
[0028] The step shown at process block 401 of enabling players to
enter bingo games is performed partially through player stations
such as player stations 103 shown in FIG. 1. A player enters a game
play request at their respective player station and this game play
request or information relating to the game play request is
ultimately communicated to the session tracking controller
preferably implemented at the local server (102 in FIG. 1) for the
respective player station, and to the bingo game controller which
is implemented at central server 101 in the session bingo gaming
system shown in FIG. 1. Further information on the manner in which
players are enabled to enter a bingo game will be described below
particularly in connection with FIG. 6.
[0029] The process of conducting a bingo game as indicated at
process block 402 in FIG. 4 may be performed in the number of ways
within the scope of the present invention. In the preferred form of
the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the bingo game controller
implemented at central server 101 is responsible for collecting
information related to a number of game play requests and then
conducting a bingo game for the collected game play requests.
Further details regarding the step of conducting the bingo game
will be discussed below in connection with FIG. 5.
[0030] The step of maintaining session scores as indicated at
process block 403 in FIG. 4 is preferably performed by a number of
session tracking controllers. A respective session tracking
controller may be implemented in the system shown in FIG. 1 at each
respective local server 102. In this configuration, the session
tracking controller at a respective local server 102 maintains the
session scores for all players participating in the gaming system
at a player station 103 located at the site of the respective local
server. Further information regarding maintaining session scores
will be described below in connection with FIG. 7.
[0031] The step of awarding a session prize based on a session
score as shown at process block 404 in FIG. 4 may include a
combination of operations performed both at the session award
controller preferably implemented at central server 101 in FIG. 1,
and at the respective local server 102. As will be described
further below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, the session award
controller implemented at central server 101 may maintain session
prize information where the session prizes are progressive prizes.
Thus, the session award controller is involved in communicating the
progressive prize value to the appropriate player station 103 for a
player entitled to a session prize. However, in the implementation
shown in FIG. 1 in which the session tracking controller is
implemented at the various local servers 102, the session award
controller implemented at central server 101 relies on the session
scores maintained at various local servers in order to determine
when a session prize is to be awarded.
[0032] The process steps conducted for each bingo game conducted in
a session bingo gaming system according to the present invention
are preferably performed to produce four distinct segments for each
bingo game. First, there is a sales period that roughly corresponds
to the process shown at process block 401 in which players are
enabled to enter the current bingo game. The second segment of a
bingo game preferably comprises a ball display period in which the
various designations from a ball draw are sequentially displayed to
each player in the game. This segment comprises part of the process
indicated at process block 402 in FIG. 4. The third segment
comprises a potential winner period/daub period in which a winning
player in the bingo game must daub their card by making a daub
input at their player station (103 in FIG. 1) in order to claim the
win. This segment corresponds to a portion of the process performed
as indicated at process block 402 in FIG. 4. This segment may be
repeated in a given bingo game in the event the first winning
player fails to take the required daub action to claim their prize.
The fourth and final segment for each bingo game in a preferred
implementation according to the invention comprises a game over
period in which the individual bingo game results are displayed to
each player that entered the game. The effect of the individual
bingo game on the respective player's bingo game session is also
displayed to each player in this final segment for an individual
bingo game. This final segment involves the winner identifying
portions of the game conducting process indicated at process block
402, and also involves the session scoring and session prize
awarding process indicated at process blocks 403 and 404.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a process conducted at the central server 101
shown in FIG. 1 for each game cycle in the session bingo gaming
system 100. The step shown at process block 501 and 503 in FIG. 5
are steps that are performed by the bingo game controller
preferably implemented at central server 101. The remaining steps
shown at process blocks 502, 504, 505, and 506 in FIG. 5 are
performed by the session award controller implemented at central
server 101. As indicated at process block 501, the bingo game
controller implemented at central server 101 collects game play
requests and holds the game play requests until conditions are
satisfied for conducting a bingo game. In some preferred
implementations, each bingo game cycle is associated with a
predefined buy in period in which players at the various player
stations (103 in FIG. 1) may enter any game play requests for the
particular bingo game. Some forms of the invention may place
conditions on the number of players required in order to conduct a
bingo game. For example, some implementations of the invention may
require some minimum number of game play requests in order to
conduct a bingo game. In these implementations, if the conditions
are not met at the end of the predetermined buy in period, the buy
in period may be extended.
