Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
1
DYNAMIC SESSION BINGO GAMING SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electronic gaming systems enabling players from many
different gaming locations to participate in bingo game sessions. More
particularly, the
invention is directed to apparatus, methods, and program products for aiding
players in bingo
gaming sessions and for enhancing player participation in bingo gaming
sessions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The game referred to generally as "Bingo" is played with predetermined bingo
cards
that include a number of designations randomly arranged in a grid or other
layout of spots or
locations. The bingo cards may be physically printed on paper or another
suitable material,
or may be represented by a data structure which defines the various card
locations and
designations associated with the locations. In the traditional bingo game
sequence, a number
of the predetermined bingo cards are put in play for a particular game. After
the sale of bingo
cards is closed for a given game, designations are randomly selected from a
pool of available
designations and matched to the designations on each bingo card that is in
play in the gaine.
This matching of bingo designations randomly selected for a game and bingo
designations
associated with a card in play in the game is commonly referred to as daubing
the card and
results in a pattern or arrangement of matched spots or card locations.
Daubing was done
manually by the player holding the bingo card in traditional bingo games, and
then by a game
administrator to verify a win in the game. More recent bingo gaming systems
automatically
check for winning patterns on a bingo card as designations are randomly
selected for a game.
Regardless of how the bingo cards in play in a game are daubed, the first card
which is daubed
in some predefined way is considered a winning card for the game. The
predefined way in
which a card must be matched or daubed to produce a win in the game is
commonly defined
in terms of some identifiable pattern of matched or daubed locations on the
card. In some
cases, prizes are awarded for bingo cards achieving some predefined pattern
other than the
pattern that ends the bingo game.
Although traditional paper bingo games remain popular, networked electronic
bingo
gaming systems have been developed to facilitate more rapid play than is
possible in
traditional paper bingo operations. In these electronic bingo gaming systems,
players
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
2
participate in bingo games through electronic player stations which allow a
player to purchase
a bingo card and place it in play in a bingo game conducted between various
players at other
electronic player stations.
Bingo is commonly played in sessions made up of a number of bingo games. Bingo
played in sessions is commonly referred to as "session bingo." Session bingo
typically offers
various session prizes in addition to the regular prizes offered in the
individual bingo games
which make up a session. Although the additional session prizes that may be
available in
session bingo may increase player interest in participating in the various
sessions, there have
been problems in implementing session bingo in an electronic, wide-area
format. Amongst
the greatest problems associated with session bingo arises from having to
coordinate play in
the various bingo game sessions. A player wishing to participate in a bingo
game session may
be forced to wait an unacceptably long time before a new session starts. Yet
starting play in
an ongoing bingo game session typically reduces the player's chances winning a
session prize.
Thus, the player has a choice of waiting an unacceptably long time for the
next bingo game
session to start, or, starting play in the middle of an ongoing bingo game
session.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a session bingo gaming system in which
different bingo
game sessions are dynamically defined for each respective player in the
system. According
to the invention, a player may start their respective bingo game session with
any bingo game
conducted by the system. The invention eliminates the problem of requiring
that a player
either wait for a new bingo game session or enter in the middle of an ongoing
session.
One preferred method according to the invention includes conducting a number
of
bingo games, preferably serially one after the other. Each of a number of
players across a
network are enabled to initiate a respective bingo game session by entering a
respective bingo
game in the ongoing series of bingo games. Each bingo game session is
associated with a
respective player, a number of respective bingo games entered by the
respective player, and
an outcome for the respective player for each such bingo game. This preferred
method further
includes maintaining a session score for each bingo game session. The session
score for a
respective bingo game session is based upon the outcomes associated with the
respective bingo
game session. One score keeping arrangement awards a predefined number
ofpoints for a win
in a bingo game included in the player's session and perhaps a predefined
number of points
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
3
for certain non-winning outcomes in a bingo game included in the player's
session.
Regardless of how the score is defined and maintained, this preferred method
includes
awarding a session prize for each bingo game session having a session score
that meets a
predetermined prize winning session score. This session prize is awarded to
the player
associated with the respective bingo game session.
One preferred apparatus according to the invention includes a number of player
stations, a bingo game controller, a session tracking controller, and a
session award controller.
Each player station includes player controls that are operable to enable a
player to enter a bingo
game play request. The bingo game controller is operatively connected for
communications
with each ofthe number ofplayer stations, either directly or indirectly, and
conducts a number
of bingo games based upon game play requests entered through the player
stations. The
session tracking controller maintains the session score for each of the
different bingo game
sessions initiated by players from the various player stations. As indicated
above with respect
to methods according to the invention, each bingo game session scored by the
session tracking
controller is associated with a number of respective bingo games entered by
the respective
player, and is also associated with an outcome for the respective player for
each such bingo
game associated with the bingo game session. The session award controller
awards the session
prize to the appropriate player for each bingo game session having a session
score that meets
a predetermined prize winning session score.
