WO2003046851A2

WO2003046851A2 - Interactive gaming

Info

Publication number: WO2003046851A2
Application number: PCT/CA2002/001803
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric Chartrand; Michel Caron
Original assignee: Zaq Inc.
Priority date: 2001-11-29
Filing date: 2002-11-22
Publication date: 2003-06-05
Also published as: CA2364240A1; WO2003046851A3; AU2002349716A8; AU2002349716A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an interactive game of chance adapted to be played on a computer, a portable telephone, a PDA or any other like appliance capable of being connected to a server through a network such as Internet. The player is provided with a medium whereon a first code is posted. The server generates a series of second codes and designates some of them as winning codes. When the player's appliance is connected to the server, the latter creates a random combination with one of the second codes. The server transmits to the player's appliance the results, that is whether his is a winning game or not.

Description

INTERACTIVE CHANCE GAME

An interactive game of chance that can be played on a computer, cell phone, PDA or similar device that can be connected to a server over a network such as the Internet. The player obtains a support on which a first code is registered. The Server generates a series of second codes and designates a number of them as winning codes. When the player's device connects to the server, the latter creates an association, at random, with one of the second codes. The server transmits to the player's device the results of whether the game is a winner or not.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of game of chance in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic representation of the block A shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic representation of the block B shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed schematic representation of part of the block C shown in FIG. 1 and of the block D shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a more detailed schematic representation of another part of the block C shown in FIG. 1 and of the block D shown in FIG. 3.

1 FIG. 6 is a more detailed schematic representation of the block E shown in FIG. 4 and of the block F shown in FIG. 5. Description of an incarnation

Game application and installation

The player acquires a ticket, from a retailer or from the authorities managing games of chance and money, on which a combination is registered (Number C). Each game ticket includes a unique combination. The game takes place directly on the player's platform, which can be a computer, a game console, a digital box for television, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone or any other form of device having the property to display an interface and allow interaction with the user. Likewise, the game requires a network, Internet or other connection, using the applications specific to the platform used, such as, for example, an Internet browser in the case of a personal computer or digital box for television or even SMS service for mobile phones. The type of platform does not matter for the present invention.

It is also possible that a media medium, such as a CDROM for example, is sold with the ticket. However, this media support "does not include any draw mechanism but only the game application, as well as graphic and sound elements to improve the interactivity of the game. In all cases, the game application must connect via a network, Internet or other connection for the draw to take place.

The installation of the game application runs differently depending on whether the game includes media or not: for example, if the game includes a CDROM, the player must first insert the CDROM into the player and follow instructions for installing the game application, visuals, music, etc. In the event that the game does not include a CD-ROM or other media, the address of the website where the player can obtain the game is indicated on the ticket, or on any form of documentation provided with the ticket, and the player must go to this address and follow the instructions for downloading the application. The installation of the downloaded application is done according to the instructions given. Finally, in the event that no game application installation or installation media support is necessary, the participant only has to connect with the secure server according to the appropriate connection mode and start a game directly online.

Combination entry

When started, the game accesses the secure server via the Internet or any other network appropriate to the chosen platform. It is important to note that the precise moment of the connection with the server in the game sequence is of no importance for the present invention. It can be done before the start of the game, during the game or just before the relevant moment in the draw section unless the game is based on a notion of time or interval.

The secure server then requests the player to enter the combination listed on their game ticket (Number C). The combination is a code which can consist of letters, numbers and / or symbols. This code allows a verification procedure either in the form of a list or an algorithm linked to the secure server, in order to ensure that the combination provided is recognized by the server. If the combination is accepted, it means that the player is in possession of a valid game ticket giving him a right of access to the draw. If the verification turns out to be negative, it means that the player entered a fictitious or incorrect combination. He will then be asked to re-enter his suit. For security reasons, after a certain number of unsuccessful attempts, the game application automatically disconnects from the secure server.

If the combination has already been used, then the system automatically allocates to the player the result of the previous draw in connection with the combination entered on the game ticket. The player can continue to foil but the result will be the same as the previous time.

