METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AWARDING PRIZES

• US 20090221342A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Dawson, Gary, Katz, Randall M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,535,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• 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 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A system for electronic interaction in a multi-player lottery system preferably displays information to players regarding various variable duration game rooms. The game rooms may be for durations such as 5 minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour, and hour, a week or a month. The player may optionally be provided further information about the game rooms, such as the current prize amounts or the remaining duration of the game room. A clock or time indicates the end of game play in the room. A point tally system including a processor for ranking the players score relative to one another, and a memory for storing the information, the point tally system providing the ranking information to the displays, the point tally system selecting at least the player with the highest score at the expiration of game play as determined by the timer for the variable duration game room. Preferably, the system includes a payment system for providing the lottery winnings to the winner.

Claims

1. A system for electronic interaction in a multi-player lottery system comprising:

a plurality of displays for presenting graphical information to players regarding variable duration game rooms,

a plurality of input devices, at least one each associated with the displays, the input devices being adapted to receive play input regarding selection of a variable duration game room and game play within the room,

a timer for determining the expiration of game play in the variable duration game room,

a point tally system including a processor for ranking the players score relative to one another, and a memory for storing the information, the point tally system providing the ranking information to the displays, the point tally system selecting at least the player with the highest score at the expiration of game play as determined by the timer for the variable duration game room, and

a payment system for providing the lottery winnings to the winner.

2. The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the point tally system selects multiple winners in a game having the highest point totals when the game ends.

3. The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the display of variable duration game room information includes the amount of time remaining for game play in the room.

4. The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the display of variable duration game room information includes the current size of the prize for game play in the room.

5. The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 where points are scored in the game room based in part on skill based play between the players.