Prize assignment method and program product for bingo-type games

• US 20040048647A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everi Games Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Multimedia Games Incorporated
• Inventors: Lind, Jefferson C., Enzminger, Joseph R., Loebig, Gary L., Lind, Clifton, Brandt, David Michael, Padgett, John Everett, Keane, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A pattern probability (302) is determined for each of a number of target patterns (301) achievable in a bingo-type game. Each pattern probability (302) comprises a probability of achieving the respective target pattern (301) in the bingo-type game. Different pattern sets are then associated with each different prize level in a desired prize distribution. The target patterns (301) and their respective pattern probabilities (302) are assigned or mapped to the different pattern sets so that the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the prize level with which the pattern set is associated.

Claims

1. A method for developing a desired prize distribution for a bingo-type game, the desired prize distribution comprising a number of different prize levels, each prize level being associated with a desired probability of winning that particular prize, the method including the steps of:

(a) defining a number of target patterns achievable in the game; and

(b) associating a different pattern set with each different one of the prize levels in the desired prize distribution, each respective pattern set including at least one target pattern and at least one pattern set including more than one target pattern,

(c) wherein each target pattern is included in no more than one pattern set, and

(d) wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a respective pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the respective pattern set is associated.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of determining a pattern probability for each of the target patterns achievable in the gaming system, each pattern probability comprising a probability of achieving the respective pattern in the gaming system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the target patterns is achieved by a player in the game, and the method includes the step of awarding that player the prize level associated with the respective pattern set in which the achieved target pattern is included.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a second desired prize level distribution includes a number of additional prize levels, each additional prize level associated with a desired prize level probability, and further including the step of:

(a) associating a different additional pattern set with each additional prize level of the second desired prize level distribution, each respective additional pattern set containing at least one target pattern and at least one additional pattern set containing more than one target pattern,

(b) wherein each target pattern is included in no more than one additional pattern set, and

(c) wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a respective additional pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the respective additional pattern set is associated.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each target pattern in each respective pattern set is defined according to an identifiable pattern.

6. A method for developing a desired prize distribution in a gaming system utilizing pattern matching with selected designations to determine the outcome of a game play, the desired prize distribution comprising a number of prize levels and for each prize level a desired probability of winning at that particular prize level, the method including the steps of:

(a) defining a number of target patterns achievable in the gaming system;

(b) associating a respective pattern set with each different one of the prize levels in the desired prize level distribution; and

(c) mapping at least one target pattern to each respective pattern set and mapping more than one target pattern to at least one respective pattern set,

(d) wherein each respective target pattern is mapped to no more than one pattern set, and

(e) wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a respective pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the respective pattern set is associated.

7. The method of claim 6 further including the step of determining a pattern probability for each of the target patterns achievable in the gaming system, each pattern probability comprising a probability of achieving the respective pattern in the gaming system.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein one of the target patterns is achieved by a player in the gaming system, and the method includes the step of awarding that player the prize level associated with the respective pattern set to which the achieved target pattern is mapped.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein a second desired prize level distribution includes a number of additional prize levels, each additional prize level associated with a desired prize level probability, and further including the steps of:

(a) associating a respective additional pattern set with each additional prize level of the second desired prize level distribution; and

(b) mapping at least one target pattern to each respective additional pattern set and mapping more than one target pattern to at least one respective additional pattern set,

(c) wherein each respective target pattern is mapped to no more than one additional pattern set, and

(d) wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a respective additional pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the respective additional pattern set is associated.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein each target pattern in each respective pattern set is defined according to an identifiable pattern.

11. A method of assigning prizes from a desired prize distribution to patterns in a bingo-type gaming system, the desired prize distribution comprising a number of different prize levels, each prize level being associated with a desired probability of winning a prize associated with that particular prize level, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a number of target patterns achievable in the gaming system;

(b) associating a pattern set with one of the prize levels in the desired prize level distribution, the pattern set including more than one target pattern, wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in the pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the pattern set is associated; and

(c) when a player achieves a respective target pattern which has been included in the pattern set, awarding that player the prize level associated with the pattern set.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of determining a pattern probability for each of a number of target patterns achievable in the gaming system, each pattern probability comprising a probability of achieving the respective pattern in the gaming system.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein each target pattern in the pattern set is defined by an identifiable pattern.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein a second desired prize level distribution includes a number of additional prize levels, each additional prize level associated with a respective prize level probability, and further including the steps of:

(a) associating an additional pattern set with an additional prize level of the additional desired prize level distribution, the additional pattern set including more than one target pattern, wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in the additional pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the additional pattern set is associated; and

(b) when a player achieves a target pattern which has been included in the additional pattern set, awarding that player the prize level associated with the additional pattern set.

15. A program product for developing a desired prize distribution in a gaming system utilizing pattern matching with selected designations to determine the outcome of a game play, the desired prize distribution comprising a number of prize levels and for each prize level a desired probability of winning at that particular prize level, the program product being stored on a computer readable medium and including:

(a) pattern set defining program code for associating a respective pattern set with each different one of the prize levels in the desired prize level distribution; and

(b) pattern mapping program code for mapping at least one target pattern to each respective pattern set and mapping more than one target pattern to at least one respective pattern set, wherein each respective target pattern is mapped to no more than one pattern set, and wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a respective pattern set comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the respective pattern set is associated.

16. The program product of claim 15 further including:

(a) pattern probability program code for determining a pattern probability for each of a number of target patterns achievable in the gaming system, each pattern probability comprising a probability of achieving the respective pattern in the gaming system.

17. The program product of claim 15 wherein a second desired prize level distribution includes a number of additional prize levels, each additional prize level associated with a desired prize level probability, and wherein:

(a) the pattern set defining program code is also for associating a respective additional pattern set with each additional prize level of the second desired prize level distribution; and

(b) the pattern mapping program code is also for mapping at least one target pattern to each respective additional pattern set and mapping more than one target pattern to at least one respective additional pattern set, wherein each respective target pattern is mapped to no more than one additional pattern set, and wherein the probability of achieving any target pattern included in a respective additional pattern comprises a value approximating the desired probability of the respective prize level with which the respective additional pattern set is associated.

18. A program product for assigning prizes from a desired prize distribution to patterns in a bingo-type gaming system, the desired prize distribution comprising a number of different prize levels, each prize level being associated with a desired probability of winning a prize associated with that particular prize level, each prize level also being associated with a respective pattern set with at least one pattern set including more than one target pattern, the program product comprising:

(a) pattern search program code for searching for a target pattern achieved in a game to determine a respective prize level with which the achieved target pattern is associated; and

(b) prize assignment program code for assigning the determined prize level to a player in the gaming system who achieved the target pattern.

19. The program product of claim 18 wherein a second game includes an additional desired prize distribution having a number of different additional prize levels, each additional prize level being associated with a desired probability of winning a prize associated with that particular additional prize level, each additional prize level also being associated with a respective additional pattern set with at least one additional pattern set including more than one target pattern, and wherein:

(a) the pattern search program code is also for searching a number of the additional pattern sets for a target pattern achieved in the second game to determine a respective additional prize level with which the achieved target pattern is associated; and

(b) the prize assignment program code is also for assigning the determined additional prize level for the target pattern to a player in the gaming system who achieved the target pattern in the second game.