[0034] The step of updating progressive prize data as indicated at
process block 502 in FIG. 5 is preferably performed at central
server 101 since it is a central device that may readily receive
all of the individual wager information from the various local
servers 102 in FIG. 1 to maintain the proper progressive prize
values. Some forms of the invention may include a separate
processing device for maintaining the progressive prizes
representing the session prizes. Also, where the session prizes are
not progressive prizes based on the wagers that had been placed in
the bingo gaming system, it may not be necessary to update prized
data as indicated at process block 502. Thus, the process indicated
at process block 502 in FIG. 5 may not be necessary where the
session prizes are not progressive prizes.
[0035] Conducting the bingo game as indicated at process block 503
in FIG. 5 involves matching a ball draw with each respective bingo
card representation entered in the bingo game. In preferred forms
of the invention, designations from the ball draw are considered
sequentially until one of the bingo card representations entered in
the respective bingo game produces the game ending pattern that has
been predefined for the bingo game (also referred to as a must-go
pattern). In some forms of the invention the winning player is
notified of the win in the bingo game and is given a period of time
to take some action at their respective player station (103 in FIG.
1) to claim the win. Some implementations of the invention may
require the player to make a daub input at the player station to
obtain a first portion of the ball draw necessary to produce a
winning pattern, and then make a second daub input to obtain the
remaining portion of the ball draw necessary to produce the winning
bingo pattern. If any player does take the action or actions
necessary to claim their bingo win as required by the particular
game rules, additional designations may be considered by the bingo
game controller until the game-winning pattern is achieved on
another bingo card representation in play for the bingo game. This
process may be conducted several times until a player takes the
appropriate actions to claim the bingo win and end the game. The
present invention encompasses any manner in which the bingo game
may be conducted and bingo win determined.
[0036] The step of sending results for the bingo game indicated at
process block 504 in FIG. 5 may be implemented in several different
ways within the scope of the present invention. In one preferred
form of the invention, all bingo card representations in play in
the game are shown daubed at the respective player stations
assuming the players each take the required daub action or actions.
A win indicator is also preferably communicated to the player
station or stations producing the winning bingo pattern so that the
win may be highlighted at the respective player stations. In any
event, the preferred form of the invention illustrated as an
example in FIG. 1 relays win information from central system 101
through the local servers 102. The session tracking controllers
implemented at the various local servers 102 also use this bingo
game result information to maintain the session scores as will be
described further below in connection with FIG. 7.
[0037] The session win information received as indicated at process
block 505 in FIG. 5, is received from the session tracking
controllers implemented at the local servers 102 in FIG. 1. This
session win information may comprise simply some indication that a
session prize has been won. The session award controller preferably
implemented that central server 101 responds to this session win
information by sending the appropriate prize information back to
the local server as indicated at process block 506. The session
prize information communicated at process block 506 may comprise
simply the appropriate prize value for the session win. It may also
be necessary for the session award controller to update the session
prize values in response to the session win information received as
indicated at process block 505. In any event, unless the system is
being shut down as indicated at process block 507, the process
loops back to collect game play requests for the next bingo game at
block 501.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows one preferred process performed at player
stations 103 in session bingo gaming system 100 shown in FIG. 1.
