Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Reverse-Order Game Play Apparatus
Field of the Invention:
The invention is a method and a system for playing a game lying between a
common-draw live
game and an instant game. Furthermore, such a method and system may take
advantage of the
down time reserved to the sale of tickets in a live game.
Background of the Invention:
Keno, state lotteries and other kinds of live games are well known and very
popular, Players
purchase tickets during a purchase period to participate in the game. The
tickets identify a
number, numbers or symbols. A scheduled draw is completed that allows players
to compare the
numbers or symbols on their tickets to the draw result; which may result in a
prize or award
being won.
Instant games are also well known. W practice, players purchase tickets
containing concealed
information. The tickets are manufactured with the game outcome predetermined
and identified
on the tickets. Once a ticket is bought, players can reveal its information
and determine its value.
then tickets bear winning information, players can redeem tickets for prizes.
Instant games are
played either in paper or electronic versions.
LJS patent 5,265,~~0 to I~llaksymek describes a game using a draw of 4~~ to 55
bingo balls prior to
the sale of bingo cards having concealed numbers. The draw infoaxnation is
known to players at
the time of purchasing the cards. Once the draw is completed, players uncover
the bingo
numbers to compare them to the draw to determine the occurrence of a "cover-
all" or "black
out". If the comparison between a player's card and the draw results in a
"cover all", the player
wins the prize. A new draw is done when a predetermined time has elapsed,
regardless of the
occurrence of a cover-all.
Objects of the Invention:
One object of the invention is to benefit from the "downtime" occurring
between two draws in a
game having a regular or predetermined draw schedule to sell concealed
electronic tickets that
can be compared to a draw to evaluate prizes. The "downtime" may be scheduled
by an external-
game draw schedule, by prescheduled draws applied exclusively to the actual
game, or by non-
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scheduled draws applied exclusively to the actual game and wherein a new draw
is triggered by
the occurrence of a particular event.
An object of the invention is to provide a game wherein the outcome of a game
depends 'on a
result generated for and shared by a plurality of players, wherein the game
has the advantage of
being played as an instant game independently of the fact that a game lasts
for a significant
period.
Another object of the invention is to take advantage of the confidence created
by a regulated or
closely monitored game to provide a new game offering the desired level of
confidence to
players.
Another object of the invention is to create an increased level of confidence
via the generation of
concealed electronic cards before, and independently of, the draw used to
determine play
outcomes.
Another object of the invention is to provide system and gaming apparatuses
that are suitable for
the playing of such game.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system providing monitoring
and communication
between the different means of the system.
Another object of the invention is to provide the requisite system for good
monitoring and
auditing of the playing of such game.
Still, one secondary object of the invention is to allow players to have a
variety of play options
when possible; such as the ones available in a live game or electronic game of
the same kind. For
instance, in a keno game, players could choose to purchase cards containing
from three to ten
concealed numbers. The value of the potential prizes would vary accordingly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system that is not prejudicial
to the main live
game when it depends from such live game. Rather, the system may profit of the
downtime
between draws without influencing live-game ticket sales.
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Summary of the Invention:
According to these objects, the invention consists in a method and
particularly a system for the
play of an instant game based on the outcome of a game that is determined
before the play of the
instant game. The game is processed via the sale of concealed tickets bearing
game indicia;
wherein determination of the outcome depends on revealing ticket information.
The method for the play of such an instant game includes the following steps:
- Monitoring, registering and/or generating a draw result.
- Signaling a start-distribution period.
- Distributing upon request concealed tickets to players, wherein
the.determination of the
ticket outcome depends on the comparison between the ticket information and
the draw.
- Awarding prizes to winning players according to the comparison result.
- Stopping the distribution of concealed tickets (and therefore the actual
game) when at
least one of the following situations occurs: scheduled game-end, or event
corresponding to
an end criterion.
- Idling the system until a new game-start signal and draw result are received
(which may
be instantaneous), which triggers the start of the distribution of new
concealed tickets
active for and only for the new game.
The typical system for the play of such a game may be composed of a game
server, a plurality of
gaming apparatuses and a network maintaining communication between the
apparatuses and the
game server. ~Tithin that configuration, the game server maintains central
information and
distributes information upon demand from apparatuses. On the other hand, the
apparatuses allow
the play of the game.
