Methods and apparatus for a portable gaming machine

• US 20040204220A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LIF Capital
• Original Assignee: LIF Capital
• Inventors: Freed, Alex V., Fried, Lee I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/062 Bingo games, e.g. Bingo card games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

The invention is directed towards a method and apparatus for a portable gaming machine. The method activates several bingo games that are stored in the portable gaming machine. The activation makes the bingo games available to a bingo player for playing. The bingo player is presented with an option to switch from a first bingo game to a second bingo game while retaining numbers entered by the bingo player in the first bingo game. The method also records every keystroke entered by a bingo player for each game. These keystrokes can be displayed in an expeditious manner to a gaming official upon entering of a password.

Claims

1. A method for playing a bingo-like game on an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of bingo games in a portable gaming machine for subsequent play by a user;

activating, on said portable gaming machine, a first bingo game for play by a user;

receiving on said portable gaming machine at least one number for play of said first game;

displaying, on said portable gaming machine, an option to switch from said first bingo game to a second bingo game stored as one of said bingo games;

displaying, on said portable gaming machine, an option to advance said at least one number entered for said first bingo game for play on said second bingo game; and

activating said second game and applying said at least one number to said second game if said user selects to switch to said second game and to advance said at least one number, respectively.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying an option for switching further comprises the steps of:

displaying a request to switch from the first bingo game to the second bingo game;

displaying an option menu based on the request, said option menu including a yes/no option for transferring numbers entered in the first bingo game to the second bingo game; and

receiving a selection from one of the options from the displayed options menu for switching to the second bingo game.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of the options from the options menu further comprising the step of selecting a yes option for switching from the first bingo game to the second bongo game while retaining all the numbers entered in the first bingo game and daubing them in the second game if the entered numbers from the first bingo game match numbers on game cards associated with the second bingo game.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of receiving a selection of the options from the options menu further comprises the steps of selecting a ‘

no’

option, said selection of said ‘

no’

option resulting in displaying the second game on a display without transferring any numbers entered in the first bingo game.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving input for said game, and

recording said input entered.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein recording said input further comprises the step of writing said input into RAM.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of transferring said input for a game from said RAM to non-volatile memory for permanent storage.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of retrieving the input from the storage area and displaying the input on a display of said portable gaming machine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of retrieving the input further comprises the step of receiving a password subsequent to retrieving the recorded input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein activating a plurality of games further comprises the steps of

electrically coupling the portable gaming machine to a sales terminal;

transmitting a signal from the sales terminal to the portable gaming machine; and

activating the plurality of games stored in the portable gaming machine based on said signal.

11. A portable gaming machine comprising:

non-volatile memory for storing a game library that includes a plurality of bingo games and gaming information associated with each bingo game; and

processor electrically coupled to the non-volatile memory for activating the bingo games stored in the game library, said processor for activating, on said portable gaming machine, a first bingo game for play by said user in said portable gaming machine, for receiving on said portable gaming machine at least one number for play of said first game, for displaying, on said portable gaming machine, an option to switch from said first bingo game to a second bingo game stored as one of said bingo games, for displaying, on said portable gaming machine, an option to advance said at least one number entered for said first bingo game for play of said second bingo game, and for activating said second game and applying said at least one number to said second game if said user selects to switch to said second game and advance said at least one number, respectively.

12. The portable gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the processor further for receiving a request for switching from the first bingo game to the second bingo game, for displaying an option menu based on the request, said option menu including a yes/no option for transferring numbers entered in the first bingo game to the second bingo game, and for allowing selection of one of the options from the displayed options menu for switching to the second bingo game.

13. The portable gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the processor further for receiving one of the options from the options menu as a yes option, for switching from the first bingo game to the second bongo game while retaining all the numbers entered in the first bingo game, and for daubing the numbered entered in the second game if the entered numbers from the first bingo game match numbers on game cards associated with the second bingo game.

14. The portable gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the processor further for receiving one of the options from the options menu as a no option, and for displaying the second game on a display without transferring any numbers entered in the first bingo game.

15. The portable gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the processor for recording input entered by a bingo player in a storage area.

16. The portable gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the processor further for writing input entered for a plurality of games into a random access memory.

17. The portable gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the processor further for transferring input for each of the plurality of games from RAM to non-volatile memory for permanent storage.

18. A method for logging keystrokes for a bingo game, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a portable gaming machine, at least one keystroke input from a user;

generating a numeric value based on the keystroke;

storing the numeric value in the portable gaming machine;

receiving at least one keystroke input to the portable gaming machine as a code;

determining whether the code entered compares with a pre-defined code; and

if the code entered compares with a pre-defined code,

retrieving the numeric value stored; and

displaying the numeric value.