After a player login as indicated at process block 601, the
illustrated method includes displaying the current bingo game and
session information at the player station as indicated at process
block 602. Numerous variations are possible as to the manner in
which current bingo game and current bingo game session information
is displayed. An example display will be described below with
reference to FIG. 9. Assuming the player does not log off as
indicated by the outcome at decision block 603 in FIG. 6, the
method proceeds to wait for a game play request to be entered at
the player station as indicated at process block 604. Once a game
play request is entered, the process includes updating the display
at player station. In particular, the display will be updated to
show the player's bingo cards placed in play according to the game
play request and perhaps a wager level and other information
associated with the game play request. In the process illustrated
in FIG. 6, the failure of the player to enter the next bingo game
available for the player's bingo game session will operate to
terminate the player's bingo game session. Thus, if the player
fails to enter the current game available in the session bingo
gaming system as indicated by a negative outcome at decision block
605, the illustrated process branches to process block 607. As
indicated at process block 607, the process includes receiving any
session prize to which the player is then entitled according to
their session score. The process then continues with another bingo
game cycle beginning at process block 602. If the player has
entered the current game as indicated by a positive outcome at
decision block 605, the process proceeds to receive the result of
the current bingo game as indicated at process block 606. The
process shown at process block 606 also includes receiving any
session prize to which the player is entitled based on their
session score in the case that the current game is the final game
of their then current bingo game session. After receiving the
results of the current bingo game and any session prize for a
session completed by the current bingo game, the process loops back
from process block 606 to begin another bingo game cycle at the
player station beginning at process block 602.
[0039] As will be discussed below with reference to FIG. 7,
preferred forms of the invention reset a player's bingo game
session if they fail to enter the next available game offered in
the session bingo gaming system. Also, once a session is complete
in view of the player participating in some maximum number of bingo
games for a given bingo game session, the player begins a new bingo
game session. Thus, displaying the current bingo game session
information as indicated at process block 602 in FIG. 6 may include
showing a new session in which no session score is available and in
which no bingo game results for the session are available. However
where the player has already completed one or more bingo games for
their bingo game session, displaying the current bingo game and
bingo game session information in cases preferably includes
displaying the outcome for each bingo game in the player's session,
including an indication of any bingo game outcome that increases
the player's session score.
[0040] Each game play request entered as indicated at process block
604 in FIG. 6 is associated with at least one bingo card
representation that defines a bingo card having some arrangement of
symbols or designations. The session bingo system shown in FIG. 1
may be played with standard 5-by-5 grid bingo cards, 3-by-3 grid
bingo cards, cards comprising a single straight line of spots or
card locations, or cards having some other arrangement of spots.
Regardless of the nature of the bingo card played in the particular
game, the card is represented by a data structure, and thus is
described as a bingo card representation in the present disclosure.
An example of the structure will be described below with reference
to FIG. 8.
[0041] In the example session bingo gaming system 100 shown in FIG.
1, central server 101 may maintain a large set of bingo card
representations available for use in the various bingo games
conducted through the system. Subsets of these bingo card
representations are preferably delivered periodically to the
various local servers 102 and then the local servers 102 assign
individual bingo card representations to each game play request
entered through one of the local player stations 103. In any case,
the bingo card representations assigned to the various game play
requests are ultimately communicated to the bingo game controller
implemented at central server 101 so that the central server my
conduct the bingo game and identify the bingo winner or
winners.
[0042] Making the card definition for a particular bingo card
available to the component in the system that determines the
results of play for the particular bingo card may be handled in a
variety and different ways within the scope of the present
invention. In one preferred form of the invention, each player
station 103, each local server 102, and the central server 101
stores or has ready access to a bingo card definition file
containing a large number of records each representing a particular
bingo card and including a unique card identifier or index value.
In this arrangement for storing card definitions, only the card
identifier need be communicated between the system components in
order for the system components to have a definition for the
respective card. A system component having the card identifier for
a particular card may simply look up the identifier in the card
definition file and read the card definition associated with the
identifier.
[0043] Alternatively to including a card definition file at each
player station 103, each local server 102, and central server 101,
the various components may communicate the actual card definitions.
Communicating the actual card definitions obviates a requirement
for storing card definition files at the various system components
but requires that more data be communicated between the various
system components.
