Central random number generation for gaming system

• US 5,779,545 A
• Filed: 09/10/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Berg, David A., Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Saffari, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/711,847
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/22, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/43, 364/717.01, 364/717.05, 364/717.06
• US Class Current: 463/22
• 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

Abstract

A gaming system is provided in which a central computer broadcasts a plurality of random number seeds serially for simultaneous receipt of each seed by a plurality of gaming terminals. Each gaming terminal uses the seed to generate a random number which determines the win/loss outcome. Two terminals configured to play the same game which receive the same random number seed will generate the same random number.

Claims

1. A method for using a gaming system comprising:

providing a central computer;

coupling said central computer to at least one gaming terminal having a terminal processor configured for playing a game;

transmitting a series of game outcome seeds from said central computer substantially simultaneously to each gaming terminal;

initiating play at a first of said plurality of gaming terminals by calculating a first random number in a range selected for said game of said first gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a first time, wherein said first random number is based on a game outcome seed received at said first gaming terminal from said central computer at said first time;

initiating play at a second of said plurality of gaming terminals by calculating a second random number in a range selected for said game at said gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a second time, wherein said second random number is based on a game outcome seed received at said second gaming terminal from said central computer at said second time; and

wherein said terminal processors are configured such that when said first and second terminals are configured for playing an identical game when play is initiated on both at predetermined times and when said first and second game outcome seeds are identical, said first and second random numbers calculated by the terminal processors of said first and second gaming terminals will be identical.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said period is less than about 250 milliseconds.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central computer is coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said games of at least two of said plurality of gaming terminals are different.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitting of a series of game outcome seeds occurring at predetermined times.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitting game outcome seeds are spaced apart by at least a predetermined period.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting over a communication link selected from among coaxial, telephone cable, fiber optics, microwave links, and infrared links.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said communication link is used for transmitting a second type of information different from said random number seed.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second type of communication includes a polling signal transmitted from said central computer to at least a first of said gaming terminals.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second type of communication link includes information sent from said gaming terminal to said central computer.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said game of at least one of said plurality of gaming terminals uses first and second random numbers based on first and second random number seeds received at said gaming terminal at first and second different times.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising detecting loss of a communication link between said central computer and said gaming terminal.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising suspending game play in response to said step of detecting.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising returning or crediting wagers placed but not yet played in response to said detecting.

15. Apparatus for a gaming system comprising:

a central computer;

a plurality of gaming terminals coupled to said central computer by communication links, each terminal having a terminal processor configured for playing a game;

said central computer being programmed to transmit a series of random number seeds from said central computer substantially simultaneously to each of said plurality of gaming terminals, said transmitting of each of said random number seeds being spaced apart by at least a predetermined period;

said terminal processor of each gaming terminal being programmed to calculate at least a first random number in a range selected for said game of said gaming terminal in response to a user action based on a random number seed received from said central computer;

wherein said terminal processors are configured such that when first and second terminals are configured for playing identical games and when said first and second terminals receive identical random number seeds identical first and second random numbers will be calculated by the terminal processors of said first and second gaming terminals.

16. Apparatus for using a gaming system comprising:

a central computer;

a plurality of gaming terminal means, each terminal means having a terminal processor means configured for playing a game;

means for coupling said central computer to said plurality of said gaming terminals;

means for transmitting a series of random number seeds from said central computer substantially simultaneously to each of said plurality of gaming terminals, said transmitting of each of said random number seeds being spaced apart by at least a predetermined period;

means, in a first of said gaming terminals, for initiating play by calculating a first random number in a range selected for said game of said first gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a first time, wherein said first random number is based on a random number seed received at said first gaming terminal from said central computer at said first time;

means in a second of said plurality of gaming terminals, for initiating play by calculating a second random number in a range selected for said game at said gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a second time, wherein said second random number is based on a random number seed received at said second gaming terminal from said central computer at said second time;

wherein said terminal processors are configured such that when such first and second terminals are configured for playing identical games and when such first and second random number seeds are identical, said first and second random numbers calculated by the terminal processors of said first and second gaming terminals will be identical.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for transmitting a series of random number seeds includes a processor in said central computer and a stored computer program.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means in said first of said plurality of gaming terminals includes a processor and a stored computer program.

19. A method for using a gaming system comprising:

providing a central computer;

providing a plurality of gaming terminals;

transmitting a series of random number seeds from said central computer to each of said plurality of gaming terminals;

receiving a user input at least a first of said gaming terminals at a first time;

calculating a random number at said first gaming terminal based on one of said series of random number seeds wherein one of said random number seeds is selected by said first terminal on the basis of the time of its receipt relative to said first time.

20. A method for playing a poker style game comprising:

providing a central computer;

providing a plurality of electronic terminals, each of said plurality of electronic terminals including a microprocessor and a memory wherein said memory stores a program for playing a poker style game and a pay table for determining a win/loss result;

transmitting a plurality of random number seeds from said central computer to said electronic gaming terminal;

receiving a first user input at said first electronic terminal;

determining, in said first electronic terminal, whether the communication link between said first electronic terminal and said central computer is operable;

when said communication link is operable, calculating five deal random numbers in the range of 1-52 based on the next random number seed received from said central computer after said step of determining whether said communication link is operable;

displaying, on a display screen, coupled to said electronic terminal, images of five cards corresponding to said five random numbers;

receiving an indication of a wager from said user in said first electronic terminal;

receiving from said user an indication of cards which said user chooses to discard in said first electronic terminal;

determining whether said communication link is operable;

if said communication link is operable, calculating a number of draw random numbers equal to the number of cards selected as discard cards by said user in the range between 1-52, none of which are equal to said five deal random numbers to provide five hand random numbers based on the next seed received from said central computer after said step of determining whether said communication link is operable;

determining a win/loss result by comparing said five hand numbers to said pay table and outputting the result thereof.

21. A method for using the gaming system comprising:

providing a central computer means for selecting random number seeds which are determinative of winning symbols or combinations of symbols;

providing a plurality of electronic gaming terminals connected on-line to said central computer wherein said random number seeds are communicated from said central computer to said electronic terminals wherein the selection of random number seeds by said central computer is independent of any activation, play, or other manipulation by any user of an electronic terminal;

said electronic gaming terminal means incorporating a microprocessor that makes random selections of symbols for players, allows said players to make such selections, or draws symbols from a central repository which are communicated to such central computer and displays on a video screen winning symbols or combinations thereof wherein said electronic terminal does not select said winning symbols and wherein said winning symbols are determined on the basis of at least one random number seed communicated from said central computer to said electronic gaming terminal, said random number seed being one of a plurality of seeds transmitted from said central computer to said electronic terminal and when the decision regarding which of said plurality of random number seeds is used for determining said winning symbols is a function of when a user wagers or otherwise activates said electronic terminal.