The invention also encompasses a program product for directing various
processing
devices to implement session bingo methods. The program products and numerous
variations
on the above described preferred methods and apparatus will be described below
in connection
with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a high level diagrammatic representation of a session bingo gaming
system
embodying the principles of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a computer system arrangement
that may
be used for the central game server and local area servers included in the
system shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an electronic player station that
may be
used in the system shown in Figure 1.
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
4
Figure 4 is a flowchart providing a high level description of the overall
process
performed in the session bingo gaming system shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a flowchart providing a high level description of a process
executed at the
bingo game controller according to the present invention.
Figure 6 is a flowchart providing a high level description of the process
executed at
the player stations according to one form of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a flowchart providing a high level description of a process
executed by a
session tracking controller according to the present invention.
Figure 8 is a diagranunatic representation of a bingo card definition file
that may be
used in a bingo gaming system according to the present invention.
Figure 9 is a representation of a graphic display that may be presented to a
session
bingo player at a player station according to one form the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a gaming system 100 including a game server (CGS) 101 that
cooperates with a number of other components to enable bingo players,
preferably at many
different remote gaming sites, to participate in bingo games and bingo game
sessions. Each
gaming site includes a local server (LAS) 102 and a number ofplayer stations
(EPSs) 103. As
will be discussed in detail below, a player at any player station 103 in
gaming system 100 may
participate in a given bingo game with players at any other player stations
103 in the system.
Thus, players at different gaming sites may be grouped together for a given
bingo game
administered through gaming system 100.
Although gaming system 100 facilitates playing bingo games very rapidly, the
underlying game remains a standard bingo game played in the traditional
sequence of play for
bingo games. That is, each player obtains or is assigned a bingo card
representation, all bingo
card representations in play in the game are daubed (that is, checked for
matches with a
randomly generated sequence of designations), and the first bingo card
representation in the
bingo game to match the sequence of designations to produce a predefined game
winning
pattern wins the bingo game.
Central server 101 may comprise a computer system such as the basic system
shown
in Figure 2. The basic system may include one or more processors 200,
nonvolatile memory
201, volatile memory 202, a user interface arrangement 203, and a
communications interface
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
204, all connected to a system bus 205. It will be appreciated that user
interface arrangement
203 may include a number of different devices such as a keyboard, a display,
and a pointing
device such as a mouse or trackball for example, although not shown in Figure
2.
Alternatively to the integrated user interface arrangement 203 shown in Figure
2, a user
interface for central server 101 may be provided through a separate computer
(not shown) in
communication with the central server. In either case, user interface
arrangement 203 provides
an interface for use by system operators. Regardless of the particular
configuration for central
server 101, the central server performs the functions of the bingo game
controller according
to one preferred form of the invention. That is, central server 101 groups
players for
participation in bingo games offered through the system, produces or obtains
sequences of
designations (ball draws, for example) for the play of the bingo games, checks
for the results
in the bingo games, and communicates the results to local servers 102. Central
server 101 may
also implement the session award controller according to the invention.
Specific processes
performed by central server 101 to provide these functions will be described
below with
reference to Figure 5.
As used in this disclosure any sequence of designations that may be matched
against
bingo card representations in the present gaming system will be referred to as
a "ball draw"
regardless of how the sequence is actually generated. Under this defuiition,
it will be
appreciated that a ball draw may be produced by a random number generator, a
pseudo random
number generator, or any other suitable device or system, and not necessarily
a physical ball
draw device.
Each local server 102 included in gaming system 100 as shown in Figure 1 may
comprise a computer system having the same basic structure as shown in Figure
2. That is,
each local server 102 may include one or more processors 200, nonvolatile
memory 201,
volatile memory 202, user interface arrangement 203, and communications
interface 204 all
connected to system bus 205. As with central server 101, the user interface
for the respective
local server 102 provides an operator interface and may be provided through a
separate
computer in communication with the local server rather than the integrated
user interface
arrangement 203 shown in Figure 2. Regardless of the specific configuration of
a local server
102, each local server relays information from its respective player stations
103 to central
server 101 and relays information from the central server to the local
server's respective player
stations. Each local server 102 also preferably performs the functions of the
session tracking
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
6
controller for the various player stations 103 with which it is in
communication. Specific
processes that may be performed by local servers 102 according to the
invention will be
described below with reference to Figure 6.
