System and method for securing electronic games

• US 7,524,245 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• 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: Walker, Jay S., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Jorasch, James A., Schneier, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Binh-An D
• Application Number:
  US11/934,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 463 10- 13, 463/16, 463/17, 463/22, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A game server is provided, the game server comprising a processor and a storage device coupled to the processor. The storage device stores instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method comprising: generating a first signal; transmitting an encoded first signal; receiving a second signal; and transmitting a decoding key after receiving the second signal.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating electronic game play, comprising:

receiving, by a game server, a selection of a game and an encoded player number from a player, the encoded player number associated with a random component of the selected game;

generating, by a game server, a game server random number;

transmitting the game server random number to the player;

receiving, by a game server, a decoding key from the player;

decoding the encoded player number with the decoding key to determine a player number; and

generating, by a game server, a result value corresponding to the random component of the selected game, the result value based on the player number and the game server random number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by a game server, the result value to the player.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by a game server, an indication of a wager from the player prior to receiving the decoding key.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wager is subject to at least one rule for placing wagers.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by a game server, that the result value corresponds to a winning game outcome; and

providing, by a game server, the result value and a prize to the player.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the result value, by a game server, to select an available outcome associated with the selected game, and

transmitting, by a game server, the available outcome to the player.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the available outcome corresponds to at least one of a letter, a number and a card.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by a game server, that the available outcome corresponds to a winning game outcome; and

providing a prize to the player.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a wager, by a game server, from the player prior to receiving the decoding key;

selecting, by a game server, an available outcome based on the result value, the available outcome associated with the selected game;

determining, by a game server, that the available outcome corresponds to a winning game outcome; and

providing the available outcome and a prize to the player based on the wager.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the available outcome corresponds to at least one of a letter, a number and a card.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wager is subject to at least one rule for placing wagers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected game is a game of skill that comprises at least one random component.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by a game server, a second encoded player number from the player, the second encoded player number corresponding to a second random component that is associated with the selected game;

generating, by a game server, a second game server random number;

transmitting, by a game server, the second game server random number to the player;

receiving a second decoding key from the player;

decoding the second encoded player number with the second decoding key to determine a second player number; and

generating, by a game server, a second result value corresponding to the second random component of the selected game, the second result value based on the second player number and the second game server random number.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a wager, by a game server, from the player prior to receiving the second decoding key;

selecting, by a game server, a first available outcome corresponding to the result value and a second available outcome corresponding to the second result value;

determining, by a game server, that the first available outcome and the second available outcome correspond to a winning game outcome; and

providing the first available outcome, the second available outcome, and a prize to the player based on the wager.

15. The method of claim 1, in which generating the result value comprises utilizing a combination protocol to transform the player number and the game server random number into the result value.

16. The method of claim 1, in which receiving the game selection further comprises receiving at least one of a player ID number and a tracking number.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoded player number comprises an encoded random number.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to transmitting the game server random number, encoding, by a game server, the game server random number.

19. The method of claim 18, in which receiving the decoding key from the player comprises receiving a wager from the player, and further comprising transmitting a game server random number key to the player.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of a game and the encoded player number further comprises receiving at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, pictures, audio signals, video signals, or algorithms.

21. The method of claim 1, in which generating a result value comprises generating multiple result values corresponding to the game component of the selected game, the multiple result values based on the player number and the game server random number.

22. The method of claim 21, in which generating multiple result values comprises utilizing a combination protocol to transform the player number and the game server random number into multiple result values.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining, by a game server, that the multiple result values correspond to a winning game outcome; and

providing a prize to the player.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting, by a game server, the multiple result values to the player.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the multiple result values represent at least one of spins of a roulette wheel, rolls of dice, or cards drawn for a card game.

26. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive a selection of a game and an encoded player number from a player, the encoded player number associated with a random component of the selected game;

generate a game server random number;

transmit the game server random number to the player;

receive a decoding key from the player;

decode the encoded player number with the decoding key to determine a player number; and

generate a result value corresponding to the random component of the selected game, the result value based on the player number and the game server random number.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit the result value to the player.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 26, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to receive a wager from the player prior to receiving the decoding key.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, in which the instructions for receiving the wager further comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive at least one rule for placing the wager.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 26, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine that the result value corresponds to a winning game outcome; and

transmit an indication of the result value, the winning game outcome, and an indication of a prize to the player.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 26, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

utilize the result value to select an available outcome associated with the selected game; and

transmit the available outcome to the player.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for transmitting the available outcome comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit an indication of at least one of a letter, a number and a card.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 31, in which the instructions for transmitting the available outcome comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine that the available outcome corresponds to a winning game outcome; and

transmit an indication of the winning game outcome, and an indication of a prize to the player.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 26, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive a wager from the player prior to receiving the decoding key;

select an available outcome based on the result value, the available outcome associated with the selected game;

determine that the available outcome corresponds to a winning game outcome; and

transmit the winning game outcome and an indication of a prize to the player based on the wager.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 34, in which the instructions for transmitting the winning game outcome comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit an indication of at least one of a letter, a number and a card.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 34, in which the instructions for receiving a wager comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to enforce at least one rule for placing the wager.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 26, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive a second encoded player number from the player, the second encoded player number corresponding to a second random component of the selected game;

generate a second game server random number;

transmit the second game server random number to the player;

receive a second decoding key from the player;

decode the second encoded player number with the second decoding key to determine a second player number; and

generate a second result value corresponding to the second random component of the selected game, the second result value based on the second player number and the second game server random number.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive a wager from the player prior to receiving the second decoding key;

select a first available outcome corresponding to the result value and a second available outcome corresponding to the second result value;

