# US 2014/0155133 A1 · Methods and apparatus for enhanced interactive game play in lottery and gaming environments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155133 A1 - Document ID: US20140155133A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/023,834 - Filed: 2013-09-11 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-28 - Assignees: Milestone Entertainment, LLC - Applicants: Milestone Entertainment LLC - Inventors: Randall M. Katz; Gary Dawson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155133A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/329: {Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards} - G07F 17/3272: {Games involving multiple players} - G07F 17/3276: {wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract Methods and systems for electronic interaction comprising a display for presenting a grid of identifying objects, an input for receiving a player selection of an identifying object, a random generator for randomly selecting a winning identifying object, and a point tally system for awarding points to the player according to the rules comprising a first point value if the player selected identifying object exactly matches the winning identifying object, a second point value if the player selected identifying object is in a geometric relationship with the winning identifying object, and a third, negative, point value if the player is not awarded the first point value or the second point value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for electronic interaction in a multi-player gaming system comprising: a plurality of displays for presenting graphical information to players regarding a plurality of variable duration game rooms, at least two of the game rooms having different durations, a plurality of input devices, at least one each associated with the displays, the input devices being adapted to receive play input regarding selection of a variable duration game room and game play within the room, a play server adapted to permit multiple players to join in play for at least some of the variable duration game rooms, a timer for determining the expiration of game play in the variable duration game rooms, the timer having a common start time for game play in a game room for all players in the game room, an input for receiving a mandated prizing parameter, a point tally system including a processor for ranking the players score relative to one another, the point tally system utilizing the mandated prizing parameter in connection with award points, and a memory for storing the information, the point tally system providing the ranking information to the displays, the point tally system selecting at least the player with the highest score as at least one winner at the expiration of game play as determined by the timer for the variable duration game room, and a payment system for providing the winnings to the winner. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the point tally system selects multiple winners in a game having the highest point totals when the game ends. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the display of variable duration game room information includes the amount of time remaining for game play in the room. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the display of variable duration game room information includes the winnings to be provided by the payment system to the at least one winner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 where points are scored in the game room based in part on skill based play between the players. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the gaming system is a lottery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the winnings are provided in cash. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein the winnings are provided in a non-cash form. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system for electronic interaction of claim 8 wherein the non-cash winnings are non-cash goods. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system for electronic interaction of claim 9 wherein the non-cash goods are points. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system for electronic interaction of claim 9 wherein the non-cash goods are free play. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system for electronic interaction of claim 9 wherein the non-cash goods are advancement to a higher level in the game. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system for electronic interaction of claim 9 wherein the non-cash goods are audible. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system for electronic interaction of claim 13 wherein the audible non-cash goods are ring tones. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system for electronic interaction of claim 9 wherein the non-cash goods are images on a display. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system for electronic interaction of claim 15 wherein the images on the display are background images. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system for electronic interaction of claim 15 wherein the images are display wall paper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein at least some of the games are played with virtual money. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money are vCoins. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money corresponds to a multiplier times the corresponding numeric monetary value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system for electronic interaction of claim 20 wherein the multiplier is fixed over time. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system for electronic interaction of claim 20 wherein the multiplier is variable over time. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The system for electronic interaction of claim 20 wherein the multiplier varies by game. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system for electronic interaction of claim 20 wherein the multiplier varies based on player status. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money is acquired at least in part via cash purchase. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money is acquired at least in part via non-cash acquisition. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system for electronic interaction of claim 26 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via a credit. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system for electronic interaction of claim 26 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via an inducement. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The system for electronic interaction of claim 26 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via a promotion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money may be converted to cash. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money may be converted to games. ### Claim 32 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money may be converted to prizes. ### Claim 33 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money may be converted to non-cash goods. ### Claim 34 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money may be converted to non-cash services. ### Claim 35 (depends on 18) The system for electronic interaction of claim 18 wherein the virtual money may be converted to affinity points. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 where player to player communication is provided in multiple player games. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The system for electronic interaction of claim 36 where player to player communication is via instant messaging. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 further including an analytics processing system. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein at least certain of the games are multi-level games. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein at least certain of the multiple player games are multi-level games. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein game play is enabled between multiple players via one or more buddy lists. ### Claim 42 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein game play is enabled between multiple players via one or more association groupings. