WO2017129846A1

WO2017129846A1 - Terminal for a bingo game

Info

Publication number: WO2017129846A1
Application number: PCT/ES2017/070044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernardino Hernández Jiménez
Original assignee: Bingos y Complementos Electrónicos, S.L.
Priority date: 2016-01-29
Filing date: 2017-01-27
Publication date: 2017-08-03
Also published as: EP3409334A1; ES1150685U; MX2018008991A; ES1150685Y; EP3409334A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal (1) for a bingo game, which comprises: at least one control and communications module (2) for executing a local algorithm for representing the game on at least one screen (3), and which is provided with at least one connection (4) for communicating with various external programs that manage the bingo game; at least one interface (5) for interacting with at least one player; and at least one payment means manager (6) for inputting and recording the payments per game by the players and enabling the game in the terminal (1). The terminal comprises at least one printing server (7) with means for printing physical cards (8) for the game, and which is associated with the control and communications module (2).

Description

BINGO GAME TERMINAL

DESCRIPTION OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a terminal specially designed to offer the game of bingo to users in any of its modalities and that additionally, to its own functionalities, offers the possibility of being able to physically print the cards that are playing on paper format , in order to cross out the numbers manually.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At present, the game of bingo in rooms authorized for said activity includes a drum with numbered balls, some cards - which are preprinted with random numbers arranged by rows - and markers or tabs to cross out or cover those numbers. A game consists of extracting the balls from the hype randomly and singing their respective numbering. The players, provided with cards that they will have previously acquired in the bingo hall, will cross out the numbers that appear on their cards when they are sung by the person or devices that are responsible for the extraction of the balls and locution of the balls, which also consists in different screens or electronic panels located the room.

When completing a horizontal line on a cardboard, the player must shout "line" and take a small percentage of the total collected with the sale of the cards. When a player manages to cross out all the numbers on his card, he will have to shout "bingo" and he will become the winner of the game, thus taking the highest percentage of the prize money. This operation is generic in traditional bingo, although in recent years with the advancement of technology other bingo modalities are accepted, such as the electronic modality in which the ball draw is done by a bingo game management software , centralized instead of a bass drum with balls, and the mixed or dynamic modality that integrates the traditional ball draw in bass drum with electronic devices that communicate the draw of numbers with game terminals, although the electronic and mixed modalities do not allow the possibility to play additionally with cardboard printing. This multiplicity of modalities and their incompatibilities implies a greater number of resources, doubling the material and human resources with the consequent cost, and this being the trend since the characteristics of different ages of the users and less or greater adaptation to the new technologies usually make older users for example prefer to play with physical cards, while other users prefer electronic or mixed mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The bingo game terminal of the invention has a configuration that allows the electronic and mixed modalities of the bingo game to be made compatible with the traditional modality, facilitating the work of human and / or material resources in bingo halls.

The terminal is of the type comprising at least one control and communications module to execute a local algorithm representing the bingo game on at least one screen and which is provided with at least one link to communicate with the different centralized management programs of the bingo game representing the game locally on the screen by the local algorithm. It also includes at least one interface for interacting with at least one player (for example to order or select cards etc) and at least one payment manager - to be able to enter and record payments per game for players and enable the game in the terminal, both of which are also associated - interface and means of payment manager - to the control and communications module.

With this basic configuration, and according to the invention, said terminal also comprises, at least, a print server with physical card printing means to be able to play bingo in its traditional version, and printing means which in turn comprise the corresponding physical outputs of the printed physical cards, being in turn the print server associated with the control and communications module to control its operation (emission of the physical cards).

In addition, thanks to the possibility of implementing more than one screen and interface with the player and more than one means of payment manager, the terminal allows to be configured for one or several users simultaneously with a better use of resources. Thus, the user or users are allowed through the terminal of the invention: -Buy the cardboard or cardboard with which they will opt in each game for the different prizes offered by it. This purchase can be made in any way accepted by the means of payment manager that is available, for example by previously acquiring a credit card that would be read by said manager or a code that the specific user would enter through the interface . These credits in turn will allow the player to buy one or several cards each game.

-Get these cards immediately in electronic support, by displaying them on the screen that is being used by the player; and / or if so desired, the player can obtain those same electronic cards in glossy paper support, by pressing a print command on the interface.

