Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-16
2001-02-13
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S016000, C463S017000, C463S018000, C273S269000, C273S237000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186892
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for playing bingo that relies upon two novel concepts: a prize structure which is based upon the true mathematical probabilities of forming preannounced winning bingo patterns after each random bingo number is drawn; and, telecasting the mechanical random number generating process live, while simultaneously transceiving information interactively over the telephone or a global communications network, for example, the Internet.
In using this bingo game, players are not required to assemble in one place. An unlimited number of players can participate simultaneously from different remote locations without changing any individual player's chances of winning. Also, the game ends after drawing a pre-announced quantity of randomly selected bingo numbers. More than one player can win a prize after each random number is drawn. The prizes vaty in amounts within the same game. Additionally, players are able to create and use their own personalized bingo cards.
A bingo game with the foregoing type of prize structure has special appeal to players who are unable to get to a bingo playing location, or prefer not to assemble in a common bingo playing location.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
PRIOR ART
U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,381 (Richardson, et al) shows an electronic gaming system which includes a system base station and a plurality of gaming boards.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,880 (Maksymec) teaches a long duration bingo game wherein a fixed number of bingo numbers are drawn from the pool of numbers and winning cards are paid off at a minimum of 1,000 times the purchase price.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,253 (Pocock, et al) shows a televised bingo game system wherein players enter by telephone and billing is provided a a ‘900’ number. A computer system plays the selected bingo balls against all entered bingo cards.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,083 (Fioretti) demonstrates a method of playing bingo over a wide geographic area, in real time and on an interactive basis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,991 (Camarato) shows an interactive bingo-like game and method played electronically
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The current state of the prior art in the field of “Bingo-type” games is significant, but easily distinguished from the present invention. The traditional game of bingo is played in the following manner. Individual participants use different cards. The cards are randomly generated such that no two are the same, within the specific game being played. The card columns are labeled “B”, “I”, “N”, “G”, and “O”. The five rows of the card are unlabeled, but partitioned such that the game card has individual squares, each containing a number. A “FREE” space may be assigned a card which allows a tile to be placed thereon when the games begins.
The caller of the game randomly draws a number and column, usually selecting from a pool of balls or tiles which have random assignments labeled on them. If the number called is associated with the same number in the designated column of the player's card, the game participant places a tile in the square. The game is won by the game participant who first places a tile in each square comprising a row, column or diagonal across the respective board.
There has developed many variations of the above traditional game. The current art of bingo does not include a game form which bases winning not on chance, but on mathematical probability. In existing bingo games, the players assemble in one location, purchase their bingo cards and hope that the randomly drawn numbers form winning bingo patterns on one or more of their own bingo cards before forming winning patterns on another player's card. In each game, only a single player who was lucky enough to possess the card that contained the winning pattern, wins a prize. When the first winning pattern is formed on any card, the game ends.
There are shortcomings in current formats of playing bingo. As the quantity of cards in the game increases, each player's chance of winning decreases. Also, the game's integrity is in question because the opportunity for cheating exists. For example, a dishonest player who is a confederate of the dishonest operator can tamper with the numbers on his or her card during a game. When the dishonest player calls “bingo”, the dishonest operator overlooks the tampering on the winning card while verifying it, and pays the dishonest player. The dishonest player covertly divides the winnings with the dishonest operator. The legitimate players are thereby deprived of a fair opportunity to win.
Additionally, all current versions of bingo require players to select from a group of pre-printed bingo cards prior to beginning play. There is no opportunity for a player to create his or her own unique and personal bingo card. Personalized cards would help to increase player confidence in the integrity of the game.
Existing bingo games played over the Global communications network, for example the Internet, are similarly deficient. They involve a common web site to which all players are interactively connected. The first player to obtain a bingo signals the common web site, and the game ends. As in a bingo hall, there is usually only one winning card per game. Again, the element of doubt exists because it is impossible to verify the legitimacy of the winners and the integrity of the game. A dishonest web site operator can easily verify a non-legitimate wining card.
Many forms of gaming on the telephone and on the Global communications network, for example, the Internet, depend upon the outcome of random number generation. A major shortcoming of global communications network and telephone gaming is the inability of bettors to observe the mechanical random number generating process live in high quality, full screen, real time video. In existing global communications network gaming operations, the results of random number generation are made available for viewing on players' computer monitors by posting bland text spelling out the outcomes. But because of limitations in current technology, computers and monitors are unable to present live, full screen, high quality displays of the random number generating process.
The present invention overcomes this shortcoming by using a variety of broadcasting mediums, including television and telephone, simultaneously, thereby enabling players who prefer to play bingo without sitting in a bingo hall, to maintain interactive communications with the bingo operator by telephone or on the Global communications network, for example the Internet while simultaneously observing the mechanical equipment, live, on conventional television, as it generates random bingo numbers.
A need, therefore, exists for a method of playing bingo: which enables players to win based upon the true mathematical probabilities, regardless of the quantity of other players or their success; which can accommodate an unlimited number of players without altering a player's chances of winning and without altering the prize structure; which enables players to play privately, which enables players to create their own personal bingo cards; which enables more than one player to win differing prizes in each game; and which enables the players to observe high quality, live, full screen displays of the mechanical equipment as it generates random numbers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to overcome the aforesaid deficiencies and to provide all prospective bingo players with the described benefits.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a bingo game wherein the chances of winning are determined by mathematical probabilities.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a bingo game wherein the player are able to assign their own numbers to their respective cards, thereby determining their own pattern for winning and increasing the confidence in the integrity of the game.
It is a fourth object of the present invention to conduct a bingo game wherein the chances
Frank Alan
McIntyre Jane M.
Cheng Joe H.
Dennison, Scheiner Schultz & Wakeman
Nguyen Binh-An
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