determine that the first available outcome and the second available outcome correspond to a winning game outcome; and

transmit an indication of the first available outcome, the second available outcome, and a prize to the player based on the wager.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which the instructions for generating the result value comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to utilize a combination protocol to transform the player number and the game server random number into the result value.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which the instructions for receiving the game selection comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive at least one of a player ID number and a tracking number.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 26, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to transmitting the game server random number, encode the game server random number.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41, in which the instructions for receiving the decoding key from the player comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive a wager from the player; and

transmit a game server random number key to the player.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which the instructions for receiving the selection of a game and the encoded player number comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, pictures, audio signals, video signals, or algorithms.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which generating a result value comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to generate multiple result values corresponding to the random component of the selected game, the multiple result values based on the player number and the game server random number.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, in which the instructions for generating multiple result values comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to utilize a combination protocol to transform the player number and the game server random number into multiple result values.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 44, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine that the multiple result values correspond to a winning game outcome; and

transmit an indication of the winning game outcome to the player.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 44, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit the multiple result values to the player.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 47, in which the instructions for transmitting the multiple result values further comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit an indication of at least one of spins of a roulette wheel, rolls of dice, or cards drawn for a card game.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which the instructions for generating the multiple result values further comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to utilize at least one combination protocol to transform the player number and the game server random number into the multiple result values.

50. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

receive a selection of a game and an encoded player number from a player, the encoded player number associated with a random component of the selected game;

generate a game server random number;

transmit the game server random number to the player;

receive a decoding key from the player;

decode the encoded player number with the decoding key to determine a player number; and

generate at least one result value corresponding to the random component of the selected game, the at least one result value based on the player number and the game server random number.

51. A method of facilitating electronic game play, comprising:

receiving, by a game server, a selection of a game and encoded player numbers corresponding to at least two players, the encoded player numbers associated with a random component of the selected game;

generating, by a game server, a game server random number;

transmitting the game server random number to the players;

receiving, by a game server, decoding keys from the players;

decoding the encoded player numbers with the decoding keys to determine corresponding player numbers; and

generating, by a game server, a communal result value corresponding to the random component of the selected game, the communal result value based on the player numbers and the game server random number.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

receiving, by a game server prior to receiving the decoding keys, an indication of wagers from each of the players;

determining, by a game server, that the communal result value corresponds to a winning game outcome for at least one player; and

providing a prize to the at least one player based on the wager placed by the at least one player.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the encoded player numbers are random numbers that have been generated by each of the players and encoded.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising transmitting the communal result value to each of the players.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising enabling the players to verify the communal result value by permitting the players to exchange the decoded player numbers with each other and to compare them with the game server random number.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the communal result value represent at least one of a spin of a roulette wheel, a roll of dice, or a card drawn for a card game.

57. The method of claim 51, wherein the selected game is a game of skill that comprises at least one random component.

58. The method of claim 51, in which generating the communal result value comprises utilizing at least one combination protocol to transform the player numbers and the game server random number into the communal result value.

59. The method of claim 51, in which receiving the game selection further comprises receiving at least one of a player ID number and a tracking number.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the encoded player number comprises an encoded random number.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein receiving a game selection and the encoded player numbers further comprises receiving at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, pictures, audio signals, video signals, or algorithms.

62. The method of claim 51, further comprising, prior to transmitting the game server random number, the game server encoding the game server random number.

63. The method of claim 62, in which receiving the decoding keys from the players comprises receiving an indication of wagers from the players, and further comprising transmitting, by a game server, a game server random number key to the players.

64. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive a selection of a game and encoded player numbers corresponding to at least two players, the encoded player numbers associated with a random component of the selected game;

generate a game server random number;

transmit the game server random number to the players;

receive decoding keys from the players;

decode the encoded player numbers with the decoding keys to determine corresponding player numbers; and

generate a communal result value corresponding to the random component of the selected game, the communal result value based on the player numbers and the game server random number.

65. The computer readable medium of claim 64, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive, prior to receiving the decoding keys, wagers from each of the players;

determine that the communal result value corresponds to a winning game outcome for at least one player; and

transmit an indication of a prize to the at least one player based on the wager placed by the at least one player.

66. The computer readable medium of claim 64, further comprising instructions for directing the processor to transmit the communal result value to each of the players.

67. The computer readable medium of claim 65, in which the instructions for transmitting the communal result value comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit at least one of a spin of a roulette wheel, a roll of dice, or a card drawn for a card game.

68. The computer readable medium of claim 66, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to facilitate the exchange of the decoded player numbers between the players so that the players can verify the communal result value by comparison with the game server random number.

69. The computer readable medium of claim 64, in which the instructions for generating the communal result value comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to utilize at least one combination protocol to transform the player numbers and the game server random number into the communal result value.

70. The computer readable medium of claim 64, in which the instructions for receiving the game selection comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive at least one of a player ID number and a tracking number.

71. The computer readable medium of claim 64, in which the instructions for receiving a game selection and the encoded player numbers comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, pictures, audio signals, video signals, or algorithms.

72. The computer readable medium of claim 64, which further comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to transmitting the game server random number, encoding the game server random number.

73. The computer readable medium of claim 64, in which the instructions for receiving the decoding keys from the players comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive wagers from the players, and further comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit a game server random number key to the players.

74. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

receive a selection of a game and encoded player numbers corresponding to at least two players, the encoded player numbers associated with a random component of the selected game;

generate a game server random number;

transmit the game server random number to the players;

receive decoding keys from the players;

decode the encoded player numbers with the decoding keys to determine corresponding player numbers; and

generate a communal result value corresponding to the random component of the selected game, the communal result value based on the player numbers and the game server random number.