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The system for electronic interaction of claim 42 wherein the association groupings are utilized to form competitive game play pairings. ### Claim 44 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 wherein win is determined prior to the expiration of the game room. ### Claim 45 (depends on 1) The system for electronic interaction of claim 1 further including a leader board. ### Claim 46 A system for electronic interaction in a multi-player, multi-level gaming system, the system being adapted to interface with displays for presentation of game information to the players and with input devices for receiving game play information, comprising: a graphical information display generator for generating displays of information regarding a plurality of variable duration game rooms, at least two of the game rooms having different durations, system input adapted to receive game control input from the plurality of input devices, the game control input including input regarding selection of a variable duration game room and game play within the room, at least certain of the game play comprising multi-level game play, a play server adapted to permit one or more players to join in play for at least some of the variable duration game rooms, a timer for determining the expiration of game play in the variable duration game rooms, the timer having a common start time for game play in a game room for all players in a game room, a game analysis system, a point tally system including a processor for ranking the players score relative to one another, and a memory for storing the information, the point tally system providing the ranking information to the displays, the point tally system selecting at least the player with the highest score as at least one winner at the expiration of game play as determined by the timer for the variable duration game room, and a payment system for providing the winnings to the winner. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The system for electronic interaction of claim 46 wherein the winnings are provided in a non-cash form. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The system for electronic interaction of claim 47 wherein the non-cash winnings are non-cash goods. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The system for electronic interaction of claim 48 wherein the non-cash goods are points. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The system for electronic interaction of claim 48 wherein the non-cash goods are free play. ### Claim 51 (depends on 48) The system for electronic interaction of claim 48 wherein the non-cash goods are advancement to a higher level in the game. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) The system for electronic interaction of claim 48 wherein the non-cash goods are images on a display. ### Claim 53 (depends on 46) The system for electronic interaction of claim 46 wherein at least some of the games are played with virtual money. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The system for electronic interaction of claim 53 wherein the virtual money corresponds to a multiplier times the corresponding numeric monetary value. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The system for electronic interaction of claim 53 wherein the virtual money is acquired at least in part via cash purchase. ### Claim 56 (depends on 53) The system for electronic interaction of claim 53 wherein the virtual money is acquired at least in part via non-cash acquisition. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The system for electronic interaction of claim 56 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via a credit. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The system for electronic interaction of claim 56 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via an inducement. ### Claim 59 (depends on 56) The system for electronic interaction of claim 56 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via a promotion. ### Claim 60 (depends on 53) The system for electronic interaction of claim 53 wherein the virtual money may be converted to non-cash goods. ### Claim 61 (depends on 53) The system for electronic interaction of claim 53 wherein the virtual money may be converted to non-cash services. ### Claim 62 (depends on 46) The system for electronic interaction of claim 46 wherein at least certain of the games are subject to mandated prizing parameters. ### Claim 63 (depends on 46) The system for electronic interaction of claim 46 wherein game play is enabled between multiple players via one or more buddy lists. ### Claim 64 (depends on 46) The system for electronic interaction of claim 46 wherein game play is enabled between multiple players via one or more association groupings. ### Claim 65 A system for electronic interaction in a multi-player, multi-level gaming system, the system being adapted to interface with displays for presentation of game information to the players and with input devices for receiving game play information, comprising: a graphical information display generator for generating displays of information regarding a plurality of variable duration game rooms, at least two of the game rooms having different durations, system input adapted to receive game control input from the plurality of input devices, the game control input including input regarding selection of a variable duration game room and game play within the room, at least certain of the game play utilizing virtual money, a play server adapted to permit one or more players to join in play for at least some of the variable duration game rooms, a timer for determining the expiration of game play in the variable duration game rooms, the timer having a common start time for game play in a game room for all players in a game room, an input for receiving variable parameters, a point tally system including a processor for ranking the players score relative to one another, the point tally system utilizing at least the variable parameters in awarding points, and a memory for storing the information, the point tally system providing the ranking information to the displays, the point tally system selecting at least the player with the highest score as at least one winner at the expiration of game play as determined by the timer for the variable duration game room, and a payment system for providing the winnings to the winner. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) The system for electronic interaction of claim 65 wherein the winnings are provided in a non-cash form. ### Claim 67 (depends on 66) The system for electronic interaction of claim 66 wherein the non-cash winnings are non-cash goods. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The system for electronic interaction of claim 67 wherein the non-cash goods are points. ### Claim 69 (depends on 67) The system for electronic interaction of claim 67 wherein the non-cash goods are free play. ### Claim 70 (depends on 67) The system for electronic interaction of claim 67 wherein the non-cash goods are advancement to a higher level in the game. ### Claim 71 (depends on 67) The system for electronic interaction of claim 67 wherein the non-cash goods are images on a display. ### Claim 72 (depends on 65) The system for electronic interaction of claim 65 wherein at least some of the games are played with virtual money. ### Claim 73 (depends on 62) The system for electronic interaction of claim 62 wherein the virtual money corresponds to a multiplier times the corresponding numeric monetary value. ### Claim 74 (depends on 72) The system for electronic interaction of claim 72 wherein the virtual money is acquired at least in part via cash purchase. ### Claim 75 (depends on 72) The system for electronic interaction of claim 72 wherein the virtual money is acquired at least in part via non-cash acquisition. ### Claim 76 (depends on 75) The system for electronic interaction of claim 75 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via a credit. ### Claim 77 (depends on 75) The system for electronic interaction of claim 75 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via an inducement. ### Claim 78 (depends on 75) The system for electronic interaction of claim 75 wherein the non-cash acquisition is via a promotion. ### Claim 79 (depends on 72) The system for electronic interaction of claim 72 wherein the virtual money may be converted to non-cash goods. ### Claim 80 (depends on 72) The system for electronic interaction of claim 72 wherein the virtual money may be converted to non-cash services. ### Claim 81 (depends on 65) The system for electronic interaction of claim 65 wherein at least certain of the games are subject to mandated prizing parameters. ### Claim 82 (depends on 65) The system for electronic interaction of claim 65 wherein game play is enabled between multiple players via one or more buddy lists. ### Claim 83 (depends on 65) The system for electronic interaction of claim 65 wherein game play is enabled between multiple players via one or more association groupings.