Apparatus and method for generating a pool of seeds for a central determination gaming system

• US 7,479,062 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Michaelson, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Scott E
• Application Number:
  US11/071,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 463 20- 25, 463/29, 463/42, 708/250, 708/254
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating one or more pools or sets of seeds for use in a central determination gaming system. In one embodiment of the present invention, a processor of the apparatus or seed generator randomly generates a predetermined number of random number seeds. After the predetermined number of seeds are generated, the processor simulates the game outcome value that each generated seed ultimately determines. Having simulated a game outcome value for each generated seed, the processor determines if the set of seeds satisfies a required condition or criteria. If the required conditions or criteria are satisfied, the set is complete and ready for use in a central determination gaming system. If the required conditions or criteria are not satisfied, the processor modifies the generated set of seeds until the required conditions or criteria are satisfied.

Claims

1. A seed set generator for a central determination gaming system, said seed set generator comprising:

a data storage device;

a plurality of different criteria for a seed set; and

a processor operable with the data storage device to;

(a) obtain said criteria for the seed set;

(b) randomly generate the seed set, wherein each seed is deterministic of a game outcome value;

(c) simulate the game outcome value for each seed in the seed set;

(d) determine if the obtained criteria are satisfied;

(e) if the obtained criteria are satisfied by said generated seed set, store the generated seed set for distribution to the central determination gaming system; and

(f) if the obtained criteria are not satisfied by said generated seed set;

(i) select at least one seed from the seed set,

(ii) generate at least one new seed,

(iii) replace the selected seed with the generated new seed, and

(iv) repeat (d) to (f) at least once.

2. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to generate a plurality of seed sets.

3. The seed set generator of claim 2, wherein each seed set is different.

4. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds in said seed set.

5. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein one of said criteria includes a sum of the simulated game outcome values of the seeds in said seed set.

6. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein one of said criteria is selected from the group consisting of:

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome value;

a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome value;

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values; and

a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values.

7. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds that are deterministic for each game outcome value.

8. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds that are deterministic for at least one game outcome value.

9. The seed set generator of claim 8, wherein at least one of the game outcome values may be presented to a player as a plurality of different combinations of reel symbols.

10. The seed set generator of claim 9, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of said different combinations of reel symbols for said at least one game outcome value.

11. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein one of said criteria includes an average payout of the game outcome values that are determined by the seeds in the generated seed set.

12. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds that provide a secondary game outcome.

13. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein said seed set is generated based on a plurality of probabilities.

14. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein said processor is in communication with said central determination gaming system.

15. The seed set generator of claim 1, wherein if the obtained criteria are not satisfied by said generated seed set, said processor is operable to remove the selected seed from the seed set.

16. A seed set generator for a central determination gaming system, said seed set generator comprising:

a data storage device; and

a processor operable with the data storage device to;

(a) randomly generate a seed set, wherein each seed is deterministic of a game outcome value;

(b) determine a predetermined sum and a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of different game outcome values;

(c) simulate the game outcome value for each seed in the seed set;

(d) determine an initial sum of the simulated game outcome values;

(e) compare the sum of the simulated game outcome values to the predetermined sum;

(f) determine if at least the determined minimum number of seeds for the plurality of game outcome values are generated;

(g) if the sum of the simulated game outcome values is the predetermined sum and at least the determined minimum number of seeds for the plurality of game outcome values are generated, store the generated seed set for distribution to the central determination gaming system; and

(h) if the sum of the simulated game outcome values is not the predetermined sum or at least the determined minimum number of seeds for the plurality of game outcome values are not generated;

(i) select at least one generated seed from the seed set,

(ii) remove the selected seed from the seed set,

(iii) generate at least one new seed,

(iv) simulate a game outcome value for the new seed,

(v) determine a modified sum of the simulated game outcome value for the new seed and the remaining simulated game outcome values,

(vi) discard the new generated seed if the modified sum is not closer to the predetermined sum than the initial sum,

(vii) add the new generated seed to the seed set if the modified sum is closer to the predetermined sum than the initial sum, and

(viii) repeat (e) to (h) at least once.

17. The seed set generator of claim 16, wherein said processor is operable to flag each new generated seed added to the seed set.

18. The seed set generator of claim 17, wherein each flagged seed remains in said seed set.

19. The seed set generator of claim 16, wherein said processor is operable to replace a plurality of seeds from said seed set with a plurality of predetermined seeds.

20. The seed set generator of claim 16, wherein said processor is operable to enable an operator to manually replace a plurality of seeds from said seed set with a plurality of operator inputted seeds.

21. The seed set generator of claim 16, which includes a range of sums, wherein the predetermined sum is within the range of sums.

22. The seed set generator of claim 21, wherein the processor is operable to store the generated seed set if the sum of the simulated game outcome values is within the range of sums.

23. The seed set generator of claim 16, which includes a range of numbers that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values, wherein the minimum number of seeds is the lowest number in said range.

24. The seed set generator of claim 23, wherein the range of numbers includes a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values, wherein the maximum number is the highest number in the range.

25. The seed set generator of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to store the generated seed set if the sum of the simulated game outcome values is the predetermined sum and the number of generated seeds are within the range of numbers that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcome values.

26. The seed set generator of claim 16, wherein at least one of the game outcome values may be presented to a player as a plurality of different combinations of reel symbols.

27. A central determination gaming system seed set generator comprising:

a randomly generated seed set, wherein said seed set includes a plurality of seeds which are each deterministic of a game outcome;

a plurality of different criteria for the seed set;

at least one game outcome simulation sequence, wherein said simulation sequence includes simulating the game outcome for at least a plurality of the seeds in the seed set; and

at least one modification sequence if said plurality of criteria are not satisfied by the simulated game outcomes of the generated seed set, wherein said modification sequence includes modifying the generated seed set such that said plurality of criteria are closer to being satisfied by the modified seed set than by the unmodified seed set.

28. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein said modification sequence includes replacing at least one generated seed with another newly generated seed.

29. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein said modification sequence includes removing at least one generated seed in said seed set.

30. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein said modification sequence includes adding at least one newly generated seed to said seed set.

31. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds in said seed set.

32. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein each game outcome is associated with a value and one of said criteria includes a sum of the values of the game outcomes simulated from the seeds in the seed set.

33. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein one of said criteria is selected from the group consisting of:

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome;

a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a game outcome;

a minimum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcomes; and

a maximum number of seeds that are deterministic for a plurality of game outcomes.

34. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds that are deterministic for each game outcome.

35. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds that are deterministic for at least one game outcome.

36. The seed set generator of claim 35, wherein at least one of the game outcome values may be presented to a player as a plurality of different combinations of reel symbols.

37. The seed set generator of claim 36, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of said different combinations of reel symbols for said at least one game outcome value.

38. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein one of said criteria includes an average payout of the game outcome values that are determined by the seeds in the generated seed set.

39. The seed set generator of claim 27, wherein one of said criteria includes a number of seeds that provide a secondary game outcome.