US20060205471A1

US20060205471A1 - System and method of organizing a predictions-based game through an electronic gaming system

Info

Publication number: US20060205471A1
Application number: US11/371,415
Authority: US
Inventors: John Martin; Patrick Rice; Samuel Zammuto
Original assignee: Arachnid Inc
Current assignee: Arachnid Inc
Priority date: 2005-03-10
Filing date: 2006-03-09
Publication date: 2006-09-14

Abstract

A method of playing a predictions-based game based on a particular event, including inputting identification information into an electronic gaming system through a user interface, inputting prediction information into the electronic gaming system through the user interface, relaying the identification information and prediction information to a processing unit of a central management system that is adapted to operate the predictions-based game, monitoring the status of the particular event, determining whether the prediction information is in accordance with an outcome of the particular event at the processing unit, relaying results of the determining step to the electronic gaming system, and displaying the results on a display of the electronic gaming system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/660,487 entitled “System and Method of Organizing a Predictions-Based Game Through An Electronic Gaming System,” filed Mar. 10, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method of organizing a predictions-based game through an electronic gaming system, and more particularly to a system and method of inputting predictions related to a game, such as “Fantasee Football,” through an electronic gaming system, such as an electronic dart game machine.
Various establishments, such as bars and restaurants, have gaming systems on premises. For example, the establishments may have electronic dart game machines, video games, pool tables, and the like. Further, many of these gaming systems include electronic interfaces configured to allow a user to input information and/or activate game play.
Games of chance represent one particular form of entertainment offered by establishments. Casinos offer various types of gambling machines, e.g., slot machines, poker machines, and the like. Additionally, individuals often make predictions and/or wagers in relation to sporting events, in an effort to derive more excitement from the sporting events.
Often, establishments offer patrons a predictions-based game for cash and prizes. Some of these games are promotional and offered to patrons at no cost, but offer patrons who predict correct results prizes. “Fantasee Football” is one such game that offers patrons a chance to predict the outcome of football games. Information regarding “Fantasee Football” can be found at www.FantaseeFootball.com. Typically, patrons write down their predictions and/or inform an employee at a particular establishment of their predictions, who then records the predictions. As such, paper records are required to document the predictions. The employee later communicates the predictions to a central game location.
The paper records, however, may be lost. Additionally, predictions or wagers may be mis-recorded and/or mis-communicated.
Thus, a need exists for a system and method of efficiently inputting, recording and tabulating predictions in predictions-based games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of playing a predictions-based game based on a particular event. The method includes inputting identification information into an electronic gaming system through a user interface, inputting prediction information into the electronic gaming system through the user interface, relaying the identification information and prediction information to a processing unit that is programmed to operate the predictions-based game, monitoring the status of the particular event, determining whether the prediction information is in accordance with an outcome of the particular event at the processing unit, relaying results of the determining step to the electronic gaming system, and displaying the results on a display of the electronic gaming system.
The electronic gaming system may be an electronic dart game machine, a video game, a parlor game having an activation assembly having a user interface, or various other electronic gaming systems. The electronic gaming system may be remotely located from a location where the predictions-based game is operated. The particular event may be a sporting event, such as a baseball, football, basketball, or hockey game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic dart game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of the electronic dart game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating a predictions-based game according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method of monitoring predictions made at remote game machines according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention may be used with various electronic gaming systems, including the electronic dart golf game described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,354, entitled “Electronic Dart Golf Game,” issued to Martin et al (the “'354 patent”), computer jukeboxes, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,189, entitled “Computer Jukebox and Jukebox Network,” issued to Martin et al. (the “'189 patent”), and the gaming devices described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,212, entitled “Gaming device providing high security communications with a remote station,” issued to Martin (the “'212 patent”). The '354 patent, the '189 patent, and the '212 patent are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
In general, embodiments of the present invention may also be used with an electronic gaming system that includes a user interface that allows a user to input information. Embodiments of the present invention may also be used with the remote activation assembly shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/737,054, entitled “Improved Parlor Game,” which was filed on Dec. 16, 2003, listing Martin et al, as inventors, which is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic dart game machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic dart game machine 100 may include a coin/bill acceptor 102, a first electronic dart board 104, a second electronic dart board 106, a video display 108, interface keys 110, and a CPU (not shown in FIG. 1). The interface keys 110 may include selection keys and player change buttons. Alternatively, the electronic dart game machine 100 may include only one electronic dart board. Also, alternatively, the electronic dart game machine 100 may include more than two electronic dart boards.
Players may input game selection information and other parameters through the interface keys 110, and/or a touchscreen included on the video display 108. The video display 108 may be a cathode ray tube (CRT) based display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a dense grid of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or the like. The display 108 may present players with various game selection choices, which may be activated by pressing a corresponding interface key 110, and/or an appropriate location on the touchscreen of the video display 108. The electronic dart game machine 100 may also provide video output connectors, which may provide standard connections to VGA, NTSC or S-video displays. The video display may then be mounted in a location remote from the electronic dart game machine 100.