For a disclosure purpose, the invention is hereby illustrated via two
distinctive applications: a
system depending on an external scheduled live-game wherein the concealed
electronic tickets
are randomly generated upon request; and a system with self managed draw
schedule wherein a
population of tickets are already present on the game server and consumed upon
request. The
latter system has the advantage of offering a monitoring of distributed
tickets with a method of
preventing a ticket to be distributed twice during a single game.
Nevertheless, the environment of play and the form of the concealed ticket
used for that play are
not limited to the above-described systems; paper or electronic ticket formats
may be used, the
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play environment may be a raw environment requiring almost only human
resources or even an
electronic environment wherein almost no human resources are required. Even
the type of live
game does not limit the invention; the game providing draw results may vary
from a self
managed draw system, to a local keno game, and even to a state or national
lottery game.
The invention also provides a computer program product for the play of an
instant game
wherein play evaluation depends on comparison between instant-game ticket
information and
draw information, the draw information being common to a plurality of instant-
game tickets, the
program product including program instructions for registering draw
information in a draw
storage medium, providing instant-game ticket information upon request,
providing a Graphical
User Interface (GUI) providing requisite environment for players' inputs,
outputs, and a game
representation comprising ticket information and draw information, evaluating
instant-game
ticket value via comparison of instant-game ticket information to draw
information in order to
resolve ticket value, wherein a winning instant-game ticket results in one of
a plurality of ticket
values, awarding instant-game ticket value; and switching to a new game upon
occurrence of an
end-game criterion.
~ri~f IDe~~riptnora of the Il~rr~~nng~:
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
better understood
in light of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a gaming system according to the
first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of the current method;
Figure 3 is a block diagram representing components of the system according to
the first
embodiment; and
Figure 4 is a block diagram representing components of the system according to
the second
embodiment.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments:
As stated, the invention consists in a system and method for the play of a
game related to an
instant game but depending on an outcome of a live game. For explanation
purposes, the first
embodiment uses a live keno game played in a casino.
First Embodiment:
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Keno games are usually played via buying tickets. Players select from three
(3) to ten (10)
numbers on a keno ticket bearing eighty (80) numbers. Players register their
keno ticket at a
register counter against a fixed fee. At a scheduled time, a draw of twenty
(20) numbers is
completed. Players compare their numbers to the draw. When the quantity of
matches between
the player's numbers and the draw corresponds to a winning criterion, the
player redeems his
ticket for his prize.
The invention, to profit of the time between two draws (wherein players
usually buy at most a
few tickets), uses electronic concealed tickets sold on electronic gaming
apparatuses. When
receiving one ticket, a player reveals the concealed information, compares the
ticket information
to the last draw, and may redeem the ticket based on a winning comparison.
A short time before a scheduled draw, the ticket sale ends to prevent
confusion regarding the
ticket/draw combination. In addition, draw (or game) identification is
provided on the tickets to
prevent the redemption of a wrong ticket/draw combination.
The preferred environment for the play of such game is via electronic gaming
apparatuses. These
apparatuses are maintained in communication by a network with a game server
and live keno
system.
Figure 1 illustrates the gaming system. The keno system ~0 provides keno
outcomes. ~n the
other hand, the system of the invention is composed of a central controller ~5
managing central
information and in communication with a plurality of gaming apparatuses 60
wherein players
may play the game.
Figure 2 provides a schematic illustration of the requisite steps for the play
of such game. When
a keno draw is completed, the live keno system transmits the draw result to
the game server,
which transmits the draw information 70 plus a start-distribution signal 72 to
the gaming
apparatuses. At this time, the apparatuses display a play invitation to
players with the
I identification of the draw.
Players insert credits in the apparatus and request 74 concealed electronic
tickets. Upon request,
the game server generates tickets and transmits 76 them to the requesting
apparatus. The
apparatus displays the ticket, reveals ticket information and compares ticket
information to the
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draw information 78. When a winning comparison occurs, the player is awarded a
prize 80. Such
game and process issue an instant-like game.
