WO2003049826A1 - Systeme et procedes evolutifs - Google Patents

Systeme et procedes evolutifs Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003049826A1
WO2003049826A1 PCT/US2002/018817 US0218817W WO03049826A1 WO 2003049826 A1 WO2003049826 A1 WO 2003049826A1 US 0218817 W US0218817 W US 0218817W WO 03049826 A1 WO03049826 A1 WO 03049826A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
prize
monetary
progressive
acceptor
monetary transaction
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/018817
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English (en)
Inventor
Lawrence J. Torango
Original Assignee
Torango Lawrence J
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Torango Lawrence J filed Critical Torango Lawrence J
Priority to AU2002310420A priority Critical patent/AU2002310420A1/en
Publication of WO2003049826A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003049826A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to system and methods used to link devices to prizes and control the participation for prizes. More particularly, the system and methods enable devices that accept wagers, payments for goods or services, or any other monetary transaction, and devices capable of using different currencies or using different denominations within a particular currency to participate for common prizes.
  • Prior art related to progressive prizes generally utilize gaming devices that typically contain one or more games that can be played for various prizes.
  • Each game has a pay table that consists of one or more pay lines defining all possible outcomes of one play of the game that can result in awarding a prize to a player.
  • a particular game's theoretical pay out percentage also known as payback percentage, can be mathematically computed from the pay table. The computation compares the prize values for each pay line and the odds the player has to win the prize, to the theoretical sum of all wagers that would need to be pleyed to reach every possible outcome.
  • the theoretical pay out of different gaming devices may vary considerably. This is particularly true when the class of gaming devices include games such as 21, keno, bingo, roulette, and others where the theoretical pay out is dependent on items such as a deck of cards, the selection of a set of numbers from a superset, etc.
  • the prize's total wager amount represents the portion of the prize's total wager amount that then determines the progressive prize value. For example if the average prize award were anticipated to be $1,500,000 and the percentage of wagers used to support the prize value were 1.5%, then the prize's total wager amount needed to support the prize value would be $100,000,000. In this example, any gaming device linked to this prize would need a pay line that has a total wager amount of $100,000,000, the pay lhe's total wager amount being the product of the wager value times the odds of winning. This ensures all participants participating for the prize make the same theoretical monetary investment to win the prize.
  • the oldest progressive prize computer systems support one progressive prize and require all participating gaming devices to have the same wager amount and odds for winning. This effectively satisfied all the requirements of the progressive prize to game linkage.
  • linkage is accomplished by physically connecting a particular gaming device to the network controlled by the progressive prize's computer systems.
  • US Patent No. 5,885,158 discloses methods for linking gaming devices that accept wagers of the same currency but of different denomination coins to a common progressive prize.
  • the disclosed linkage methods mathematically determine that there is compatibility between the two distinct entities of the progressive prize and the gaming device. This effectively creates a second level of linkage that further qualifies which progressive prizes a gaming device may participate in once it is physically linked to the progressive prize's computer system. While these methods appear to enable increasing the participation base, they have several limitations. For example, one limitation requires that the coin wagered on a gaming device must be a multiple of the coin the prize is based upon. This would prevent a quarter gaming device from participating for a prize based on a one-dollar denomination.
  • US Patent No. 6,241,608 discloses a free play apparatus and methods that use a progressive prize's total wager amount and a gaming device's wager amount to compute the odds of a participant winning a progressive prize.
  • the disclosed linkage methods enable the free play apparatus' logic to get a progressive prize's total wager amount via a logical linkage. Once physically linked to the computer system the free play apparatus receives the total wager amounts of any prizes that have been logically linked to it. It then enables the gaming device to participate in the progressive prizes. While this invention effectively diminates restrictions related to the denomination or currency of a wager, it does nothing to address the limitation related to the potential conflict between a prize's contribution percent and a game's theoretical pay out percentage.
  • a gaming device connected to a progressive prize has traditionally been expected to contribute a portion of each wager to the progressive prize. It is well known that the contribution percent factor is a part of the progressive prize's attributes. This results in the same contribution percent factor being applied to every linked device. A particular device may have a very high theoretical pay out such as 98%, which pays out on average, 98 dollars for every 100 dollars wagered on this device. The size of the prize's contribution percent factor may hinder the ability to link the device to the progressive prize. The reason is if the progressive prize's contribution percent factor were a value of 2% or more, then it would be impossible to make a profit on a game with a theoretical pay out of 98% or more. This would effectively prevent the device from being linked to that prize.
  • each device could then have a contribution percent factor that is compatible with the device's game's theoretical pay out, thus enabling a wider variety of devices to be linked to each progressive prize. For example, devices with games having very low theoretical pay outs could afford to support a high contribution percent factor while a device with games having a very high theoretical pay out may have a low contribution percent factor. This would enable further increasing a progressive prize's participation base.
  • Certain embodiments of the invention incorporate these advantages by disclosing methods of linkage between prizes and devices that enable assigning the contribution percentage to a device. These methods enable any device that accepts a monetary transaction to participate for any prize.
  • At least one embodiment of the present invention enables any device accepting monetary transactions to be linked with at least one prize.
  • At least one embodiment of the present invention enables assigning a contribution percent factor to each linked device.
  • At least one embodiment of the present invention enables linking a device and prize regardless of the device's currency or denomination of monetary transaction, or theoretical payout. At least one embodiment of the present invention expands the participation base of a prize.