[0044] FIG. 7 shows one preferred process performed by a session
tracking controller according to the invention. In the illustrated
process, once a player login is detected as indicated at process
block 701 the method includes checking to see if there is any
continuing session as indicated at decision block 702. If there is
no continuing session for the player having logged in as detected
at process block 701, the illustrated process includes adding a
record to a current session summary table as indicated at process
block 703. As will be discussed below, this record in the current
session summary table will be used to maintain the session score
and other data regarding the respective session. For a positive
outcome at decision block 702, the process skips the step of adding
a record to the current session summary table. If the next game for
the given session has been entered as indicated by a positive
outcome at process block 704, process continues to collect data for
the session and update the current session summary table as
indicated at process block 705. This data collected for the current
session comprises data for a current bingo game the player has
entered. If the session tracking controller determines the session
is complete as indicated by a positive outcome at decision block
706, the process continues on to check for a session win based on
the current session score and predefined standards for session
wins. This process of checking for any session win is indicated at
process block 707. The process at process block 707 also includes
sending session win information to the session award controller
(preferably at central server 101 in FIG. 1) in the event a session
win is detected. Some preferred forms of the invention also include
storing any completed session data in an appropriate archive and
then clearing the record for that session from the current session
summary table. After process block 707, if the player has not
logged out as indicated by a negative outcome at decision block
708, the process loops back to the point immediately above decision
block 702 to begin the session tracking controller process for the
next bingo game available to the player in the session bingo gaming
system. In the event that the next game for the particular session
being tracked by the process shown in FIG. 7 has not been entered
as indicated by a negative outcome at decision block 704, the
process skips to process block 707 since the fact that the next
game available for the session was not entered effectively
completes the players current session in this preferred form of the
invention. In the event, the player logs out as indicated by a
positive result at decision in block 708, the player station may
simply go to an attract mode awaiting the next log in.
[0045] It should be noted that the process conducted as indicated
in FIG. 7 is performed for every player logged in to the session
bingo gaming system such as system 100 shown in FIG. 1 for each
bingo game available to players in the session bingo gaming system.
Thus, the process shown in FIG. 7 continuously maintains the
session score for each bingo game session initiated in the session
bingo gaming system and clears any completed or terminated sessions
to make ready for the next current bingo game session initiated by
the respective player.
[0046] In one preferred implementation of the invention, the
current session summary table includes a record for each currently
ongoing bingo gaming session being tracked by the session tracking
controller. The following table shows one preferred content of each
record in the current session summary table for one form of the
invention. TABLE-US-00001 Current Session Summary Table Session
Summary ID = a unique identifier for this respective session
Session ID = a unique identifier for the player associated with
this session Game Numbers Played = bingo game numbers played in
this session Game Numbers Won = bingo game numbers won in this
session Game Numbers Near Miss = bingo game numbers having a near
miss in this session Number of Games Played = total number of bingo
games played in this session Number of Games Won = total number of
bingo games won in this session Number of Near Miss Games = total
number of near miss bingo games in this session Session Score =
current session score in this session Session Start Time = start
time for this session
[0047] This current session summary table is maintained together
with a card game information table and a game summary
identification table. TABLE-US-00002 Card Game Information Table
Sales Transaction ID = unique identifier for purchase of bingo
cards for a bingo game Card ID = unique identifier for the
purchased card Session Summary ID = unique identifier for
respective session for which the cards sold Game Summary ID =
unique identifier for the bingo game for which the cards were
sold
[0048] TABLE-US-00003 Game Summary Identification Table Game
Summary ID = unique identifier for this respective table record
Game Number = unique identifier for this respective bingo game Game
Start Time = start time for this bingo game Quorum Start Time =
start time for collecting game play requests for this bingo game
End Game Time = end time for this bingo game Cards in Play = total
number of bingo cards in play for this game Ball Draw Seed = value
of ball draw seed for producing ball draw for this bingo game
Number of Balls = total number of bingo designations used in game
Number of Rounds = total number of winning card daub rounds
required Remote Game Flag =
[0049] FIG. 8 shows an example data structure for defining bingo
cards for use in the gaming system shown in FIG. 1. The data
structure represents a file or card definition file 801 that
includes a number of records 802, labeled record 0 through record X
in the figure. The file may contain a very large number of card
definitions, for example, three thousand or more records 802. Card
definition file 801 will generally also include header information
804 that may include identifying information for the file and other
data related to the card definition file. The first designation in
each record (the designation in the leftmost column in FIG. 8)
represents a card identifier or index that identifies the card face
defined by the remainder of the record. The remainder of the record
includes a list of designations representing the designations at
the various spots on the card face.
