Tournament game system and method using a tournament game card
First Claim
1. A gaming method, comprising:
- receiving an identifier from a first gaming unit, wherein the identifier is associated with a tournament game card, wherein the tournament game card is provided to a player in response to paying a fee;
determining whether the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic;
determining a duration the player may play in a tournament based on the identifier;
enabling the first gaming unit for play in the tournament for the duration if the identifier is authentic;
receiving a tournament score of the player;
determining a winning player of the tournament, if any; and
if the winning player of the tournament is determined, generating data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the winning player.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment of a gaming method, an identifier may be received from a first gaming unit, wherein the identifier is associated with a tournament game card, wherein the tournament game card is provided to a player in response to paying a fee. Whether the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic may be determined. A duration the player may play in a tournament may be determined based on the identifier, and the first gaming unit may be enabled for play in the tournament for the duration if the identifier is authentic. A tournament score of the player may be received, and a winning player of the tournament, if any, may be determined. Data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the winning player may be generated if the winning player of the tournament is determined.
199 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A gaming method, comprising:
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receiving an identifier from a first gaming unit, wherein the identifier is associated with a tournament game card, wherein the tournament game card is provided to a player in response to paying a fee;
determining whether the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic;
determining a duration the player may play in a tournament based on the identifier;
enabling the first gaming unit for play in the tournament for the duration if the identifier is authentic;
receiving a tournament score of the player;
determining a winning player of the tournament, if any; and
if the winning player of the tournament is determined, generating data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the winning player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A tournament server, comprising:
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a network interface operatively coupled to a network;
a controller operatively coupled to the network interface, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the controller configured to;
receive, via the network interface, an identifier from a first gaming unit, wherein the identifier is associated with a tournament game card, wherein the tournament game card is provided to a player in response to paying a fee;
determine whether the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic;
determine a duration the player may play in a tournament based on the identifier;
enable the first gaming unit for play in the tournament for the duration if the identifier is authentic;
receive a tournament score of the player;
determine a winning player of the tournament, if any; and
if the winning player of the tournament is determined, generate data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the winning player. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A gaming method, comprising:
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receiving a fee from a player to play in a tournament;
configuring a gaming unit for playing in the tournament while a timer implemented by the gaming unit is running;
starting the timer at a request of a player;
enabling the gaming unit for play in the tournament while the timer is running;
stopping the timer after the timer has run for a period of time;
reporting a tournament score of the player to a tournament server;
if the player wins the tournament, generating data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the player. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A gaming method, comprising:
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receiving an identifier from a first gaming unit, wherein the identifier is provided to a player in response to paying a fee;
determining whether the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic;
determining an amount of time the player may play in a tournament based on the identifier;
initializing a timer with the determined amount of time if the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic;
starting the timer;
enabling the first gaming unit for play in the tournament for at least a first subset of time that the timer is running;
stopping the timer after the timer has run for the determined amount of time; and
receiving a tournament score of the player;
determining a winning player of the tournament, if any; and
if the winning player of the tournament is determined, generating data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the winning player. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A tournament server, comprising:
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a network interface operatively coupled to a network;
a controller operatively coupled to the network interface, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the controller configured to;
receive an identifier from a gaming unit via the network interface, wherein the identifier is provided to a player in response to paying a fee;
determine whether the identifier received from the gaming unit is authentic;
determine an amount of time the player may play in a tournament, initialize a timer with the determined amount of time if the identifier received from the first gaming unit is authentic;
start the timer;
enable the gaming unit for play in the tournament while the timer is running;
stop the timer after the timer has run for the determined amount of time; and
receive a tournament score of the player via the network interface;
determine a winning player of the tournament, if any; and
if the winning player of the tournament is determined, generate data indicative of a value payout to be awarded to the winning player.
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Specification