FR2860085A1 - Game e.g. lottery game, system for use in casino, has mobile telephone enabling cases to enter into communication with server that verifies possible gain at given row and validating transaction enabling player to collect gain - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has chip cards (3), each storing a unique serial number and pseudo random sequence when inserted in memory card readers. The serial number and the sequence are stored in a computer server (16). A mobile telephone (18) enables cases (1) to enter into communication with the server that verifies a possible gain at a given row. The server validates a transaction enabling a player to collect the gain.

Description

The invention relates to gaming machines and their associated system.

  All civilizations have developed in their seing games of different kinds, individual or collective, using the skill or skill of the player, and usually leaving more or less important to chance. Gambling is omnipresent in the history of humanity.

  The lottery, lotto, betting on races or number of games equivalent in principle have emerged, and, if they have long provided the states a source of significant income, they also bring players in search of gain a dream share for an expense in principle reasonable.

  The practice of games generally has the disadvantages for the player to have to move, take place in often smoky atmospheres, to buy chips, validate his bets, play his game at the Casino, recover his winnings. In addition, the player is obliged to respect the opening hours of the places of access to these games.

  The invention described below provides an answer to these drawbacks.

  The system according to the invention consists of a plurality of individual devices that can connect to a computer server, each device being designed to accommodate a prepaid chip card and to play games of chance, of the type of those found in Casinos, but without the need to move, devices that can communicate with said computer server via the wired or cellular telephone network.

  In its most general form, the invention is composed of a plurality of identical devices communicating via a standard or cellular telephone network with a remote computer server. Each device allows you to play games simulating and generally respecting the rules of games found in casinos, such as the slot machine or roulette.

  The invention is essentially characterized in that each smart card inserted in a reader of the device stores a unique serial number and a pseudo-random sequence, each element of the sequence comprises a rank number which is associated with a loss or a determined gain, so that said unique serial number and said pseudo random sequence are also stored in the computer server (16). The stakes are simulated by a count on an amount entered in a memory card inserted in the device. Conversely, the gains are credited to this amount. Another micro-module type memory card as used in mobile phones is capable of authenticating the box as needed, especially for gains greater than a given amount, this micro module also stores a code to identify the user.

  The initial amount is stored in a prepaid memory card, a priori equal to the purchase price thereof.

  The player can play the games of his choice, for example play slots, roulette or poker and choose the amount of each bet, for example a half euro per bet if he wants to be able to perform a large number of games. put low values or two euros per bet if he wants to make more important bets. Of course, when the amount entered in the memory card reaches a zero amount, continuation of the game is impossible and the player must replace the card in place another card of a non-zero amount if he wishes to continue the game.

  At any time the player may decide to continue the game and therefore engage new bets, provided that the remaining amount in his memory card is sufficient or decide to stop playing. In this case, he can either choose to resume game 3.5 later or decide to request payment of the amount in his memory card by connecting to the remote server.

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  The speed of movement of one of the fingers of the player on a touch surface, will determine the speed of launching the roulette wheel or the rotation of the symbols. To be even more realistic the apparatus of the invention may include a joystick simulating the handle of a slot machine and whose driving speed will influence the speed of movement of the symbols on the screen of the device. In a simple version, symbol training can be carried out at the touch of a button.

  In any case, the expectation of gain respects a law of probability approximately in line with that of a traditional game and this in order to create a real motivation in the player.

  When a player decides to claim payment of the amount that is stored in the smart card and displayed on the screen, depending on the results of games made by the player using his device, he uses his device and a handset any telephone to establish a communication with the remote server or any other means of remote transmission known to the state of the art for exchanging data that will validate the amount entered in the smart card and, where appropriate , to implement a payment procedure by any possible means.