Figure 3 shows an example of a player station 103 that may be used in a gaming
system
embodying the principles of the present invention. The illustrated player
station 103 includes
a processor 300, volatile memory 301, nonvolatile memory 302, and a
communications
interface 303. The volatile and nonvolatile memory stores player station
program code that
may be executed by processor 300 to cause the processor to perform or direct
the various
functions provided by player station 103. Communications interface 303 allows
communications between the respective player station 103 and its respective
local server 102
and/or central server 101. Player station 103 also includes a special user
interface arrangement
to facilitate player participation in the bingo games and bingo game sessions
offered through
gaming system 100 shown in Figure 1. This interface includes player controls
304, a display
or touch screen display 305, a sound system 306, and perhaps other features
307 such as
alarms or special displays or alerting devices. Each player station 103 also
preferably includes
a convenient system for allowing the player to input player-specific
information and for
receiving wagers and dispensing winnings. For example, the player station 103
shown in
Figure 3 includes a player card reader 308 that is adapted to read player-
specific information
from a player account card inserted into the reader. A player account card
may, for example,
include player information or simply a player identifier encoded on a magnetic
medium (mag
stripe) associated with the card, or encoded in a bar code, or a memory device
associated with
the player card. The illustrated player station 103 also includes a device 309
for receiving
value and issuing value in the course of play. This device may accept
currency, vouchers, or
tokens, for example, and also output currency, vouchers, or tokens. Of course
a separate
device may be used to receive and issue value for games played according to
the present
invention. Alternatively or in addition to value in/out device 309, player
stations 103 mayread
player account information from the player card or player information
otherwise input at the
player station, and account for wagers and winnings in the manner set out in
U.S. patent
application publication No. 2002-0132666-Al, entitled "Distributed Account
Based Gaming
System," the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by this
reference.
It will be appreciated that the particular configuration of devices shown in
Figure 1 is
shown only for purposes of example. A bingo gaming system according to the
present
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
7
invention may omit some or all of the separate local servers 102 at the
various gaming sites
so that the player stations 103 communicate directly with central server 101.
Also, various
regions or different gaming sites may be divided up into separate systems each
having a
respective central server such as central server 101. Furthermore, a gaming
systein embodying
the principles of the invention may include multiple central servers rather
that a single central
server 101 as shown in Figure 1.
In the following description of Figure 4 and the other process flow charts in
this
disclosure, it will be appreciated that the references to the physical
components are references
to the diagrams in Figures 1, 2, and 3 that show those components. The
components, such as
player stations 103, local servers 102, and central server 101 discussed with
reference to the
flow charts are not shown in the flow charts themselves but are shown
particularly in Figure
1.
Figure 4 shows the overall process performed by the dynamic session bingo
gaming
system 100 according to the invention. After start up and initiation of the
session bingo
gaming system, the process includes enabling players to enter a bingo game as
indicated at
process block 401. Once conditions are satisfied for conducting a bingo game,
the process
includes conducting the bingo game as indicated at process block 402. Session
scores are
maintained as indicated at process block 403, and session prizes are awarded
based on the
session scores as indicated at process block 404. The series of process steps
shown at process
blocks 401, 402, 403, and 404 represent one cycle for a given bingo game
conducted through
session bingo gaming system 100. This sequence of process steps is performed
for each bingo
game conducted in the system. Thus, as indicated at decision block 405 unless
session bingo
gaming system 100 is being shut down, the process loops back to start another
cycle through
the process steps shown at process blocks 401 through 404.
The step shown at process block 401 of enabling players to enter bingo games
is
performed partially through player stations such as player stations 103 shown
in Figure 1. A
player enters a game play request at their respective player station and this
game play request
or information relating to the game play request is ultimately communicated to
the session
tracking controller preferably implemented at the local server (102 in Figure
1) for the
respective player station, and to the bingo game controller which is
implemented at central
server 101 in the session bingo gaming system shown in Figure 1. Further
information on the
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
8
manner in which players are enabled to enter a bingo game will be described
below
particularly in connection with Figure 6.
The process of conducting a bingo game as indicated at process block 402 in
Figure
4 may be performed in the number of ways within the scope of the present
invention. In the
preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the bingo game
controller implemented
at central server 101 is responsible for collecting information related to a
number of game play
requests and then conducting a bingo game for the collected game play
requests. Further
details regarding the step of conducting the bingo game will be discussed
below in connection
with Figure 5.
The step of maintaining session scores as indicated at process block 403 in
Figure 4
is preferably performed by a number of session tracking controllers. A
respective session
tracking controller may be implemented in the system shown in Figure 1 at each
respective
local server 102. In this configuration, the session tracking controller at a
respective local
server 102 maintains the session scores for all players participating in the
gaming system at
a player station 103 located at the site of the respective local server.
Further information
regarding maintaining session scores will be described below in connection
with Figure 7.
