Patent Grant
12293628
The present invention relates to a system and method for managing a casino-style game of battleships.
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for managing a casino-style game of battleships, implementations of which includes one or more of the following.
There is provided, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a game apparatus for facilitating a game of casino battleships between a dealer and at least one player, comprising:
In one embodiment, the game apparatus further comprises a gaming table.
In one embodiment, scanner of the game apparatus is an RFID scanner and the game cards are RFID scannable cards.
In one embodiment, the dealer's game grid and the at least one player's game grid are configured to scan magnets affixed to, or integrally formed with, the tokens.
In one embodiment, the output device of the game apparatus is a display device, and wherein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to display, when all game cards have been drawn, an indication of which one of the dealer and one or more of the at least one player is winner of the game according to the at least one rule set.
In one embodiment, mine cards are provided, each mine card being associated with a computer-generated rule using a computer-generated random number generator for matching with a specific one of the predefined game positions;
In one embodiment, mine cards are provided, each mine card being associated with a computer-generated rule having an instruction to select an undestroyed predefined game position adjacent to, and to the right of, the last destroyed predefined game position;
In one embodiment, the output device of the game apparatus is a display device, and wherein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to display, when all game cards and mine cards have been drawn, an indication of which one of the dealer and one or more of the at least one player is winner of the game according to the at least one rule set.
In one embodiment, the output device of the game apparatus is a display device, and wherein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to display, when all game cards and mine cards have been drawn, an indication of which one of the dealer and one or more of the at least one player is winner of the game according to the at least one rule set.
There is provided, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a slot machine apparatus for facilitating a game of casino battleships between a virtual dealer and at least one player, comprising:
There is provided, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of using a game apparatus to facilitate a game of casino battleships between a dealer and at least one player, the method comprising the steps of:
In one embodiment, the method utilizes a gaming table.
In one embodiment, the scanner utilized by the method is an RFID scanner and wherein the game cards are RFID scannable cards.
In one embodiment, the dealer's game grid and the at least one player's game grid, as utilized by the method, are configured to scan magnets affixed to, or integrally formed with, the tokens.
In one embodiment, the output device utilized by the method is a display device, and wherein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to display on the display device, when all game cards have been drawn, an indication of which one of the dealer and one or more of the at least one player is winner of the game according to the at least one rule set.
In one embodiment, the method further utilizes mine cards, each mine card being associated with a computer-generated rule using a computer-generated random number generator for matching with a specific one of the predefined game positions;
In one embodiment, the method further utilizes mine cards, each mine card being associated with a computer-generated rule having an instruction to select an undestroyed predefined game position adjacent to, and to the right of, the last destroyed predefined game position;
In one embodiment, the output device utilized by the method is a display device, and wherein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to display on the display device, when all game cards and mine cards have been drawn, an indication of which one of the dealer and one or more of the at least one player is winner of the game according to the at least one rule set.
In one embodiment, the output device utilized by the method is a display device, and wherein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to display on the display device, when all game cards and mine cards have been drawn, an indication of which one of the dealer and one or more of the at least one player is winner of the game according to the at least one rule set.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
Reference will be made in detail to the embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Basic Rules and Gameplay
The casino battleships game of the present invention (hereinafter, “the game”) is played with a dealer against one or more players. The dealer plays against each individual player; the players do not compete/play against each other.
In one embodiment, the dealer and the players each have identical 16-square game grids (i.e., a 4×4 grid) and each receives three game tokens. Each square in the 16-square game grid contains a non-repeating two-digit numeral and is numbered in ascending order from top to bottom (along the Y-axis) and from left to right (along the X-axis). For example, where the top-left corner square is numbered “11”, the square immediately below square “11” along the outer-left column may be numbered “12”, the next square immediately below square “12” along the outer-left column is numbered “13”, etc. Similarly, the top-left corner square may be numbered “11” (as mentioned), the square to the immediate right of square “11” along the top row is numbered “21”, the square to the immediate right of square “21” along the top row is numbered “31”, etc. In another embodiment, the two-digit numerals may be substituted with non-repeating alphanumeric characters or non-alphanumeric characters, or a combination thereof, and arranged according to known conventions in the art.
In one embodiment, prior to beginning a game hand/round, the dealer selects three squares upon which to place its three tokens. Each token represents a separate (complete) “battleship.” Only one token may be placed per square per game grid. In one embodiment, the players may select any squares upon which to place their respective tokens. In another embodiment, the dealer makes its selection first, after which the players select from the remaining squares upon which to place their respective tokens (i.e., the players may not select the same squares as the dealer). If multiple players are competing against the dealer in the same hand/round, the players may select all, some or none of the same squares as other players. (As noted above, the players do not compete against each other.) A wager is also set.
