Electronic game pack system

• US 6,769,991 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyle Fields
• Original Assignee: Kyle Fields
• Inventors: Fields, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHBURN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/011,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16-19, 463/22, 463/31, 463/42, 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 273/138.1, 273/237, 273/269, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/80 specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/062 Bingo games, e.g. Bingo card games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games

Abstract

A system and method for managing an electronic game system comprising a central computer for accessing a database, one or more remote playing units, and one or more plug-in modules for providing power to a playing unit and for transferring data from the database to the playing unit. The central computer may operate as a point-of-sale cashier station where customized game or instructional data is transferred from the database to the plug-in module. The plug-in module also has a rechargeable battery which receives a charge from a charging rack between playing sessions. The purchased plug-in modules are then inserted in playing units that receive both power and the customized game data from the plug-in modules.

Claims

1. An electronic bingo game playing system comprising:

(a) a master computer comprising a database of game data of possible bingo game card configurations and a communications pan,

(b) a plurality of playing units each comprising a power-supply port, a communication port, an input device, and a display device,

(c) a plurality of plug-in modules each comprising a charge port, a communication port, a rechargeable battery device, and a memory device, and

(d) a charging rack comprising a plurality of slots, each adapted to receive and store one of said plurality of plug-in modules at the same time, to charge the battery device in said plug-in module, and to transfer game data from the master computer to the memory device in said plug-in module, and a handle, said charging rack being detachable from said master computer to facilitate transportation and storage of said plurality of plug-in modules,

wherein the battery device in each of said plurality of plug-in modules supplies power to one of said plurality of playing units and wherein the memory device in each of said plurality of plug-in modules supplies game data to one of said plurality of playing units.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of plug-in modules further comprises chaining circuitry for communicating whether said plug-in module is able to receive game data.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of plug-in modules further comprises monitoring circuitry for monitoring the charge status and recharge history of the battery device.

4. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of plug-in modules further comprises control circuitry for reading the data stored in the memory device and for operating one of said plurality of playing units.

5. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said playing units further comprises a microprocessor and control circuitry for reading the data stored in the memory device of one of said plurality of plug-in modules, for interpreting signals from the input device, and for displaying images on the display device.

6. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said display device is a color liquid crystal display.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of playing units utilizes a dynamic random-access memory device to buffer video images for said display device.

8. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of playing units is capable of folding down to protect the surface of said display device when not in use and to facilitate transportation of said playing unit.

9. A method for administering an electronic bingo game playing system comprising the steps of

(a) inserting a plurality of game packs in a charging rack,

(b) charging a battery on each of said plurality of game packs,

(c) storing game data on a memory unit on each of said plurality of game packs,

(d) removing one or more of said plurality of game packs,

(e) utilizing the battery on each of said removed game packs to power a game playing device,

(f) utilizing the genie data of the memory unit on each of said removed game packs to provide images for a display device contained in said game playing device, wherein said game data comprise at least one bingo card configuration,

(g) re-inserting said plurality of game packs in said charging rack, and

(h) detachably connecting said charging rack to a central computer and power supply.

10. A method for administering an electronic bingo game playing system as set fort in claim 9, further comprising the steps of

(a) transporting said plurality of game packs, and

(b) storing said plurality of game packs in said charging rack between game sessions.

11. A method for administering an electronic bingo game playing system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of detaching said charging rack from said central computer.

12. A method for administering an electronic bingo game playing system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of detaching said charging rack from said power supply.

13. A method for administering an electronic bingo game playing system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of retrieving game data from said memory unit on each of said plurality of game packs.

14. A method for administering an electronic bingo game playing system comprising the steps of

(a) inserting a plurality of game packs into a charging rack,

(b) transporting said plurality of game packs in said charging rack,

(c) storing said plurality of game packs in said charging rack,

(d) connecting said charging rack to a power supply,

(e) recharging battery devices in said plurality of game packs,

(f) detachably connecting said charging rack to a master computer having a database of game data of possible bingo game card configurations,

(g) transferring game data from said master computer to memory devices in said plurality of game packs using chaining circuitry for communicating whether each of said plurality of game packs is able to receive game data,

(h) removing one or more of said game packs from said charging rack,

(i) inserting each of said removed game packs into one of a plurality of handset units,

(j) thereby supplying power to one of said plurality of playing units through the battery device in said game pack, and

(k) thereby supplying game data to one of said plurality of playing units through the memory device in said game pack.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of monitoring circuitry for monitoring the charge stains and recharge history of the battery device.

16. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the steps of reading the data stored in the memory device of one of said plurality of game packs, interpreting signals from a input device on one of said plurality of handset units, and displaying images on a display device on one of said plurality of handset units.

17. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of utilizing a color liquid crystal display to display video images derived from said game data.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising the step of utilizing a dynamic random-access memory device to buffer video images for said color liquid crystal display.

19. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of folding down said handset unit to protect it when not in use and to facilitate transportation of said handset unit.