The step of awarding a session prize based on a session score as shown at
process
block 404 in Figure 4 may include a combination of operations performed both
at the session
award controller preferably implemented at central server 101 in Figure 1, and
at the respective
local server 102. As will be described further below with reference to Figures
5 and 7, the
session award controller implemented at central server 101 may maintain
session prize
information where the session prizes are progressive prizes. Thus, the session
award controller
is involved in communicating the progressive prize value to the appropriate
player station 103
for a player entitled to a session prize. However, in the implementation shown
in Figure 1 in
which the session tracking controller is implemented at the various local
servers 102, the
session award controller implemented at central server 101 relies on the
session scores
maintained at various local servers in order to determine when a session prize
is to be awarded.
The process steps conducted for each bingo game conducted in a session bingo
gaming
system according to the present invention are preferably performed to produce
four distinct
segments for each bingo game. First, there is a sales period that roughly
corresponds to the
process shown at process block 401 in which players are enabled to enter the
current bingo
game. The second segment of a bingo game preferably comprises a ball display
period in
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
9
which the various designations from a ball draw are sequentially displayed to
each player in
the game. This segment comprises part of the process indicated at process
block 402 in Figure
4. The third segment comprises a potential winner period/daub period in which
a winning
player in the bingo game must daub their card by making a daub input at their
player station
(103 in Figure 1) in order to claim the win. This segment corresponds to a
portion of the
process performed as indicated at process block 402 in Figure 4. This segment
may be
repeated in a given bingo game in the event the first winning player fails to
take the required
daub action to claim their prize. The fourth and final segment for each bingo
game in a
preferred implementation according to the invention comprises a game over
period in which
the individual bingo game results are displayed to each player that entered
the game. The
effect of the individual bingo game on the respective player's bingo game
session is also
displayed to each player in this final segment for an individual bingo game.
This final segment
involves the winner identifying portions of the game conducting process
indicated at process
block 402, and also involves the session scoring and session prize awarding
process indicated
at process blocks 403 and 404.
Figure 5 shows a process conducted at the central server 101 shown in Figure 1
for
each game cycle in the session bingo gaming system 100. The step shown at
process block
501 and 503 in Figure 5 are steps that are performed by the bingo game
controller preferably
implemented at central server 101. The remaining steps shown at process blocks
502, 504,
505, and 506 in Figure 5 are performed by the session award controller
implemented at central
server 101. As indicated at process block 501, the bingo game controller
implemented at
central server 101 collects game play requests and holds the game play
requests until
conditions are satisfied for conducting a bingo game. In some preferred
implementations, each
bingo game cycle is associated with a predefined buy in period in which
players at the various
player stations (103 in Figure 1) may enter any game play requests for the
particular bingo
game. Some forms of the invention may place conditions on the number of
players required
in order to conduct a bingo game. For example, some implementations of the
invention may
require some minimum number of game play requests in order to conduct a bingo
game. In
these implementations, if the conditions are not met at the end of the
predetermined buy in
period, the buy in period may be extended.
The step of updating progressive prize data as indicated at process block 502
in Figure
is preferably performed at central server 101 since it is a central device
that may readily
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
receive all of the individual wager information from the various local servers
102 in Figure 1
to maintain the proper progressive prize values. Some forms of the invention
may include a
separate processing device for maintaining the progressive prizes representing
the session
prizes. Also, where the session prizes are not progressive prizes based on the
wagers that had
been placed in the bingo gaming system, it may not be necessary to update
prized data as
indicated at process block 502. Thus, the process indicated at process block
502 in Figure 5
may not be necessary where the session prizes are not progressive prizes.
Conducting the bingo game as indicated at process block 503 in Figure 5
involves
matching a ball draw with each respective bingo card representation entered in
the bingo game.
In preferred forms of the invention, designations from the ball draw are
considered
sequentially until one of the bingo card representations entered in the
respective bingo game
produces the game ending pattern that has been predefined for the bingo game
(also referred
to as a must-go pattern). In some forms of the invention the winning player is
notified of the
win in the bingo game and is given a period of time to take some action at
their respective
player station (103 in Figure 1) to claim the win. Some implementations of the
invention may
require the player to make a daub input at the player station to obtain a
first portion of the ball
draw necessary to produce a winning pattern, and then make a second daub input
to obtain the
remaining portion of the ball draw necessary to produce the winning bingo
pattern. If any
player does take the action or actions necessary to claim their bingo win as
required by the
particular game rules, additional designations may be considered by the bingo
game controller
until the game-winning pattern is achieved on another bingo card
representation in play for the
bingo game. This process may be conducted several times until a player takes
the appropriate
actions to claim the bingo win and end the game. The present invention
encompasses any
manner in which the bingo game may be conducted and bingo win determined.