  • the owner of the prize is afforded more flexibility in determining how the total contribution amount will be distributed to the monetary requirements of the prize.
  • the specification discloses a progressive gaming system having a central system, at least one prize, a progressive method, and at least one monetary transaction acceptor.
  • the central system is adapted to associate the progressive method with the prize and the monetary transaction acceptor thereby allowing the monetary transaction acceptor to participate for the prize.
  • the progressive method is adapted to determine a participation outcome based at least on the monetary transaction acceptor's contribution percent factor.
  • the specification also discloses a progressive gaming system and methods having the ability to expand the participation base for a progressive prize to include a wide variety of monetary transaction acceptors.
  • the progressive gaming system and methods may have the capability to accept a monetary transaction value in a plurality of currencies or a plurality of denominations of the same currency.
  • the progressive gaming system and methods may support multiple prizes simultaneously. Each monetary transaction acceptor may be linked to one or more prizes.
  • the disclosed methods may comply with the commonly accepted requirement that each participant for a prize make the same theoretical monetary investment to win the prize.
  • the present invention may further comprise methods used to interface various devices with progressive methods, acquire monetary transactions, control events, and others.
  • Figure 1 is a diagram of a simple implementation of the invention to illustrate an international distribution of the system components.
  • Figure 2 is a simplified entity diagram of the data used to describe the control processes of the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a flow chart presenting the interface between a device and a progressive method.
  • Figure 4 is a flow chart of one embodiment of the progressive method functionality.
  • Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the progressive method functionality as incorporated into a gaming device.
  • Figure 6 is an example of a matrix of prize data.
  • Figure 7 is a spreadsheet depicting odds, total contribution amounts, and total wager amounts varying with different transaction amounts and game contribution percent factors.
  • Figure 8 and 8A are diagrams explaining the progressive method incorporated into a secondary apparatus that is connected to primary gaming devices.
  • Figure 9 is a diagram depicting a gaming device with the progressive method incorporated into the game.
  • Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating the processes when the progressive method is incorporated into the game.
  • Figure 11 depicts a gaming device that accepts any wager amount and incorporates the progressive method.
  • Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating the process of the gaming device depicted in figure 11.
  • Figure 13 is a diagram of a simple implementation of gaming enabled over the Internet.
  • Figure 14 is a flow chart illustrating the process of the Internet gaming software incorporating the progressive method.
  • Figure 15 is a flow chart depicting the decisions used when linking a device to a prize.
  • Figure 16 is an illustration of the processes involved with accumulating wagers.
  • Figure 17 is an illustration of the processes involved with computing a prize value.
  • Figure 18 is a flow chart depicting the decisions used to process a prize award event.
  • Figure 19 is a flow chart depicting the accumulation of monetary transactions as it relates to prize award processes.
  • Central System One or more sets of computer hardware and software in communication with GEMs or devices, the computer hardware and software being responsible for controlling the system. Contribution Percent Factor For a prize, these are used to allocate the contributions made by devices to funds used to finance the starting value of a prize, increment the prize value, and other uses.
  • this determines the portion of the monetary transaction value that is contributed to a prize.
  • Control Data input by system operators that define the system environment, operating parameters, constraints, and other criteria. Examples include the data that defines each device, each GEM, communication criteria, prizes, logical linkage between prizes and progressive method, etc.
  • Device Driver A set of hardware or software used to monitor and control devices.
  • Device Protocol The set of messages used to control a specific device.
  • Distributed System A system consisting of a plurality of sets of computer hardware and software in communication with and controlling a plurality of computers at the same site or at separated sites.
  • Event Condition A condition arising from an incident that is either outside the set of normal incidents, or is a normal incident that requires tracking of some specific process to be performed for control or audit purposes.
  • Event Data Data generated by the system to track each event.
  • the tracking for a prize award event may include audit records recording meters that could not be gathered, the prize value displayed to the participant, the actual prize value computed after all contributions were acquired, etc.
  • Event Process A process that enables a controlled response to an event condition.
  • the objective of the event process is to ensure the situation is handled in accordance with the rules and regulations of a governing agency.
  • Examples may include prize award events, end of day processes, malfunctioning or non-responding devices, remote computers, or other system components.
  • Game A method or apparatus that provides a participant with the opportunity to place a wager, then interact in some manner with either a device or a house employee, such as a dealer or table operator, for the chance of winning a prize.
  • Gaming Device A method or apparatus used as a game of chance wherein a participant may place wagers for the chance of winning prizes.
  • secondary devices that connect to primary devices, for example the progressive apparatus used as a secondary device to connect to a primary gaming device, keno games, bingo games, table games, roulette, cash registers, point of sale terminals, lottery terminals, or others.
  • Gaming Environment Manager A set of hardware and/or software that connect the central system with the device drivers controlling devices. GEM See Gaming Environment Manager
  • Handle Pull A gaming industry term used to indicate one play on a game, a gaming device, or other game of chance. Also includes the participant action of payment for services or goods when the payment is used in participation for prizes.
  • Host Computer A computer acting as the controlling entity for another computer or computerized device.
  • Linked Device A device that is linked with one or more prizes. See also Linked Game Linked Game A game that is physically, associatively, or logically linked with one or more prizes.
  • Location A site containing devices linked to the system. For example locations include sites such as a casino, a drinking establishment, grocery stores, airport lounges, resort destinations, as well as other establishments with devices participating for prizes. May also include internet servers.