-Follow the development of the game on the screen, where an electronic representation of the balls that go out of the hype during the game, the amount of the prizes, etc. In addition, the terminal algorithm can automatically cross out in the "electronic cards" the numbers that the draw determines without the need for player action, which can choose between visualizing what happens on the screen, or ignoring it and playing A traditional way with your printed cards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an exterior general view of a preferred embodiment of the terminal of the invention for four players.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of the terminal according to the example shown in Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The terminal (1) for bingo game is of the type that includes at least one control and communications module (2) (see fig. 2) to execute a local algorithm for representing the game in its different modalities in at least a screen (3) and which is provided with at least one link (4) to communicate with the different management programs - external and / or centralized - of the bingo game; at least one interface (5) to interact with at least one player (select cards, etc.) and at least one payment manager (6) to enter and record the payments per game by the players and enable the game in the terminal (1). In accordance with the invention, the terminal (1), in addition, comprises at least one print server (7) with physical card printing means (8) for following the game in traditional version and the corresponding physical output (9) for them, which is associated with the control and communications module (2).

The printing means comprise a feeder (10) of blank base cartons and a printer (1 1). In this preferred example, the interface (5) with each player ideally comprises a touch matrix (12) (capacitive or resistive) integrated in the corresponding screen (3), configuring a touch screen, as shown in Figure 1.

For its part, the payment method manager (6) can comprise, in addition to the interface (5) to enter for example a code, a code reader (bar, QR etc), and / or a bill validator and / or coins and / or a wireless RF reader (RFID, NFC, etc.), not represented.

The terminal (1) is ideally integrated in a support (14) provided with at least one inclined flat face (15) where the corresponding screen (3) is arranged, and most preferably said support (14) comprises four faces inclined planes (15) adopting a general truncated pyramid shape, as seen in the figures, being arranged in said inclined flat faces (15) and / or in extensions (16) of the same as many other screens (3) and two media managers of payment (6), while a physical output (9) of printed physical cards (8) is arranged on its cusp (40). This configuration allows simultaneous play of four players in the terminal.

Likewise, the support (14) comprises support means - such as legs or a flat base (30) - on a table (31) of a bingo hall. Finally, it is envisaged that the terminal (1) may comprise at least one indicator light (17) (one for each player) of availability, indicating whether the corresponding game post is free, for which it will also be found associated to the control and communications module (2). Said light indicator (17) is preferably disposed on the cusp (40) of the support (14) adopting a prolonged upper shape. In addition, the optional and preferred arrangement of at least one mailbox (19) for depositing the physical cards (8) used once the game is finished is provided. In the preferred example of the In the invention shown in the figures, a mailbox (19) is provided on each of the extensions (16) of the four inclined flat faces (15) of the support (14), inside whose support (14), in this area , in turn, a removable drawer (20) is arranged to receive them and facilitate their subsequent collection, once the game is over, by the room or cleaning staff.

Sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the manner in which it is carried out in practice, it should be noted that the provisions indicated above and represented in the attached drawings are subject to modifications in detail as long as they do not alter the fundamental principle.

Claims

1.-Terminal (1) for bingo games, of the type comprising: at least one control and communications module (2) for executing a local algorithm for representing the game on at least one screen (3), and that it is provided with at least one link (4) to communicate with the different external programs managing the bingo game; at least one interface (5) to interact with at least one player; and, at least, one means of payment manager (6) to enter and record the payments per game by the players and enable the game in the terminal (1); characterized in that it comprises at least one print server (7) with printing means of physical cards (8) for the game, which is associated with the control and communications module (2).

2. -Terminal (1) for bingo game according to claim 1 characterized in that the printing means comprise a feeder (10) of blank base cards and a printer (1 1).

3. -Terminal (1) for bingo game according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the interface (5) with each player comprises a touch matrix (12) integrated in the corresponding screen (3), configuring a touch screen.

4. Terminal (1) for bingo game according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the payment method manager (6) comprises the interface (5), and / or a card reader, and / or a bill validator and / or coins, and / or a wireless RF reader.

5. -Terminal (1) for bingo game according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that it is integrated in a support (14) provided with at least one inclined flat face (15) where the screen (3) is arranged correspondent.

6. -Terminal (1) for bingo game according to claim 5 characterized in that the support (14) comprises four inclined flat faces (15) adopting a general truncated pyramid shape; being arranged in said inclined flat faces (15) and / or in extensions (16) of the same as many screens (3) and two managers of means of payment (6).

7. -Terminal (1) for bingo game according to any of claims 5 or 6 characterized in that support (14) comprises support means on a table (31) of a bingo hall

8. -Terminal (1) for bingo game according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises, at least, a light indicator (17) of availability associated with the control and communications module (2).

9. -Terminal (1) for bingo game according to claim 8 characterized in that the indicator light (17) is arranged in the upper part of the support (14) adopting a prolonged upper shape.

10. Terminal (1) for bingo game according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises at least one mailbox (19) for depositing the used physical cards (8).

1-Terminal (1) for bingo game according to claim 10 characterized in that it comprises a mailbox (19) in each of the extensions (16) of the four inclined flat faces (15) of the support (14), inside whose support (14), in this area, a removable drawer (20) is arranged to receive them and facilitate their collection.