Concurrent game network

• US 4,856,787 A
• Filed: 05/03/1988
• Issued: 08/15/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fortunet Incorporated (Yuri Itkis Gaming Trust 1993)
• Original Assignee: Yuri Itkis
• Inventors: Itkis, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/198,599
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1 E, 273/85 G, 273/138 A, 273/237, 273/143 R, 273/269, 273/DIG. 28, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 364/410-412
• US Class Current: 273/237
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A distributed game network comprising a master game device and a number of slave game devices. The slave game device is capable of playing concurrently a number of menu selectable card and chance games, such as poker, bingo, blackjack, and keno. The slave game device receives commands and random data, such as bingo patterns and called bingo and keno numbers, from the master game device and sends the local game status and accounting information to the master game device. The slave game device is equipped with a touch screen display and a smart game card interface. The smart game card associated with the slave game device has an imbedded microprocessor keeping track of wagers and outcomes of the game. The touch screen display exhibits the status of the games being played in display windows and accepts player'"'"'s commands including menu selections and bingo and keno card marks.

Claims

1. Game network comprising at least one master game device interconnected with at least one slave game device;

said slave game device executing concurrently at least two different distinct and independent games;

each of said different distinct and independent games comprising its own unique rules of play and unique random factors;

said different distinct and independent games including bingo, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette, slots, gin, and sports book;

said master game device providing data for playing said games; and

at least one of said two different distinct and independent games being at least partially responsive to said data from said master game device.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said slave game device incorporates a local data input and output means comprising

a display means displaying simultaneously the current status of each of said two distinct and different independent games,

a sound and voice data entry means,

a sound and speech generating means,

a touch responsive data entry means,

a game card reading and writing means.

3. In combination, a smart game card and the combination of claim 2, wherein said smart game card incorporates an imbedded data storage and data processing means being accessible by and responsive to said game card reading and writing means.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said slave game device incorporates a software and hardware means for controlling the degree of difficulty of playing at least one of said two different distinct and independent games.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said slave game device displays matches between data being transmitted by said master game device and the contents of at least one game card for playing at least one of said two different distinct and independent games.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said slave game device transmits to said master game device accounting data and the current status of at least one of said two different distinct and independent games.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein two or more of said slave game devices participate in a common game.