Modified poker card/tournament game and interactive network computer system for implementing same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic apparatus for simultaneously playing a tournament game among a plurality of players, comprising:
- (a) a central computer, said central computer configured to perform the following functions;
(i) enabling all players to select a monetary level of wagering;
(ii) assigning players to the tournament game;
(iii) initiating and transmitting within a time limit same play events to the players;
(iv) tabulating, storing and transmitting data received from the plurality of players in response to the tournament game;
(v) evaluating the tournament game to determine a winner for the tournament game; and
(vi) distributing a tournament award; and
(b) a plurality of player workstations, one player workstation for each player, each player workstation electronically connected to said central computer, each player workstation configured to perform the following functions;
(i) electronically receiving and displaying tournament data from said central computer and from player;
(ii) transmitting player inputs for the tournament to said central computer in response to the same play events; and
(iii) transmitting wagering data from the player to said central computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modified poker card game allows a player to sequentially build a card hand after each round of play. The rules of play for the card game including dealing a first pair of cards to the player. The player then selects one of the pair of cards for the card hand, and discards the other card. The player repeats this process until the player has selected a predetermined number of cards that form the card hand. The resulting card hand is then compared to a predetermined winning schedule and/or to other players playing the modified poker game.
481 Citations
65 Claims
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1. An electronic apparatus for simultaneously playing a tournament game among a plurality of players, comprising:
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(a) a central computer, said central computer configured to perform the following functions; (i) enabling all players to select a monetary level of wagering; (ii) assigning players to the tournament game; (iii) initiating and transmitting within a time limit same play events to the players; (iv) tabulating, storing and transmitting data received from the plurality of players in response to the tournament game; (v) evaluating the tournament game to determine a winner for the tournament game; and (vi) distributing a tournament award; and (b) a plurality of player workstations, one player workstation for each player, each player workstation electronically connected to said central computer, each player workstation configured to perform the following functions; (i) electronically receiving and displaying tournament data from said central computer and from player; (ii) transmitting player inputs for the tournament to said central computer in response to the same play events; and (iii) transmitting wagering data from the player to said central computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electronic apparatus for simultaneously playing a tournament game, comprising:
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(a) a central computer, said central computer configured to perform the following functions; (i) enabling the players to select a monetary level of wagering; (ii) assigning the players to the tournament game; (iii) initiating and transmitting within a time limit same play events to the players; (iv) tabulating, scoring and transmitting data received from the players in response to the tournament game; (v) evaluating the tournament game to determine a winner for the tournament game; (vi) optionally distributing a tournament award; (vii) displaying and controlling other casino functions and casino services from a service menu that the electronic apparatus provides the players; and (viii) displaying and controlling other casino wagering games from a game menu the electronic apparatus provides the players; and (b) a plurality of player workstations, one player workstation for the players, each player workstation electronically connected to said central computer, each player workstation configured to perform the following functions; (i) electronically receiving and displaying tournament data from said central computer and from each of the players; (ii) transmitting player inputs for the tournament to said central computer; (iii) transmitting wagering data from the players to said central computer; (iv) electronically receiving from said central computer and displaying the other casino functions and the casino services from the service menu that the electronic apparatus provides the players; and (v) electronically receiving from said central computer and displaying the other casino wagering games from the fame menu the electronic apparatus provides the players. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer implemented method for simultaneously playing a tournament game among a plurality of players, each of the players having a player workstation electronically connected to a central computer, comprising the non-sequential steps of:
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(a) enabling, by the central computer, all players to select a monetary level of wagering; (b) transmitting, by each of the player workstations, wagering data from the player to the central computer for playing the tournament game; (c) assigning, by the central computer, players to the tournament game; (d) initiating and transmitting, by the central computer, same play events within a time limit to the players; (e) electronically receiving and displaying, by each of the player workstations, tournament data from the central computer and input from each of the players; (f) transmitting, by each of the player workstations, player inputs for the tournament to the central computer in response to the same play events; (g) tabulating, storing and transmitting, by the central computer, data received from the plurality of players in response to the tournament game; (h) evaluating, by the central computer, the tournament game to determine a winner for the tournament game; and (i) optionally distributing, by the central computer, a tournament award. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An electronic apparatus for playing a tournament game among players playing against each other, comprising:
