Central determination poker game

• US 20060063578A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Wolf, Bryan D., Montross, John M., Brune, Christopher T., Bansemer, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

An poker game which provides a predetermined outcome to a player. In one embodiment, a plurality of playing cards are provided to a player wherein one or more of the provided playing cards are based on the predetermined game outcome. The player is enabled to select one or more of the initially dealt playing cards to hold or to discard. If a poker hand with an associated payout equal to the value associated with the predetermined game outcome may be obtained based on the held cards, the gaming device utilizes one or more backfill algorithms, to determine which card or cards, if any, need to be dealt to the player. The determined cards are provided to the player to replace the playing cards designated by the player to discard and the selected predetermined game outcome which is associated with a value equal to the payout of the player'"'"'s poker hand is provided to the player. If a poker hand with an associated payout equal to the value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome cannot be obtained by the player based on the playing cards held by the player, a subset of the held cards is selected and one or more backfill algorithms are used to determine which cards need to be dealt to the player. The discarded playing cards and at least one held playing card are replaced with the determined card. The selected predetermined game outcome which is associated with a value equal to the payout of the player'"'"'s poker hand is then provided to the player.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a poker game controlled by said processor;

a predetermined game outcome value adapted to be provided to a player in said poker game;

a plurality of playing cards in said poker game, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a value; and

a display device adapted to display said poker game;

wherein said processor is operable with said display device to control a play of the poker game by;

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to the player, wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on said predetermined game outcome value;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(d) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on a backfill algorithm; and

(ii) providing and displaying said determined playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to discard;

(e) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining a subset of the playing cards the player selected to hold, wherein said subset of playing cards is based on the predetermined game outcome value,

(ii) determining which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on said backfill algorithm,

(iii) providing and displaying one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace each of said playing cards the player selected to discard,

(iv) providing and displaying at least one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to hold which is not part of said determined subset of playing cards, and

(f) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the player is enabled to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the player is enabled to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to control the play of said poker game by suggesting to the player which displayed playing cards the player should select to hold.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said replacement of said playing cards the player selected to hold is displayed to the player as a graphic display.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said replacement of said playing cards the player selected to hold occurs before any determined playing cards are displayed to replace the playing cards the player selected to discard.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said replacement of said playing cards the player selected to hold occurs after any determined playing cards are displayed to replace the playing cards the player selected to discard.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is zero.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes value.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is stored in a memory device of said gaming device.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is received from a central controller.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said backfill algorithm includes:

(a) determining an available set of said playing cards which have not been previously displayed to the player;

(b) selecting one of said available playing cards;

(c) adding the selected playing card to at least one of the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(d) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the associated with said predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(e) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card, retaining said selected playing card with the playing cards the player selected to hold; and

(f) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(i) removing the selected playing card from the playing cards the player selected to hold, and

(ii) repeating steps (b) to (f) until one available playing card is retained for each playing card the player selected to discard.

15. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a poker game controlled by the processor;

a predetermined game outcome value adapted to be provided to a player in said poker game;

a plurality of playing cards in said poker game, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a value; and

a display device adapted to display said poker game;

wherein said processor is operable with said display device to control a play of the poker game by;

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to the player, wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on said predetermined game outcome value;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(d) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining an available set of said playing cards which have not been previously displayed to the player,

(ii) selecting one of said available playing cards,

(iii) adding the selected playing card to the playing cards the player selected to hold,

(iv) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card,

(v) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card, retaining said selected playing card with the playing cards the player selected to hold,

(vi) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(1) removing the selected playing card from the playing cards the player selected to hold, and

(2) repeating steps (ii) to (vi) until one available playing card is retained for each playing card the player selected to discard, and

(vii) providing and displaying said retained playing cards to the player to replace said playing cards the player selected to discard;

(e) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining a subset of the playing cards the player selected to hold, wherein said subset of playing cards is based on the predetermined game outcome value,

(ii) selecting one of said available playing cards,

(iii) adding the selected playing card to the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold,

(iv) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card,

(v) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card, retaining said selected playing card with the playing cards the player selected to hold,

(vi) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(1) removing the selected playing card from the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold, and

(2) repeating steps (ii) to (vi) until one available playing card is retained for each playing card the player selected to discard,

(vii) providing and displaying one of said retained playing cards to the player to replace each of said playing cards the player selected to discard, and

(viii) providing and displaying at least one of said retained playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to hold which is not part of said determined subset of playing cards; and

(f) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the player is enabled to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

19. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the player is enabled to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

20. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is zero.

21. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcome values.

22. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is stored in a memory device of said gaming device.

23. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is received from a central controller.

24. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a poker game controlled by the processor;

a predetermined game outcome value adapted to be provided to a player in said poker game;

a plurality of playing cards in said poker game, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a value; and

a display device adapted to display said poker game;

wherein said processor is operable with said display device to control a play of the poker game by;

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to the player, wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on said predetermined game outcome value;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining a set of zero, one or a plurality of the held playing cards for which one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable;

(d) determining which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on a backfill algorithm and said set of held playing cards;

(e) providing and displaying one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace each of said playing cards the player selected to discard;

(f) providing and displaying any of said determined playing cards to replace any of said held playing cards which are not part of said determined set of held playing cards; and

(g) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

25. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

26. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

27. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein the player is enabled to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

28. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein the player is enabled to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

29. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcome values.

30. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is stored in a memory device of said gaming device.

31. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is received from a central controller.

32. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a poker game controlled by the processor;

a predetermined game outcome value adapted to be provided to a player in said poker game;

a plurality of playing cards in said poker game, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a value; and

a display device adapted to display said poker game;

wherein the processor is operable with said display device to control a play of the poker game by;

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to the player, wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on said predetermined game outcome value;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining which of any playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on a backfill algorithm;

(d) providing and displaying any of said determined playing cards to the player to replace any of said provided playing cards; and

(e) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

33. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

34. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

35. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein the player is enabled to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

36. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein the player is enabled to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

37. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcome values.

38. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is stored in a memory device of said gaming device.

39. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is received from a central controller.

40. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a pool of predetermined game outcome values wherein at least two of said game outcomes values are different;

a central controller operable to store said pool of game outcomes, to select one of said game outcomes from said pool of game outcomes, to prevent said selected game outcome from further selections from said pool and to output said selected game outcome; and

at least one gaming device including a display device and a processor in communication with said display device operable to;

(a) enable a player to initiate a poker game, wherein said poker game includes a plurality of playing cards wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a value;

(b) receive said selected game outcome from said central controller;

(c) provide and display a plurality of said playing cards to the player, wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on said predetermined game outcome value;

(d) enable the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(e) determine whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(f) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determine which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on a backfill algorithm, and

(ii) provide and display said determined playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to discard;

(g) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determine a subset of the playing cards the player selected to hold, wherein said subset of playing cards is based on the predetermined game outcome value,

(ii) determine which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on said backfill algorithm,

(iii) provide and display one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace each of said playing cards the player selected to discard,

(iv) provide and display at least one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to hold which is not part of said determined subset of playing cards; and

(h) provide said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

41. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of playing cards to the player, wherein said plurality of playing cards form a poker hand that is associated with a value and wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on a predetermined game outcome value;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining whether a poker hand with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(d) if said poker hand with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in said poker hand with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on a backfill algorithm, and

(ii) providing and displaying said determined playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to discard;

(e) if said poker hand with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining a subset of the playing cards the player selected to hold, wherein said subset of playing cards is based on the predetermined game outcome value,

(ii) determining which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in said poker hand with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on said backfill algorithm,

(iii) providing and displaying one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace each of said playing cards the player selected to discard,

(iv) providing rand displaying at least one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to hold which is not part of said determined subset of playing cards; and

(f) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

44. The method of claim 41, which includes enabling the player to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

45. The method of claim 41, which includes enabling the player to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

46. The method of claim 41, which includes suggesting to the player which displayed playing cards the player should select to hold.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein said replacement of said playing cards the player selected to hold is displayed to the player as an graphic display.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein said replacement of said playing cards the player selected to hold occurs before any determined playing cards are displayed to replace the playing cards the player selected to discard.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein said replacement of said playing cards the player selected to hold occurs after any determined playing cards are displayed to replace the playing cards the player selected to discard.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is zero.

