Interactive, computerised gaming system with remote terminals
First Claim
1. A gaming system including a host computer, a plurality of terminal computers forming player stations remote from the host computer, communicating means for connecting each of the terminal computers to the host computer, and program means for operating the terminal computers, the host computer and the communicating means wherein:
- a. each terminal computer has a processor, a video display unit connected to the processor, a data entry means connected to the processor and a terminal communicating means connected to the processor, the communicating means being operable to connect the terminal computer to the host computer via a public telecommunication link;
b. each terminal computer has terminal program means forb1. establishing communication with the host computer and advising the host computer of a personal password of a player using that terminal computer;
b2. generating simulations to reproduce at least one selected game including a player status during playing of the selected game in response to host data packets received from the host computer; and
b3. generating terminal data packets, each terminal data packet being representative of a response generated by activating the data entry means at the terminal computer, and sending such packets to the host computer at least each time the data entry means is actuated to generate a valid response; and
c. the host computer has host program means forc1. generating at least one random number for the selected game being played on a terminal computer that is in communication with the host computer within preset criteria for that selected game in response to at least one valid terminal data packet received from that terminal computer;
c2. determining a status for the selected game at least when a predetermined number of random numbers have been generated for the selected game, including when the selected game has been completed and an outcome for that selected game;
c3. storing an account for each password and updating the account associated with the password of the player playing on a terminal computer when the selected game is started and when the selected game is completed, the account being updated in accordance with the amount wagered and the outcome determined by the host computer;
c4. verifying the password of the player attempting to establish communication with said host computer via the terminal computer; and
c5. generating said host data packets for controlling the simulations to be reproduced by the terminal computer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The gaming system includes a host computer, a plurality of general purpose terminal computers forming player stations remote from the host, means for providing communication between each of the terminals and the host. Each terminal has a program for generating screen graphics and sound locally in response to control data packets generated by and received from the host. The host generates random numbers for a game being played on a connected terminal within preset criteria for that game in response to data packets received from the terminal. The data packets are of variable length between 1 and 80 bytes. The host sequentially stores the minimum significant information for replaying a game, auditing and security, such as accounting data of each player at the start of each game, random numbers generated by the host, responses received from a player, and whether a game was completed. Play is substantially real-time, because only minimal data is transmitted with functions requiring large amounts of data, such as screen graphics being generated locally. The statuses of host and terminal are restored automatically on re-establishing communication following an interruption to ensure fairness to players and prevent them defeating the outcome of a game.
838 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A gaming system including a host computer, a plurality of terminal computers forming player stations remote from the host computer, communicating means for connecting each of the terminal computers to the host computer, and program means for operating the terminal computers, the host computer and the communicating means wherein:
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a. each terminal computer has a processor, a video display unit connected to the processor, a data entry means connected to the processor and a terminal communicating means connected to the processor, the communicating means being operable to connect the terminal computer to the host computer via a public telecommunication link; b. each terminal computer has terminal program means for b1. establishing communication with the host computer and advising the host computer of a personal password of a player using that terminal computer; b2. generating simulations to reproduce at least one selected game including a player status during playing of the selected game in response to host data packets received from the host computer; and b3. generating terminal data packets, each terminal data packet being representative of a response generated by activating the data entry means at the terminal computer, and sending such packets to the host computer at least each time the data entry means is actuated to generate a valid response; and c. the host computer has host program means for c1. generating at least one random number for the selected game being played on a terminal computer that is in communication with the host computer within preset criteria for that selected game in response to at least one valid terminal data packet received from that terminal computer; c2. determining a status for the selected game at least when a predetermined number of random numbers have been generated for the selected game, including when the selected game has been completed and an outcome for that selected game; c3. storing an account for each password and updating the account associated with the password of the player playing on a terminal computer when the selected game is started and when the selected game is completed, the account being updated in accordance with the amount wagered and the outcome determined by the host computer; c4. verifying the password of the player attempting to establish communication with said host computer via the terminal computer; and c5. generating said host data packets for controlling the simulations to be reproduced by the terminal computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A gaming system including a host computer, a plurality of terminal computers forming player stations remote from the host computer, communicating means for connecting each of the terminal computers to the host computer, program means for operating each of the terminal computers and the host computer, and communication program means for establishing communication between each terminal computer and the host computer through the communicating means, wherein:
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a. each terminal computer has a processor, a video display unit connected to the processor, a data entry means connected to the processor and a terminal communicating means connected to the processor, the communicating means being operable to connect the terminal computer to the host computer via a public telecommunication link; b. each terminal computer has terminal program means for b1. enabling a player selectively to establish communication with the host computer via a public communication link between the host computer and terminal computer; b2. enabling the player to transmit a personal password that has been established previously to the host computer; b3. generating simulations of at least one selected game including a player status during playing of the selected game in response to host data packets received from the host computer; and b4. generating terminal data packets, each terminal data packet being representative of a response generated by activating the data entry means at the terminal computer, and sending such packets to the host computer at least each time the data entry means is actuated with a valid response; and c. the host computer has host program means for c1. verifying a personal password of a player; c2. evaluating an account associated with each personal password, a plurality of accounts and associated passwords being stored by data storage means that is independent of each of the terminal computers and that is at least accessible to the host; c3. generating at least one random number for the selected game being played on a terminal computer that is in communication with the host computer within preset criteria for that selected game in response to at least one terminal data packet received from that terminal computer; c4. determining a status for the selected game when a predetermined number of random numbers have been generated for the selected game; c5. updating the account of the player in accordance with the status that has been determined when the selected game has been completed; and c6. generating host data packets for controlling the simulations to be reproduced by the terminal computer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification