Systems and methods wherein a gambling result is based on a user input

• US 6,343,988 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/439,307
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/11-13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/21, 463/22, 463/23, 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 463/36, 463/40, 463/42, 700/91-93, 273/143.R, 273/292-293, 382/100, 382/115-116, 382/118-124
• 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. A method for generating a game result of a gaming device, comprising:

receiving information associated with a user input;

calculating a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input; and

generating the game result based on the numeric output,

wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a biometric user input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the biometric user input comprises at least one of:

(i) a fingerprint, (ii) a hand geometry, (iii) a heart rate, (iv) a body temperature, (v) an iris pattern, (vi) a retinal pattern, (vii) a voice, (viii) a signature, and (ix) a thermal image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a physical user input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the physical user input comprises at least one of:

(i) a movement of the user, (ii) a speed of the user'"'"'s hand, (iii) a direction of the user'"'"'s hand, (iv) a force applied by the user, and (v) a pressure applied by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a numeric user input.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the numeric user input comprises a number entered by the user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the user provides the numeric user input via at least one of:

(i) a touch screen, (ii) a casino player tracking card, (iii) a user selection from a set of numbers, and (iv) stored preferred user numbers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises a slot machine and the game result is displayed via a plurality of at least one of:

(i) mechanical reels, and (ii) graphical representations of reels.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises at least one of:

(i) a video poker machine, (ii) a video blackjack machine, (iii) a video roulette machine, (iv) a video Keno machine, and (v) a video bingo machine.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a plurality of game results based on the information associated with the user input and a plurality of random numbers, each of the plurality of random numbers being independent of the user input,

wherein the user receives a plurality of payouts based on the plurality of game results.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive information associated with a user input;

calculate a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input; and

generate a game result based on the numeric output,

wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result.

13. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of generating a game result of a gaming device, said method comprising:

receiving information associated with a user input;

calculating a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input; and

generating the game result based on the numeric output,

wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result.

14. A computer-readable medium that stores data accessible by a program executable on a data processing system, the data being organized according to a data structure that includes:

a user identifier data object representing a user; and

a user input data object, accessible from said user identifier data object, representing information associated with a user input,

wherein a numeric output is calculated as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input, a game result is based on the numeric output, and wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result.

15. A method for generating a game result, comprising:

receiving from a server device information associated with a user input;

calculating at a gaming device a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input; and

generating the game result based on the numeric output,

wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result.

16. A method for generating a game result, comprising:

receiving from a first gaming device information associated with a user input;

storing the information associated with the user input;

receiving from a second gaming device a request;

retrieving the information associated with the user input; and

providing to the second gaming device the information associated with the user input,

wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result, the game result is based on a numeric output, and the numeric output is calculated as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input.

17. A method for generating a game result, comprising:

receiving at a first device information associated with a user input;

receiving an indication of a game play at a second device;

calculating a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input; and

generating the game result based on the numeric output,

wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result.

18. A system, comprising:

a server device configured to provide information associated with a user input; and

a plurality of gaming devices coupled to said server device, each of said plurality of gaming devices being configured to receive the information associated with the user input from the server device, calculate a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input, and generate a game result based on the numeric output,

wherein a user receives a payout based on the game result.

19. A method for generating a game result of a slot machine having a plurality of reels, comprising:

receiving information associated with a numeric user input;

calculating a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the numeric user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input;

generating the game result based on the numeric output;

displaying the game result using the plurality of reels; and

providing a payout to a user based on the game result.

20. A slot machine, comprising:

an input device configured to receive information associated with a numeric user input;

a reel display; and

a game result unit coupled to said input device and said reel display, said game result unit being configured to (i) receive from the input device the information associated with the numeric user input;

(ii) calculate a numeric output as a function of the information associated with the numeric user input and a random number, the random number being independent of the user input, (iii) generate a game result based on the numeric output, and (iv) display the game result using the reel display.