Multi-player bingo game with multi-level award amount pattern mapping
First Claim
1. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
- determining a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;
dividing the game awards into at least two pay groups, wherein each pay group includes at least one game award;
associating each pay group with a primary pattern on the game array used by the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and
associating game awards within each pay group with a secondary pattern on the game array used by the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on a game array having a unique combination of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game array to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. The wagering game may include a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players. The game awards may be divided into pay groups, with each pay group being associated with a primary pattern on the game array, and with each game award within a pay group being associated with a secondary pattern on the game array. A gaming award may be awarded to a player in response to determining that the primary pattern and the secondary pattern associated with the gaming award are matched by patterns formed by the game indicia of the game array matching the randomly selected game indicia.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for providing a plurality of game awards for a multi-player wagering game wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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determining a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;
dividing the game awards into at least two pay groups, wherein each pay group includes at least one game award;
associating each pay group with a primary pattern on the game array used by the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game; and
associating game awards within each pay group with a secondary pattern on the game array used by the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A gaming unit for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming units operatively coupled together, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game and transmitted to the gaming units over the gaming network, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, comprising:
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an input device for inputting a plurality of input selections;
a gaming unit memory device storing a plurality of game awards that may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and associated primary and secondary patterns of the game array, wherein the game awards are divided into at least two pay groups each including at least one game award, each pay group is associated with a primary pattern on the game array, and game awards within each pay group is associated with a secondary pattern on the game array;
a currency-accepting mechanism that is capable of allowing a player to deposit a medium of currency;
a display device;
a value-dispensing mechanism that is capable of dispensing value to the player;
a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the input device, the gaming unit memory device, the currency-accepting mechanism, the output device, and the value-dispensing mechanism, the gaming unit controller being programmed to allow the currency-accepting mechanism to accept a deposit of an amount of a medium of currency by a player at the gaming unit and to store the amount of the medium of currency in the gaming unit memory device as a corresponding amount of game credits, the gaming unit controller being programmed to allow the input device to receive input for a player'"'"'s wager on an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the input device, the gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array and to determine whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array in response to receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming unit, the gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the primary patterns stored in the gaming unit memory, the gaming unit controller being programmed to compare the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to the secondary patterns associated with the game awards within a pay group in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with the pay group is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, and the gaming unit controller being programmed to increase the amount of game credits stored in the gaming unit memory device by a game award in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with the game award are matched by matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;
transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;
receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;
comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to at least one secondary pattern in response to determining that a primary pattern associated with the at least one secondary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein each of the at least one secondary pattern corresponds to one of the game awards associated with the primary pattern; and
awarding a game award to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern and secondary pattern associated with the game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;
transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;
receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;
comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and
awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern was matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the awarded game award corresponds to the number of randomly selected game indicia require to match the primary pattern.
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50. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;
transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;
receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;
comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a primary pattern;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to at least one secondary pattern in response to determining that the primary pattern is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, wherein each of the at least one secondary pattern corresponds to one of the game awards associated with the primary pattern, and wherein the at least one secondary pattern to which the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array are compared is determined based on the number of randomly selected game indicia required to match the primary pattern; and
awarding a game award to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern and the secondary pattern associated with the game award are matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.
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51. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;
transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;
receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;
comparing the randomly selected;
game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the player during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and
awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to the number of matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array in addition to the matched game indicia corresponding to the primary pattern.
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52. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;
transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;
receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;
comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and
selecting a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player using a random selection mechanism at the gaming unit in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer;
transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;
receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;
comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and
awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards is determined based on the indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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58. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a network computer operatively coupled to a plurality of gaming units, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game at the network computer, wherein each randomly selected game indicia further includes a secondary indicia selected from a range of secondary indicia;
transmitting the randomly selected game indicia from the network computer to the gaming units;
receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming units;
comparing the randomly selected game indicia received at a gaming unit to the game indicia on the corresponding player'"'"'s game array and determining whether the randomly selected game indicia matches any of the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array;
comparing the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array to a plurality of primary patterns, wherein a plurality of game awards may be awarded to the players during an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game, and wherein each of the plurality of primary patterns corresponds to at least one of the plurality of game awards; and
awarding a game award from the at least one of the plurality of game awards corresponding to a primary pattern to the player in response to determining that the primary pattern associated with a plurality of game awards is matched by the matched game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array, wherein the game award awarded from the plurality of game awards corresponds to a predetermined combination of the secondary indicia of the randomly selected game indicia matched by the game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game. - View Dependent Claims (59)
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Specification