Apparatus, systems and methods for implementing enhanced gaming and prizing parameters in an electronic environment

• US 8,241,110 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Katz, Randall, Dawson, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Application Number:
  US10/559,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,904 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/16, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/06 Lottos or bingo games; Systems, apparatus or devices for checking such games small boxes with balls used for generating random numbers A63F7/048; lottery apparatus G07C15/00; lottery gaming stations, online lottery or bingo G07F17/329; printing processes for lottery tickets B41M3/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

The inventions herein relate to novel forms of interaction with an electronic system, such as for games of chance, games of skill, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the existing lottery infrastructure is used in conjunction with electronic remote game play. A system is provided for effecting defined game play and prizing structure parameters in an electronic entertainment environment. The system may include an input for receiving the parameters, a memory coupled to the input for storing the parameters, a processing system coupled to the storage or generating game play to effect the defined parameters, storage for recording information regarding particular game play events and an interface for at least presenting game play events to users of the electronic entertainment system.

Claims

1. A system for effecting game play and prizing in an electronic environment, comprising:

system-side input for receiving mandated parameters which must be achieved by the system as a whole, the mandated parameters including prizing parameters being selected from the group consisting of;

prize pay out and win rates,

a memory coupled to the input for storing at least the mandated parameters,

a processing system coupled to the memory for implementing the mandated parameters by utilizing variable parameters to implement a game play experience, the game play experience including at least a first game play portion and a second prizing portion, the variable parameters including varying the play probabilities of the game play experience, the first game play portion utilizing a first set of probabilities for the first game play portion, and utilizing a second lower set of probabilities to provide a lower prizing phase payout than would be achieved using the first set of probabilities to achieve the mandated prizing parameters,

storage for recording information regarding particular game play events as determined by the processor,

a presentation system for at least displaying game play events, and

a user input for receiving player input.

2. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein the parameters include a guaranteed prizing structure.

3. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined at least in part by a subunit of N units.

4. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 3 wherein N is less than the total number of game play events.

5. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 3 wherein N=the total number of game play events.

6. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by player.

7. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by multiple players.

8. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by multiple players in a tournament.

9. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by retailer.

10. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by source.

11. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by geographic region.

12. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 11 wherein the geographic region is the purchase geography.

13. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 11 wherein the geographic region is the geography of the player.

14. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by a time unit.

15. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 14 wherein the time unit is a day.

16. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 14 wherein the time unit is a week.

17. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 14 wherein the time unit is the duration of a game.

18. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 2 wherein the guaranteed prizing structure is defined by game.

19. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein a mandated parameter is minimum payout amount.

20. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein a mandated parameter is a maximum payout amount.

21. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein a mandated parameter is a defined percentage payout.

22. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein a mandated parameter is a specified number of prizes.

23. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein a mandated parameter is the form of prizes.

24. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein a variable parameter is game selection.

25. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein a variable parameter is game structure.

26. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 25 wherein the game structure parameter involves decision points.

27. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 25 wherein the game structure parameter involves numbers of levels of game play.

28. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 25 wherein the game structure parameter involves duration of game play.

29. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 1 wherein the game play experience utilizes real world probabilities, and a lower prizing payout is implemented to achieve the mandated payout parameters.

30. A system for effecting game play and prizing in an electronic environment, comprising:

system-side input for receiving mandated parameters which must be achieved by the system as a whole, the mandated parameters being selected from the group consisting of;

prize pay out and win rates,

a memory coupled to the input for storing at least the mandated parameters,

a processing system coupled to the memory for implementing the mandated parameters by utilizing variable parameters, the variable parameters being selected from the group consisting of;

game selection and game structure, the processing system utilizing the variable parameters to achieve the mandated parameters,

storage for recording information regarding particular game play events as determined by the processor,

a presentation system for at least displaying game play events, and

a user input for receiving player input.

31. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein the game structure parameter involves decision points.

32. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein the game structure parameter involves numbers of levels of game play.

33. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein the game structure parameter involves duration of game play.

34. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein the game play events utilizes real world probabilities, and a lower prizing payout is implemented to achieve the mandated payout parameters.

35. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein the electronic system involves a lottery.

36. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein one or more buddy lists enable games between multiple players.

37. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein one or more association groupings enable games between multiple players.

38. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein the association groupings are competitive game play pairings.

39. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 further including a ticket for accessing the electronic environment.

40. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 39 wherein the ticket is a lottery ticket.

41. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 40 wherein lottery ticket includes variable information regarding the electronic environment.

42. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 40 wherein the lottery ticket includes a scratch-off lottery ticket.

43. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 further including a player registration system.

44. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 43 wherein the player registration is an on line registration system.

45. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 43 further including a leader board.

46. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 43 wherein display of game play includes a portion of the display with a first display image chosen by the user followed by a second display image in the same portion of the display.

47. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 further including a game play analysis system.

48. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 47 wherein the game play analysis system tracks user specific play.

49. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 47 wherein the game play analysis system includes a decision engine to optimize the prizing structure.

50. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 47 wherein the game play analysis system includes a decision engine to maximize game play.

51. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 30 wherein the prize is a non-cash prize.

52. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 51 wherein the non-cash prize is points.

53. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 51 wherein the non-cash prize is an image.

54. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 51 wherein the non-cash prize is free play.

55. The system for effecting game play and prizing of claim 51 wherein the non-cash prize is advancing to other levels.