ELECTRONIC BINGO GAME PLAYER AND METHOD FOR PLAYING ELECTRONIC BINGO

Abstract

An electronic game card allows participants to play multiple game faces, and enables simultaneous game play at different locations. A plurality of display faces are displayed on each card, and additional faces are stored for simultaneous play. Most probable winners of the stored faces are displayed along side the display faces so that the participant can follow stored faces as well. The card may be electronically networked to a local computer which in turn is networked over a larger area to a remote central computer to thereby increase the number of participants in the play group and to increase jackpots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate game electronic game player layouts for different types of bingo play.

FIG. 1A is an illustration of the electronic game player and a docking cradle coupled to a computer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of locations, each having a plurality of electronic game participants networked thereat, which are in turn networked with a central computer.

FIG. 4 is a detailed layout of the display on the electronic game player device.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the input portion of the display for fixed faces showing highlighted calls and a list of the calls.

FIG. 6 is a detail of an exemplary optional game face.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing further details of a central computer and one or more local computers serving a number of electronic game players.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a general description of the invention in conceptual terms. The system allows for various remotely located bingo halls to communicate and run games simultaneously under the control of a central computer or controller. The system comprises a master controller or central computer located at a central location. The central controller communicates with the bingo halls by land line or radio Each bingo hall has a local computer or server that is adapted to communicate with a number of bingo game machines or devices. It is contemplated that as many as 2000 electronic game players may be efficiently served in each of a plurality of game locations.

Each electronic game player, sometimes referred to as a device, has a touch screen with a capacitate interface. The screen displays plates or bingo faces arranged on the screen in an array. In an exemplary embodiment, the device will have fifteen plates in an array of 3 down by 5 across. Each device will have a unique combination of plates, and each device is identified by a unique number. This number will be related to the plates contained in the device.

Of the fifteen plates, the first nine, arranged in an array of 3 columns by 3 rows. In the exemplary arrangement, each column of three plates comprises a mark every time group of plates. In other words, the three plates in each column have seventy five numbers available for marking. The plates are non-repeating fixed display plates. None of the other devices will have the same combination or arrangement of numbers on the fixed plates. The first column of plates on the touch screen functions as an input for the device, so that when a number is touched, the number is highlighted. The plates are connected so that wherever a number appears it becomes highlighted when the number in the first column is touched. In an alternative embodiment, the plates in the columns II and III may be so called random faces. Random faces are those wherein the “free” space has no number.

The fourth column displays three plates at a time in a 1×3 array of plates. These plates may change as the game progresses. In an exemplary embodiment, one hundred variable plates are stored in a stacked memory. These plates are tracked by the electronic game player. Of the plates stored, the electronic game player displays those plates in the stack or storage which are most likely to win on the next call. This therefore allows a participant to track a small number of permanent or fixed plates and a larger number of stored or variable plates. It should be understood that the number of fixed and variable plates may be changed, so that additional variable plates may be added to the display and some of the fixed plates may be reduced or eliminated altogether as desired. Likewise the stored stacked faces may be mark every time or random faces as desired.

The fifth or last column will contain a number of animated displays. These animated displays can be implemented on a rolling cylinder type display, or an open door display, or a stack display. These animated displays may include a plurality of optional games which can be played concurrently as the bingo play proceeds for added excitement or as a diversion from regular play.

Typically, the electronic game player will have sufficient battery life to operate for a play session, e.g. four hours on an overnight charge in a charging cradle.

The local server or controller for each location has a memory and software that allows it to store the contents of electronic game player at each location. There should be no electronic game players in the a particular hall containing duplicate information. In other words, each device in the particular hall is unique. There may be duplicate devices in other halls.

During play, a number is called, and each participant touches the screen when the called number is displayed on one of the three mark every time plates in the first column. Touching this number on the screen causes it to be lit or highlighted automatically. All other numbers on the fixed plates in the second and third columns are likewise highlighted. The stacked plates in memory automatically rearrange themselves in response to an input, so that three plates appear in the forth column with the calls highlighted. The plates appearing in the fourth column are those which the electronic game player determines are most probable winnings on the next call. Thus the participant can see what is needed to win on the next call.

When a win occurs, the device beeps, or flashes, or both to let the participant know if he or she is a winner, but only if the participant marked all the calls. If not, the device will not announce a win and play will continue. The server or local computer also lets the caller know that that there is a possible win in the hall.