The step of sending results for the bingo game indicated at process block 504
in Figure
5 may be implemented in several different ways within the scope of the present
invention. In
one preferred form of the invention, all bingo card representations in play in
the game are
shown daubed at the respective player stations assuming the players each take
the required
daub action or actions. A win indicator is also preferably communicated to the
player station
or stations producing the winning bingo pattern so that the win may be
highlighted at the
respective player stations. In any event, the preferred form of the invention
illustrated as an
example in Figure 1 relays win information from central system 101 through the
local servers
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
11
102. The session tracking controllers implemented at the various local servers
102 also use this
bingo game result information to maintain the session scores as will be
described further below
in connection with Figure 7.
The session win information received as indicated at process block 505 in
Figure 5, is
received from the session tracking controllers implemented at the local
servers 102 in Figure
1. This session win information may comprise simply some indication that a
session prize has
been won. The session award controller preferably implemented that central
server 101
responds to this session win information by sending the appropriate prize
information back to
the local server as indicated at process block 506. The session prize
information
communicated at process block 506 may comprise simply the appropriate prize
value for the
session win. It may also be necessary for the session award controller to
update the session
prize values in response to the session win information received as indicated
at process block
505. In any event, unless the system is being shut down as indicated at
process block 507, the
process loops back to collect game play requests for the next bingo game at
block 501.
Figure 6 shows one preferred process performed at player stations 103 in
session bingo
gaming system 100 shown in Figure 1. After a player login as indicated at
process block 601,
the illustrated method includes displaying the current bingo game and session
information at
the player station as indicated at process block 602. Numerous variations are
possible as to
the manner in which current bingo game and current bingo game session
information is
displayed. An example display will be described below with reference to Figure
9. Assuming
the player does not log off as indicated by the outcome at decision block 603
in Figure 6, the
method proceeds to wait for a game play request to be entered at the player
station as indicated
at process block 604. Once a game play request is entered, the process
includes updating the
display at player station. In particular, the display will be updated to show
the player's bingo
cards placed in play according to the game play request and perhaps a wager
level and other
information associated with the game play request. In the process illustrated
in Figure 6, the
failure of the player to enter the next bingo game available for the player's
bingo game session
will operate to terminate the player's bingo game session. Thus, if the player
fails to enter the
current game available in the session bingo gaming system as indicated by a
negative outcome
at decision block 605, the illustrated process branches to process block 607.
As indicated at
process block 607, the process includes receiving any session prize to which
the player is then
entitled according to their session score. The process then continues with
another bingo game
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
12
cycle beginning at process block 602. If the player has entered the current
game as indicated
by a positive outcome at decision block 605, the process proceeds to receive
the result of the
current bingo game as indicated at process block 606. The process shown at
process block 606
also includes receiving any session prize to which the player is entitled
based on their session
score in the case that the current game is the final game of their then
current bingo game
session. After receiving the results of the current bingo game and any session
prize for a
session completed by the current bingo game, the process loops back from
process block 606
to begin another bingo game cycle at the player station beginning at process
block 602.
As will be discussed below with reference to Figure 7, preferred forms of the
invention
reset a player's bingo game session if they fail to enter the next available
game offered in the
session bingo gaming system. Also,.once a session is complete in view of the
player
participating in some maximum number of bingo games for a given bingo game
session, the
player begins a new bingo game session. Thus, displaying the current bingo
game session
information as indicated at process block 602 in Figure 6 may include showing
a new session
in which no session score is available and in which no bingo game results for
the session are
available. However where the player has already completed one or more bingo
games for their
bingo game session, displaying the current bingo game and bingo game session
information
in cases preferably includes displaying the outcome for each bingo game in the
player's
session, including an indication of any bingo game outcome that increases the
player's session
score.
Each game play request entered as indicated at process block 604 in Figure 6
is
associated with at least one bingo card representation that defines a bingo
card having some
arrangement of symbols or designations. The session bingo system shown in
Figure 1 maybe
played with standard 5-by-5 grid bingo cards, 3-by-3 grid bingo cards, cards
comprising a
single straight line of spots or card locations, or cards having some other
arrangement of spots.
Regardless of the nature of the bingo card played in the particular game, the
card is represented
by a data structure, and thus is described as a bingo card representation in
the present
disclosure. An example of the structure will be described below with reference
to Figure 8.
In the example session bingo gaming system 100 shown in Figure 1, central
server 101
may maintain a large set of bingo card representations available for use in
the various bingo
games conducted through the system. Subsets of these bingo card
representations are
preferably delivered periodically to the various local servers 102 and then
the local servers 102
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
13
assign individual bingo card representations to each game play request entered
through one of
the local player stations 103. In any case, the bingo card representations
assigned to the
various game play requests are ultimately communicated to the bingo game
controller
implemented at central server 101 so that the central server my conduct the
bingo game and
identify the bingo winner or winners.