In one embodiment, the game is played with a 19-card deck of cards, of which each one of 16 cards are numbered identically to, and corresponding with, a respective one of the 16 numbered squares in the game grids. For example, if the top-left corner square of the game grid is numbered “11”, there will be a corresponding game card (interchangeably referred to as “playing card”) bearing the number “11”. When a game card is drawn, the corresponding (i.e., identically numbered) square on the game grid, as well as any ship/token on it, is destroyed/eliminated from play. For example, if the game card bearing the number “13” is drawn, and two players placed one token each on the number “13” square on their respective game grids, both players would lose the ships represented by those tokens. In another embodiment, the cards are identified with alphanumeric or non-alphanumeric characters, or a combination thereof, corresponding with the convention used with the game grids, as described above.
The aforementioned 19-card deck of cards also includes three (3) bonus cards called “mines” or “mine cards,” which provide a house edge to the casino as follows: One (1) card, when drawn, will destroy one random undestroyed square on the dealer's game grid only (while the identically numbered square on the respective player game grids is unaffected). The other two (2) mine cards, when drawn, will destroy a random undestroyed square on the players grids only (while the identically numbered square on the dealer's game grid is unaffected).
In one embodiment, the game is configured to use either one of following two methods to determine which square will be eliminated when a “mine” card is drawn: (1) a computer-generated random number generator; or (2) a computer-implemented rule/instruction to select and eliminate the first undestroyed square to the right of the previously destroyed square.
In one embodiment, the game includes sets of rule (or “rule sets”) for winning a hand/round. A “hand” or round is one bet/wager, which concludes after all 19 cards have been drawn and the wager has been settled.
A first rule set is as follows:
A second rule set comprises the rules for including a “bonus” to the original wager, as described below.
In one embodiment, a player may receive a bonus, at the discretion of the casino (i.e., depending on whether the casino wishes to increase or decrease the house edge), if all three of the player's ships remain after all three of the dealer's ships have been destroyed.
The game can be modified to feature a differently sized or geometrically arranged game grid, a different number of game cards, and a different number of tokens, according to any conventional means known in the art. For instance, the game grid can be arranged in the form of a rectangle, hexagon, octagon or circle, and have 16 game positions/squares, or from between 12 and 24 game positions/squares. Similarly, the game positions can be in the form of circles or other geometric shapes. For simplicity, game positions will typically be referred to herein as “square,” regardless of the actual geometric shape of the game position.
SideBet: Dealer Destruction
In one embodiment, the game is configured to allow a player to place an extra wager on the side prior to beginning a hand. This is referred to as a “SideBet.” The outcome of the SideBet is determined by how many cards are required to be drawn to destroy all three (3) of only the dealer's ships (i.e., regardless of whether the player “outlives” the dealer). For example, if the dealer's ships are destroyed on turns 3 through 12, the player will win the SideBet and receive an appropriate payment dependent on the turn the game ends on: a higher payout where a smaller number of cards are required, and a lower payout where a smaller number of cards are required. If the dealer's ships are destroyed after turn 12 (i.e., turns 13 through 19) the casino will win the SideBet.
In the embodiment (s) described herein, the game is operatively associated with a gaming apparatus having various computer hardware. As will be described below, the system hardware can be housed within a gaming table, a slot machine or another conventional apparatus as would be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The system hardware is exemplarily identified in the list of reference numerals provided below. The system hardware may be internally housed in the apparatus. Alternatively, some of the system hardware components may be housed external to the apparatus according to any arrangement as would be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Gaming Table
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, magnets, or other suitable apparatus, such as, but not limited to, RFID chips/tags, are embedded, affixed or attached/connected to the tokens in any manner as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the tokens are read/scanned by sensors in the dealer's and players game grids to determine location of the placed/played tokens. In another embodiment, the game grids include weight sensors or simple push buttons to detect the placement of tokens on grid squares. In yet another embodiment, the game grids are configured to detect placement of tokens on grid squares via any one of lasers, a scanner with image recognition, or a camera/optical device.
In one embodiment, each square of the game grids is configured as an independent board game circuit tile and includes an integrated LED beacon that lights up (i.e., a “first color”) when a token is placed on the square. In one embodiment, as cards are drawn from the card holder (which may also be referred to as the “shoe”), the cards are read/scanned by RFID scanner 26 and the gaming table marks which squares are destroyed/eliminated as the game cards are drawn. In one embodiment, a destroyed square is indicated or marked by a change to its color (i.e., a “second color”).
In one embodiment, in lieu of placing physical tokens as described above, the game grids are configured with depressible, manipulable or otherwise engageable features, as would be known to a person having ordinary skill in the art, which, when depressed, manipulated or engaged, indicate the selection of a particular square for play. Such indications may include, but are not limited to, lighting up of the selected square, as described above.
In one embodiment, touch screens are provided. Each touch screen displays a virtual game grid and virtual tokens for placement on selected squares of the virtual grids. Such placement may include, but is not limited to, any one of the following: (1) virtually “dragging” the tokens across the touch screen from an initial position off to the side of the virtual game grid and onto the selected squares; (2) tapping on the selected squares, whereby each one of the selected squares becomes populated with a virtual token; (3) tapping on a particular token and then tapping on a particular square, whereby the selected token “disappears” or is removed from its initial position and reappears on the selected square, or (4) any other conventional means known in the art. The touch screen is affixed, or connected by cable or other conventional means, or is wirelessly connected by any conventional means, to the gaming table. The gaming table optionally has an aperture for receiving the touch screen (i.e., the touch screen “docks” with the aperture).