It is important to note that, although the entry of a recognized combination is necessary to play, this combination is in no way related to the result of the draw. In other words, the combination listed on the game ticket is not predetermined winner or loser. Indeed, it is essential to play, or at least to connect to the server, to trigger the draw process and obtain the result (winner or loser) associated with the combination of the game ticket.

Procedure for the draw

Once the combination has been verified, it is possible to go directly to the draw or present the player, in the game environment, different puzzles, puzzles or tests before entering the draw. Theoretically, the player may not be admitted to the draw if he has not been able to successfully complete the tests presented to him in the playing environment. However, as long as the draw has not taken place , the player is able to re-enter the game until he successfully completes the tests. The draw may take place at any time during the course of the game.

For the draw stage, the secure server then communicates with the rules and random allocation control module located in the server of the authorities which manage games of chance and money. It is at this stage that the combination of the game ticket (Number C) and an encrypted number (Number E) will be associated.

Prior to the issuance of tickets, the authorities that manage games of chance and money will have stored, on a server that they host, all encrypted numbers (E number) on a database (called database number 1). Each encrypted number (E number) is unique. A first draw will have been made by the authorities in order to determine which of the encrypted numbers (Number E) will win (Number E (G)) and which will lose (Number E (P)).

Similarly, a second list of numbers, the game decisions (Number D), will preferably be created. This list contains winning game decisions (Number D (Gx)) and losing game decisions (Number D (Px)). An association will be made between the winning encrypted numbers (Number E (G)) with the winning game decisions (Number D (G)) and between the encrypted losing numbers (Number E (P)) and the losing game decisions (Number D (P)) and the associations will be stored in a second database (database number 2).

The draw consists of associating a combination as it appears on a game ticket (Number C) with an encrypted number (Number E) chosen by means of an algorithm or any other mechanical or electronic draw means. If the encrypted number is a winning number, then the combination of the game ticket that has just been associated with it becomes a winning combination and the game ticket is now a winning ticket. If chance has, on the other hand, associated an encrypted number (E number) not winning with the combination of the game ticket, this ticket becomes non-winner. When the draw is made and an encrypted number (Number E) is associated with the combination of the game ticket, this association is irreversible and irrevocable. Said combination (Number C), associated with the encrypted number (Number E), is stored in database No. 3.

Likewise, for validation purposes, the association between the combination (Number C) and the game decision (Number D) (resulting from the association between Number C and Number E) is also stored in another database. (database no 4). These game decisions may be decrypted and converted into a game result (R) allowing the selection by the game application of a game sequence, as well as the disclosure to the player of the result of the draw. It is also this database (database no 4) which will allow the server to recognize a game combination that has already been associated with an encrypted number during a draw and to communicate with the same game application. play sequence and the same play result as the previous time.

Following this step, the game ticket is determined to be a winner or not, and its holder is entitled to claim its prize, if applicable. It should be noted that after the draw, it is possible to provide in the game environment for the player to pass certain additional tests before the result of the draw is disclosed. However, this does not affect the draw procedure or the result of the draw. The random allocation algorithm can be regularly changed, for example, every thirty (30) minutes by the authorities that manage games of chance, thus ensuring even more security. In addition, the mention of gain or loss is not directly entered in the encrypted numbers (E number), this in order to increase the level of security. In the event that an individual succeeds in decoding the database containing encrypted numbers, he would only get encrypted codes (ex: Dl, D2, D3 ...) which would not allow him to discover the results, winning or loser, associated with the encrypted numbers (Number E). He would also have to decode the encrypted code to know what result is associated with each of the codes. However, encryption algorithms will be used in the present invention to increase the security of databases.

The advantage of this method is to incorporate a notion of chance in the field of interactive games of chance and money (where previously predetermination was considered essential) and this, independently of the game ticket. Indeed, the combination of the ticket can be determined winning according to the mode of drawing in place at the time of the drawing associates the combination with an encrypted number "winner", but losing if the mode of drawing in place at the time of the drawing associates the combination with an encrypted number "losing" ". It all depends on the encrypted numbers still available and the algorithm in effect when the player connects to the secure server for the draw stage.