[0050] It will be appreciated that the invention may use card
definition data structures different from that shown for purposes
of example in FIG. 8. For example, the identifier may be located at
any location within the data structure and the spots may not be in
the order indicated in FIG. 8, and may not be comma delimited.
[0051] FIG. 9 shows an example graphic display 900 that may be
presented at a player station such as a station 103 shown in FIG.
1. This display is presented on a video display device such as
video display device 305 shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the
step at process block 602 in FIG. 6. This example display 900 is
divided into several distinct sections providing different
information for the player. A central portion 901 of display 900 is
reserved for displaying the bingo card or cards 902 the player has
placed in play for the current bingo game conducted in the session
bingo gaming system 100 shown in FIG. 1. This particular display
assumes that the player may place a maximum of nine bingo cards 902
in play for a given bingo game, and that the player has entered the
maximum number of bingo card representations. The appearance of the
bingo cards 902 shown in display area 901 of FIG. 9 assumes that
the current game is ongoing and thus some of the locations on the
bingo cards are shown as being daubed or marked to indicate a match
between the respective bingo card designation and a designation
that has been called in the game.
[0052] It should be noted that the same display area 901 may be
used for enabling a player to select bingo cards to place in play
for the current bingo game during the current bingo game buy in
period. For example, at the start of the buy in period nine new
bingo card faces may be displayed in display area 901. These bingo
cards are preferably displayed in some graphically muted fashion of
some other fashion to indicate that the cards are not yet in play
for the current bingo game. From this initial display, the player
may touch the representation of the card on the touchscreen video
display device once to purchase the respective card representation
and put it in play, that is, enter it in the current bingo game.
Touching the respective bingo card representation a second time may
cause a new bingo card representation to appear in that place and
this new card may either be placed in play with one touch or
swapped out again with two touches. When a displayed bingo card
face is placed in play in the current bingo game, it is preferably
highlighted graphically to indicate to the player that it has been
purchased and entered in the current bingo game.
[0053] The upper left corner of example display 900 shows a flash
board 903 which indicates all of the bingo designations that are
available to be called for the respective bingo game and all of the
bingo designations that have been called for the current bingo
game. The called designations are highlighted in this example. The
area at the far left of display 900 includes additional information
relating to the current game. In particular, the most recent number
or designation called in the bingo game is displayed at 905 and a
winning pattern for the current game is shown at 906. In one
preferred form of the invention the area at 905 may also be
controlled to show a countdown timer during the sales or buy in
period for a given bingo game. Such a countdown timer lets the
player know how long they have left to make a game play request for
the current game, this is, enter at least one bingo card
representation in the current bingo game. Other areas of example
display 900 may alternatively be used for such a countdown timer
for the sales/buy in period. "Pattern pays" window 907 will show
the winning amount for the current bingo game when that amount
becomes known to the system. In preferred forms of the invention,
the amount paid for a given bingo game win is based on some
percentage of the wagers made for the bingo game, and thus the
amount is available only after sales are closed for the bingo game
(since the buy in period is over for the state of example display
900, there should be a value in the "pattern pays" window, although
this example does not show such a value). A "player paid" window
908 shows the amount the player is paid for a given bingo game,
including any session prize that may be awarded after the current
bingo game. The left-hand side of example display 900 also includes
several touchscreen implemented virtual buttons which may be
activated by player by touching the video screen on which display
900 is produced. In this particular example, display 900 includes a
"cash out" button 909 that allows the player to cash out from the
player station, a "pick dauber" button 910 that invokes a
customization interface to enable the player to customize certain
aspects of display 900, and "help" button 911 which may be invoked
to show various help messages.
[0054] Areas along the top and right side of example display 900
show information relevant to the player's current bingo game
session in addition to other information. In particular, a session
tracking display 915 shows a separate display 916 for each bingo
game in the player's current bingo game session. This example
display is appropriate for situations in which the maximum number
of games in a given bingo game session is 10. Each single game
display 916 includes the game-winning pattern together with the
number of points that have been awarded for the player's session
score as a result of the player participating in that particular
game. In preferred forms of the invention any game in which the
player is awarded points toward their session score is marked with
an appropriate marking. For example, example display 900 shows that
the player won the second bingo game in their bingo game session
and was awarded four points toward their session score. The fact
that the single game displays four bingo games completed indicates
that the current bingo game for this particular player represents
the fifth game in their current bingo game session. The total score
for the player's current bingo game session is shown at display
area 918 together with an indication of the game number for the
current game shown at 919.