  • Monetary Transaction Acceptor Any hardware or software that is capable of accepting a monetary transaction. Examples include a gaming device, keno games, bingo games, table games, roulette, cash registers, point of sale terminals, lottery terminals, internet transactions, and others. See also Device, Gaming Device Monetary Transaction Value The value of a monetary transaction. See also Handle Pull Participant someone that performs a monetary transaction wherein the monetary transaction value is used to participate in a prize. Participation Outcome The win or lose outcome for each handle pull for a prize.
  • Pay Table The data used to compute a game's theoretical payout. Usually consist of one or more pay lines that define the required wager, odds for winning, prize award, and other data.
  • Progressive Prize Prize Award The condition that results from the win of a prize. It may also include the subsequent prize award event that ensures all rules are enforced in regards to meter collection and calculation of the final prize amount.
  • Progressive Apparatus A secondary device that may enable a primary device to participate for prizes.
  • Progressive Method The methods employed using computer hardware or software that enable participation in one or more prizes.
  • Progressive Prize A prize that starts at an initial value then the prize value is incremented by a percentage of the monetary transactions made on devices linked to the prize. In some embodiments the prize value may not increment due to a zero value percentage, or even no increment percentage at all.
  • Remote Computer A set of computer hardware and software located at a site other than the central site.
  • System Activity Data Data that results from participants making monetary transactions using devices linked to the system. Examples include a gaming device's meter data, point of sale data, lottery ticket purchases, and others, captured for each prize award event.
  • System Operator People charged with the responsibility for operating the central system computers, entering control data, and ensuring event processes perform correctly.
  • System Standard Protocol The set of defined messages used by the system to communicate between processors. Each message has a specific set of information according to its purpose.
  • Total Contribution Amount The sum of all contributions made during the theoretical life cycle of each prize award event.
  • Total Wager Amount For a prize this is the theoretical sum of all wagers made for each prize award event.
  • For a device this is the sum of all monetary transactions made for each theoretical prize award event.
  • One embodiment of this invention is comprised of one or more central or remote locations where devices are located.
  • a particular location may be devoted to gaming, such as a casino, while another location may simply employ devices for the convenience of customers, for example restaurants, drinking establishments, grocery stores, airport lounges, resort destinations, as well as others.
  • Another embodiment may include an Internet server to enable personal computers, or other web enabled devices connected to the Internet, to participate in a common prize.
  • GEM Gaming Environment Managers
  • one location 101 A has one GEM 104A and is located in Canada.
  • a second location 10 IB has one GEM 104B and is located in the United States.
  • a third location 101C has one GEM 104C and is located in Mexico.
  • the central system, 102 is in the United States.
  • the GEM 104D provides access to the central system for the Internet server 113.
  • Web enabled devices 120 A, 120B, 120C, 120D connect to the Internet server through the Internet 114. These devices run software that provides the ability to participate in wagering for prizes.
  • Communication lines 103 A, 103B and 103C connect the locations with the central system. These communication lines may be of any particular kind depending on the capability of an international location's existing facilities.
  • Each GEM may contain device drivers 105A for monitoring and controlling the attached devices, an event manager 106A, and a polling process 107 A.
  • the polling processes may coordinate the sending of transactions to and from the polling process 112 at thecentral system 102.
  • the event managers may process each transaction from the central system and create transactions to be returned to the central system.
  • the device drivers may monitor and control each device or apparatus and may perform the data acquisition to record data indicative of wagering activity, payment transactions, and events generated from each device.
  • the central system may contain the business process and report generation functionality 108 responsible for maintenance of all information used to define the physical system, including all devices, games, prizes, linkage of devices and games to prizes, currency exchange rates and other data needed by the operating logic.
  • the central system may coordinate this information across the computer hardware platforms to ensure accuracy and consistency.
  • the central system is the central repository and distribution point for all data acquired by the system.
  • the polling process 112 may be responsible for scheduling polls to each GEM, transporting the transactions generated by the other central system processes to the GEM, then receiving transactions from the GEMs and passing them to the data acquisition process 109.
  • the data acquisition process may be responsible for accumulating the records of wagering and payment activity that occur on each device, applying wagers, payments, and/or contributions towards prizes, computing prize amounts, and maintaining the memory tables used by all other elements of the central system to control processes. As event transactions are acquired they are passed to the event control process 110.
  • the event control process 110 may be responsible for monitoring the progress of events and creating messages needed to affect decisions to carry out or terminate operations.
  • the system operator interface process 111 may serve as a gateway for the system operator to monitor the operational performance of the system and issue commands.
  • the normal day-to-day control functions may include but are not limited to, adding and removing prizes, adding and removing equipment and communication lines, controlling the collection of wagering and payment activity, contribution percent changes, exchange rate changes between currencies, and ensuring all events are handled properly.
  • all system processors preferably operate on Greenwich Mean Time or some other system standard time.
  • the system standard time is coordinated during the continuous polls from the central site to the local and remote sites.
  • Local presentation of time of day and day of year may be produced via methods that convert the system standard time to the local standard time of the particular location based on time zones, daylight savings criteria, or other criteria that may be in effect for a particular location.
  • Figure 2 is a simplified entity relationship diagram used to demonstrate how system data of one possible embodiment is related.
  • the line connecting aitities has a crow's foot on its end, it means there may be one or more instances of that entity available to relate to the other entity.
