Providing non-bingo outcomes for a bingo game

• US 20060025198A1
• Filed: 10/19/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wolf, Bryan, Bansemer, Mark, Gail, Ted
• Granted Patent: US 7,955,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and devices for providing a first wagering game (such as a bingo game) that presents a changing pool of displayed game outcomes for a second wagering game (such as a Class III game), preferably on a network of gaming machines. Some implementations of the invention provide a bingo game that presents a changing pool of displayed game outcomes for a slot game or a poker game. In some preferred implementations, game outcomes are generated, e.g., by individual gaming machines, on an ongoing basis and stored in memory. Each of the game outcomes corresponds with a bingo outcome. Preferably, the game outcomes are sorted and stored according to payout amounts for various bingo outcomes. In some implementations, the game outcomes are stored in the form of random number generating (“RNG”) seeds, but in other implementations the game outcomes are stored in a variety of other forms.

Claims

1. A gaming method, comprising:

generating a first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a first payout level of a bingo game;

generating a second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a second payout level of a bingo game;

saving the first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a first area of a local memory of a gaming machine operable to receive an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on games of chance and to control an output of cash or indicia of credit from the gaming machine; and

saving the second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a second area of the local memory of the gaming machine, wherein the saving steps comprise replacing non-bingo game outcomes previously stored in the local memory.

2. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the saving steps comprise saving the non-bingo game outcomes in a predetermined pattern.

3. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the saving steps comprise saving the non-bingo game outcomes in random locations.

4. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving non-bingo game outcomes that correspond with payout levels indicated during bingo game play; and

displaying the retrieved non-bingo game outcomes on the gaming machine.

5. The gaming method of claim 2, wherein the step of saving the game outcomes in a predetermined pattern comprises saving the game outcomes in a sequential pattern.

6. The gaming method of claim 2, wherein the step of saving the game outcomes in a predetermined pattern comprises replacing the game outcomes in a “

first in, first out”

sequence.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the retrieved non-bingo game outcomes are used only once prior to being replaced by generated non-bingo game outcomes.

8. The gaming method of claim 4, wherein the generating steps generate non-bingo game outcomes in response to rates at which non-bingo game outcomes are retrieved.

9. The gaming method of claim 4, wherein the generating steps generate non-bingo game outcomes at rates that correspond with rates at which non-bingo game outcomes are retrieved.

10. The gaming method of claim 4, wherein the generating steps generate non-bingo game outcomes at rates that do not correspond with rates at which non-bingo game outcomes are retrieved.

11. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the non-bingo game outcomes are generated in the form of RNG seeds.

12. A gaming method, comprising:

creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a bingo game;

creating a plurality of non-bingo game outcomes;

sorting the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes according to payout amounts of the bingo game;

adding non-bingo game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

determining when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes to enable game play; and

enabling game play when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes.

13. The gaming method of claim 12, further comprising the step of initializing start and end pointers to the first and last entries in each queue.

14. The gaming method of claim 12, wherein the step of enabling game play comprises:

enabling play of bingo games; and

selecting non-bingo game outcomes that correspond with payout amounts of the bingo games.

15. The gaming method of claim 14, wherein a pointer indicates the next non-bingo game outcome to be selected.

16. The gaming method of claim 14, further comprising the step of replacing selected non-bingo game outcomes with created non-bingo game outcomes.

17. The gaming method of claim 15, wherein the replacing step comprises replacing the selected non-bingo game outcomes after one use.

18. The gaming method of claim 15, wherein the replacing step is performed at a replacement rate that is responsive to a usage rate of the selected non-bingo game outcomes.

19. The gaming method of claim 15, wherein the replacing step is performed at a replacement rate that is not responsive to a usage rate of the selected non-bingo game outcomes.

20. A gaming method, comprising:

creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a bingo game;

initializing start and end pointers to the first and last entries in each queue;

creating a plurality of non-bingo game outcomes;

sorting the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes according to payout amounts of the bingo game;

adding non-bingo game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

determining when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes to enable game play;

enabling bingo game play when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes;

selecting non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to bingo payout amounts by reference to the start pointers;

incrementing the start pointers from selected non-bingo game outcomes; and

replacing selected non-bingo game outcomes with created non-bingo game outcomes.

21. The gaming method of claim 20, wherein the replacing step is performed at a replacement rate corresponding to a selecting rate of the selecting step.

22. The gaming method of claim 20, wherein the replacing step is performed at a predetermined replacement rate.

23. The gaming method of claim 20, further comprising the step of determining whether all queues are full.

24. The gaming method of claim 22, wherein the replacing step further comprises replacing non-selected non-bingo game outcomes with created non-bingo game outcomes.

25. The gaming method of claim 23, wherein the creating step temporarily ceases when it is determined that all queues are full.

26. The gaming method of claim 24, wherein the replacing step comprises replacing randomly-selected non-bingo game outcomes with created non-bingo game outcomes.

