Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – With communication link
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-25
2004-09-07
Harrison, Jessica (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
With communication link
C463S016000, C463S025000, C463S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786824
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to gaming devices and methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to gaming methods, devices and systems wherein a player may win opportunities to wager on a feature event such as, for example, on a live contest, a simulated live contest, or a reenacted live contest.
2. State of the Art
Electronic games and their methods and apparatus for use are well-known in the art. Electronic games include games of chance, games of skill, and games involving both skill and chance. Examples of patents describing various games of chance include U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,536 to Davids et al. (Nov. 10, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,716 to Saffari et al. (Jun. 23, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,460 to Fulton (Oct. 13, 1998) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,820 to Morro et al. (Sep. 7, 1999).
FIG. 1
is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic gaming device
100
as found in the art. An electronic gaming device
100
typically includes a microprocessor or other computer
104
having a central processing unit (CPU)
106
and memory
108
. The computer
104
may be coupled to a number of peripheral devices such as, by example only, a display screen
110
(e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma display, liquid crystal display (LCD), and/or a display based on light emitting diodes (LED)), possibly having a touchscreen input
112
(see U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,397 to Dickinson (Sep. 14, 1999)) for display of graphics associated with one or more games playable on gaming device
100
. Buttons, keys or other user input devices
114
are also operably coupled to CPU
106
for initiating game play and for other functions associated with play of a game. Preferably a coin, currency or card acceptor device
116
(to accept a credit card, gaming card, smart card and the like) permits a player to enable play of a game by placing one or more wagers. The electronic game may also include a separate scoreboard display
118
to indicate a player's success, or display the player's accumulated winnings. A coin and/or currency dispenser
116
a
may also be included, or a player's winnings credited back to him or her using the card acceptor device
116
.
Electronic games may also be coupled to one or more other computers such as a central controller
120
of a casino, e.g., via a network card
122
and link
124
, modem
126
and the like. The game parameters
128
, such as how, when and where particular images will appear on the display screen
110
, how the game works and how to operate the various elements operably coupled to the computer
104
, are stored in the memory
108
. Often, the electronic gaming device
100
may be housed in a structural and/or decorative housing
102
(shown in broken lines) as is well-known and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
As noted above, initiating an electronic game can be done as simply as by inserting a coin, token, or other type of currency. Another more comprehensive example of initiating a game includes inserting an identification card, such as a “smart card” having a programmed microchip or a magnetic strip coded with a player's identification, credit totals and other relevant information. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,874 to Dickinson et al. (Nov. 30, 1993), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. It is also known to use a writeable identification card, such as a smart card to eliminate the need for a network or direct connection between remote systems and a common controller or point database such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,045 to Biorge et al. (Sep. 8, 1998). Promotional point and credit information may be retrieved, recorded and updated using the smart card. Additionally, it is known to transfer money to a game through an electronic funds transfer as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,983 to Crevelt et al. (May 11, 1999).
In addition to the manner described above, it is also possible to participate in a game of chance via the Internet. This is typically accomplished through a casino or game host site offering displays similar to those found in conventional electronic games. Generally, to play a game of chance via the Internet, a software file is downloaded to a player's computer or terminal, which may then be used to install the necessary software for the game and/or access the casino or game host Internet site. As with a conventional electronic game, Internet electronic games may be accessed using an identification code or name to identify a specific player and retrieve that player's credit total or play history.
Existing electronic game displays typically include multiple images representing various aspects of a game such as a game portion, a credit total portion and a wager amount portion. Other electronic game displays include an additional bonus award portion to indicate an amount of a bonus award which may be won, typically through multiple or secondary games. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,851,148 to Brune et al. (Dec. 22, 1998) and 5,911,418 to Adams (Jun. 15, 1999).
Bonus gaming, also known in the art, includes employing a secondary game, often a different type of game than that of the primary game, as an additional activity for a player of the primary game. Implementation of a bonus game includes providing a game of chance, such as, for example, one like that described above with reference to
FIG. 1
, as a first or a primary gaming unit. Another gaming unit is then provided as a secondary, bonus game which is typically accessible upon receipt of a winning hand (in the case of a card game) or the occurrence of a specified symbol, icon, or indicia or one or more specific combinations of same during play of the primary gaming unit. Often the existence of a bonus game serves to attract a player though the perception of having increased opportunity to win during the player's gaming activities .
Such bonus gaming may also be conducted through a plurality of networked games such that the secondary gaming activity might involve a plurality of individuals who have been wagering at primary gaming units. Some examples of bonus gaming include U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,544 (Jul. 14, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,998 (Sep. 9, 1997) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,603 (Oct. 1, 1996) all to Seelig et al. More particularly, some examples of bonus gaming including a plurality of networked primary gaming machines include U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,273 to Olsen (Nov. 14, 2000), U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,982 to Piechowiak et al. (Jan. 11, 2000), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,284 to Acres et al. (Mar. 2, 1999).
The Seelig et al. patents describe variations on a bonus game wherein the bonus game may include one or more contestants in a race. In one embodiment, each player wagering at a primary gaming unit may be represented by a particular contestant in the race. The contestant representing a particular player advances in the race according to the represented player's gaming activity at the primary gaming unit. Thus, for example, once a player is participating in the bonus game configured as a race, a continued series of winning outcomes in the primary gaming unit is required for each race contestant to advance during the race. A specified winning outcome in the primary gaming unit is said to move the contestant ahead a predetermined distance while the race is in effect. The race ends upon a contestant finishing or upon the expiration of a predetermined amount of time, whichever comes first.
As noted above, bonus games serve to entice the player to wager at a particular primary game with the hope of being rewarded through the potential of increased winnings. However, with games such those described in the Seelig et al. patents, the player may lose interest sooner than would be desired by the gaming property owner or operator since the odds of winning the bonus game are directly tied to the odds of repeatedly winning the primary game. Thus, a player might eventually feel that there is no real potential of increased winnings since the odds of winning the above
Coburn Corbett B
Harrison Jessica
LandOfFree
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