  • the line simply connects to an entity it means there may only be one instance available.
  • the relationship between location 201 and GEM 205 indicates that for one location there may be one or more GEMs.
  • Prize data 255 may be the first data entered.
  • Location data 201 may be entered for each physical site where devices are located. There may be an owner of each prize 2553 that preferably enters into an agreement with the owner of a location 2012. The agreement may be approved by the regulatory agency before the location owner can be authorized for participation 250.
  • the remaining data may be entered to define each GEM 205, each device driver 210, each progressive apparatus 215, each device 220, and if the device contains games, each game on a device 225.
  • the ability to provide a participant using a device with the opportunity to win a prize may be built by associating each prize's Prize ID 2601, each device's device ID 2602, and defining any selection criteria that governs the display of the prize to a participant 2603.
  • Other databases known in the art may be used in practice to drive the data requirements of a progressive system.
  • a progressive method may be used to determine the outcome. The method may be incorporated into a device driver 210, a progressive apparatus 215, a device 220, or a game 225. The steps of the method may also be separated and spread out amongst these entities.
  • the progressive method may be incorporated into a device and the relationship between the device driver and the device may take the route indicated by line 290. In embodiments where the progressive method is incorporated into a secondary device, such as a progressive apparatus, the relationship between the device driver and the device may take the route indicated by lines 295.
  • the description of the prefe ⁇ ed embodiment assumes the progressive method is incorporated into a device 220.
  • devices are defined to the system they may be associated with a device driver.
  • the general functions of a device driver are explained referencing Figure 1.
  • the polling process 107A receives transactions from the central system polling process 112 and passes them to the event manager process 106A.
  • the event manager process either carries out the commands contained in the transaction, or it may pass certain commands directly to the device drivers for action.
  • the device driver either carries out the command or converts the command to the unique format required by the particular device.
  • the device driver then periodically polls the device, sending system messages to the device for action.
  • the device responds to the poll with messages it has queued.
  • the device driver converts the device's messages into the system format and queues them for sending to the central system.
  • the polling process 107A is polled by the central system 112 it packages any transactions prepared by the event manager or device drivers and sends them to the central system.
  • the device drivers may be responsible for qualifying each set of acquisition data and event data with the appropriate prizes' win number, currency, and other required prize data along with the cu ⁇ ency, contribution percent factor, and other required data.
  • the disclosures of the methods of certain embodiments of this invention are presented starting with the progressive method, followed by several embodiments illustrating how the progressive method may be incorporated into various devices and games. This is followed by the disclosure of the method used to link a progressive method to a prize.
  • the methods used to accumulate monetary transactions, compute prize values, process a prize award event and the accumulation of monetary transactions and payments during a prize award event are presented last.
  • the progressive method may be incorporated into many different embodiments.
  • a standard set of prizes may be displayed to the participant.
  • different sets of prizes may be displayed to participants based upon criteria such as player rating, monetary transaction amount, special promotions, or any other criteria that enables sets of prizes to be distinct from other sets of prizes.
  • the participant may be allowed to select one or more prizes from lists of several prizes.
  • the device may randomly select prizes for presentation to the participant. Other embodiments may contain combinations of these prefe ⁇ ed embodiments.
  • Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment wherein a device interfaces with the progressive method's logic to enable the participant to participate for one prize.
  • the device When the device is started, it would preferably first interact with its device driver and perform the device initialization.
  • the specific initialization process may be dependent on the type of device and may include the steps required to make the device aware of the prize ID, the prize's total contribution amount, the device's contribution factor, and any selection criteria for display to a participant.
  • the device may instantiate the progressive method 301, and thus making the method's logic and data available.
  • the progressive method Once the progressive method is instantiated, it may be initialized by loading it with the prize's total contribution amount and the device's contribution factor 302. The progressive method may then store the data in its memory space 321.
  • the device When the device detects a monetary transaction it may invoke the progressive method to determine a win or lose outcome 303, passing it the monetary transaction value.
  • the progressive method may determine a win or lose outcome 322 using a series of steps illustrated in figure 4.
  • the first step creates a set of numbers 401 for the random number generator using the following equation: PC
  • the progressive method may then generate a random number 402 from the range of 1 through the maximum number for the range as computed.
  • the generated number may then be compared to a predefined number 403, such as the number one ("1"). If the numbers were different then the result is set to lose 404. Otherwise the result may be set to win 405.
  • DC Device's contribution percent factor In this embodiment, the algorithm TW * PP replaces the prize's total contribution amount.
  • the contribution percent factors may be replaced by the sum of several different factors such as:
  • the device's processes may query the progressive method for the result 304.
  • the progressive method may then notify the device of the outcome 323.
  • certain features of the progressive method may be built into different system components. For example, if the monetary transaction of some devices were always of the same value and in the same cu ⁇ ency, the central system may have access to all the data needed to create the maximum number for the range of random number selection. Therefore, for those devices the central system may be able to compute the maximum number range and just send that value to the progressive method.
  • all or part of the features of the progressive method may be incorporated with the logic and processes of the device itself thus eliminating the progressive method as a distinct class or entity.
  • a prize win has occu ⁇ ed
  • other methods may be invoked.
  • the regulatory agency may require the device be disabled after a prize is won 310, there may be requirements to display visual and audio signals to the participant indicating they have won 311, prize award messages may need to be formatted and sent to the central system 312, as well as other requirements depending on the particular venue in which the device is located. All of these methods may be incorporated into the device itself, the progressive method, or other entities such as an event class.
