Central determination gaming system with a gaming terminal assisting the central controller in the generation of a game outcome

• US 7,628,703 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wolf, Bryan D., Michaelson, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/431,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,406 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 463/22, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A central determination gaming system with a gaming terminal assisting a central controller in the generation of a game outcome. In one embodiment of the present invention, upon a player initiating a game play at one of a plurality of gaming terminals, the processor of the gaming terminal generates a random number. The generated random number is communicated to the central controller. The central controller uses the generated random number to select an available game outcome from a set or pool of predetermined game outcomes. The central controller marks or flags the selected game outcome in the pool as unavailable for subsequent selections and communicates the selected game outcome to the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal then provides the player the game outcome with the associated value, if any, for the selected game outcome.

Claims

1. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) maintain at least one game outcome set, wherein said game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(b) receive a gaming terminal generated random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller,

(c) select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said game outcome set, wherein said gaming terminal generated random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome,

(d) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set, and

(e) output said selected predetermined game outcome to said gaming terminal.

2. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome sets.

3. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive a plurality of gaming terminal generated random numbers from a plurality of gaming terminals which are remote from the central controller and to select a plurality of said predetermined game outcomes from said game outcome set, wherein said gaming terminal generated random numbers are used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcomes.

4. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive a game outcome request from said gaming terminal wherein said game outcome request includes said gaming terminal generated random number.

5. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to maintain at least one game outcome seed set, wherein said game outcome seed set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcome seeds and each game outcome seed is deterministic of a game outcome.

6. The central determination gaming system of claim 5, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to select one of said game outcome seeds from said game outcome seed set, wherein said gaming terminal generated random number is used as an input to determine the selected game outcome seed, to prevent said selected game outcome seed from further selection from said game outcome seed set and to output said selected game outcome seed to said gaming terminal.

7. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) maintain a game outcome set, wherein said game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(b) receive a random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller,

(c) select one of said predetermined game outcomes for a primary wagering game from said game outcome set, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome,

(d) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set and

(e) communicate said selected predetermined game outcome to said gaming terminal, wherein said gaming terminal includes a display device and a processor in communication with said display device operable to enable a player to initiate said primary wagering game, to generate said random number, to communicate said random number to said central controller, to receive said selected predetermined game outcome from said central controller and to provide said predetermined game outcome to the player for said primary wagering game.

8. The central determination gaming system of claim 7, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome sets.

9. The central determination gaming system of claim 7, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive a random number from each of a plurality of gaming terminals which are remote from the central controller and to select one of said game outcomes for a primary wagering game from said game outcome set, wherein each received random number from each gaming terminal is used as an input to determine the selected game outcome.

10. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller;

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) maintain a game outcome set, wherein said game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(b) receive a random number,

(c) select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said game outcome set, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome,

(d) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set, and

(e) output said selected predetermined game outcome; and

at least one gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller, said at least one gaming terminal including a display device, an input device, a processor, and a gaming terminal memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device and said input device to;

(i) enable a player to initiate a primary wagering game,

(ii) generate said random number,

(iii) communicate said generated random number to said central controller,

(iv) receive said selected predetermined game outcome from said central controller, and

(v) provide said predetermined game outcome to the player for said primary wagering game.

11. The central determination gaming system of claim 10, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome sets.

12. The central determination gaming system of claim 10, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive a random number from each of a plurality of gaming terminals that are remote from the central controller.

13. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) maintain at least one game outcome set, wherein said game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(b) receive a gaming terminal generated random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller,

(c) use said random number to determine if said game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number,

(d) select one of said game outcomes from said game outcome set, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome,

(e) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set, and

(f) output said selected predetermined game outcome to said gaming terminal.

14. The central determination gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to discard said gaming terminal generated random number if said game outcome set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number.

15. The central determination gaming system of claim 14, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive at least one additional gaming terminal generated random number from said gaming terminal if said game outcome set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number.

16. The central determination gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome sets.

17. The central determination gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive a game outcome request from said gaming terminal wherein said game outcome request includes said gaming terminal generated random number.

18. The central determination gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive a plurality of gaming terminal generated random numbers from a plurality of gaming terminals which are remote from the central controller, to determine if said game outcome set includes one of the predetermined game outcomes based on each of said plurality of random numbers and to select said plurality of predetermined game outcomes from said game outcome set for said plurality of gaming terminals.

19. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) a game outcome set, wherein said game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(b) receive at least one random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller,

(c) use said random number to determine if said game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number,

(d) select one of said predetermined game outcomes for a primary wagering game from said game outcome set if said game outcome set includes said predetermined game outcome wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected game outcome,

(e) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set, and

(f) communicate said selected predetermined game outcome to said gaming terminal, wherein said gaming terminal includes a display device and a processor in communication with said display device operable to;

(i) a player to initiate said primary wagering game,

(ii) generate said random number,

(iii) communicate said random number to said central controller

(iv) said selected predetermined game outcome from said central controller, and

(v) said predetermined game outcome to the player for said primary wagering game.

