Display system for data assisted bingo game

• US 5,096,202 A
• Filed: 07/26/1990
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EGIL Hesland A/S
• Original Assignee: EGIL Hesland A/S
• Inventors: Hesland, Egil
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/543,812
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 273/269, 273/85 G, 273/237
• US Class Current: 273/237
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games

Abstract

A bingo game computer system includes a central computer unit having a master monitor, a master keyboard, and a plurality of gam monitors coupled thereto. The game monitors are provided in one-to-one correspondents with a number of game participants. Each of the monitors includes a switch operable by the game participant for indicating to the central computer unit that a bingo result has been achieved. The central computer unit includes a random number generator which generates a game number which is displayed on the master monitor and the plurality of game monitors. Further, the central computer unit causes an indicator to be displayed in a game square of each displayed bingo array which corresponds to the game number generated by the random number generator.

Claims

1. A bingo game computer system comprising:

a central computer unit;

a master monitor, operatively coupled to said central computer unit, including means for displaying selectable game data;

a master keyboard, operatively coupled to said central computer unit, including means for controlling and selecting the game data displayed on said master monitor;

a plurality of game monitors, operatively coupled to said central computer unit, each including a switch means operable by a game participant and each including means for displaying a plurality of bingo arrays which are each made up of a matrix of game squares and for displaying a game number, wherein said plurality of game monitors are provided in one-to-one correspondence with a number of game participants;

wherein said central computer unit includes (a) a first processor means for controlling a display of said master monitor and said plurality of game monitors, (b) a random number generator means for generating the game number to be displayed on said master monitor and said plurality of game monitors, and (c) a second processor means for causing an indicator to be displayed in a game square of each displayed bingo array which corresponds to the game number generated by said random number generator means.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said central computer unit further includes (a) means for causing each of said plurality of game monitors to display an account balance associated with each respective game monitor, the account balance denoting a difference between a fee paid by a game participant and a fee charged in connection with a number of bingo arrays displayed, and (b) means for adding to the account balance of each respective game monitor any prizes awarded.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said central computer unit includes means for causing said master monitor to display a game complete indication when a bingo result occurs on at least one of the bingo arrays displayed on said plurality of game monitors.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said central computer unit further includes means for prohibiting display on said master monitor and said plurality of game monitors of further game numbers generated by said random number generating means when the bingo result occurs on at least one of the bingo arrays displayed on said plurality of game monitors.

5. A system as recited in claim 3 or 4, wherein said central computer unit further includes means for causing each of said game monitors to display a game complete indication when a bingo result occurs on at least one of said bingo arrays displayed on said plurality of game monitors.

6. A system as recited in claim 3 or 4, wherein said central computer unit further includes means for causing a game complete indication to be displayed on only a game monitor in which a bingo result has occurred on at least one of said bingo arrays.

7. A system as recited in any one of claims 1-4, wherein said central computer unit further includes means, responsive to said switch means, for verifying that a bingo result has occurred on a bingo array of one of said plurality of game monitors, wherein a game participant activates said switch means when a bingo result is realized.

8. A system as recited in any one of claims 1-4, wherein said indicator is realized by blanking out each game square of each bingo array which corresponds to the game number generated by said random number generating means.

9. A system as recited in any one of claims 1-4, wherein said indicator is realized by at least one of (a) changing a display color of each game square of each bingo array which corresponds to the game number, and (b) providing a visible marker within each game square of each bingo array which corresponds to the game number.

10. A system as recited in any one of claims 1-4, wherein said master monitor and said plurality of game monitors are at least one of a CRT device, an LCD device and a plasma display device.