Method and apparatus for securing a computer-based game of chance

• US 6,790,139 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Jorasch, James A., Schneier, Bruce, Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/765,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/10-13, 463/16-22, 463/25, 463/29, 463/40-43, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/269, 273/143.R, 380/251, 713/150, 713/171, 713/179
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A system is described for facilitating an Internet-based game of chance, particularly a computer-based version of a punchboard game having a grid with prizes associated with the various grid locations. The user can pay a central controller for each selection by providing a credit card number, or through other Internet transaction means. The central controller sends the user a fresh virtual punchboard (i.e. a game in which no selections have yet been made). The user selects a grid location, encrypts it, and then transmits it to the central controller. The central controller then generates prize values for the grid that it sent to the player. The user'"'"'s computer stores the locations of each prize and determines whether the player'"'"'s selection was a winner. If he has won, the player sends the decryption key to the central controller to decrypt his grid selection and authenticate his selection. The central controller then initiates a payment to the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an encoded player selection for a slot machine game;

transmitting a winning selection;

receiving a decoding key after the winning selection is transmitted; and

determining a result based on the winning selection and the player selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the player selection represents a possible reel combination for the slot machine game and wherein the winning selection represents a winning reel combination.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the encoded player selection is encoded using a hash function.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the encoded player selection is encoded using a hash tree function.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising randomly generating the winning reel combination.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the receiving and transmitting acts are performed via a communication network.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising arranging for a player to receive payment of a prize based on the result.

8. A method, comprising:

transmitting an encoded winning selection for a slot machine game;

receiving a player selection;

transmitting a decoding key after the player selection is received; and

determining a result based on the winning selection and the player selection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the player selection represents a possible reel combination for the slot machine game and wherein the winning selection represents a winning reel combination.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the encoded winning reel combination is encoded using a hash function.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the encoded winning reel combination is encoded using a hash tree function.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising randomly generating the winning reel combination.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the receiving and transmitting acts are performed via a communication network.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising arranging for a player to receive payment of a prize based on the result.

15. A method of generating and verifying a result of a computer-based slot machine game, the method comprising:

receiving from a player computer a player selection representing a possible reel combination for the slot machine game;

transmitting to the player computer a winning reel combination;

determining a result as to whether the player has won based on the winning reel combination and the player selection; and

verifying the result by determining that the winning reel combination and the player selection were independently generated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the player selection is encoded.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a decoding key after the winning reel combination is transmitted.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the winning reel combination is encoded.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a decoding key after the player selection is received.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising randomly generating the winning reel combination.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the receiving and transmitting acts are performed via a communication network.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising arranging for the player to receive payment of a prize based on the result.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

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

receive an encoded player selection for a slot machine game;

transmit a winning selection;

receive a decoding key after the winning selection is transmitted; and

determine a result based on the winning selection and the player selection.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

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

transmit an encoded winning selection for a slot machine game;

receive a player selection;

transmit a decoding key after the player selection is received; and

determine a result based on the winning selection and the player selection.

25. An apparatus for generating and verifying a result of a computer-based slot machine game, comprising:

a processor; and

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

receive from a player computer a player selection representing a possible reel combination for the slot machine game;

transmit to the player computer a winning reel combination;

determine a result as to whether the player has won based on the winning reel combination and the player selection; and

verify the result by determining that the winning reel combination and the player selection were independently generated.