20. The central determination gaming system of claim 19, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome sets.

21. The central determination gaming system of claim 19, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to discard said random number if said game outcome set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number.

22. The central determination gaming system of claim 19, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive at least one random number from each of a plurality of gaming terminals that are remote from the central controller and to determine if said game outcome set includes an game outcome based on the random number for each gaming terminal.

23. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller;

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) a game outcome set, wherein said game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(b) receive at least one random number,

(c) use said random number to determine if said game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number,

(d) select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said game outcome set based on said random number if said game outcome set includes said predetermined game outcome, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome,

(e) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set,

(f) output said selected predetermined game outcome, and

(g) discard said random number if said game outcome set does not include said predetermined game outcome based on said random number; and

at least one gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller, said at least one gaming terminal including a display device, an input device, a processor and a gaming terminal memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device and said input device to;

(i) enable a player to initiate a primary wagering game,

(ii) generate said random number,

(iii) communicate said generated random number to said central controller,

(iv) receive said selected predetermined game outcome from said central controller, and

(V) provide said predetermined game outcome to the player for said primary wagering game.

24. The central determination gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome sets.

25. The central determination gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive a plurality of random numbers from a plurality of gaming terminals which are remote from the central controller.

26. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) a game outcome seed set, wherein said game outcome seed set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcome seeds, each predetermined game outcome seed is deterministic of a predetermined game outcome and at least two predetermined game outcome seeds are deterministic of different predetermined game outcomes,

(b) receive a random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller,

(c) select one of said predetermined game outcome seeds for a wagering game from said game outcome seed set, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome seed,

(d) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome seed from further selection from said game outcome seed set, and

(e) communicate said selected predetermined game outcome seed to said gaming terminal, wherein said gaming terminal includes a display device and a processor in communication with said display device, operable to;

(i) enable a player to initiate said wagering game,

(ii) generate said random number,

(iii) communicate said random number to said central controller,

(iv) receive said selected predetermined game outcome seed from said central controller,

(v) determine a game outcome based on said selected predetermined game outcome seed, and

(vi) provide said determined game outcome to the player for said wagering game.

27. The central determination gaming system of claim 26, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome seed sets.

28. The central determination gaming system of claim 26, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to receive at least one random number from each of a plurality of gaming terminals that are remote from the central controller and to select a game outcome seed, wherein each random number for each gaming terminal is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome seed.

29. The central determination gaming system of claim 26, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to use said random number to determine if said game outcome seed set includes at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number.

30. The central determination gaming system of claim 29, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to discard said random number if said game outcome seed set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number.

31. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller;

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) a game outcome seed set, wherein said game outcome seed set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcome seeds, each predetermined game outcome seed is deterministic of a predetermined game outcome and at least two predetermined game outcome seeds are deterministic of different predetermined game outcomes,

(b) receive at least one random number,

(c) select one of said game outcome seeds from said game outcome seed set, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome seed,

(d) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome seed from further selection from said game outcome seed set, and

(e) output said selected predetermined game outcome seed; and

at least one gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller, said at least one gaming terminal including a display device, an input device, a processor and a gaming terminal memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device and said input device to;

(i) enable a player to initiate a wagering game,

(ii) generate said random number,

(iii) communicate said generated random number to said central controller,

(iv) receive said selected predetermined game outcome seed from said central controller,

(v) determine a game outcome based on said selected game outcome seed, and

(vi) provide said determined game outcome to the player for said wagering game.

32. The central determination gaming system of claim 31, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause the central controller to maintain a plurality of game outcome seed sets.

33. The central determination gaming system of claim 31, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to use said random number to determine if said game outcome seed set includes at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number.

34. The central determination gaming system of claim 33, wherein when executed by the central controller, the plurality of instructions cause said central controller to discard said random number if said game outcome seed set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number.

35. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller;

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the central controller, cause the central controller to;

(a) a game outcome set, wherein said game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(b) receive at least one random number,

(c) determine a game outcome, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the game outcome,

(d) determine if said game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said determined game outcome,

(e) output said random number if said game outcome set includes said determined game outcome,

(f) prevent said determined game outcome from further outputs if said game outcome set includes said determined game outcome, and

(g) discard said random number and said determined game outcome if said game outcome set does not include said determined game outcome; and

at least one gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller, said at least one gaming terminal including a display device, an input device, a processor and a gaming terminal memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device and said input device to;

(i) enable a player to initiate a wagering game,

(ii) generate said random number,

(iii) communicate said generated random number to said central controller,

(iv) receive said outputted random number from said central controller,

(v) generate a game outcome based on said outputted random number, and

(vi) provide said generated game outcome to the player for said wagering game.