Making the card definition for a particular bingo card available to the
component in
the system that determines the results of play for the particular bingo card
may be handled in
a variety and different ways within the scope of the present invention. In one
preferred form
of the invention, each player station 103, each local server 102, and the
central server 101
stores or has ready access to a bingo card definition file containing a large
number of records
each representing a particular bingo card and including a unique card
identifier or index value.
In this arrangement for storing card definitions, only the card identifier
need be communicated
between the system components in order for the system components to have a
definition for
the respective card. A system component having the card identifier for a
particular card may
simply look up the identifier in the card definition file and read the card
definition associated
with the identifier.
Alternatively to including a card definition file at each player station 103,
each local
server 102, and central server 101, the various components may communicate the
actual card
definitions. Communicating the actual card definitions obviates a requirement
for storing card
definition files at the various system components but requires that more data
be communicated
between the various system components.
Figure 7 shows one preferred process performed by a session tracking
controller
according to the invention. In the illustrated process, once a player login is
detected as
indicated at process block 701 the method includes checking to see if there is
any continuing
session as indicated at decision block 702. If there is no continuing session
for the player
having logged in as detected at process block 701, the illustrated process
includes adding a
record to a current session summary table as indicated at process block 703.
As will be
discussed below, this record in the current session summary table will be used
to maintain the
session score and other data regarding the respective session. For a positive
outcome at
decision block 702, the process skips the step of adding a record to the
current session
summary table. If the next game for the given session has been entered as
indicated by a
positive outcome at process block 704, process continues to collect data for
the session and
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
14
update the current session summary table as indicated at process block 705.
This data
collected for the current session comprises data for a current bingo game the
player has
entered. If the session tracking controller determines the session is complete
as indicated by
a positive outcome at decision block 706, the process continues on to check
for a session win
based on the current session score and predefined standards for session wins.
This process of
checking for any session win is indicated at process block 707. The process at
process block
707 also includes sending session win information to the session award
controller (preferably
at central server 101 in Figure 1) in the event a session win is detected.
Some preferred forms
of the invention also include storing any completed session data in an
appropriate archive and
then clearing the record for that session from the current session summary
table. Ailer process
block 707, if the player has not logged out as indicated by a negative outcome
at decision
block 708, the process loops back to the point immediately above decision
block 702 to begin
the session tracking controller process for the next bingo game available to
the player in the
session bingo gaming system. In the event that the next game for the
particular session being
tracked by the process shown in Figure 7 has not been entered as indicated by
a negative
outcome at decision block 704, the process skips to process block 707 since
the fact that the
next game available for the session was not entered effectively completes the
players current
session in this preferred form of the invention. In the event, the player logs
out as indicated
by a positive result at decision in block 708, the player station may simply
go to an attract
mode awaiting the next log in.
It should be noted that the process conducted as indicated in Figure 7 is
performed for
everyplayer logged in to the sessionbingo gaming system such as system 100
shown in Figure
1 for each bingo game available to players in the session bingo gaming system.
Thus, the
process shown in Figure 7 continuously maintains the session score for each
bingo game
session initiated in the session bingo gaming systein and clears any completed
or terminated
sessions to make ready for the next current bingo game session initiated by
the respective
player.
In one preferred implementation of the invention, the current session summary
table
includes a record for each currently ongoing bingo gaming session being
tracked bythe session
tracking controller. The following table shows one preferred content of each
record in the
current session summary table for one form of the invention.
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
Current Session Summary Table
Session Summary ID = a unique identifier for this respective session
Session ID = a unique identifier for the player associated with this session
Game Numbers Played = bingo game numbers played in this session
Game Numbers Won = bingo game numbers won in this session
Game Numbers Near Miss = bingo game numbers having a near miss in this session
Number of Games Played = total number of bingo games played in this session
Number of Games Won = total number of bingo games won in this session
Number of Near Miss Games = total number of near miss bingo games in this
session
Session Score = current session score in this session
Session Start Time = start time for this session
This current session summary table is maintained together with a card game
information table
and a game summary identification table.
Card Game Information Table
Sales Transaction ID = unique identifier for purchase of bingo cards for a
bingo game
Card ID= unique identifier for the purchased card
Session Summary ID= unique identifier for respective session for which the
cards sold
Game Summary ID= unique identifier for the bingo game for which the cards were
sold
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
16
Game Summary Identification Table
Game Summary ID= unique identifier for this respective table record
Game Number = unique identifier for this respective bingo game
Game Start Time = start time for this bingo game
Quorum Start Time = start time for collecting game play requests for this
bingo game
End Game Time = end time for this bingo game
Cards in Play = total number of bingo cards in play for this game
Ball Draw Seed = value of ball draw seed for producing ball draw for this
bingo game
Number of Balls = total number of bingo designations used in game
Number of Rounds = total number of winning card daub rounds required
Remote Game Flag =
Figure 8 shows an example data structure for defining bingo cards for use in
the
gaming system shown in Figure 1. The data structure represents a file or card
definition file
801 that includes a number of records 802, labeled record 0 through record X
in the figure.