In one embodiment, the dealer is a “virtual” or computer-controlled dealer, displayed on computer screen 36, whose selection of squares on its game grid is provided by a computer-generated rule using a computer-generated random number generator.
As described above, prior to play beginning, the dealer and the players must each place all three of their tokens on squares of their choosing on their respective game grids, with only one token placed per square per game grid. In the illustration shown in
Slot Machine Apparatus
In one embodiment, the game is operatively associated with a slot machine apparatus (hereinafter, the “slot machine”). The slot machine has a number of different configurations derived from any one (or combination) of a number of different conventional configurations as would be known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. In the slot machine embodiments described below, the dealer is a “virtual” or computer-controlled dealer whose selection of squares on its game grid is provided by a computer-generated rule using a computer-generated random number generator.
In one embodiment, the computer-generated random number generator randomly selects three squares from among any of the squares on the virtual dealer's game grid upon which to virtually place its tokens.
In one embodiment, the virtual dealer makes the first selection. In another embodiment, slot machine is configured such that the human player makes the first selection. In this embodiment, the computer-generated random number generator selects any three squares irrespective of which squares the human player selected on the player's game grid. In another embodiment, the computer-generated random number generator excludes, from its (subsequent) selection for the virtual dealer, those squares selected by the human player on the player's game grid. In another embodiment, both the player and the dealer make their respective selections concurrently.
The following are examples of some, but not all, possible configurations of the game as operatively associated with the slot machine:
In one embodiment, the slot machine is configured with physical tokens for use by the player, as described above in connection with the gaming table embodiments. In this embodiment, the tokens are placed by the player (s) on a physical game grid, which is affixed, or connected by cable or other conventional means, or is wirelessly connected by any conventional means, to the slot machine. In another embodiment, in lieu of using tokens, each square of the game grid contains a depressible button or other manipulable feature which, when engaged, is read by the machine as placement of a “token” on that square.
In one embodiment, the slot machine is configured for single-player use (i.e., by a single human player), where the single player competes against the (virtual) dealer (and the casino). In another embodiment, the slot machine is configured with two or more player game grids, each game grid having an associated set of tokens for use by a respective human player. Each player competes against the virtual dealer only and not against the other player (s).
In each of the aforementioned slot machine embodiments and configurations described above, the slot machine includes a display screen/unit, or other conventional display means, to visually display the dealer's (virtual) play on the dealer's (virtual) game grid and, where applicable, the play of the one or more human players.
In one embodiment, the system hardware is housed within the slot machine body (exceptions include, but are not limited to, exit network cables, exit power cables, etc., as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art). This embodiment includes integrated tokens and one or more integrated game grid (s). In one embodiment, such integrated game grid(s) are virtually provided on a touch screen integrally formed with the slot machine.
In one embodiment, the aforementioned touch screen is configured according to any one of the following embodiments:
The system hardware, including the hardware identified in the list of reference numerals provided below, can be housed within the slot machine, external to the slot machine, or partially within and partially external to the slot machine, according to any arrangement as would be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Embodiments of the subject matter and the operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on a non-transitory computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively, or in addition, the program instructions can be encoded on an artificially generated propagated signal, e.g., a machine generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus for execution by a data processing apparatus. A computer storage medium can be, or be included in, a computer readable storage device, a computer readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or be included in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, disks, or other storage devices).
The operations described in this specification can be implemented as operations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored on one or more computer readable storage devices or received from other sources.
The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing. The apparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment can realize various different computing model infrastructures, such as web services, distributed computing and grid computing infrastructures.
A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language resource), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.
The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform actions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).
Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing actions in accordance with instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), to name just a few. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of nonvolatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.
To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with a user by sending resources to and receiving resources from a device that is used by the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user's client device in response to requests received from the web browser.
Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a computing system that includes a backend component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a frontend component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described in this specification, or any combination of one or more such backend, middleware, or frontend components.
The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. In some embodiments, a server transmits data (e.g., an HTML page) to a client device (e.g., for purposes of displaying data to and receiving user input from a user interacting with the client device). Data generated at the client device (e.g., a result of the user interaction) can be received from the client device at the server.
A system of one or more computers can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One or more computer programs can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of including instructions that, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.
In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.
Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described.
The following is a list of reference numerals and associated parts as used in this specification and drawings:
While the invention has been described in its preferred forms or embodiments with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6550772 | Streeks | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 7025354 | Jones | Apr 2006 | B1 |
| 20060035700 | Van Asdale | Feb 2006 | A1 |
| 20100283205 | Mahon | Nov 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20240177557 A1 | May 2024 | US |
