US 5,707,286 AGranted

Universal gaming engine

AssigneeMikohn Gaming Corporation

InventorRolf E. Carlson

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus for implementing a game having a deterministic component and a non-deterministic component wherein a player uses the game through at least one player interface unit. Each player interface unit generates a player record indicating player-initiated events. A random number generator provides a series of pseudo-random numbers and a rules library stores indexed rules for one or more games. An interface registry stores mapping records where the mapping records are used to associate the player-initiated events to pre-selected rules in the rules library. A control means is coupled to the player interface to receive the output of the player interface unit, coupled to the interface registry, the rules library, and the random number generator. The control means processes the player record and returns an output record to the player interface unit where the output record is determined by executing the game's rules with reference to the pseudo-random numbers and predefined combinatorial algorithms for selecting sets of the pseudo-random numbers.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An apparatus for implementing a game, the game having a deterministic component, a rule based non-deterministic component, and a random component, the apparatus comprising:

a first player interface unit generating at least a first player record of information indicating player-initiated events from a first player;
a random number circuit providing an output signal comprising a series of uniformly distributed pseudo-random numbers;
verification means coupled to receive the output signal from the random number circuit for verifying that the received pseudo-random numbers are statistically random, the verification means having an output for supplying a series of verified pseudo-random numbers;
buffer means coupled to receive the verified pseudo-random numbers for temporarily storing the verified pseudo-random numbers, the buffer means having an output for distributing the stored verified random numbers;
first control means coupled to the buffer means, verification means, and the random number circuit for activating the random number circuit and the verification means and causing the buffer means to deliver a set of the stored verified pseudo-random numbers on the buffer means output;
a rules library storing indexed rules for one or more games;
an interface registry for storing mapping data records, the mapping data records for mapping the first player record to pre-selected rules in the rules library;
combinatorial algorithm storage means having a bi-directional input/output port for storing combinatorial algorithms in an executable form;
and
second control means coupled to the buffer means output, the first player interface unit, the interface registry, the combinatorial algorithm storage means, and rules library, the second control means for processing the player record, the processing comprising the steps of:
(i) accepting the first player record,
(ii) referring to the interface registry to map the first player record to a selected rule in the rules library,
(iii) executing the selected rule by selectively referring to the combinatorial algorithm storage means and selectively generating requests for sets of verified pseudo-random numbers from the buffer means output, and
(iv) generating an output record indicating results of the execution step, the output record directed to the first player interface unit.

11 more elements

An apparatus for implementing a game, said apparatus comprising:

at least one player interface unit, each player interface unit generating a player record indicating a player-initiated event;
a random number generator providing a series of pseudo-random numbers;
a rules library storing indexed rules for one or more games;
an interface registry for storing mapping data, the mapping data for mapping the generated player record to pre-selected rules in the rules library;
combinatorial algorithm storage means for storing combinatorial algorithms;
and
control means coupled to the player interface unit, the interface registry, the rules library, the combinatorial algorithm storage means, and the random number generator, the control means receiving the player record from the at least one player interface unit for mapping the player record to a selected rule in the rules library, the control means executing the selected rule by selectively referring to the combinatorial algorithm storage means and selectively generating requests for pseudo-random numbers from the random number generator to generate an output record for delivery back to the player interface unit.

4 more elements

An apparatus for implementing a game, comprising:

a player interface unit generating at least a player record of information indicating a player-initiated event from a player playing a selected game;
a random number circuit providing an output signal comprising a series of uniformly distributed pseudo-random numbers;
verification means receiving the output signal from the random number circuit for verifying that the received series of uniformly distributed pseudo-random numbers are statistically random, the verification means having an output for supplying sets of verified pseudo-random numbers;
a rules library storing indexed rules for one or more games including the selected game;
an interface registry storing mapping data for mapping the player record to pre-selected rules in the rules library corresponding to the selected game;
combinatorial algorithm storage means for storing combinatorial algorithms;
and
control means coupled to the verification means output, the player interface unit, the interface registry, the combinatorial algorithm storage means, and the rules library for processing the player record, the processing comprising the steps of:
(i) accepting the player record,
(ii) referring to the interface registry to map the player record to a selected rule of the selected game in the rules library,
(iii) executing the selected rule by selectively referring to the combinatorial algorithm storage means and selectively generating requests for sets of verified pseudo-random numbers from the verification means output, and
(iv) generating an output record indicating results of the execution step, the output record delivered to the player interface unit.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.