Likewise, it would be possible to think of several other functionalities for the gambling authorities, for example, if those responsible realize that a game is very successful, they may decide to increase the number of prize or the value of prizes by changing the results associated with playing decisions; or put more tickets into circulation than initially planned and increase the number of winning gaming decisions (while respecting actuarial rules). Finally, it is much more advantageous to localize the algorithm on the server rather than on a CDROM since this makes it more difficult to access and also allows the gambling authorities to change the algorithm if necessary. reducing costs while better preventing fraud. Disclosure of results

Once the combination of the game ticket (Number C) has been associated with an encrypted number (Number E) by the rule and random allocation control module, the server will read and decode the game decision (Number D) associated with the encrypted number. If the encrypted number represents a win, the game decision (Number D) will be a win decision. The game decision (Number D) can be a series of numbers associated with or attached to each encrypted number according to its type of win. This game decision (Number D) will then be decrypted and converted into result (R), another series of numbers, but in a number less important than the game decisions. Although there is only one limited number of possible types of winnings (ex: non-winner, gain of $ 2, gain of $ 5, winnings of $ 100, etc.), the number of different game decisions may be considerable (ex: Dl, D2, D3 ... D1000), each one however being associated with one of the possible types of gain. The results (R), which determine the sequence of play and the display of the result to the player, are extracted from the play decisions (Number D) while respecting the value of the gain (ex; non-winner or gain of $ 2) of the game decision. The conversion of the game decisions may, in the present invention, be necessary for the game application which would thus not have to manage thousands of sequences for each type of possible gain.

The result in question is transmitted either by Internet or by any other appropriate type of network to the game application on the player's platform and the game application can then disconnect from the secure server. The player can continue to advance in the game environment and will have the possibility to solve the puzzles, riddles or tests of his choice. At the end of the game, the game application will see that the result (R) of the game of chance and money disclosed to the player is that attributed during the aforementioned draw, regardless of the puzzles, puzzles or proofs following the draw. The result could be disclosed as follows: “Bravo! You won $ 25,000 "or" Sorry! Better luck next time. "

It should be noted that, although the player is aware that the game application connects to the Internet, he does not know when exactly the outcome of the game is decided and he does not know the result of the game before the end of the game. The entire portion of the rule and random assignment control module is not visible to the player and only takes a few seconds. As soon as the player has entered his combination, and fulfilled the other eligibility criteria, if applicable, the transaction is carried out and the game application disconnects from the server a few moments later.

Likewise, the combination of the combination with an encrypted number will be communicated to the server of the gaming and gambling authorities, for validation purposes on its private network of terminals. The player can then present his ticket to one of the retailers or to the gambling authorities in order to claim his prize. The validation of the ticket will be done by entering the combination in the terminals, which will verify the encrypted number specifically assigned to this combination and which will return the result from the terminal.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment, it is understood that it is not limited thereto. Several modifications can be made without changing the spirit of the invention.

Claims

claims

1. An interactive game of chance comprising: a) a medium on which a first code is written; b) a platform allowing the display of a user interface and provided with means of communication with a server; c) an interactive game designed to run on the user's platform; d) a server comprising: i) means for generating a series of second codes; ii) means for randomly selecting winning codes from the second codes; iii) means of communication for exchanging data with the user's platform; iv) means for validating the first code; v) means allowing a second code to be associated at random with the first code; vi) means for determining the result, namely: if the second code, associated with the first code in step v), is a determined winning code in step ii); vii) means for transmitting the result to the platform of the user.

2. A method for a player to play an interactive game of chance, comprising the following steps:

a) the player obtains a support on which is registered a first code; b) a series of second codes is generated and stored on a server; c) a predetermined number of winning codes are chosen at random from the second codes; d) the player obtains (if required) an interactive game in the form of a media support designed to operate on his platform; the player loads or downloads the interactive game on his platform comprising communication means making it possible to connect to said server; e) the interactive game communicates with the server and sends it the first code supplied by the user; f) the server chooses one of the second codes at random and associates it with the first code; g) the server determines the result of the game of chance by checking whether the second code thus chosen is a winning code or not; h) the server connects to said platform and transfers the result to it.