Systems and methods for determining an outcome of a game on a gaming device based on a factor other than a random number

• US 7,160,189 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/317,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 12- 13, 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463 40- 43, 273292-293, 273/143.R, 3408253-82531, 340/825.33, 340/323.R, 700 91- 93, 382115-117, 382123-124
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a player input is used as a value for a variable in an algorithm of a gaming device. The algorithm, in turn, is used to generate a pseudorandom value. The pseudorandom value, in turn, is used to determine an outcome for a game of the gaming device. Accordingly, a player is allowed to influence the outcome of a game by providing an input. The input may comprise, for example, a numeric input, a biometric input, or a physical input. The latter two types of inputs may be converted to a numeric form before being used in the algorithm. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a player input comprises selection of an algorithm for use in generating a pseudorandom value to be used to determine an outcome for a game of a gaming device. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a player input comprises a player selection of a visual representation of a pseudorandom value to be used to determine an outcome for a game of a gaming device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a player input, wherein receiving the player input comprises;

receiving a biometric measurement associated with a player; and

converting the biometric measurement to a numeric format;

inserting the player input as a value for a variable in an algorithm;

generating a pseudorandom output using the algorithm, such that the numeric pseudorandom output is generated as a function of at least the player input; and

determining an outcome for a game of a gaming device based on the numeric pseudorandom output.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a processor, and

a memory that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor being operative with the program to;

receive a player input by being adapted to;

receive a biometric measurement associated with a player; and

convert the biometric measurement to a numeric format;

insert the player input as a value for a variable in an algorithm;

generate the a pseudorandom output using the algorithm, such that the numeric pseudorandom output is generated as a function of at least the player input; and

determine an outcome for a game of a gaming device based on the numeric pseudorandom output.

3. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

receive a player input by being adapted to;

receive a biometric measurement associated with a player; and

convert the biometric measurement to a numeric format;

insert the player input as a value for a variable in an algorithm;

generate the a pseudorandom output using the algorithm, such that the numeric pseudorandom output is generated as a function of at least the player input; and

determine an outcome for a game of a gaming device based on the numeric pseudorandom output.

4. A method comprising:

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of algorithms that a player of a gaming device desires to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device;

determining a random number that was generated using the algorithm selected by the player; and

determining an outcome for the game based on the random number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining a random number comprises:

generating a random number using the algorithm selected by the player.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining a random number comprises:

selecting, from a table of random numbers generated using the algorithm selected by the player, one of the random numbers stored in the table.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of receiving a selection of an algorithm comprises:

receiving a selection of at least one function that a player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device; and

determining an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining an algorithm comprises:

generating an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining an algorithm comprises:

selecting, from a plurality of available algorithms, an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of receiving a selection of at least one function comprises:

receiving a selection of a representation of at least one function that a player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

outputting a plurality of representations, each representation corresponding to one function available for inclusion in an algorithm.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of receiving a selection of at least one function comprises:

receiving a player input, wherein the player input comprises at least one of a biometric input, a physical measurement, and a numeric input; and

determining which of a plurality of functions available for inclusion in an algorithm the player input corresponds to.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

converting the player input to a predetermined format.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor, and

a memory that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor with the program adapted to;

receive a selection of one of a plurality of algorithms that a player of a gaming device desires to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device;

determine a random number that was generated using the algorithm selected by the player; and

determine an outcome for the game based on the random number.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor with the program adapted to determine a random number is further adapted to:

generate the random number using the algorithm selected by the player.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor with the program adapted to determine a random number is further adapted to:

select, from a table of random numbers generated using the algorithm selected by the player, one of the random numbers stored in the table.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor with the program adapted to receive a selection of an algorithm is further adapted to:

receive a selection of at least one function that the player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine the random number for a game of the gaming device; and

determine an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor with the program adapted to determine an algorithm is further adapted to:

generate an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor with the program adapted to determine an algorithm is further adapted to:

select, from a plurality of available algorithms, an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor with the program adapted to receive a selection of at least one function is further adapted to:

receive a selection of a representation of at least one function that a player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor with the program is further adapted to:

output a plurality of representations, each representation corresponding to one function available for inclusion in an algorithm.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor with the program adapted to receive a selection of at least one function is further adapted to:

receive a player input, wherein the player input comprises at least one of a biometric input, a physical measurement, and a numeric input; and

determine which of a plurality of functions available for inclusion in an algorithm the player input corresponds to.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processor with the program is further adapted to:

convert the player input to a predetermined format.

24. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

receive a selection of one of a plurality of algorithms that a player of a gaming device desires to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device;

determine a random number that was generated using the algorithm selected by the player; and

determine an outcome for the game based on the random number.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the instructions to the processor to determine a random number comprise further instructions to:

generate a random number using the algorithm selected by the player.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the instructions to the processor to determine a random number comprise further instructions to:

select, from a table of random numbers generated using the algorithm selected by the player, one of the random numbers stored in the table.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the instructions to the processor to receive a selection of an algorithm comprise further instructions to:

receive a selection of at least one function that a player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device; and

determine an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein the instructions to the processor to determine an algorithm comprise further instructions to:

generate an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein the instructions to the processor to determine an algorithm comprise further instructions to:

select, from a plurality of available algorithms, an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the instructions to the processor to receive a selection of at least one function comprise further instructions to:

receive a selection of a representation of at least one function that a player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 24 comprising further instructions to:

output a plurality of representations, each representation corresponding to one function available for inclusion in an algorithm.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the instructions to the processor to receive a selection of at least one function comprise further instructions to:

receive a player input, wherein the player input comprises at least one of a biometric input, a physical measurement, and a numeric input; and

determine which of a plurality of functions available for inclusion in an algorithm the player input corresponds to.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 24 comprising further instructions to:

convert the player input to a predetermined format.