Finite pool gaming method and apparatus

• US 20050277458A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wishart, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/903 Lottery ticket

Abstract

In a gaming method, data indicative of a final outcome may be received, and an initial set of symbols indicative of the final outcome may be displayed if the data indicative of the final outcome indicates a winning outcome, the initial set of symbols including an initial winning subset of symbols and an initial non-winning subset of symbols. Player input data indicative of a subset of symbols in the initial set to be discarded may be received, and replacement symbols may be determined such that a final set of symbols is indicative of the final outcome if the subset of symbols to be discarded includes at least one symbol from the initial winning subset, wherein the final set of symbols includes the replacement symbols in place of the subset of symbols to be discarded. The final set of symbols may be displayed, and an award corresponding to the winning outcome may be provided.

Claims

1. A gaming method, comprising:

receiving data indicative of a final outcome;

if the data indicative of the final outcome indicates a winning outcome, displaying an initial set of symbols indicative of the final outcome, the initial set of symbols including an initial winning subset of symbols and an initial non-winning subset of symbols;

receiving player input data indicative of a subset of symbols in the initial set to be discarded;

if the subset of symbols to be discarded includes at least one symbol from the initial winning subset, determining replacement symbols such that a final set of symbols is indicative of the final outcome, wherein the final set of symbols includes the replacement symbols in place of the subset of symbols to be discarded;

displaying the final set of symbols; and

providing an award corresponding to the winning outcome.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining replacement symbols comprises determining a replacement of a symbol from the initial winning subset as the same symbol.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein determining the replacement of the symbol from the initial winning subset comprises determining the replacement of the symbol from the initial winning subset as the same symbol when the replacement of the symbol from the initial winning subset cannot be a different symbol such that the final set of symbols is indicative of the final outcome.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining replacement symbols comprises determining a replacement of a symbol from the initial winning subset as a different symbol.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subset of symbols to be discarded includes first and second symbols from the initial winning subset, wherein determining replacement symbols comprises:

determining a replacement of the first symbol from the initial winning subset as the same symbol; and

determining a replacement of the second symbol from the initial winning subset as a different symbol.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the data indicative of the final outcome comprises receiving the data indicative of the final outcome via a communication link.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

sending a request for game outcome data via a communication link; and

receiving the data indicative of the final outcome in response to the request.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the data indicative of the final outcome comprises receiving the data indicative of the final outcome from a memory of a gaming unit.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the initial set of symbols comprises displaying an image of a first hand of cards;

and

wherein displaying the final set of symbols comprises displaying an image of a second hand of cards.

10. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit;

a value input device;

a player input device;

a controller operatively coupled to the display unit, the value input device, and the player input device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to request data indicative of a final outcome,

the controller being programmed to cause the display unit to display an initial set of symbols indicative of the final outcome, the initial set of symbols including an initial winning subset of symbols and an initial non-winning subset of symbols, if the data indicative of the final outcome indicates a winning outcome,

the controller being programmed to receive player input data from the player input device, the player input data indicative of a subset of symbols in the initial set to be discarded,

the controller being programmed to determine replacement symbols, such that, if the subset of symbols to be discarded includes at least one symbol from the initial winning subset, a final set of symbols is indicative of the final outcome, wherein the final set of symbols includes the replacement symbols in place of the subset of symbols to be discarded,

the controller being programmed to cause the display unit to display the final set of symbols,

the controller being programmed to provide an award corresponding to the winning outcome.

11. A gaming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to determine a replacement of a symbol from the initial winning subset as the same symbol.

12. A gaming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to determining the replacement of the symbol from the initial winning subset as the same symbol when the replacement of the symbol from the initial winning subset cannot be a different symbol such that the final set of symbols is indicative of the final outcome.

13. A gaming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to determine a replacement of a symbol from the initial winning subset as a different symbol.

14. A gaming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the subset of symbols to be discarded includes first and second symbols from the initial winning subset;

wherein the controller is programmed to determine a replacement of the first symbol from the initial winning subset as the same symbol; and

wherein the controller is programmed to determine a replacement of the second symbol from the initial winning subset as a different symbol.

15. A gaming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an input/output (I/O) device communicatively coupled to a server via a communication link, the I/O device operatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller is programmed to transmit to the server via the I/O device a request for data indicative of the final outcome.

16. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller is programmed to receive the data indicative of the final outcome from the server in response to the request sent to the server.

17. A gaming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to request data indicative of a final outcome from the memory of the controller.

18. A gaming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller being programmed to cause the display unit to display the initial set of symbols comprises the controller being programmed to cause the display unit to display an image of a first hand of cards;

and

wherein the controller being programmed to cause the display unit to display the final set of symbols comprises the controller being programmed to cause the display unit to display an image of a second hand of cards.

19. A gaming method, comprising:

receiving data indicative of a final outcome via a communications link;

if the data indicative of the final outcome indicates a winning outcome, displaying a first hand of cards on a display unit of a gaming unit, the first hand of cards indicative of the final outcome, the first hand of cards including an initial winning subset of cards and an initial non-winning subset of cards;

receiving player input data indicative of a subset of cards in the initial hand to be discarded;

if the subset of cards to be discarded includes at least one card from the initial winning subset, determining replacement cards such that a final hand of cards is indicative of the final outcome, wherein the final hand of cards includes the replacement symbols in place of the subset of symbols to be discarded;

displaying the final hand of cards on the display unit of the gaming unit; and

providing an award corresponding to the winning outcome.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein determining replacement cards comprises determining a replacement of a card from the initial winning subset as the same card.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein determining the replacement of the card from the initial winning subset comprises determining the replacement of the card from the initial winning subset as the same card when the replacement of the card from the initial winning subset cannot be a different card such that the final set of cards is indicative of the final outcome.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein determining replacement cards comprises determining a replacement of a card from the initial winning subset as a different card.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the subset of cards to be discarded includes first and second cards from the initial winning subset, wherein determining replacement cards comprises:

determining a replacement of the first card from the initial winning subset as the same card; and

determining a replacement of the second card from the initial winning subset as a different card.