[0055] The right side of sample display 900 includes a window
indicating the amount charged per bingo card entered in a bingo
game conducted through the system. This amount is shown in the
window 921 and comprises 25 cents per card in this example. A
"total debt" window 922 shows the player's total debt for the
current bingo game (this window should show $2.25 for the current
game in which nine cards have been placed in play). "Balance"
window 923 shows the player's current balance in the gaming system.
The "bet all" touchscreen implemented button 924 allows a player to
enter the maximum bet for a given bingo game, entering all nine
card faces displayed when the button is invoked. This bet all
feature provides an alternative to the individual card picking
arrangement described above. The virtual "Daub" button 925 enables
the player to daub their bingo cards in the current bingo game to
claim a win. As discussed above, one or more, inputs may be
required under the applicable bingo game rules of play.
[0056] Example display 900 shows three different session bonus
prize levels that are available to the player. These three session
prize levels are preferably progressive prizes that are updated
periodically based on some percentage of the total wagers placed in
the gaming system since the last session win at that level.
Typically such a progressive prize will start out with some seed
value. Example display 900 shows a highest session prize level in
window 927. This bonus prize is awarded when the player achieves a
total session score of 75 or more points for the given bingo game
session. A second session prize level is shown in window 928. This
session prize level is awarded when a player achieves a total
session score of between 50 points and 74 points in a given bingo
game session. The lowest session prize level is shown in window
929. This session prize level is awarded to any player achieving a
session score of between 25 points and 49 points for a given bingo
game session.
[0057] It will be appreciated that systems using general purpose
processing devices to implement and control the functions of the
player stations, session tracking controller, bingo game
controller, and other controllers included in the session bingo
gaming system will include operational program code to direct the
general purpose processors to perform the required functions. Thus,
the invention encompasses program products. In particular, the
invention includes session tracking program code and session award
program code. The session tracking program code is executable for
maintaining the session score for each of a number of bingo game
sessions. As discussed above each bingo game session is uniquely
associated with a respective player, with a number of respective
bingo games entered by the respective player, and also with an
outcome for the respective player for each bingo game associated
with the bingo game session. The session tracking program code is
also preferably executable for resetting the bingo game session for
a player in the event the player fails to enter one of a number of
consecutive bingo games. The session award program code is
executable for awarding a session prize for each bingo game session
having a session score that meets a predetermined prize winning
session score. This session prize is awarded to the player uniquely
associated with the respective bingo game session.
[0058] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to any
particular scoring scheme for producing session scores or to any
scheme for identifying the prize level session scores. In one
preferred form of the invention, points are awarded to a player for
winning a bingo game, a lesser number of points are awarded to
players achieving a near miss for a bingo game. A near miss may be
defined as the winning pattern less one spot achieved on the first
fifteen bingo designations called for the given game. However, the
invention is by no means limited to this scoring arrangement.
[0059] A program product according to the invention may also
include bingo engine program code which is executable to conduct
the bingo games in the system. Player station program code
executable at a player station to enable a respective player to
enter a game play request for a respective bingo game. This player
station program code is also preferably executable for directing a
display device to display a respective session display at the
player station. Similarly to example display 900, this display
preferably shows the respective player's session score for the
player's current bingo game session.
[0060] As used herein, whether in the above description or the
following claims, the terms "comprising," "including," "carrying,"
"having," "containing," "involving," and the like are to be
understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not
limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and
"consisting essentially of," respectively, shall be closed or
semi-closed transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to
claims, in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent
Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition, August 2001 as revised May
2004), Section 2111.03.
[0061] Use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third,"
etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself
connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element
over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed. Rather, unless otherwise stated, ordinal terms are
merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain
name from another element having a same name (but for use of the
ordinal term).
[0062] 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 present invention.
* * * * *