APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A GAME OF CHANCE AT POINT OF SALE

• US 20080200229A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: George Young
• Original Assignee: George Young
• Inventors: YOUNG, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US12/032,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a game of chance at a point of sale, comprising a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, microcode encoded in the memory, wherein the processor utilizes the microcode to operate the apparatus, instructions written to the memory, wherein the instructions encode a game of chance, a visual display device in communication with the processor, wherein the processor can utilize the instructions to display results of the game of chance on the visual display device. A method to promote the sale of a product using the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a game of chance at a point of sale, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with said processor;

microcode encoded in said memory, wherein said processor utilizes said microcode to operate said apparatus;

instructions written to said memory, wherein said instructions encode a game of chance;

a visual display device in communication with said processor;

wherein said processor can utilize said instructions to display results of said game of chance on said visual display device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein:

said processor and said memory are disposed within said housing;

said visual display device is disposed on said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor, said memory, said microcode, and said instructions, are embodied in an application specific integrated circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said instructions comprise a cycle counter and a maximum cycle count;

every time said processor utilizes said instructions to display said game of chance said cycle counter is incremented by unity;

when said cycle count equals said maximum cycle count said processor cannot utilize said instructions to display said game of chance on said visual display device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said game of chance comprises a card game.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more communication links in communication with said processor, wherein said communication links can interconnect said apparatus with an electromechanical device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electromechanical device comprises a cash register.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electromechanical device comprises a vending machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electromechanical device comprises a game console.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electromechanical device comprises a gasoline pump meter.

11. A method to promote the sale of a product, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising a processor, a memory in communication with said processor, microcode encoded in said memory, wherein said processor utilizes said microcode to operate said apparatus, instructions written to said memory, wherein said instructions encode a game of chance, a visual display device in communication with said processor;

designating a participating product;

upon purchase of said participating product by a consumer, causing said processor to utilize said instructions to generate and display on said visual display device game of chance results.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

operative if said game of chance results entitle said consumer to an award of cash, proffering to said consumer said award of cash;

operative if said game of chance results entitle said consumer to an award of merchandise, proffering to said consumer said award of merchandise.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said apparatus further comprises a housing, wherein:

said processor and said memory are disposed within said housing;

said visual display device is disposed on said housing.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said processor, said memory, said microcode, and said instructions, are embodied in an application specific integrated circuit.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said instructions comprise a cycle counter and a maximum cycle count;

every time said processor utilizes said instructions to display said game of chance said cycle counter is incremented by unity;

when said cycle count equals said maximum cycle count said processor cannot utilize said instructions to display said game of chance on said visual display device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said game of chance comprises a card game.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said apparatus further comprises one or more communication links in communication with said processor, wherein said communication links interconnects said apparatus with an electromechanical device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said electromechanical device comprises a cash register;

wherein said causing step further comprises sending a signal from said cash register to said processor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said electromechanical device comprises a vending machine;

wherein said causing step further comprises sending a signal from said vending machine to said processor.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said electromechanical device comprises a gasoline pump meter;

wherein said causing step further comprises sending a signal from said gasoline pump meter to said processor.