The local server has a program that allows the caller to program various types of bingo games to be played in advance, and the server has the ability to reset or clear the game machines. It is also contemplated that the games may be changed remotely from the central server or controller.

A suitable device may be employed at each location to load a storage device purchased by the participant to store credits for use with the games. For example the device may be a solid state random access memory RAM with a USB type connector which stores credits and participant information and the like. The credits may be used to play the optional games in the fifth column. The device may also store the initial buy-in information as well, and may be added to at any time. Such device may be plugged into a corresponding USB slot in the electronic game player and can read, log, and report winnings from play. The stored information in the device may be displayed on the machine display at any time.

Alternatively, the storage device may be a credit card type device as well. For example it may be a gift card type storage device.

In the event of a device failure during a game, the participant must notify the game operator. The participant may be denied the interactive features for the remainder of the current game in play, but the server would protect the game state and continue the play, and award winnings, so that the participant is not disqualified. The device would then be retired and the participant would receive a substitute machine.

In order to prevent theft and misuse of the device, the server may be equipped with a so called watchdog battery backed timer that transmits to each game machine. If the game machine is moved beyond a certain distance from the server, the operating software would be deleted and device will have to be reloaded from the server.

The server is also equipped with a device adapted to receive remote inputs from other events, e.g. a national game, and input these results to the device along with calls.

The game operator has a screen showing all the calls for each game. This system transmits the data to the devices and all numbers are stacked in the server memory.

Remote computers or servers communicate with the central controller by hard wire telecommunications or via a wireless interface. Each server reports to the central controller all devices in play, and the number and type of games played The local server may communicate with the electronic game players via hard wire or wireless link as desired.

Linked games, that is games played among all locations, require that duplicate devices be programmed to avoid duplications. Accordingly, the central controller has communications capability to program all the electronic game players to avoid such duplications. After the end of linked games, the electronic game players may be reprogrammed or reset to a prior state if desired. It should be understood that the central computer may instruct the electronic game player devices to display mark every time or random faces in the columns II-IV as desired. Random faces increase the number of combinations of faces which are available for play. The first column I is normally a mark every time display because the screen is used as an input device for the electronic game player, and it is therefore easy to keep track of the called numbers right on the screen.

If optional games are not purchased by the participant, advertising may be displayed in free display space.

Known systems allow participants to play multiple game faces. The invention improves known methods by allowing participants to monitor stored faces or plates without having to observe and monitor all of them simultaneously, particularly when the participant wants to play many more faces than he or she could actively monitor. At the same time, the game device requires the participant to monitor the displayed game faces and to call out “bingo” if he or she observes a winning face. In other words, the game play is not merely monitored automatically, but the participant must participate and announce a winning play

When a participant is playing multiple stored faces, the participant can easily follow them, because only the most probable winning faces appear in the column showing the variable faces. As a result the participant can monitor the displayed faces and the best stored faces as they occur, and thereby fully experience the excitement of the game.

Since certain best prospects for a winning combination are preferentially displayed on the active display, the participant can see enjoy the advantage of having extra faces to play while also being able to observe and follow the most probable winners in real time. This way the participant can enjoy the excitement of multiple face play without excessive anxiety about missing a winning combination. The participant can also experience the excitement of anticipating a possible winning combination for the stored faces. In addition, the participant does not have to try to follow more than a practical number of faces in real time.

If desired, the invention may automatically correct mis or non entered calls after a given delay, of say one call round. This allows participants to err without being disqualified from the entire round. So, if a call is missed or misentered the computer may be programmed to enter or correct an incorrectly or missed call. This feature thus avoids the problem associated with missed calls and allows participants to easily recover from mistakes without being disqualified from play for the remainder of the game in play.

Each card may have a bank of available cash for wagering as the games proceed. Winning moneys are recorded in the bank when a win is verified. This arrangement allows the operator to service many more participants with fewer workers from a central location This arrangement also allows promoters from different organizations to combine so as to permit more efficient play from a central location.

With centralized game play, increased numbers of participants can participate in simultaneous play at different locations. This increases the action and allows for larger jackpots because more participants increase the jackpot pool available for payout.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate electronic game players 10. Each have a touch screen 12, and display exemplary layouts for different types of games. FIG. 1 shows the layout for play traditionally practiced in the United States. FIG. 2 illustrates a layout for play traditionally practiced in Europe. Although the game layout in the United States is different than that practiced in Europe, the games played are essentially the same. That is, a number is called and the participant covers or marks the call. When a certain combination of numbers is called, the participant announces a win by calling out “bingo”.