51. The method of claim 41, wherein said backfill algorithm includes:

(a) determining an available set of said playing cards which have not been previously displayed to the player;

(b) selecting one of said set of available playing cards;

(c) adding the selected playing card to the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(d) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(e) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card, retaining said selected playing card with the playing cards the player selected to hold; and

(f) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(i) removing the selected playing card from the playing cards the player selected to hold; and

(ii) repeating steps (b) to (f) until one available playing card is retained for each playing card the player selected to discard.

52. The method of claim 41, which is provided through a data network.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the data network is an internet.

54. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of playing cards to the player, wherein said plurality of playing cards form a poker hand that is associated with a value and wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on a predetermined game outcome value;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(d) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining an available set of said playing cards which have not been previously displayed to the player,

(ii) selecting one of said available playing cards,

(iii) adding the selected playing card to the playing cards the player selected to hold,

(iv) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card,

(v) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card, retaining said selected playing card with the playing cards the player selected to hold,

(vi) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(1) removing the selected playing card from the playing cards the player selected to hold, and

(2) repeating steps (ii) to (vi) until one available playing card is retained for each playing card the player selected to discard, and

(vii) providing and displaying said retained playing cards to the player to replace said playing cards the player selected to discard;

(e) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the playing cards the player selected to hold;

(i) determining a subset of the playing cards the player selected to hold, wherein said subset of playing cards is based on the predetermined game outcome value,

(ii) selecting one of said available playing cards,

(iii) adding the selected playing card to the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold,

(iv) determining whether one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card,

(v) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable based on the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card, retaining said selected playing card with the playing cards the player selected to hold,

(vi) if one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is not obtainable based on the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold and the selected available playing card;

(1) removing the selected playing card from the determined subset of playing cards the player selected to hold, and

(2) repeating steps (ii) to (vi) until one available playing card is retained for each playing card the player selected to discard,

(vii) providing and displaying one of said retained playing cards to the player to replace each of said playing cards the player selected to discard, and

(viii) providing and displaying at least one of said retained playing cards to the player to replace at least one of said playing cards the player selected to hold which is not part of said determined subset of playing cards; and

(f) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

57. The method of claim 54, which includes enabling the player to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

58. The method of claim 54, which includes enabling the player to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is zero.

60. The method of claim 54, which is provided through a data network.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the data network is an internet.

62. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of playing cards to the player, wherein said plurality of playing cards form a poker hand that is associated with a value and wherein at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on a predetermined game outcome value;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining a set of zero, one or a plurality of the held playing cards for which one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value is obtainable;

(d) determining which of said playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in one of said poker hands with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on a backfill algorithm and said set of held playing cards;

(e) providing and displaying one of said determined playing cards to the player to replace each of said playing cards the player selected to discard,

(f) providing and displaying any of said determined playing cards to replace any of said held playing cards which are not part of said determined set of held playing cards; and

(g) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the player is enabled to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein the player is enabled to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcome values.

68. The method of claim 62, which is provided through a data network.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the data network is an internet.

70. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing and displaying a plurality of playing cards to a player, wherein said plurality of playing cards form a poker hand that is associated with a value and at least one of said displayed playing cards is based on a predetermined game outcome value and;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard;

(c) determining which of any playing cards need to be provided to the player to result in a poker hand with an associated value equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based on a backfill algorithm;

(d) providing and displaying any of said determined playing cards to the player to replace any of said provided playing cards; and

(e) providing said predetermined game outcome value to the player.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein a plurality of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein each of said displayed playing cards are based on said predetermined game outcome value.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein the player is enabled to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein the player is enabled to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

75. The method of claim 70, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcome values.

76. The method of claim 70, which is provided through a data network.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the data network is an internet.