US 20080070669Al
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0070669 A1
(43) Pub. Date:
Walker et al.
(54)
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
Mar. 20, 2008
(60) Provisional application No. 60/373,751, ?led on Apr.
18, 2002.
OUTPUTTING OUTCOMES OF A GAMING
DEVICE
Publication Classi?cation
(76) Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Ridge?eld, CT (US);
James A. Jorasch, Stamford, CT (US);
Magdalena M. Fincham, NorWalk, CT
(US); Russell P. Sammon, San
Francisco, CA (US); Scott T. Friesen,
New York, NY (US)
(51)
Int. Cl.
G06F 17/00
(52)
U.S. c1.
(57)
Correspondence Address:
(2006.01)
.............................................................. .. 463/16
ABSTRACT
In accordance With one or more embodiments, a method for
Magdalena M. Fincham
Five High Ridge Park
Stamford, CT 06905 (US)
outputting an outcome for a game of a gaming device is
presented, Wherein the method comprises ?rst outputting an
apparent outcome for the game and then outputting an actual
outcome for the game. In one or more embodiments, a
(21) Appl. No.:
11/942,014
(22) Filed:
Nov. 19, 2007
bene?t corresponding to the apparent outcome may not be
provided to the player playing the gaming device. For
example, a hopper may be prevented from dispensing a
payout associated With the apparent outcome. In accordance
Related US. Application Data
With one or more embodiments, a character (e.g., an ani
(63)
Continuation of application No. 10/328,116, ?led on
Dec. 20, 2002.
mated character) may be displayed as changing the apparent
outcome into the actual outcome.
/
DETERMINE AN APPARENT
OUTCOME AND AN ACTUAL
OUTCOME FOR A GAME
100A
1 5
OUTPUT THE APPARENT OUTCOME
110
l
OUTPUT THE ACTUAL OUTCOME
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 1 0f 20
f"
DETERMINE AN APPARENT
OUTCOME AND AN ACTUAL
OUTCOME FOR A GAME
l
OUTPUT THE APPARENT OUTCOME
l
OUTPUT THE ACTUAL OUTCOME
FIG. 1A
US 2008/0070669 A1
100A
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 2 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
100B
DETERMINEARANDOM NUMBER
j
E
DETERMINE AN OUTCOME
BASED ON THE RANDOM NUMBER 125
PREDETERMINED
CONDITION
SATISFIED?
OUTPUT OUTCOME DETERMINED
BASED ON RANDOM NUMBER AS
ACTUAL OUTCOME OF GAME 135
@
DETERMINE CHARACTERISTIC
FOR ACTUAL OUTCOME
I
DETERMINE ACTUAL OUTCOME
BASED AT LEAST ON
CHARACTERISTIC
14_5
I
OUTPUT OUTCOME DETERMINED
BASED ON RANDOM NUMBER AS
APPARENT OUTCOME OF GAME @
I
OUTPUT OUTCOME DETERMINED
BASED ON CHARACTERISTIC AS
ACTUAL OUTCOME OF GAME 1i
FIG. 1B
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 3 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
100C
DETERMINE A RANDOM NUMBER
j
@
I
DETERMINE AN OUTCOME
BASED ON THE RANDOM NUMBER 165
HAS
PREDETERMINED
CONDITION BEEN
SATISFIED?
NO
E
DETERMINE CHARACTERISTIC
FOR APPARENT OUTCOME
I
DETERMINE APPARENT OUTCOME
BASED ON CHARACTERISTIC
@
I
,
OUTPUT APPARENT OUTCOME
OUTPUT OUTCOME DETERMINED
BASED ON RANDOM NUMBER AS
—>
@
FIG. 1C
ACTUAL OUTCOME
m
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 4 0f 20
200
US 2008/0070669 A1
\‘
COMPUTER
m
(
O
mD
NETW RK
GAIVHNG
DEVICE
E
GAIVHNG
DEV|CE
GA|V||NG
DEV|CE
E
FIG. 2A
E
GAIVHNG
DEV|CE
E
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 5 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
COMPUTER
NETWORK
2_
MvH
GAMING
DEVICE
MD
MM| _
V|
m%
_2
3_
_
0_
_
_
_
_
_
I ._
0mm2E
W2
EGA%
GER
mm
w Q2u_
WMWm
I| L2
EG
3_
_
0_
3_GER
N.
0
P
_
_
P
N.
_
DEVICE
PERIPHERAL DEVICE
SERVER
FIG. 2B
_
_
_
I.