  In order to avoid any fraudulent manipulation, the contents of the memory card, the registration and the modification of an amount in it, the exchanges of data between the devices and the remote server are the subject of security techniques known from the state of the art. In order to respond to the fact that any security technique has limitations, a simple principle is to limit the amount of possible gains to relatively small sums given the cost of implementing the necessary fraudulent techniques, and only a very few cards are programmed to deliver a significant gain as will be specified later. Another principle is to require the surrender of the physical card before acceptance of payment for verification of authenticity and non-violation.

  In a simplified form of the invention, it does not include a computer server, players are invited to go to predefined places to claim the amount in their memory card.

  In another simplified form of the invention, no payment can be claimed, the games having in this case a vocation only playful.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention presented in FIG. 1 each apparatus is in the form of a flat housing (1) provided with a screen (2), action means (4), (5) ), (7) and (8), control lights (6), communication means (18) via a telephone handset (9) or by other means with a remote computer server (16), said means for communication with the host may be radiofrequency type via for example a mobile phone or infrared type for proximity transfers. The housing (1) is adapted to receive a memory card (3). The memory card (3) includes a specific code specific to each card, game software such as a slot machine simulator or roulette, algorithms for simulating the results of games. These possibilities are functions of the actions performed by the players by means of the means of action (4), (5), (7) or (8) working alone or in combination. The action means (4) is a button, the action means (5) is a cursor, the action means (7) is a joystick and the action means (8) is a virtual cursor.

  A chip microcircuit (10) stores an identification code for authentication of the housing (1), said microcircuit also memorizes algorithms to ensure the security of the system. In case of gain, the code of the authentication microcircuit is transmitted to the data center. Said microcircuit (10), is by design renewable when needed, and stores in a read-only memory new games, more powerful displays or updates to prevent too rapid obsolescence of the housing (1). Said microcircuit can also memorize the coordinates of the player which will allow a simplified settlement of the winnings.

  The development of a game result may be a function of the actions performed by the player, that is to say for example of his choice on the keys actuated, its action force, its speed of action, the distance of movement of a button. Indeed, the strength of the player's action will increment the rank number of 1, 2, 3, n.

  Thus the action of the player can influence the result without changing the distribution law.

  With each action of one of the action means of the player, the latter will see appear on the screen the equivalent of what he would see in front of a real slot machine, namely the three or four rotating discs presenting to the player. stop a triplet or quadruplet of images, each of which can be a number, a fruit, the joker or something like a real machine. At the beginning of each game, the amount entered in the memory card is deducted from the bet chosen by the player.

  In case of winning at the end of a game, for example if the result has resulted in a JackPot, the amount and rank are stored in the card of the corresponding gain.

  The card programmer can decide whether or not to register one or more jackpots in the cards. This has the disadvantage of allowing the reading of the potential results by an individual with fraudulent intentions, except to use some relatively expensive technologies intended to prevent such readings, for example those that consist in drowning the memory chip in a resin difficult to remove. .

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a completely deterministic manner, a pseudo-random sequence stored in both the smart card (3) and in the memory of the computer server (16) is used. Each card is identified by the server with its unique code number, and each rank is a unique result for a given smart card.

  The housing (1) is provided with a key (4), allowing the player to initiate the virtual rotation of the symbols described above on the display screen (2). To allow more realism to the game, instead of the key (4), a cursor (5), whose linear translation from top to bottom will cause the virtual rotation of the symbols, said rotational speed then dependent on the speed of movement of said cursor by the player. After being maneuvered, the cursor is returned to its original position by any spring. The cursor could be replaced by a joystick (7), more simulating the original game, but this last solution is certainly more fragile.

  The solution likely to be more reliable is to replace any mechanical device such as a key, slider or joystick by an active touch surface (8), preferably located to the right of the screen (2) or on the screen itself . The vertical movement up and down the player's finger sliding on the touch surface will cause the virtual rotation of the symbols.