In the United States, a typical layout has seventy five numbers divided into five groups of five columns and five rows. The columns are identified by the letters B, I, N, G, and O. The letter B is associated with numbers 1-15; I is associated with numbers 16-30 and so on. Winners are determined by covering rows, columns, and full faces. Other combinations are also available as well. In European play, ninety numbers are laid out in nine columns of eighteen rows with certain empty or free boxes. Participants cover calls and winners are determined by covering certain required numbers in rows and columns.

The display in FIG. 1 has five vertical columns I, II, III, IV, and V. The first three columns have nine faces 14. Each of these faces 14 have five rows 16 and five columns 18 of individual spaces 20. Each space 20 has a number displayed therein. Each space 20 in column I is touch activated. When a number is called, e.g. “B7”, the participant touches the space 20 displaying the number “B7” causing an electronic switch to close whereupon the number in the space 20 becomes back lit thereby indicating that the number has been called and has been acknowledged by the participant. According to the invention, all other spaces having the number “B7” displayed therein are simultaneously back lit when block 20 has been activated.

In FIG. 1, the column IV of three variable faces 32 displayed. These variable faces 32 are changeable displays of a number of plates stored in memory 35 (FIG. 4) in the electronic game player 10. When the number “B7” is called, the block 20 in column I is touched. The block 20 is highlighted, and all “B7” blocks in columns I_III and the blocks in the variable faces 32 in column IV are highlighted as well. At the same time, the blocks containing “B7” in the memory 35 are electronically marked when the space 20 is touched. Thus, any plate with a “B7” is electronically marked and when displayed, such block is highlighted.

The variable faces 32 which are displayed in column IV are those faces which appear to have the best chance of winning on the next call. The variable faces 32 may change often as the game progresses and different blocks are marked. Variable faces appearing column IV display the calls made to that point in the game.

Column V of the electronic game player also has a plurality of optional game faces 36. These game faces may be so called tearoff faces which display different kinds of games. For example, the games may look like a slot machine (FIG. 6). The face displays game symbols 40, a start or play symbol 42 and a wager display 44 controlled by up/down arrow 41 symbol. The participant can touch the screen to pick a game; set a wager and start the game. Like a slot machine moving objects may appear on the display 11. After a time, the objects or symbols 40 stop moving and those objects in the boxes which appear determine whether a winning combination is displayed. Other types of games may also appear, some for example may be slot poker, pull tab games and the like. These games may be stored in a stack 37 in memory (FIG. 4). A participant in regular bingo play may thus play an optional game as a diversion.

FIG. 2 illustrates the layout for European play. There is shown an electronic game player display 42 having one or more columns 44 of multiple rows 46 of displayed game faces 48; one column 50 of variable faces 52 and one column 54 of one or more optional faces 56. The participant can play the three or more fixed plates, and can play the most probable winners of the variable display plates.

As shown in FIG. 4, each electronic game player 10 has a bank block 58 which displays the current monetary value credited to the participant. This value is determined by the winnings taken in by the participant during a session of play.

At the beginning of play the participant buys in to the electronic game player by paying for a number of faces. The participant may do this by paying cash or by using a credit card, or debit card, or gift card. The participant may also add faces during play as well. In addition, the participant may add value or credits to the game machine for playing optional games. As illustrated In FIG. 1A, the participant obtains an electronic game player 10 from the operator. The operator docks the device 10 in a docking port 39 or cradle coupled to a local controller 41. The operator loads the game data and collects the game fees. The electronic game player is then turned over to the participant and the play session proceeds. A bank display shows in a bank display 58 the amount of credits or cash that the participant has in the game. When a participant wins a game of bingo, or wins an optional game, such winnings are added to the displayed amount in the bank display 58. Losses are likewise deducted from the bank display. In an alternative embodiment, the participant may pay the game operator for additional variable faces or add value. This process may be facilitated by the credit card, debit card, gift card, or USB device.