The file may contain a very large number of card definitions, for example,
three thousand or
more records 802. Card definition file 801 will generally also include header
information 804
that may include identifying information for the file and other data related
to the card
definition file. The first designation in each record (the designation in the
leftmost column in
Figure 8) represents a card identifier or index that identifies the card face
defined by the
remainder of the record. The remainder of the record includes a list of
designations
representing the designations at the various spots on the card face.
It will be appreciated that the invention may use card definition data
structures different
from that shown for purposes of example in Figure 8. For example, the
identifier may be
located at any location within the data structure and the spots may not be in
the order indicated
in Figure 8, and may not be comma delimited.
Figure 9 shows an example graphic display 900 that may be presented at a
player
station such as a station 103 shown in Figure 1. This display is presented on
a video display
device such as video display device 305 shown in Figure 3 in accordance with
the step at
process block 602 in Figure 6. This example display 900 is divided into
several distinct
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
17
sections providing different information for the player. A central portion 901
of display 900
is reserved for displaying the bingo card or cards 902 the player has placed
in play for the
current bingo game conducted in the session bingo gaming system 100 shown in
Figure 1.
This particular display assumes that the player may place a maximum of nine
bingo cards 902
in play for a given bingo game, and that the player has entered the maximum
number of bingo
card representations. The appearance of the bingo cards 902 shown in display
area 901 of
Figure 9 assumes that the current game is ongoing and thus some of the
locations on the bingo
cards are shown as being daubed or marked to indicate a match between the
respective bingo
card designation and a designation that has been called in the game.
It should be noted that the same display area 901 maybe used for enabling a
player to
select bingo cards to place in play for the current bingo game during the
current bingo game
buy in period. For example, at the start of the buy in period nine new bingo
card faces may
be displayed in display area 901. These bingo cards are preferably displayed
in some
graphically muted fashion of some other fashion to indicate that the cards are
not yet in play
for the current bingo game. From this initial display, the player may touch
the representation
of the card on the touchscreen video display device once to purchase the
respective card
representation and put it in play, that is, enter it in the current bingo
game. Touching the
respective bingo card representation a second time may cause a new bingo card
representation
to appear in that place and this new card may either be placed in play with
one touch or
swapped out again with two touches. When a displayed bingo card face is placed
in play in
the current bingo game, it is preferably highlighted graphically to indicate
to the player that
it has been purchased and entered in the current bingo game.
The upper left corner of example display 900 shows a flash board 903 which
indicates
all of the bingo designations that are available to be called for the
respective bingo game and
all of the bingo designations that have been called for the current bingo
game. The called
designations are highlighted in this example. The area at the far left of
display 900 includes
additional information relating to the current game. In particular, the most
recent number or
designation called in the bingo game is displayed at 905 and a winning pattern
for the current
game is shown at 906. In one preferred form of the invention the area at 905
may also be
controlled to show a countdown timer during the sales or buy in period for a
given bingo game.
Such a countdown timer lets the player know how long they have left to make a
game play
request for the current game, this is, enter at least one bingo card
representation in the current
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
18
bingo game. Other areas of example display 900 may alternatively be used for
such a
countdown timer for the sales/buy in period. "Pattern pays" window 907 will
show the
winning amount for the current bingo game when that amount becomes known to
the system.
In preferred forms of the invention, the amount paid for a given bingo game
win is based on
some percentage of the wagers made for the bingo game, and thus the amount is
available only
after sales are closed for the bingo game (since the buy in period is over for
the state of
example display 900, there should be a value in the "pattern pays" window,
although this
example does not show such a value). A "player paid" window 908 shows the
amount the
player is paid for a given bingo game, including any session prize that may be
awarded after
the current bingo game. The left-hand side of example display 900 also
includes several
touchscreen implemented virtual buttons which may be activated by player by
touching the
video screen on which display 900 is produced. In this particular example,
display 900
includes a "cash out" button 909 that allows the player to cash out from the
player station, a
"pick dauber" button 910 that invokes a customization interface to enable the
player to
customize certain aspects of display 900, and "help" button 911 which may be
invoked to
show various help messages.
Areas along the top and right side of example display 900 show information
relevant
to the player's current bingo game session in addition to other information.
