Apparatus and method for generating a pool of seeds for a central determination gaming system

• US 20050137012A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Michaelson, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,473,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating one or more pools or sets of seeds for use in a central determination gaming system. In one embodiment of the present invention, a processor of the apparatus or seed generator randomly generates a predetermined number of random number seeds. After the predetermined number of seeds are generated, the processor simulates the game outcome value that each generated seed ultimately determines. Having simulated a game outcome value for each generated seed, the processor determines if the set of seeds satisfies a required condition or criteria. If the required conditions or criteria are satisfied, the set is complete and ready for use in a central determination gaming system. If the required conditions or criteria are not satisfied, the processor modifies the generated set of seeds until the required conditions or criteria are satisfied.

Claims

1. A method for generating a seed set for a central determination gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) providing at least one criteria for the seed set to be generated;

(b) randomly generating a number of seeds, wherein each seed is deterministic of a game outcome value;

(c) simulating the game outcome value for each generated seed in the seed set;

(d) determining if the simulated game outcome values of said seed set satisfy said criteria;

(e) storing the generated seed set for distribution to the central determination gaming system, if the criteria is satisfied by said seed set;

(f) selecting at least one generated seed, if the criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(g) removing the selected seed from the seed set, if the criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(h) randomly generating at least one new seed, if the criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(i) adding the newly generated seed to the seed set, if the criteria is not satisfied by said seed set; and

(j) repeating steps (c) to (j) at least once if the criteria is not satisfied by said seed set.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes a plurality of criteria.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria is provided from an input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria is provided by a memory device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria includes a number of seeds in said seed set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria includes a sum of all the simulated game outcome values.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria is selected from the group consisting of:

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome value;

a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome value;

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values and a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria includes a number of seeds that are deterministic for each game outcome value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria includes an average payout of the game outcome values that are determined by the seeds in the seed set.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said provided criteria includes a number of seeds that provide a bonus or secondary game outcome.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said seed set is generated based on a plurality of probabilities.

12. A method for generating a seed set for a central determination gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a predetermined sum and at least one criteria for the seed set;

(b) randomly generating said seed set, wherein each seed is deterministic of a game outcome value;

(c) simulating the game outcome value for each seed;

(d) determining a sum of all the game outcome values;

(e) comparing the sum of all the game outcome values in the seed set to the predetermined sum;

(f) storing the generated seed set for distribution to the central determination gaming system, if the sum of all the game outcome values is equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum and the provided criteria is satisfied by said seed set;

(g) selecting at least one generated seed, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum or the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(h) removing the selected seed from the seed set, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum or the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(i) randomly generating at least one new seed, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum or the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(j) simulating the game outcome value for said new seed, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum or the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(k) determining a modified sum of the simulated game outcome value for said new seed and the remaining game outcome values, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum or the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(l) determining if the modified sum is closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum or the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(m) adding the new seed to the seed set, if the modified sum is closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set;

(n) returning to step (e), if the modified sum is closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set;

(o) discarding the new seed, if the modified sum is not closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set; and

(p) repeating steps (i) to (p) at least once if the modified sum is not closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set.

13. A method for generating a seed set for a central determination gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) providing at least one criteria for the seed set;

(b) randomly generating said seed set, wherein each seed is deterministic of a game outcome value;

(c) determining if said seed set satisfies said provided criteria;

(d) storing the generated seed set for distribution to the central determination gaming system, if the provided criteria is satisfied by said seed set;

(e) selecting at least one generated seed, if the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(f) removing the selected seed from the seed set, if the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(g) randomly generating at least one new seed, if the provided criteria is not satisfied by said seed set;

(h) determining if a modified seed set is closer to satisfying the provided criteria than the unmodified seed set, wherein said modified seed set includes said new seed and the seeds remaining in the seed set and the unmodified seed set includes said removed selected seed and the seeds remaining in the seed set;

(i) adding the new seed to the seed set, if the modified seed set is closer to satisfying the provided criteria than the unmodified seed set;

(j) returning to step (c), if the modified seed set is closer to satisfying the provided criteria than the unmodified seed set;

(k) discarding the new seed, if the modified seed set is not closer to satisfying the provided criteria than the unmodified seed set; and

(l) returning to step (g), if the modified seed set is not closer to satisfying the provided criteria than the unmodified seed set.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said provided criteria includes a number of seeds in said seed set.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said provided criteria includes a sum of all the simulated game outcome values.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said provided criteria is selected from the group consisting of:

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome value;

a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome value;

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values and a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said provided criteria includes a number of seeds that are deterministic for each game outcome value.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said provided criteria includes an average payout of the game outcome values that are determined by the seeds in the seed set.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said provided criteria includes a number of seeds that provide a bonus or secondary game outcome.

20. A method for generating a seed set for use with a central determination gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) providing a predetermined sum for the seed set to be generated;

(b) randomly generating said seed set, wherein each seed is deterministic of a game outcome value;

(c) simulating the game outcome value for each seed;

(d) determining a sum of all the game outcome values;

(e) comparing the sum of all the game outcome values in the seed set to the predetermined sum;

(f) storing the generated seed set for distribution to the central determination gaming system, if the sum of all the game outcome values is equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum;

(g) selecting at least one generated seed, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum;

(h) removing the selected seed from the seed set, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum;

(i) randomly generating at least one new seed, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum;

(j) simulating the game outcome value for said new seed, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum;

(k) determining a modified sum of the simulated game outcome value for said new seed and the remaining game outcome values, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum;

(l) determining if the modified sum is closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set, if the sum of all the game outcome values is not equal to or within an acceptable range of the predetermined sum;

(m) adding the new seed to the seed set, if the modified sum is closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set;

(n) returning to step (e), if the modified sum is closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set;

(o) discarding the new seed, if the modified sum is not closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set; and

(p) repeating steps (i) to (p) at least once if the modified sum is not closer to the predetermined sum than the sum of the game outcome value simulated from the removed seed and the game outcome values simulated from the remaining seeds in the seed set.