At the conclusion of play, the participant turns in the electronic game player and collects his or her net winnings. The buy in; added value; losses and winnings may be paid in cash or directly charged to the debit card or credit card or may be handled in various ways acceptable to the organizer and the participant.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, there is illustrated in FIG. 3 wide area network 70. The arrangement includes a central computer 72 located at some central location; networked to a plurality of remote or local computers 74 at a plurality of remote locations 76. Each remote remote computer 76 is responsively coupled to a plurality of electronic game players 78. Each device 78 has multiple fixed display faces 80, multiple variable faces 82 and multiple optional games 84. Each participant may play their electronic game player with multiple faces simultaneously with local participants at multiple locations. Calls from the central computer 72 are sent to each local computer 76. The calls are communicated electronically or verbally to the participants who enter the call. In an exemplary embodiment, if a participant misses a call, the call may be automatically entered on the next to occur call. The variable faces in storage receive the calls, which are stored. The variable faces with the best chance of winning are displayed as well. Each participant may also independently play an optional game if desired.

The central computer 72 tracks registration of participants from each location through the remote computers 74. The central computer also tracks game play, the faces, and participant information including winnings and credit card data.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary game machine display in detail. The display on the device 10 includes the columns I-III of fixed display faces 14, the column IV of variable faces 32 and the column V of optional games 36. The additional variable faces 33 are stacked or stored in memory 35; and additional optional games 36 are stacked in memory 37, Also shown are the wager control 44 which can also function as an add or buy control to add value if desired, and the bank display 58 which shows the current value of the card and added wagers or value. Each optional game 36 has a display for selected or moveable options, and a start button 42 for the game. Selected options may be touched to display a hidden item, like a scratch off card, or it may show moveable objects 37, e.g. cherries, lemons, bells and the like typical of slot machine displays. The blocks may also display playing cards, like automated poker and black jack games. Also displayed on the optional games is a pay off or odds block 39 as in typical slot-type games.

Each electronic game player 10 may employ a probability engine 55 to identify which of the faces stored in the card is likely to be a winner on the next call. Such a probability engine can be a counter to count the number of calls that match numbers in storage for each face. The engine would also compare the location of the calls to predict which patterns are closest to a desired pattern. When two or more stored faces have similar probability of winning, another criterion may be employed to refine the prediction. A variety of algorithms may be employed to refine predictions.

FIG. 5 illustrates a typical arrangement of selected faces 90. The faces have numbers 94 displayed, some of which are shown in bold 96. The latter are indicative of a called number that has been selected by the participant. The faces also may represent stored faces in memory with the bold numbers representing a called number. Also shown in FIG. 5 is a call sheet 98 which can be located on the card. The call sheet shows the calls that have been made so the participant can follow the game sequence.

FIG. 6 shows the layout of an exemplary optional game 36. The layout shows the odds chart 39 which displays the payoff for various symbols 40: bells, lemons, cherries and the like, and the payoff for such symbols. Wager selector 41 changes the dollar amount in the wager window 44. Game selector 45 allows the participant to scroll through and select from the memory optional games.

FIG. 7 illustrates in schematic block diagram of a more detailed arrangement of a central computer 100, local computer(s) 102, and individual electronic game player(s) 104. According to the invention, the central computer 100 receives data from the local computers via the network 103, which can be a dedicated wide area network or could be a web based network. The central computer 100 stores card data 106 and provides calls via a send call block 108 for communication to the local computer(s) 102.

The data and calls are communicated between the remote and central locations. Game play is controlled centrally, while the local computers control and do accounting for the participants at the remote locations.

In FIG. 7, each of the local computers 102 have a card reader 110 to register various types of cards 114, for example credit cards, debit cards, gift cards and the like. In the case of gift cards, registration information may be loaded on the gift card to speed up registration. The card 114 may also be a so called smart card, which can be automatically tied into the participant's bank or credit card account. Smart cards include data and encryption to secure the accounts. Typically, they include an RF transponder which allows for more complex transactions. Cash transactions; registration; and administrative transactions may be handled by a keyboard. 43 and monitor or display 120.

A USB storage device 115 may be employed, which is coupled with the computer 102 and is locally loaded with credits. The device 115 is then coupled to the game machine via a USB port 117 to activate it.

The system includes a storage device 116 for the card and registration data. A display 120 is employed for the local or remote computer. Card balance appears in the display.

In the exemplary embodiment, when a participant buys in to the game, the memory 116 is adapted to the stored or stacked variable faces and optional games. The memory 116 may be a permanent component of the electronic game player device. Alternatively the memory may be a removable chip or memory card which can be either permanently programmed like a read only memory (ROM) with a unique combination of permanent and variable faces; or the memory 116 may be a programmable random access memory (RAM) card which can be removably inserted in the electronic game player.