36. A gaming terminal comprising:

a display device;

a processor;

an input device; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device and the input device to;

(a) enable a player to initiate a primary wagering game upon a wager by the player,

(b) generate at least one random number,

(c) output said generated random number to a central controller which is remote from said gaming terminal,

(d) receive a predetermined game outcome from said central controller wherein said generated random number is used as an input to determine the predetermined game outcome which is selected from a game outcome set, the game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and the selected predetermined game outcome is prevented from further selection from the game outcome set, and

(e) provide said predetermined game outcome to the player for said wagering game.

37. A gaming terminal comprising:

a display device;

a processor;

an input device; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device and the input device to;

(a) enable a player to initiate a primary wagering game upon a wager by the player,

(b) generate at least one random number,

(c) output said generated random number to a central controller which is remote from said gaming terminal,

(d) receive a predetermined game outcome seed from said central controller wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the game outcome seed which is selected from a game outcome seed set, the game outcome seed set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcome seeds and the selected predetermined game outcome seed is prevented from further selection from the game outcome seed set,

(e) determine a predetermined game outcome based on said game outcome seed, and

(f) provide said predetermined game outcome to the player for said wagering game.

38. A method of operating a central determination gaming system comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a central controller to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(i) receive a random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller;

(ii) select a predetermined game outcome from a predetermined game outcome set wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome;

(iii) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set; and

(iv) communicate said selected predetermined game outcome to said gaming terminal.

39. A method of operating a central determination gaming system comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a central controller to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(i) receive at least one random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller;

(ii) use said random number to determine if a predetermined game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number;

(iii) if said game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number, select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said game outcome set, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome;

(iv) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selection from said game outcome set, if said game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number;

(v) communicate said selected predetermined game outcome to said gaming terminal, if said game outcome set includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number;

(vi) discard said random number if said game outcome set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number; and

(vii) repeat steps (i) to (vi), if said game outcome set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome based on said random number.

40. A method of operating a central determination gaming system comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a central controller to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(i) receive a random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller;

(ii) select a predetermined game outcome seed from a predetermined game outcome seed set wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome seed;

(iii) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome seed from further selection from said game outcome seed set; and

(iv) communicate said selected predetermined game outcome seed to said gaming terminal.

41. A method of operating a central determination gaming system comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a central controller to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(i) receive at least one random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller;

(ii) use said random number to determine if a predetermined game outcome seed set includes at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number;

(iii) if said game outcome seed set includes at least one game outcome seed based on said random number, select one of said predetermined game outcome seeds from said game outcome seed set, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the selected predetermined game outcome seed;

(iv) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome seed from further selection from said game outcome seed set, if said game outcome seed set includes at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number;

(v) communicate said selected predetermined game outcome seed to said gaming terminal, if said game outcome seed set includes at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number;

(vi) discard said random number if said game outcome seed set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number; and

(vii) repeat steps (i) to (vi), if said game outcome seed set does not include at least one predetermined game outcome seed based on said random number.

42. A method of operating a central determination gaming system comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a central controller to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(i) receive at least one random number from a gaming terminal which is remote from the central controller;

(ii) determine a game outcome, wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the game outcome;

(iii) determine if a predetermined game outcome set includes said determined game outcome;

(iv) select said determined outcome from said game outcome set if said predetermined game outcome set includes said determined game outcome;

(v) prevent said selected game outcome from further selection from said predetermined game outcome set if said game outcome set includes said determined game outcome;

(vi) communicate said selected game outcome to said gaming terminal if said predetermined game outcome set includes said determined game outcome;

(vii) discard said random number if said predetermined game outcome set does not include said determined game outcome;

(viii) discard said determined game outcome if said predetermined game outcome set does not include said determined game outcome; and

(ix) repeat steps (i) to (viii), if said predetermined game outcome set does not include said determined game outcome.

43. A method of operating a gaming terminal including at least one processor and a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to initiate a wagering game;

(b) causing said at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate at least one random number;

(c) causing said at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to communicate said random number to a central controller which is remote from said gaming terminal;

(d) receiving a predetermined game outcome from said central controller wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the predetermined game outcome which is selected from a game outcome set, the game outcome set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcomes and the selected predetermined game outcome is prevented from further selection from the game outcome set; and

(e) providing said predetermined game outcome to said player for said wagering game.

44. A method of operating a gaming terminal including at least one processor and a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to initiate a wagering game;

(b) causing said at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate at least one random number;

(c) causing said at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to communicate random number to a central controller which is remote from said gaming terminal;

(d) receiving a predetermined game outcome seed from said central controller wherein said random number is used as an input to determine the predetermined game outcome seed which is selected from a game outcome seed set, the game outcome seed set includes a plurality of predetermined game outcome seeds and the selected predetermined game outcome seed is prevented from further selection from the game outcome seed set;

(e) causing said at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a predetermined game outcome based on said game outcome seed; and

(f) providing said determined game outcome to said player for said wagering game.