Method and apparatus for using a player input code to affect a gambling outcome

• US 6,010,404 A
• Filed: 04/03/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/833,034
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/11-13, 463/16-20, 463/22, 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 382/115, 382/116, 382/117, 382/123, 382/124, 364/410.1, 364/412.1, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.33, 340/825.34, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for using player input codes (e.g., numeric, biometric or physical) to affect the outcomes of electronic gambling devices, such as slot machines. The player inserts money into the slot machine and enters an input, e.g., a lucky number or biometric measurement, into a device attached externally to the slot machine. A central processing unit ("CPU") within the slot machine receives the input and directs a random number generator to produce a random number. The CPU retrieves a combination algorithm from an algorithm database and then applies the combination algorithm to the player number and the generated random number to form a combined value. The CPU looks up the combined value in a probability table to determine resulting reel positions. The CPU looks up the reel positions in a payout table to determine the amount of money won or lost by the player. If the player has won, the CPU directs a hopper controller to release the appropriate number of coins or tokens into a payout tray.

Claims

1. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input, perform a biometric measurement and convert the biometric measurement into a numeric input;

means for generating a random number; and

means for generating a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said biometric reader and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

2. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input and to perform a biometric measurement;

means for generating a random number; and

means for generating a numeric output configured to receive the biometric measurement from said biometric reader and to convert said biometric measurement into a numeric input, and further configured to generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said biometric reader and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

3. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and measure a player'"'"'s hand wave, a twist of a knob, or an applied pressure;

means for generating a random number; and

means for generating a numeric output as a function of the user input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said physical scanner and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

4. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input, perform a physical measurement, and convert the measurement into a numeric input;

means for generating a random number; and

means for generating a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said physical scanner and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

5. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and perform a physical measurement;

means for generating a random number; and

means for generating a numeric output configured to receive the physical measurement from said physical scanner and to convert said physical measurement into a numeric input, and generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said physical scanner and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

6. A gaming device, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input, perform a biometric measurement and convert the biometric measurement into a numeric input;

means for generating a random number independent from the user input; and

means for generating a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said biometric reader and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

7. A gaming device, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input and to perform a biometric measurement;

means for generating a random number independent from the user input; and

means for generating a numeric output configured to receive the biometric measurement from said biometric reader and to convert said biometric measurement into a numeric input, and further configured to generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said biometric reader and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

8. A gaming device, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and measure a player'"'"'s hand wave, a twist of a knob, or an applied pressures;

means for generating a random number independent from the user input; and

means for generating a numeric output as a function of the user input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said

physical scanner and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

9. A gaming device, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input, perform a physical measurement, and convert the measurement into a numeric input;

means for generating a random number independent from the user input; and

means for generating a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said physical scanner and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

10. A gaming device, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and perform a physical measurement;

means for generating a random number independent from the user input; and

means for generating a numeric output configured to receive the physical measurement from said physical scanner and to convert said physical measurement into a numeric input, and generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said means for generating a numeric output being coupled to said physical scanner and said means for generating a random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

11. A method for generating an output of an electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, comprising:

receiving a numeric input from a biometric reader configured to convert a biometric measurement into the numeric input;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of the numeric input and the random number.

12. A method for generating an output of an electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, comprising:

receiving a biometric measurement from a biometric reader;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of a numeric input and the random number, the output being generated by a processor configured to convert the biometric measurement into the numeric input.

13. A method for generating an output of an electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, comprising:

receiving a user input at a physical scanner configured to measure a player'"'"'s hand wave, a twist of a knob, or an applied pressure;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of the user input and the random number.

14. A method for generating an output of an electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, comprising:

receiving a numeric input from a physical scanner configured to perform a physical measurement and convert the measurement into the numeric input;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of the numeric input and the random number.

15. A method for generating an output of an electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, comprising:

receiving a user input at a physical scanner configured to perform a physical measurement;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of a numeric input and the random number, the output being generated by a processor configured to convert the physical measurement into the numeric input.

16. A method for generating an output of a gaming device, comprising:

receiving a numeric input from a biometric reader configured to convert a biometric measurement into the numeric input;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of the numeric input and the random number.

17. A method for generating an output of a gaming device, comprising:

receiving a biometric measurement from a biometric reader;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of a numeric input and the random number, the output being generated by a processor configured to convert the biometric measurement into the numeric input.

18. A method for generating an output of a gaming device, comprising:

receiving a user input at a physical scanner configured to measure a player'"'"'s hand wave, a twist of a knob, or an applied pressures;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of the user input and the random number.

19. A method for generating an output of a gaming device, comprising:

receiving a numeric input from a physical scanner configured to perform a physical measurement and convert the measurement into the numeric input;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of the numeric input and the random number.

20. A method for generating an output of a gaming device, comprising:

receiving a user input at a physical scanner configured to perform a physical measurement;

generating a random number independent from the user input; and

generating the output as a function of a numeric input and the random number, the output being generated by a processor configured to convert the physical measurement into the numeric input.

21. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input, perform a biometric measurement and convert the biometric measurement into a numeric input;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number; and

a numeric output generator configured to generate a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said biometric reader and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

22. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input and to perform a biometric measurement;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number; and

a numeric output generator configured to receive the biometric measurement from said biometric reader and to convert said biometric measurement into a numeric input, and further configured to generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said biometric reader and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

23. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and measure a player'"'"'s hand wave, a twist of a knob, or an applied pressure;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number; and

a numeric output generator configured to generate a numeric output as a function of the user input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said physical scanner and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

24. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input, perform a physical measurement, and convert the measurement into a numeric input;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number; and

p1 a numeric output generator configured to generate a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said physical scanner and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

25. An electronic slot machine having a plurality of reels, wherein the reels are mechanical or graphical representations of reels, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and perform a physical measurement;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number; and

a numeric output generator configured to receive the physical measurement from said physical scanner and to convert said physical measurement into a numeric input, and generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said physical scanner and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result on the plurality of reels.

26. A gaming device, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input, perform a biometric measurement and convert the biometric measurement into a numeric input;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number independent from the user input; and

a numeric output generator configured to generate a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said biometric reader and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

27. A gaming device, comprising:

a biometric reader configured to receive a user input and to perform a biometric measurement;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number independent from the user input; and

a numeric output generator configured to receive the biometric measurement from said biometric reader and to convert said biometric measurement into a numeric input, and further configured to generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said biometric reader and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

28. A gaming device, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and measure a player'"'"'s hand wave, a twist of a knob, or an applied pressure;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number independent from the user input; and

a numeric output generator configured to generate a numeric output as a function of the user input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said physical scanner and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

29. A gaming device, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input, perform a physical measurement, and convert the measurement into a numeric input;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number independent from the user input; and

a numeric output generator configured to generate a numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output being coupled to said physical scanner and said random number;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.

30. A gaming device, comprising:

a physical scanner configured to receive a user input and perform a physical measurement;

a random number generator configured to generate a random number independent from the user input; and

a numeric output generator configured to receive the physical measurement from said physical scanner and to convert said physical measurement into a numeric input, and generate the numeric output as a function of the numeric input and the random number, said numeric output generator being coupled to said physical scanner and said random number generator;

wherein the numeric output is used to determine a game result.