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 6 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
300 \‘
DISPLAY
DEVICE
INPUT
DEVICE
3i
PAYMENT
SYSTEM
36_5
37_5
RANDOM
GENERATOR
NUMBER
34_5
PROCESSOR
30_5
E
PLAYER
TRACKING
DEVICE
BENEFIT
OUTPUT
DEVICE
@
E
PROGRAM
(
(
PROBABILITY
DATABASE
E
O
310
PAYOUT DATABASE 5 O J
METHOD OF OUTPUT
DATABASE
@
CHARACTER
DATABASE
33_5
V/
FIG. 3
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 7 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
400
COMM.
PORT
PROCESSOR
5
PROGRAM
410
A
PLAYER DATABASE
GAMING DEVICE
DATABASE
FIG. 4
O0
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 8 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
@@ Q5
W f3 91;
L523
"'
C) @@
555
'
530
:
CREDIT CARD
E
PLAYER CARD
"WAIT! BELL-BELL-ORANGE
ISN'T YOUR ACTUAL OUTCOME.
LET'S SEE WHAT IT 1S!"
560{
&
CREDITS
550
\
r PAYS LEFI'
2ND
3RD ‘
COIN
com
'
com
@
®@
100
200
600
50
20
100
40
150
60
20
40
60
mg
mlcjcj
18
36
54
IEIOO
14
10
28
20
42
30
ANY PAIR/
ANY/ANY/
‘
ANY PA'R/ (.5
ANYlANY/
\
525
r—\
PAYS RIGHT
TO <LEFT
J L
y»
START_
’ 1ST
TO RIGHT>
.
.
J \—J
5 /'
FIG. 5
540
I?
mI OR BILLS
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 9 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
600
RANDOM
NUMBER
OUTCOME
m
m
00001
7 / 7/ 7
00002
OTHER
00003
ANY / ANY / CHERRY
00004
OTHER
00005
OTHER
00006
ANY / ANY / CHERRY
C
.
o
o
C
.
00112
BAR/ BAR / BAR
00113
OTHER
00114
ANY / ANY / CHERRY
00115
OTHER
00116
OTHER
00117
BAR / PLUM / PLUM
.
O
C
O
O
.
03456
BELL / BELL / BELL
03457
ANY / ANY / CHERRY
03458
OTHER
03459
OTHER
C
I
o
o
C
.
10647
ORANGE / ORANGE / ORANGE
10648
ORANGE / ORANGE / BAR
FIG. GA
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 10 0f 20
650
US 2008/0070669 A1
x‘
OUTCOME
PAYOUT
@
m
CHERRY/ANY/ANY
2
ANY/ANY/CHERRY
2
CHERRY/CHERRY/ANY
5
ANY/CHERRY/CHERRY
CHERRY/ANY/CHERRY
CHERRY/CHERRY/CHERRY
BAR/ORANGE/ORANGE
ORANGE/ORANGE/BAR
ORANGE/ORANGE/ORANGE
BAR/PLUM/PLUM
PLUM/PLUM/BAR
PLUM/PLUM/PLUM
BAR/BELL/BELL
BELL/BELL/BAR
BELL/BELL/BELL
BAR/ BAR/BAR
GNAOb-P
A OO
7/7/7
PRIOR ART
FIG. 6B
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 11 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
f- 700
RANDOM
NUMBER
APPARENT OUTCOME
m
R702
R704
R706
ACTUAL OUTCOME
m
E
00001
7/7/BAR
7/7/7
00002
7/7/PLUM
7/7/7
00003
7/7/ORANGE
7/7/7
00004
7 / 7 / BELL
7 / 7 / ORANGE
00005
ORANGE / BAR/ BAR
7 / BAR / BAR
00006
7 / BAR/ BAR
BAR/ BAR/ BAR
O
O
O
I
O
I
I
O
C
00112
ORANGE / BAR / ORANGE
BAR / BAR/ BAR
00113
7 / BELL / BELL
BELL / BELL / BELL
00114
BAR / BELL / PLUM
BAR / BELL / CHERRY
00115
BAR / BELL / ORANGE
BAR / BAR / BAR
00116
BAR / BELL / PLUM
BAR/ BELL / PLUM
00117
CHERRY/PLUM / PLUM
PLUM / PLUM / PLUM
I
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
C
03456
-/-/-
BELL / BELL / BELL
03457
BELL / BELL / 7
BELL / BELL / BELL
03458
ORANGE / 7 / 7
BELL / BELL / ORANGE
03459
BELL / BELL / ORANGE
BELL / BELL / BELL
I
I
O
O
O
O
I
O
0
10647
ORANGE / ORANGE / BAR
ORANGE / ORANGE / ORANGE
10648
CHERRY/ BELL / 7
ORANGE / ORANGE / ORANGE
FIG. 7A
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 12 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
750
DETERMINE RANDOM NUMBER FOR GAME
Q2
I
IDENTIFY RECORD OF TABLE 700
BASED ON RANDOM NUMBER
@4
BOTH
ACTUAL AND
APPARENT OUTCOMES
CORRESPOND
TO RANDOM
NUMBER?