  • Figure 5 presents the methods that may be used by a device that enables a participant to select from many different prizes.
  • the device Once the device is started 501, it may go through an initialization process 502. When the device determines it is in functioning order, it may communicate with its device driver 503 then instantiate and initialize the progressive method 504.
  • the device includes more than one prize, there may be several embodiments of processes that may be used to store the prize data. Preferably, the device's processes include the logic needed to instantiate a separate progressive method for each prize.
  • the device may incorporate a matrix for the prize data as illustrated in figure 6. While figure 6 includes 5 different prizes, there may be no practical limit on the number of prizes a device may be linked to or on the data that may be associated with a prize and kept in the matrix.
  • the device logic may use the data illustrated in figure 2 to determine which prizes were linked to it.
  • the prize name 2560 may be obtained by first findingthe set of prize IDs 2551 linked to the device by browsing the prize ID and device ID linkage table 260 using the device's device ID 2201, 2602 value and selecting all the prizes linked to it by prize ID 2601, 2551.
  • other methods may be employed that may use one progressive method to keep track of all the prizes.
  • the device may enable participants to begin using it.
  • the device may enable participants to begin using it.
  • the device is capable of accepting the participant's player tracking ID, then there may be a player rating assigned. Display of prizes may also be conditioned on the wager amount. For example, if the player rating were greater than 4 and the monetary value of the transaction were more than 2.99, then using the matrix in figure 6, there may be 4 prizes presented to the participant-Big Bonanza, Super Hits, Free And Clear, and Get Away. This determination may be made based on the selection criteria in the matrix.
  • the selection criteria are presented as an example only. In practice the criteria would be more comprehensive to enable greater flexibility in the selection of prizes.
  • the selection criteria may consists of layers of criteria. For example, the participant may select a category of prizes such as Vacations, Vehicles, etc. Then the participant may select items from the selected category such as Paris, London, New York, San Francisco, etc. from the Vacations category.
  • step 506 may not exist and the participant may be allowed to participate in all the prizes displayed.
  • a control method may actively monitor the device 507 to detect a handle pull at the instant it occurs. As soon as it is detected, the progressive method may be used to determine the outcome for each selected prize 508. If the play results in a prize award event 509, the control methods may then disable the gaming device 510, create the appropriate visual and audio output to notify the participant of the prize award 511, and generate a prize award event for the central system 512.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the results that may be produced when a progressive method is attached to or incorporated into devices with various monetary transaction values and contribution percent factors.
  • the cu ⁇ ency values in column A TRANSACTION VALUE, column C PRIZE'S TOTAL CONTIBUTION AMOUNT, column E COMPUTED TOTAL CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT and column F COMPUTED TOTAL WAGER AMOUNT do not represent any particular cu ⁇ ency. The values may be US, Canadian, Mexican, or any other county's cu ⁇ ency.
  • Column A TRANSACTION VALUE is the monetary transaction value.
  • Column B CONTRIBUTION PERCENT FACTOR is the contribution percent factor assigned a particular game. For ease of illustration the contribution percent factors for each game denomination, .05, .10, .25 and 1.00 are same.
  • Contribution percent factors may be different for each game denomination.
  • Column C PRIZE'S TOTAL CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT represents the amount of money to be contributed to a prize over the theoretical life cycle of one prize award event. Statisticians who use a variety of factors may create the value themselves. In very simple terms, the value represents the amount of money that may be needed to fund the starting prize value, fund the increment of the prize value, fund profits for the owner of the prize and many other financial requirements. In this case, the value 1,890,123, stored in the prize's data element TOTAL CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT 2555 on figure 2, may be for a prize that starts with a $1,000,000 value and, on average, may increment by $750,000 when the prize would be won. This may make the average prize win worth $1,750,000.
  • the funding for the prize's starting value may be represented by the value of .5291 in the prize's data element BASE AMOUNT PERCENT FACTOR 2556, meaning 52.91% of all contributions go to funding the base amount.
  • the funding for the prize's increment value may be represented by the value .3972 in the data element PRIZE INCREMENT PERCENT FACTOR 2557, meaning 39.72% of all contributions go to funding the increment amount.
  • the profit maybe realized by the remaining percent factor of .0737.
  • Column D COMPUTED ODDS illustrates how the odds computed by the progressive methods vary according to the monetary transaction value and the game's contribution percent factor. It is apparent that as either value grows, an indication that the participant is contributing more to the prize, the odds become smaller, giving the participant a better chance at winning the prize.
  • Column E COMPUTED TOTAL CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT illustrates that regardless of the transaction value or the value of the game's contribution percent factor, each participant will ultimately contribute the same amount for the chance of winning the prize. The varying odds are the factors that make this possible.
  • Cdumn F COMPUTED TOTAL WAGER AMOUNT illustrates that the actual value of the wagers made over the theoretical life cycle of one prize award event may vary considerably.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment wherein the progressive method may be incorporated into a secondary device such as a progressive apparatus.
  • the progressive apparatus 802 may be comprised of a standard processor board, a video display 803, and speakers 804.
  • the secondary device may be mounted on top of a gaming device 801 with the communication and power supply lines 806 contained inside the gaming device's cabinet.
  • the progressive apparatus may take on different outward physical characteristics required to connect to various gaming devices or other types of monetary transaction acceptors.
