Apparatus and method for a handheld color bingo card monitor
First Claim
1. A portable game device, comprising:
- a power supply;
a central processing unit connected to the power supply;
a user interface connected to the power supply and to the central processing unit;
a volatile memory unit;
a non-volatile memory connected to the power supply and to the central processing unit, containing;
bingo card data representative of a plurality of bingo cards;
game data representative of a set of games and a set of winning patterns, and an identifier for the number of bingo cards in play;
a computer program containing;
instructions for monitoring bingo cards during a game; and
instructions for displaying a selectable number of bingo cards; and
a bit-mapped color display connected to the power supply and to a graphics display for matter.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are described for monitoring bingo cards using a portable game device. The game device has a central processing unit, a bit-mapped color display and memory containing representations of bingo cards, a series of games to be played and their rules, and the number of cards to be played. The game device may be battery powered and adopt reduced power modes of operation to conserve battery life. An external power supply may be connected to the game device without interrupting a game in progress. The game device may have more than one battery and charge one battery fully before recharging the other batteries. The game device may have a wireless communications port, through which the memory may be loaded. A communications protocol with security elements may be used for loading the memory. The game device may test its circuitry and data in memory before commencing game play.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable game device, comprising:
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a power supply;
a central processing unit connected to the power supply;
a user interface connected to the power supply and to the central processing unit;
a volatile memory unit;
a non-volatile memory connected to the power supply and to the central processing unit, containing;
bingo card data representative of a plurality of bingo cards;
game data representative of a set of games and a set of winning patterns, and an identifier for the number of bingo cards in play;
a computer program containing;
instructions for monitoring bingo cards during a game; and
instructions for displaying a selectable number of bingo cards; and
a bit-mapped color display connected to the power supply and to a graphics display for matter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring bingo cards during play using a portable game device having memory, a user interface and a bit-mapped color display, comprising the steps of:
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storing bingo card data in the memory representative of a plurality of bingo cards unique to said portable game device, including bingo cards in play;
displaying a one or more of the bingo cards in play on the bit-mapped color display, the number of cards displayed being selected by the user;
storing game data in the memory representative of a set of games, a set of winning patterns, and an identifier for the number of bingo cards in play;
receiving called numbers entered by the user at the user interface;
comparing the called numbers on each bingo card in play to the winning patterns; and
presenting a notification to the user when one of the bingo cards in play contains called numbers in a winning pattern. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of preparing game devices for use while playing bingo, comprising the steps of:
- accepting an order from a player specifying a number of bingo cards to be played;
providing a game device having memory and a bit-mapped color display capable of displaying a selectable number of bingo cards;
transmitting data to the game device using a wireless communication link, the data representative of a set of games, a set of winning patterns, and an identifier for the number of bingo cards in play. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- accepting an order from a player specifying a number of bingo cards to be played;
Specification