E
TO FIGS. 7C, 7D
FIG. 7B
TO FIGS. 7C, 7D
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 13 0f 20
FROM FIG. 7B
OUTPUT APPARENT OUTCOME
BENEFIT
CORRESPONDS
TO APPARENT
OUTCOME?
E
OUTPUT BENEFIT FOR
APPARENT OUTCOME
m
@—>
OUTPUT ACTUAL OUTCOME
FROM FIG. 7B
‘
m
BENEFIT
CORRESPONDS
TO ACTUAL
OUTCOME?
E
OUTPUT BENEFIT FOR
ACTUAL OUTCOME
FIG. 7C
US 2008/0070669 A1
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 14 0f 20
FROM FIG. 7B
OUTPUT APPARENT OUTCOME
BENEFIT
CORRESPONDS
TO APPARENT
OUTCOME?
PREVENT BENEFIT CORRESPONDING
TO APPARENT OUTCOME
FROM BEING OUTPUT
m
@—>
OUTPUT ACTUAL OUTCOME
FROM FIG. 7B
‘
m
BENEFIT
CORRESPONDS
TO ACTUAL
OUTCOME?
E
OUTPUT BENEFIT FOR
ACTUAL OUTCOME
FIG. 7D
US 2008/0070669 A1
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 15 0f 20
/
RANDOM
NUMBER
RANGE
US 2008/0070669 A1
800
METHOD FOR DISPLAYING OUTCOME
810
E
00001 - 04000
OUTPUT ONLY ACTUAL OUTCOME
04001 _09000
OUTPUT APPARENT OUTCOME FIRST AND
OUTPUT ACTUAL OUTCOME 3 SECONDS LATER
OUTPUT ACTUAL oUTCoIvIE FIRST THEN
2 SECONDS LATER OUTPUT APPARENT
09001 ' 10648
OUTCOME THEN 2 SECONDS LATER
OUTPUT ACTUAL oUTCoIvIE AGAIN
FIG. 8A
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 16 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
DETERMINE RANDOM NUMBER
I
DETERMINE WHICH RANGE OF
RANDOM NUMBERS IN TABLE 800
THE RANDOM NUMBER FITS INTO
@
DETERMINE METHOD OF
OUTPUTTING OUTCOME THAT
CORRESPONDS TO RANGE
@
OUTPUT OUTCOME IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE METHOD
865
FIG. 8B
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 17 0f 20
US 2008/0070669 A1
f 900
CHARACTER
IDENTIFIER
m
CHARACTER
TITLE
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
E
E
C 001
GUARDIAN
ANGEL
CHARACTER WITH FLOWING ROBES LIKE AN ANGEL, HAS
ABILITY TO ALTER OUTCOMES FOR UP TO 25 EXTRA COINS
C 002
GUARDIAN
ANGEL W/TOOLS
ANGEL CHARACTER WITH TOOL KIT, HAS ABILITY
TO ALTER OUTCOMES FOR UP TO 50 EXTRA COINS
C 003
COURT JESTER
WEARS CLASSIC FOOL GARB, HAS ABILITY TO TEAR UP CARDS
IN REMAINING DECK THAT WOULD NOT HELP PLAYER
C 004
COURT JESTER
WEARS CLASSIC FOOL GARB, HAS ABILITY TO
REPLACE CARDS IN PLAYER‘S HAND
C 005
MECHANIC
CAN BE USED TO MOVE SLOT MACHINE REELS
C 006
WIZARD
ROBE WITH POINTED HAT, HAS A SPELL BOOK THAT CAN CAST
SPELLS CHANGING OUTCOMES FOR UP TO ‘I5 EXTRA COINS.
DRESSED IN OVERALLS, HAS A TOOL BAG WHICH
FIG. 9
Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2008 Sheet 19 0f 20
('1
GAMING
DEVICE
IDENTIFIER
m
GAMING
DEVICE
TYPE
1_
US 2008/0070669 A1
1100
GAMING
DEVICE
LOCATION
OUTCOME OUTPUT CAPABILITY
m
m
6406399842
VIDEO
BLACKJACK
CASINO 1,
AREA 5-3
ACTuAL AND APPARENT
VIA GAMING DEVICE
G-20-0013-55
VIDEO POKER
CASINO 1,
AREA C4
ACTUAL ONLY
CASINO 1
ACTuAL AND APPARENT
6-20-9981-03
VIDEO POKER
R-1102
R-1103
\.
AREA C_ 1'
VIA PERIPHERAL
DEVICE PD-999-01
R-1104
K.
950771299
ELECTRONIC
REELED SLOT
CASINO 2,
AREA 8-?
FIG. 11
ACTUAL AND APPARENT
VIA GAMING DEVICE