  During the virtual rotation of the displayed symbols a characteristic sound signal will be emitted by a loudspeaker microphone (11). In case of gain, a sound signal will reproduce the sound of the coins that fall virtually and accumulate at the bottom of the screen (2). The more the gain will be important the more the noises will be important and a playful animation can appear on the screen (2).

  Part of the screen continuously displays the realized gain and the residual balance.

  Before playing, it will first be necessary to buy from a tobacconist or other authorized place, a chip card (3) representing a sum of money.

  By introducing said card into a slot for this purpose of the housing (1), the screen prompts the user to choose an option defining the value of the virtual coins. For example in the value of a prepaid card of twenty euros, the player can choose: 40 pieces of a half euros or 20 pieces of 1 euros or 10 pieces of 2 euros. The chosen option will be valid for the duration of the game and will define the maximum possible gain like real casino machines.

  At any time the player has the choice: to continue playing, to stop to play later or to touch his winnings.

  To gain gain, the invention has two variants.

  1 / the preferential cashing procedure according to the invention allows the player to cash his winnings without moving. To do this, the player who wishes to touch his winnings will have to press the housing (1) against the microphone of a telephone handset and press a dedicated key (12) of said housing. This action will cause the transmission of DTMF (or any other acoustic code) of the microphone speaker (11) for connection to the computer server center (16), then the transfer of data via the acoustic medium.

  The host receiving said data comprising: - the code number of the smart card (3), - the rank number of the last game, possibly the number of the authentication chip that identifies the player, 25 will validate the gain according to the means described in this document.

  Once the gain is validated, and automatically, the player will be put in telephone contact with a person who will proceed to the payment by all known means, check, transfer, money orders etc. In the case where the microcircuit stores the bank details of the player or that the number of said microcircuit allows the computer server to identify said bank details, the server proceeds to pay the winnings automatically by bank transfer.

  The connection to the host center and the transmission of the user data defined above can also be performed by means of an infrared or radio frequency link which will be provided with the housing (1) which is capable of cooperating with a mobile phone provided with such interface or with a device incorporating such an interface connected through a socket trundle to a conventional telephone.

  All other means of communication known to connect to the computer server (16), remain within the scope of equivalent means and are not described as obvious in view of the state of the art 2 / According to the second variant, the player is returns to the tobacconist's office or any other authorized place, and delivers the chip card to the tobacconist or any other person authorized to pay the winnings. The latter will introduce the smart card into an ad hoc device (17), said device will query the dedicated computer server (16) who will perform the checks and controls useful to validate the winnings and pay the player.

  Set winnings are increased by current cards that have not been played.

  A contribution to management fees may be levied on the gain or be taken into account in the distribution laws that will be judiciously programmed to meet the expected gains similar to those offered by casino machines.

  According to the commercial policy of the gaming company, this contribution can be integrated into the cost of acquisition of the card by a player or levied indirectly by appropriately biasing the expectations of earnings.

  Operating Principle of the Invention: The housing (1) is provided with an electronics articulated around a microprocessor managing a RAM memory and a ROM memory. Said memory stores several screen displays, or even several games, the player can choose at will the machine or the game of his choice before starting to play to avoid weariness. According to another version, it is the smart card that determines the display and / or the game, all the displays and / or games being previously stored in ROM, the smart card for operating the choice of the game and the display.

  The smart card memorizes, in turn, a pseudo-random print sequence, whose probability of winning is comparable to a sequence obtained by traditional gaming machines.

  Thus, each rank corresponds to a result, namely a screen display, a gain, or most often a loss. All of these results are both maskedly stored in the memory card (3) and in the memory of the computer server (16).

  Each chip card (3) corresponds to a unique serial number and of course the sequences stored in each card are also stored in the computer server (16), or a function of the serial number and the rank of the print allowing the server determine the potential gain as soon as the serial number and the rank of the draw are known.

  Thus, as has been said above according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, all games are determined in advance, the player has the only free will to stop in case of winning, or to continue to try to win more or lose ...