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at least two game station computers configured to control the tournament game for at least one of the players in the tournament; at least one game server computer configured to control said at least two game station computers, said at least one game server configured to score the tournament game controlled by said at least two game station computers, and said at least one game server computer configured to control start, play, end and payout of the tournament game; and at least one master game server computer configured to determine the players in the tournament game, to determine idle game station computers of said at least two game station computers, and to group said at least two game station computers for scoring by said at least one game server computer for the tournament game. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. An electronic apparatus for simultaneously playing a tournament game among a plurality of players, comprising:
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(a) a central computer, said central computer configured to perform the following functions; (i) enabling all players to select a monetary level of wagering; (ii) assigning players to the tournament game; (iii) initiating and transmitting to the players the same play events to the player; (iv) tabulating, storing and transmitting data received from the plurality of players in response to the tournament game; (v) evaluating the tournament game to determine a winner for the tournament game; and (vi) distributing a tournament award; and (b) a plurality of player workstations, one player workstation for each player, each player workstation configured to be electronically connected to said central computer, each player workstation configured to perform the following functions; (i) electronically receiving and displaying tournament data from said central computer and from the player; (ii) transmitting player inputs for the tournament to said central computer in response to the same play events; and (iii) transmitting wagering data from the player to said central computer, wherein the central computer controls other casino functions and casino services from a menu that the electronic apparatus provides the players, and wherein one of the casino services is ordering of drinks, and wherein information provided to the players in response to selection of the ordering of drinks is a menu display of available drinks, wherein one of the casino services is to take bets on sporting or racing events, and wherein information provided to the players in response to selection of the betting on sports or racing events is a menu display of at least one of sports and racing bets available or sports and racing results, said electronic system further including means for transmittal and display of video images of key moments of the sports or racing events associated with the bets. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. An electronic apparatus for simultaneously playing a tournament game, comprising:
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(a) a central computer, said central computer configured to perform the following functions; (i) enabling the players to select a monetary level of wagering; (ii) assigning the players to the tournament game; (iii) initiating and transmitting same play events within a time limit to the players; (iv) tabulating, storing and transmitting data received from the players in response to the tournament game; (v) evaluating the tournament game to determine a winner for the tournament game; (vi) optionally distributing a tournament award; (vii) displaying and controlling other casino functions and casino services from a service menu that the electronic system provides the players; and (viii) displaying and controlling other casino wagering games from a game menu the electronic apparatus provides the players; and (b) a plurality of player workstations, one player workstation for each of the players, each player workstation configured to be electronically connected to said central computer, each player workstation configured to perform the following functions; (i) electronically receiving and displaying tournament data from said central computer and from the players; (ii) transmitting player inputs for the tournament to said central computer; (iii) transmitting wagering data from the players to said central computer; (iv) electronically receiving from said central computer and displaying the other casino functions and the casino services from the service menu that the electronic apparatus provides the players; and (v) electronically receiving from said central computer and displaying the other casino wagering games from the game menu the electronic apparatus provides the players, wherein the central computer controls other casino functions and casino services from a menu that the electronic system provides the players, and wherein one of the casino services is ordering of drinks, and wherein information provided to the players in response to selection of ordering of drinks is a menu display of available drinks, wherein one of the casino services is to take bets on sporting or racing events, and wherein information provided to the players in response to selection of the betting on sports or racing events is a menu display of at least one of sports and racing bets available or sports and racing results, said electronic system further including means for transmittal and display of video images of key moments of the sports or racing events associated with the bets.
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60. A computer implemented method for playing a tournament game among a plurality of players, each of the plurality of players having a player workstation electronically connected to a central controller, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) assigning, by the central controller, a player workstation operated by a player to the central controller scoring the tournament game, thereby entering the player into the tournament game; and (b) transmitting, by the central controller, same play events to the plurality of players. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63)
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64. An electronic apparatus for playing a tournament game among players playing against each other, comprising:
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at least two game station computers, each game station computer of said at least two game station computers configured to control the tournament game for at least one of the players in the tournament game, said each game station computer including a graphical display of a ranking of the players in the tournament game, said graphical display of the ranking including at least one of a score of a viewing player relative to the players in the tournament game after each round of play and an overall tournament ranking of a subset of players; and a central computer configured to control said at least two game station computers, said central computer being configured to score the tournament game controlled by said at least two game station computers wherein said central computer transmits same play events within a time limit to said each game station computer. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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Specification