27. A gaming method, comprising:

creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a first wagering game;

initializing start and end pointers to the first and last entries in each queue;

creating a plurality of second wagering game outcomes for a second wagering game different from the first wagering game;

sorting the plurality of second wagering game outcomes according to payout amounts of the first wagering game;

adding second wagering game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

determining when the queues contain sufficient second wagering game outcomes to enable game play;

enabling first wagering game play when the queues contain sufficient second wagering game outcomes;

selecting second game outcomes corresponding to first wagering game payout amounts by reference to the start pointers;

incrementing the start pointers from selected second wagering game outcomes; and

replacing selected second wagering game outcomes with created second wagering game outcomes.

28. A computer program stored in a machine-readable medium, the computer program operable to control a gaming machine to perform the following steps:

generating a first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a first payout level of a bingo game;

generating a second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a second payout level of a bingo game;

saving the first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a first area of a local memory; and

saving the second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a second area of the local memory, wherein the saving steps comprise replacing non-bingo game outcomes previously stored in the local memory.

29. A computer program stored in a machine-readable medium, the computer program operable to control a gaming machine to perform the following steps:

creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a bingo game;

creating a plurality of non-bingo game outcomes;

sorting the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes according to payout amounts of the bingo game;

adding non-bingo game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

determining when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes to enable game play; and

enabling game play when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes.

30. A computer program stored in a machine-readable medium, the computer program operable to control a gaming machine to perform the following steps:

creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a bingo game;

initializing start and end pointers to the first and last entries in each queue;

creating a plurality of non-bingo game outcomes;

sorting the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes according to payout amounts of the bingo game;

adding non-bingo game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

determining when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes to enable game play;

enabling bingo game play when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes;

selecting non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to bingo payout amounts by reference to the start pointers;

incrementing the start pointers from selected non-bingo game outcomes; and

replacing selected non-bingo game outcomes with created non-bingo game outcomes.

31. A computer program stored in a machine-readable medium, the computer program operable to control a gaming machine to perform the following steps:

creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a first wagering game;

initializing start and end pointers to the first and last entries in each queue;

creating a plurality of second wagering game outcomes for a second wagering game different from the first wagering game;

sorting the plurality of second wagering game outcomes according to payout amounts of the first wagering game;

adding second wagering game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

determining when the queues contain sufficient second wagering game outcomes to enable game play;

enabling first wagering game play when the queues contain sufficient second wagering game outcomes;

selecting second game outcomes corresponding to first wagering game payout amounts by reference to the start pointers;

incrementing the start pointers from selected second wagering game outcomes; and

replacing selected second wagering game outcomes with created second wagering game outcomes.

32. A gaming machine, comprising:

means for generating a first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a first payout level of a bingo game and for generating a second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a second payout level of a bingo game;

a local memory; and

means for saving the first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a first area of the local memory and for saving the second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a second area of the local memory, wherein the saving means replaces non-bingo game outcomes previously stored in the local memory.

33. A gaming machine, comprising:

a first logic device for generating a first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a first payout level of a bingo game and for generating a second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to a second payout level of a bingo game;

a local memory; and

a second logic device for saving the first plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a first area of the local memory and for saving the second plurality of non-bingo game outcomes in a second area of the local memory, wherein the second logic device replaces non-bingo game outcomes previously stored in the local memory.

34. A gaming machine, comprising:

means for creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a bingo game;

means for creating a plurality of non-bingo game outcomes;

means for sorting the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes according to payout amounts of the bingo game;

means for adding non-bingo game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

means for determining when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes to enable game play; and

means for enabling bingo game play when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes.

35. A gaming machine, comprising:

a memory having a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a bingo game;

a first logic device for creating a plurality of non-bingo game outcomes;

a second logic device for sorting the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes according to payout amounts of the bingo game and for adding each of the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes to a corresponding queue according to payout amount;

a third logic device for determining when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes to enable game play; and

means for enabling bingo game play when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes.

36. A gaming machine, comprising:

means for creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a bingo game;

means for initializing start and end pointers to the first and last entries in each queue;

means for creating a plurality of non-bingo game outcomes;

means for sorting the plurality of non-bingo game outcomes according to payout amounts of the bingo game;

means for adding non-bingo game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

means for determining when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes to enable game play;

means for enabling bingo game play when the queues contain sufficient non-bingo game outcomes;

means for selecting non-bingo game outcomes corresponding to bingo payout amounts by reference to the start pointers;

means for incrementing the start pointers from selected non-bingo game outcomes; and

means for replacing selected non-bingo game outcomes with created non-bingo game outcomes.

37. A gaming machine, comprising:

means for creating a queue of memory addresses for each payout amount of a first wagering game;

means for initializing start and end pointers to the first and last entries in each queue;

means for creating a plurality of second wagering game outcomes for a second wagering game different from the first wagering game;

means for sorting the plurality of second wagering game outcomes according to payout amounts of the first wagering game;

means for adding second wagering game outcomes to the proper queues according to payout amount;

means for determining when the queues contain sufficient second wagering game outcomes to enable game play;

means for enabling first wagering game play when the queues contain sufficient second wagering game outcomes;

means for selecting second game outcomes corresponding to first wagering game payout amounts by reference to the start pointers;

means for incrementing the start pointers from selected second wagering game outcomes; and

means for replacing selected second wagering game outcomes with created second wagering game outcomes.