A short time before a scheduled draw, the game server sends an end-
distribution signal 82 to
gaming apparatuses. In response, the apparatuses stop providing tickets and
switches into an idle
mode. During this time, the game server waits for a new draw information,
registers the draw
information 70 upon reception, and sends the new draw information and a start-
distribution
signal 72 to the apparatuses. This signal triggers the start of a new game.
Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the system-participating components.
The keno system
100 provides draw information to a draw storage medium 102. This medium 102
transmits
information to an evaluation module 112 and a period controller 104. In order
to play a ticket, a
game controller 108 transmits a ticket request to a distribution module 106,
which generates a
ticket using a random number generator 110. This ticket is transmitted to the
evaluation module
112. This evaluation module 112 evaluates the ticket value and transmits
information to the
game controller lOB, which provides a representation of the game to the
player. The game
controller 108 also receives start- and end-distribution signals, inputs from
players such as ticket
requests, and game outputs such as ticket values.
To play the game, players may actually select a ticket type, which may
comprise from three to
ten numbers. The available prizes differ according to the ticket type
selected,.
Second Embodiment:
The second embodiment consists in an autonomous game; it does not depend on a
live game for
the generation of draws. The game server self generates draws when needed.
Yet, another
difference is a list of concealed electronic tickets stored in a storage
medium and distributed to
gaming apparatuses upon request. Finally, the game server compares concealed
information to
the draw before distribution to audit play information.
Regardless of the above differences, gaming apparatuses accomplish the same
functions.
A game starts when the game server generates a draw. This draw is registered
and sent to the
gaming apparatuses with a start-distribution signal. In response, the gaming
apparatuses render
the consumption of tickets available. Players purchase tickets. The ticket
request is sent to the
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game server. The game server selects tickets (either randomly or in a
predetermined order with
tickets being shuffled before starting the game), marks the ticket as
consumed, and sends the
ticket information to the requesting gaming apparatuses. Ticket information is
revealed,
compared to the draw, and a prize is awarded to winning players.
A short time before a game end or upon end-criterion monitoring, the game
server sends an end-
distribution signal to the gaming apparatuses, which ends the distribution and
make the gaming
apparatuses shift to an idle mode waiting for a new start-distribution signal.
Based on
configuration, a new game may be initiated automatically.
Figure 4 illustrates the system components according to the last embodiment. A
random number
generator 110 provides the numbers used to generate draws and shuffles/selects
tickets upon
request. A draw storage medium 102 keeps a record of the draw information. A
ticket storage
medium 124 keeps a list of tickets and transmits them to a distribution module
106 upon request,
which sends them to an evaluation module 112. The evaluation module 112
compares the draw
information to the ticket information, determines the ticket value, and sends
the information to a
game controller 10~ and a period validation module 120. The game controller
10~ allows playing
the game, while the period validation module 120 monitors end-period criteria
122 and transmits
the information to the components that need this information.
Distribution alternatives exist . For instance9 instead of storing a big
population of tickets, tickets
may be randomly generated upon demand and a monitoring memory may keep a list
of the
distributed tickets to prevent distributing the same ticket twice during a
single game.
Furthermore, the end of a game may be determined by the occurrence of a
predetermined event;
this trigger event may be based on ticket values. For instance, a game may end
when a playtime
has elapsed, the total distributed prize reaches a threshold value, an odd
criterion such as the
occurrence of a card with the sum of the first four numbers equalling the sum
of the first four
numbers of the draw. ~ With the last two alternatives, the game server detects
an game-ending
outcome, transmits an end-distribution signal to all apparatuses, generates a
new draw for the
next game, and sends a start-distribution signal and the new draw information
to the apparatuses
to start a new game. Based on preferences, either the game server or all
gaming apparatuses may
monitor game-ending criteria.
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Furthermore, the invention may be embodied on different types of gaming
apparatuses; from
standard casino gaming apparatuses to hand-held computers. The game format may
vary from
lotto, keno or bingo without departing from the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, while the invention has been described in connection with the
specific
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further
modifications. It is the
intend to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations, of the invention
following, in general, the
principles of the invention and including such departures from the present
disclosure as come
within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention
pertains. These
applications will find their essential features herein set forth in the scope
of the appended claims.