  To make the game more exciting and to give the player the feeling that he can influence the result according to his action on the slider (5) or on the tactile surface (8), said action being supposed to throw with more or less force the rotation of the virtual symbols, it is possible to add another parameter to the result of the game. For example a more or less rapid action on the means of actions (4), (5), (7) or (8) of player will increment the rank from one to five, so for a weak action of the cursor the rank will be incremented by one, for a slightly stronger action, two units and so on, and for a vigorous action of the cursor, the rank will be incremented by five units. As each row corresponds to a perfectly defined result as it was said above, the action of the player actually influences the outcome of the games.

  To avoid fraud attempts, one solution is to ensure that, for cards whose pseudo-random sequence stores a very high gain, said gain is automatically won by the player, for example by removing any significant gain before the number of Winning jackpot, which allows any player with a high-reward card to not be tempted to collect potential winnings before the jackpot or high win, and the potential scammer not to attempt to read the content of a map that for the most part only memorize pseudo random sequences generating more modest gains. It will be known that any potentially winning card with high winnings is out of the box.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention and / or to harmonize with the legislation in force in such or such country, the present invention is not intended for money gains, but for games or lotteries provided for in purely for fun purposes or that can yield different lots, points to win gifts, travel, television, etc.

Claims (1)

11 Claims   1 - System consisting of a plurality of individual boxes each comprising an electronic management unit for a memory card reader, means of communication with a computer server (16), a screen (2), and security and authentication means and means of action; characterized in that each chip card (3) inserted in said reader stores a unique serial number and a pseudo random sequence, each element of the sequence comprising a rank number with which a determined loss or gain is associated, said number of single series and said pseudo-random sequence also being stored in the computer server (16).   2 - System according to claim 1, characterized in that each individual housing comprises means for entering into communication with said computer server (16) so that it verifies a possible gain at a given rank and validate the transaction allowing the player to recover said gain.   3 - System according to claim 1, characterized in that a micro chip module (10) stores an identification code for the authentication of the housing (1), algorithms to ensure the security of the system, and in the event of a gain, the microcircuit code is transmitted to the computer server (16) for purposes of validation and identification of the player allowing the host to pay a gain automatically.   4 - System according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the microcircuit (10) is renewable and stores in a ROM new games, displays or updates of the housing (1).   5 - System according to claim 1, characterized in that the micro housing (1) has the means of action (4), (5), (7) or (8), the action means (4) being a button , the action means (5) being a cursor, the action means (7) being a joystick and the action means (8) being a virtual cursor.   6 - System according to claim 1 characterized in that one of the means capable of communicating with the host is the acoustic transmission, the housing (1) is pressed against the microphone of a telephone handset (9) and the pressure on a dedicated key (12) causes the emission of an acoustic code by the loudspeaker (11) for the transfer of data via said acoustic medium.   7 - System according to claim 1 characterized in that, when the smart card (3) is introduced into an ad hoc device (17), said device interrogating the dedicated computer server (16) which performs the checks and controls useful to validate the winnings.   8 - System according to claim 1 characterized in that a ROM (15) of the housing (1) stores several screen displays or even more games.   9 - System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the manner of actuating the means of actions (4), (5), (7) or (8) by the player will increment the rank of one to n the rank of the pseudo random draw sequence.   - System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chip card (3) stores a pseudo-random drawing sequence, whose probability of gain is comparable to a sequence obtained by traditional gaming machines.   11 - System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each row corresponds to a result either a gain or a loss, all of these results being both memorized masked in the memory card (3) and in the memory of the computer server (16).   12 - System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a more or less rapid action on the action means (4), (5), (7) or (8) of the player will increment in a variable manner the rank of the pseudo-random draw sequence.   13 - System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cards (3) whose pseudo-random sequence stores a very high gain do not generate a significant gain before the winning rank 14 - System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusted winnings are increased by in-progress cards which have not been played.