  • the progressive apparatus' communication line may be connected to the device driver's communication line 807.
  • the connection may be direct, in which case the progressive apparatus may perform all communications between the device driver 808 and the gaming device 801, or the connection may be made with a standard communication line adapter used to split the signal, in which case the progressive apparatus may perform only the communications related to progressives.
  • Communications from the progressive apparatus to the device driver may have event messages indicating prize awards, intruder events, malfunction events and response messages.
  • FIG 8A describes the manner in which the progressive apparatus in this embodiment may provide connections with its external interfaces.
  • the progressive apparatus 8A02 may be powered by a connection to the gaming device's power supply 8A011. It may exchange messages with the device driver using a communications line 8A08. Instructions that enable the incorporated progressive method to allow participants to select prizes may be received from participants pressing a selection button 8A05. Messages may be sent to participants via the display connection 8A03 and or the speaker connection 8A04.
  • the functionality of the incorporated progressive method may be driven from connections to the gaming device.
  • an impulse may be generated on the connection 8A012.
  • the amount of the wager made may be obtained from connection 8A013.
  • Sending the appropriate signal through the connection 8A014 may disable the gaming device.
  • the connection 8A015 may be used to send central system messages to the gaming device and also to receive messages from the gaming device to be sent to the central system.
  • communication line 8A016 may be used to provide the interface between the device and the cenfral system.
  • the progressive apparatus may also be connected to the various sensors incorporated in the gaming device that detect opening of doors, tilting of the device or any other security related events through one or more connections 8A017. All the connections illustrated in figure 8 A may be replaced with other connections as dictated by the regulations of various regulatory agencies and depending on the particular kind of device it is attached to. However, the essence of the prefe ⁇ ed embodiment of the progressive method's functionality when incorporated into a secondary device such as a progressive apparatus would remain regardless of the physical connections.
  • FIG 9 illustrates an embodiment wherein the progressive method is incorporated into the device itself.
  • a gaming device 901 has a video display 902, speakers 903, and a button 904 for the participant to select a prize.
  • Thegaming device's communication line may be connected to the device driver 906 with a communication line 905. Due to the extraordinary variety devices that comprise monetary transaction acceptors, the various device that could be used to incorporate the progressive method are literally unlimited.
  • One simple example that illustrates the ease with which this can be accomplished is the flow chart presented in figure 10. This is one example of how a gaming device may operate. This can compare with the flow chart in figure 3 that contains a simple example of the progressive method's processes as they may be controlled by some unspecified device.
  • the methods used to start the gaming device 1001 and perform initialization 1002, may incorporate the process of instantiating and initializing the progressive method 301, 302.
  • the gaming device may invoke the progressive method 303 then query the progressive method for the win lose outcome 1006, 304.
  • any slot machine type gaming device or other device accepting monetary transactions there are a multitude of other steps the device is required to perform. This example is not an attempt to be all encompassing; it is presented as only one example of how the progressive method could be incorporated into a slot machine type of gaming device by someone of ordinary skill in the art.
  • FIG 11 illustrates an embodiment of a progressive method incorporated into another type of gaming device.
  • This gaming device 1101 accepts wagers of any kind in a coin hopper 1108 and/or a bill acceptor 1106.
  • the gaming device in this embodiment has one big prize and several small prizes linked to it. If the big prize is won, the gaming device creates a prize win event that results in the prize being paid by attendants. If a little prize is won, the gaming device prints a coupon and dispenses it from the coupon dispenser 1107.
  • thegaming device may execute play for each prize and display symbols 1105 to indicate a win or a loss outcome.
  • those invalid coins may be returned in the return hopper 1109.
  • FIG 12 depicts a flow chart to illustrate the steps this gaming device, incorporating the progressive method, may use to process a participants monetary fransaction.
  • the gaming device may be started 1201 when plugged into an electrical receptacle and turned on. Once it is started, the initialization of the gaming device 1202 may include ensuring all the physical and electronic components function properly. This may include a check of the processor boards and software that incorporates the progressive method.
  • Thegaming device may then establish communications with the device driver 1203 to receive the prize data and game data it needs to perform the progressive method.
  • the gaming device may present the available prizes to the participant 1204.
  • the gaming device may tally the monetary transaction value 1205.
  • the gaming device may execute play 1207 for each prize. If the play results in a prize award event for the big prize 1208, the gaming device may disable itself 1209 and create the appropriate visual and audio output to notify the participant of the prize award 1210.
  • the gaming device may then generate a prizeaward event for the central system 1211. If the big prize were not won, then a check may be made to see if any of the little prizes were won 1212. If one was won then a coupon may be printed 1213 and a prize award event may be generated for the central system 1211.
  • Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment wherein the progressive method is incorporated into software that may be used while connected to the Internet.
  • Internet enabled devices 1301A, 1301B, 1301C, and 1301D once connected to the Internet 1302 would have access to the Internet server 1303.
  • Several Internet gaming systems in existence have developed various methods to ensure the Internet customers have established accounts with the gaming software to allow them to play the gaming software and have a chance to win prizes. These activities may be are similar to the activities that occur in any casino that use player-tracking methods.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method that may be utilized by gaming software to allow people to participate for a prize over the Internet.
  • each element used to interface the Internet server to the central system may be identified to the central system to enable the polling processes to acquire monetary transactions made for prizes, process prize events and other acquisition data, just as they do for any location.