In particular, a
session tracking display 915 shows a separate display 916 for each bingo game
in the player's
current bingo game session. This example display is appropriate for situations
in which the
maximum number of games in a given bingo game session is 10. Each single game
display
916 includes the game-winning pattern together with the number of points that
have been
awarded for the player's session score as a result of the player participating
in that particular
game. In preferred forms of the invention any game in which the player is
awarded points
toward their session score is marked with an appropriate marking. For example,
example
display 900 shows that the player won the second bingo game in their bingo
game session and
was awarded four points toward their session score. The fact that the single
game displays
four bingo games completed indicates that the current bingo game for this
particular player
represents the fifth game in their current bingo game session. The total score
for the player's
current bingo game session is shown at display area 918 together with an
indication of the
game number for the current game shown at 919.
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
19
The right side of sample display 900 includes a window indicating the amount
charged per bingo card entered in a bingo game conducted through the system.
This amount
is shown in the window 921 and comprises 25 cents per card in this example. A
"total debt"
window 922 shows the player's total debt for the current bingo game (this
window should
show $2.25 for the current game in which nine cards have been placed in play).
"Balance"
window 923 shows the player's current balance in the gaming system. The "bet
all"
touchscreen implemented button 924 allows a player to enter the maximum bet
for a given
bingo game, entering all nine card faces displayed when the button is invoked.
This bet all
feature provides an alternative to the individual card picking arrangement
described above.
The virtual "Daub" button 925 enables the player to daub their bingo cards in
the current bingo
game to claim a win. As discussed above, one or more, inputs may be required
under the
applicable bingo game rules of play.
Example display 900 shows three different session bonus prize levels that are
available
to the player. These three session prize levels are preferably progressive
prizes that are
updatedperiodicallybased on some percentage ofthe total wagers placed in the
gaming system
since the last session win at that level. Typically such a progressive prize
will start out with
some seed value. Example display 900 shows a highest session prize level in
window 927.
This bonus prize is awarded when the player achieves a total session score of
75 or more
points for the given bingo game session. A second session prize level is shown
in window
928. This session prize level is awarded when a player achieves a total
session score of
between 50 points and 74 points in a given bingo game session. The lowest
session prize level
is shown in window 929. This session prize level is awarded to any player
achieving a session
score of between 25 points and 49 points for a given bingo game session.
It will be appreciated that systems using general purpose processing devices
to
implement and control the functions of the player stations, session tracking
controller, bingo
game controller, and other controllers included in the session bingo gaming
system will
include operational program code to direct the general purpose processors to
perform the
required functions. Thus, the invention encompasses program products. In
particular, the
invention includes session tracking program code and session award program
code. The
session tracking program code is executable for maintaining the session score
for each of a
number of bingo game sessions. As discussed above each bingo game session is
uniquely
associated with a respective player, with a number of respective bingo games
entered by the
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
respective player, and also with an outcome for the respective player for each
bingo game
associated with the bingo game session. The session tracking program code is
also preferably
executable for resetting the bingo game session for a player in the event the
player fails to enter
one of a number of consecutive bingo games. The session award program code is
executable
for awarding a session prize for each bingo game session having a session
score that meets a
predetermined prize winning session score. This session prize is awarded to
the player
uniquely associated with the respective bingo game session.
It should be noted that the invention is not limited to any particular scoring
scheme for
producing session scores or to any scheme for identifying the prize level
session scores. In one
preferred form of the invention, points are awarded to a player for winning a
bingo game, a
lesser number of points are awarded to players achieving a near miss for a
bingo game. A near
miss may be defined as the winning pattern less one spot achieved on the first
fifteen bingo
designations called for the given game. However, the invention is by no means
limited to this
scoring arrangement.
A program product according to the invention may also include bingo engine
program
code which is executable to conduct the bingo games in the system. Player
station program
code executable at a player station to enable a respective player to enter a
game play request
for a respective bingo game. This player station program code is also
preferably executable
for directing a display device to display a respective session display at the
player station.
Similarly to example display 900, this displaypreferably shows the respective
player's session
score for the player's current bingo game session.
As used herein, whether in.the above description or the following claims, the
terms
"comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving,"
and the like are
to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited
to. Only the
transitional phrases "consisting of' and "consisting essentially of,"
respectively, shall be
closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to
claims, in the United
States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition,
August 2001
as revised May 2004), Section 2111.03.
Use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc., in the claims
to modify a
claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of
one claim
element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed. Rather,
unless otherwise stated, ordinal terms are merely as labels to distinguish one
claim element
CA 02622358 2008-03-12
WO 2007/032999 PCT/US2006/034954
21
having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of
the ordinal
term).
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the
principles of
the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other
embodiments and
modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in
the art without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
