Interactive electronic game system

• US 6,743,102 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steely Dog, LLC
• Original Assignee: World Touch Gaming, Inc.
• Inventors: Fiechter, Donald J., Cloutier, Réal
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/360,969
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/10, 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/21, 463/22, 463/23, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/29, 463/30, 463/37, 463/38, 463/40, 463/41, 463/43, 463/46, 273/243, 273/269, 273/274, 273/284, 273/138.1, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

An interactive electronic game system is provided. The game system comprises two or more gaming machines each having display means for displaying images thereon and interaction means for an individual player to interact with the game system. A central server unit comprising a game system control means and a communication control means for controlling communications between the central server unit and the gaming machines is provided. A network connects the gaming machines to the central server unit. A random number generating means connects to the central server unit. The central server unit is arranged to play a game in which two or more players select one or more sub sets of indicia from a set of indicia. The selected sub-set is displayed on the display means of each player'"'"'s respective gaming machine. The random number generating means generates a sequence of random indicia selected from the set of indicia. The central server unit displays in turn each of the randomly generated indicia on the display means of each the gaming machines. When a randomly generated indicia displayed on the display means matches an indicia selected by the player, the player interactively acknowledges the match through the use of the interaction means. A prize is awarded to the player who first interactively acknowledges the required number of matches.

Claims

1. An interactive electronic game system comprising:

a. two or more gaming machines each having display means for displaying images thereon and interaction means for an individual player to interact with the game system,

b. a central server unit comprising game system control means and communication control means for controlling communications between said central server unit and said gaming machines,

c. a network connecting said gaming machines to said central server unit,

d. a random number generating means connected to said central server unit, the central server unit being arranged to play a game in which two or more players select one or more sub-sets of indicia from a set of indicia,

said selected sub-set being displayed on the display means of a each player'"'"'s respective gaming machine, said random number generating means generating a sequence of random indicia selected from said set of indicia, said central server unit displaying in turn each of said randomly generated indicia on the display means of each said gaming machines,

wherein when a randomly generated indicia displayed on said display means matches an indicia selected by said player, said player interactively acknowledges said match through the use of said interaction means,

and wherein a prize is awarded to the player who first interactively acknowledges the required number of matches.

2. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein the acknowledgement of a match by a player must occur before the display on said display means of the next randomly generated indicia.

3. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein the gaming machines comprise a fund acceptance means for selectively paying into the game.

4. The interactive electronic game system of claim 3 wherein a player must ante up and wager a required minimum amount in order to participate in a game.

5. The interactive electronic game system of claim 4 wherein the prize awarded to a winning player is collected from the wagers of the other players.

6. The interactive electronic game system of claim 5 wherein said interactive means is selected from a group comprising joysticks, touch screens and buttons.

7. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein said game is selected from a group comprising bingo, keno, lotto and poker.

8. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein said indicia are selected from a group comprising numbers, fruits, harts, clovers, diamonds and spades.

9. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein said random number generating means is a mechanical ball blower.

10. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein said random number generating means is integrated with said central server unit.

11. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 further comprising a player tracking unit connected to said central server unit.

12. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein said network is a local area network.

13. The interactive electronic game system of claim 1 wherein said random number generating means comprises:

a. a plurality of balls, each associated with one of said indicia,

b. mechanical means to mix said balls,

c. means to successively select a number of said balls,

d. means to read said indicia on each selected ball,

e. means to convert said indicia from each selected ball into digital form, and

f. means to generate a digital image of said indicia.

14. An interactive game system comprising:

a plurality of game terminals for interacting with a plurality of players, having a display that allows the players to choose a sub-set of indicia from a set of indicia and display the sub-set of indicia;

a central unit connected to said plurality of game terminals and capable of communicating therewith, the central server capable of randomly generating individual indicia from the set of indicia and communicating the generated individual indicia to the plurality of game terminals; and

wherein the interaction of the plurality of game terminals further includes displaying the generated individual indicia and allowing the plurality of players to acknowledge a match of a predetermined number of indicia of a player'"'"'s chosen sub-set of indicia to the generated individual indicia.

15. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein the chosen sub-set of indicia is selected individually and manually.

16. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein the central unit comprises a random indicia generator.

17. The interactive game system of claim 14 wherein the game terminals permit the players to wager on a sub-set of indicia in anticipation of the wagered sub-set being the first to match the generated individual indicia.

18. A method for allowing each of a plurality of player terminals connected over a network to communicate with a central processor and interact with one of a plurality of players during the playing of a game, comprising the steps of:

a. interacting with the plurality of players to allow selection of a sub-set of indicia from a set of indicia on one of the player terminals;

b. displaying a player selected sub-set of indicia on one of the player terminals;

c. communicating the selected sub-set of indicia to the central processor;

d. generating a random sequence of indicia from the set of indicia at the central processor;

e. communicating each generated random sequence of indicia to the plurality of player terminals;

f. displaying each of the random sequence of indicia on the plurality of player terminals;

g. selectively interacting with a winning player having a winning sub-set of indicia from the selected sub-set of indicia that match a predetermined number of the generated random sequence of indicia; and

h. communicating the selective interaction with the winning player to the remaining plurality of player terminals and the central server.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein step (a) includes the further step of choosing between randomly generated sub-sets of indicia and a manually selected sub-set of indicia.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein step (g) includes the further step of providing the winning player an opportunity to interact with the player terminal for a predetermined period of time.