  • the Internet server 1303 may be identified as a unique location 201.
  • Each set of playable gaming software incorporating the progressive method residing on the disk a ⁇ ays 1304 may be identified as a unique device 220.
  • the GEM and device drivers 1305 are identified 205, 210.
  • Each prize 2601 that the device 2602 is allowed to execute play for may then be identified in the linkage table 260.
  • the message protocols may send all the prize and game configuration information to the Internet server's application level programs. This information may enable the Internet server to build the data structures that enable each set of the gaming software's progressive method to have the required prize and game data.
  • the same progressive method previously disclosed may execute play for prizes, depending on the manner in which the gaming software presents prizes to the participant.
  • the prizes may be simply presented as one or more that may be won, or the prizes may be presented in a manner that enables a participant to select one or more for play, or the progressive method may be used to randomly select one or more prizes.
  • Figure 14 illustrates an embodiment where some of the gaming software made available to participants incorporates the progressive method.
  • the Internet server is started 1401
  • part of its initialization process may be to establish communications with the device driver to receive the prize and game data 1402.
  • the users start to log into the Internet server, they may be authenticated 1403 and thegaming software they are authorized to play may be presented 1404.
  • the Internet server's control methods may determine if the software contains the progressive method 1405. If the gaming software does not contain the progressive method, then the user may simply use the gaming software according to the normal methods employed by the Internet server's control methods 1406.
  • a set of gaming software does incorporate the progressive method, those methods may be presented to the user in addition to the normal methods employed by the Internet server's control methods.
  • the gaming software may present the available prizes to the participant 1407. In this depicted embodiment, the gaming software may then allow the participant to select a prize 1408. As has been presented previously, other embodiments may simply present prizes to the user, randomly select prizes, or any combination thereof.
  • the gaming software may execute play 1410 for each selected prize, as previously disclosed. If the play results in a prize award event 1411, the gaming software may create the appropriate visual and audio output to notify the participant of the prize award 1412. The gaming software may then generate a prize award event for the central system 1413.
  • the control processes that logically link the progressive method with a prize is illustrated in figure 15.
  • the first check 1510 ensures the owner of the location where the device physically exists has authorization to participate. Referencing figure 2, this is a matter of ensuring the owner value 2012 in the location data 201 exists in the owner value 2502 in the participation authorization data 250 for the subject prize 2601, 2501. If the data exists the linkage 1520 is allowed. If the data does not exist, the linkage is not allowed 1530. As devices are then logically linked to a prize, the linkage methods build the relationship of the prize 2601 and the devices 2602 in the prize and progressive method linkage table 260.
  • This logical linkage between a prize and a device containing a progressive method may then enable the central system to provide the progressive method with the prize and device data the progressive method needs to determine a win/lose outcome.
  • the conditions on linking may not require a determination of authorization, or there may be additional conditions required by regulatory agencies.
  • the progressive method may be incorporated into any device that accepts a monetary transaction.
  • the specific methods used by different devices or software to enable participants to make monetary transactions may vary to an unlimited extent due to marketing decisions and competition for participation.
  • the steps used by the progressive method may remain intact.
  • Establishing a prize's total contribution amount, establishing a game's contribution percent factor, and establishing logical linkage between a prize and a progressive method enable the progressive method. Due to constant advances in the networking and communication protocol technology, the methods used to communicate the prize and device data to the progressive method and the methods for communicating polling data and event data between a device driver and a device may vary to an unlimited extent.
  • the devices may be enabled for participation.
  • the device drivers may monitor each device for a monetary transaction according to the type of device.
  • the device driver may format a message based on monetary transaction values taken from the device. The message may be sent to the central system to record the cu ⁇ ent transaction and accumulate amounts.
  • Figure 16 illustrates the processes that may be used to accumulate wager amounts by cu ⁇ ency and contribution percent factor where the linked devices are typical gaming devices.
  • the central system accumulates contribution amounts made on each prize by cu ⁇ ency in a matrix for each win number 1605A, 1605B.
  • the prize win numbers 16014, 16015, cu ⁇ ency 16016 and the contribution percent factor 16017 may then be used to point to a wager accumulator for each prize 16052A, 16052B.
  • the value of wagers made 16023 may then be used to increment the accumulated wagers 16052A, 16052B.
  • the system may compute the cu ⁇ ent prize value for display to participants.
  • the prize value is preferably computed in the cu ⁇ ency of the prize. The following is an equation preferably used to compute a cu ⁇ ent prize value.
  • Figure 17 illustrates the computation process in the most prefe ⁇ ed embodiment.
  • the minimum prize amount 1702 (2558 in figure 2) is added to the sum of all the accumulated wagers 1701 after they are converted to an increment monetary value 1703.
  • the result is the cu ⁇ ent prize value 1704.
  • a device When a device generates a prize award event, it sends a prize award message to the device driver.
  • the device driver formats a system prize award message and sends it to the central system.
  • Figure 18 contains a flowchart that describes the processes that occur in the prefe ⁇ ed embodiment when the central system starts the prize award process.
  • the prize award's win number is compared to the cu ⁇ ent win number for the prize 1801. If the win number is less than the cu ⁇ ent win number then the prize award message is for a previous prize.