In alternative embodiments, various functions including registration, accounting and the like may be implemented centrally or locally or such functions may be shared. In such cases the functional blocks would be located at the appropriate location. It should be understood that web applications sometimes shift functions depending on the particular configuration of the operating system selected by the organizer of the game.

There has thus been described a system for of simultaneously operating a plurality of separate bingo game operations. The system also provides for electronic game cards which display certain faces and selectively display stored variable faces depending on which of said stored faces are most likely to win on the next call. Remote and local computers allow for networked communications.

Claims

1. An electronic game player for playing a selected plurality of displayed game faces and stored game faces purchased by a participant; and for recording calls announced in a game of bingo, said electronic game player enhancing the game play enjoyment of the participant to which the electronic game player has been assigned, comprising: a manually actuable input for enabling the participant to enter a call when announced;storage for storing data corresponding to the plurality of faces purchased by the participant and the corresponding inputs corresponding to the call currently entered by the participant for each corresponding face;a probability engine responsive to the stored data for determining in order of probability which of the stored faces has highest probability of winning upon the occurrence of a call next to be announced;a display being responsive to the probability engine for displaying selected ones of the stored game faces having said highest probability of winning; andan annunciator responsive to the stored data for announcing the occurrence of a winning combination.

2. The electronic game player of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a flat panel display.

3. The electronic game player of claim 2 wherein the manually actuable input comprises a touch sensitive portion of the flap panel display.

4. The electronic game player of claim 1 wherein the storage comprises a removable memory device.

5. The electronic game player of claim 1 wherein the displayed game faces and stored game faces include a mark every time display.

6. The electronic game player of claim 1 wherein the displayed game faces ands stored game faces include random faces.

7. A system for tracking bingo play and announcing calls from a central location to allow multiple participants to play multiple faces in a game of bingo played simultaneously at different remote locations comprising; a server at the central location for receiving data from the remote locations, said data representing the number of participants at each location; and the number of faces assigned to the participants at each such locations;a local computer at each location for registering the participants and faces assigned to each respective participant, and for communicating the data to the server;a first communications link between the central location and the remote locations for communicating calls announced to the participants at the various locations for recordation by the participants thereat;at least one electronic game player assigned to each participant, each electronic game player having multiple faces stored therein and a storage device for recording numbers announced;a storage device for each electronic game player;an input for manually entering current calls into the electronic game player;an annunciator for providing an indication of a winning combination of recorded call numbers.

8. The system of claim 7 including means for entering into the memory data corresponding to the identity of the participant.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for entering into memory data corresponding to the identity of the participant includes; at least one of a card reader; and a USB memory device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the storage is separable from the electronic game player.

11. The system of claim 8, further including a second communications link between the local controller and the electronic game players.

12. A system to permit a plurality of participants at a plurality of play locations to each play bingo simultaneously comprising: at least one electronic game player for each participant, each electronic game player having multiple faces for simultaneous play;a central server for receiving data from said play locations, the data representing the participants and the faces in play at each play location, and for producing calls for numbers for communication to each play location;a local server for each play location for registering the participants and the electronic game players for communication to the central server;a communications link between each electronic game player and the local server for supplying information as to the status of each face in play;a communication link between each local server and the central server.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a display on each card for displaying selected ones of the faces in play corresponding to which of said faces is most likely to be a winning card on the next call.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the communications link between the local server and electronic game players comprises a local area network.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the communications link between the local servers and the central server comprises a wide area network.

17. An electronic game player for recording calls announced during a game of bingo and for simultaneously playing a plurality of optional games comprising: a first touch sensitive region for displaying manually selectable indicia to mark every time the calls as currently announced during the game of bingo;a plurality of game faces, each for displaying the selected indicia;a second region for displaying one or more faces having a high probability of winning upon the announcement of a number call following the currently announced number call;a region for displaying selectable game faces on the electronic game player for allowing a participant to play the optional games while the game of bingo is ongoing;a touch sensitive selector for activating the selectable game; anda display for displaying the results of the optional game played on the electronic game player.

18. The electronic game player of claim 17 further including a memory for storing the game faces.

19. The electronic game player of claim 17 wherein the memory comprises a separable programmable storage device.