Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-17
2001-08-28
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S018000, C463S019000, C463S022000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280328
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of computer-controlled games, and more particularly to the field of control of banks of gaming devices and automated player tracking.
Electronic gambling is a popular activity. The parent application discusses a gambling system with terminals enabling players to choose from several games. Additionally, it keeps track of information deemed important by gaming establishments. The accumulated game information may be used to generate standard or customized reports for the gaming establishments. Periodic reports provide valuable information to the gaming establishments.
As in other businesses, comprehensive customer information such as player demographics and player activities are of great value to gaming establishments. Player information may be used for a wide array of purposes. The most ubiquitous application is marketing. Another is providing up-to-date information about each player at anytime. Gaming establishments may, for example grant special incentives electronically to players exhibiting certain playing habits during the player's game. Additionally, instantaneous information would help gaming establishments detect fraud while it is occurring by reviewing comprehensive and current gaming information of a suspected player.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a gaming device that maximizes the value of player information.
It is another object of this invention to provide a alternative embodiments of controlling the games at the player terminals.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the written description and appended claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the invention defines a system for operating several electronic games for a plurality of players comprising a plurality of player terminals coupled together. Each terminal includes means for receiving player identification information from a participating one of the players, means for receiving game selection information from the participating player indicating one of the plurality of games, a video display for displaying a selected one of the games to the participating player, and means for executing software application programs corresponding to a plurality of games in response to an externally-generated set of random numbers to determine the result of the selected game independent of player participation at other ones of the player terminals. The system also includes a game server connected to each of the plurality of player terminals. The game server includes means for sending to the player terminals the set of random numbers as externally-generated random numbers. Also, the system includes a central controller connected to each of the player terminals. The central controller includes means for storing player account information for each of the players, and means for adjusting the account information of the players according, to the result of the games from the player terminal.
In accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the invention also includes a method of operating electronic games in a system including a central controller, a game server, and a plurality of player terminals. First, a player account file is established at a central controller for a participating player. A player terminal, coupled to the central controller, receives player identification information input by the participating player, and a video display of the player terminal displays a plurality of games of chance. Next, the player terminal receives information for a selected one of the plurality of games and a game server sends to the player terminals the set of random numbers as externally-generated random numbers. In response, the player terminal executes software application programs corresponding to a plurality of games to determine the result of the selected game independent of player participation at other ones of the player terminals. Finally, the central controller updates the participating player's account file according to the result of the games from the player terminal.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory, and are intended to provide further explanation of the claimed invention.
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