  • the prize award message is recorded then sent to the business function for processing 1802. If the win number is not less than the cu ⁇ ent win number then the prize award is for the cu ⁇ ent prize. The process then increments the win number 1803. At this point the process checks to see if the prize's status 2552 is set to pending shut down 1804. If it is, then the prize reset message, with a logical flag instructing all device drivers to close the prize processing for this prize, is sent to all device drivers controlling devices linked to the prize 1805.
  • the progressive control process may clear the monetary transaction accumulation data areas to initialize them for processing the new win number 1806. It may start the new win number by sending the prize reset message to all device drivers controlling devices linked to the prize 1807. As each device driver receives the prize reset message, it notifies the device of the new prize value. If the device responds with confirmation that it has changed the prize value, then a new base line of any device meters may be sent to the central system with the old win number. If the device responds with a prize hit message, then the device driver may format both a prize hit message and a meter message using the old win number and sends both messages to the central system. The win number associated with the device may then be incremented.
  • each device driver will receive the reset message at different times, and the time taken to reset the device may vary depending on conditions, such as the device being in a state of consummating a monetary transaction, there may be monetary transaction messages for the same prize received by the central system with different win numbers.
  • Figure 19 describes the processes that occur in the prefe ⁇ ed embodiment when monetary transactions for a prize are being reported under more than one win number.
  • the process preferably checks the prize's win number associated with the monetary transaction against the cu ⁇ ent win number 1902. If the win number is less than the cu ⁇ ent win number, then the transaction is for a prize award. In this case, a check is made to see if the device associated with the transaction is the last to be reported 1903. If this is the last device to report transactions for the prize award, then the prize award is closed and the business process is notified 1907. If it is not the last, then a check is made to see if the time allocated to performing the prize award has been exceeded 1904. If this is the case, the system operator is notified 1905 of the devices that have not reported. The system operator makes the decision 1906 to either continue the prize process or proceed to close the prize award process 1907.
  • Each location may be physically sited in wide ranging geographical locations spanning a plurality of international time zones.
  • the owner of each location may determine the open and close times, holiday schedules, and the time of day used to transition business days.
  • the central system may use the open and close times and holiday schedules to notify each GEM at the location to set the attached devices to an open or closed status.
  • the central system may notify each GEM at the location to send the cu ⁇ ent meters for end of day.
  • the meters When the meters are received, they may be are sent to the business functions to process the location's end of day.
  • the use of device drivers to monitor and control devices eliminates the chance of bad meter data entering into the system.
  • Each device may have the limits of normal operating criteria defined that may enable its device driver to detect invalid monetary transactions and runaway conditions before they get into the system data. In the event invalid meters or runaway conditions are detected, the device driver may disable the offending device and notify the central system via a generated event message. This eliminates the often labor intensive tasks normally associated with co ⁇ ecting meter data and the need to protect against a runaway gaming device driving the prize value to an excessive value.
  • Certain embodiments of the invention that expand the participation base for a prize.
  • Certain embodiments provide logical linkage methods, which enable any device accepting a monetary transaction to be linked with a prize.
  • Certain embodiments provide progressive methods that allow a contribution percent factor to be assigned to each linked device thus enabling devices with widely varying theoretical payouts to participate in common prizes.
  • Certain embodiments further provide progressive methods that enable participants to perform monetary transactions using the cu ⁇ ency common to their particular location while participating in the endeavor to win a common prize.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un système évolutif de jeux de hasard comportant un système central (102), au moins un prix, un procédé évolutif, et au moins une unité d'acceptation de transaction monétaire. Le système central (102) permet d'associer le procédé évolutif au prix et à l'unité d'acceptation, qui participe alors au processus en liaison avec le prix. Le procédé évolutif permet de déterminer un résultat de participation reposant au moins sur le facteur de pourcentage de contribution de l'unité d'acceptation. L'invention concerne également un système de jeux de hasard évolutif (figures 11 et 13) et des procédés évolutifs (Figures 3-5, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18 et 19) qui permettent d'étendre la base de participation pour l'attribution de prix évolutif, faisant intervenir une large gamme d'unités d'acceptation de transaction monétaire. Le système évolutif considéré et les procédés correspondants peuvent aussi accepter une valeur de transaction monétaire dans une pluralité de monnaies ou une pluralité de dénominations de la même monnaie. Ils peuvent fonctionner pour l'attribution simultanée de plusieurs prix. Chaque unité d'acceptation de transaction monétaire peut être liée à un ou plusieurs prix.
PCT/US2002/018817 2001-06-22 2002-06-13 Systeme et procedes evolutifs WO2003049826A1 (fr)

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AU2002310420A AU2002310420A1 (en) 2001-06-22 2002-06-13 Progressive system and methods

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US60/300,333 2001-06-22

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5277424A (en) * 1992-07-08 1994-01-11 United Gaming, Inc. Video gaming device utilizing player-activated variable betting
US5564700A (en) * 1995-02-10 1996-10-15 Trump Taj Mahal Associates Proportional payout method for progressive linked gaming machines
US5993316A (en) * 1995-01-17 1999-11-30 Coyle; Jan R. Selective coin and game slot machine

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5277424A (en) * 1992-07-08 1994-01-11 United Gaming, Inc. Video gaming device utilizing player-activated variable betting
US5993316A (en) * 1995-01-17 1999-11-30 Coyle; Jan R. Selective coin and game slot machine
US5564700A (en) * 1995-02-10 1996-10-15 Trump Taj Mahal Associates Proportional payout method for progressive linked gaming machines

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