Each electronic dart board 104 and 106 may include, for example, a set of switches (which may be magnetic, mechanical or optical) associated with each segment (such as double 20, triple 20 and bullseye) for each target value on the electronic dart board 104 or 106. When a dart hits or contacts a segment, such as triple 20, a switch associated with the segment closes. By scanning the set of switches with a general purpose bus, the CPU included within the electronic dart game machine 100 may determine the switch that was closed. Consequently, the CPU may determine the associated target value.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration 200 of the electronic dart game machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hardware configuration 200 includes the video display 108, the first electronic dart board 104, the second electronic dart board 106, the CPU 202 and a memory 204. The CPU 202 electronically connects to the first and second dart boards 104 and 106, the video display 108 and the memory 204. The memory 204 provides the CPU 202 with memory resources and may include banks of RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, magnetic memory or the like. The CPU 202 may be a single processor unit, or may be implemented with discrete logic, programmable logic, or a combination of a high-level processor core and discrete logic. The CPU 202 includes game set-up and game mode information. That is, the CPU 202 controls the set-up and game play of the game. For example, the CPU 202 may store a plurality of games, including Fantasee Football, an electronic dart golf game, and various other games, within the memory 204. During each game, the CPU 202 retrieves information regarding the next phase of the game. For example, after a player(s) makes a prediction regarding a football game, the CPU 202 keeps track of, and displays, the player(s)' prediction and moves on to another contest for a prediction, and/or awaits the results of the first game.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in addition to playing darts on the electronic dart game machine 100, one may also utilize the electronic dart game machine to input predictions for a predictions-based game. The CPU 202 may be programmed to allow a user to input predictions. The predictions-based game, for example, “Fantasee Football,” may be stored in the memory 204. Further, the electronic dart game machine 100 may be networked to a remote server 300 of a remote central management system 302 that is separate and distinct from the electronic dart game machine 100. The remote central management system 302 resides at a centralized location and includes hardware having a memory that stores rules, organization scoring, and other such information for the predictions-based game and operates according to that information.
When the electronic dart game machine 100 is not in use, the CPU 202 may display advertising information regarding the predictions-based game on the video display 108 in a user attract mode. That is, information regarding the predictions-based game may be displayed on the video display 108 in order to prompt users to play the predictions-based game. For example, the CPU 202 may display “PLAY FANTASEE FOOTBALL FOR PRIZES” on the video display 108.
In operation, a user inputs a prediction into the electronic dart game machine 100 through a user interface, such as the interface keys 110 and/or the video display 108 (which may be, e.g., a touchscreen interface). The video display 108 guides the user through the predictions process. For example, the electronic dart game machine 100 may display a menu, which offers dart play, or predictions-based game play. The user selects the predictions-based game through the user interface. For example, the user may select “Fantasee Football.” The CPU 202 receives this selection and retrieves information regarding the predictions-based game from the memory 204. The CPU 202 then operates to display selection information on the video display 108. The video display 108 may show particular events of which a user may be allowed to predict the outcomes. For example, the video display 108 may display all NFL games on a particular Sunday. The CPU 202 receives information regarding these events from the central management system 202 through a communication link 304, which may include a modem, DSL, T1 lines, T3 lines, wireless interfaces, satellite communication, or various other communications systems and methods used to connect users to, for example, the Internet.
The user enters identification information and predictions by way of the user interface. The CPU 202 then receives this information and relays it to the central management system 302. Thus, the electronic dart game machine 100 allows a user to input information for a predictions-based game.
The central management system 302 monitors the outcomes of the particular events, such as NFL games, and determines whether users accurately predicted the results. The central management system 302 then relays the results of the predictions back to the electronic dart game machine 100, such that the results may be displayed on the video display 108.
For example, a user enters identification information and prediction information for each NFL game played on a particular date into the electronic dart game machine 100 through the user interface. This information is then sent to the central management system 302. The central management system 302 monitors, or an operator inputs, the outcomes of each game. The central management system 302 tabulates the results for each user who is playing the NFL prediction game. At the conclusion of a particular predictions-based game (e.g., “predict the score of NFL game 1,” “predict the winner of NFL game 1,” “predict the winners of NFL games 1-3,” or “predict the winners of all NFL games on a particular date”), the central management system 302 relays the results back to the electronic dart game machine 100. The CPU 202 displays the results on the video display. For example, the CPU 202 may display winner information received from the central management system 302 on the video display, such as “John Doe is the winner because he accurately predicted the outcome of the most games played on X date.”
Further, the CPU 202 may be configured to allow a user to view weekly and seasonal results. That is, a user may access these results through the user interface, which displays an appropriate menu selection. The CPU 202 then communicates with the central management system 302 to retrieve weekly and/or seasonal results.
Optionally, the central management system 302 may be housed within the electronic dart game machine 302. Further, instead of using a central management system 302, information regarding the predictions-based game may be stored within the memory 204 of the electronic dart game machine 100, which may be networked with other electronic dart game machines and/or electronic gaming systems.
While an electronic dart game machine 100 is shown and described, embodiments of the present invention may be used with various electronic gaming systems, such as video games, trivia games, parlor games having electronic interfaces, and the like. Further, embodiments of the present invention may utilize various predictions-based games, such as those relating to other sports.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating a predictions-based game according to an embodiment of the present invention. At 400, the game machine determines if a game, such as an electronic dart game, is being played. If a game is being played, the game machine operates or continues to operate the game at 402. If a game is not being played, user attract graphics, such as “PLAY FANTASEE FOOTBALL” are displayed at 404. If the game interface is engaged at 406, the game machine displays a game menu at 408. The game menu may prompt a player to decide whether to play a first game, such as darts, or a second game, such as a predictions-based game. If, at 410, a predictions-based game is selected, the game machine displays a menu listing various games/events for prediction or wagering at 412. The game machine then prompts the player to make predictions at 414. After the player has made his/her predictions, the game machine prompts the user to input identification information at 416. Identification information may be input before the prediction(s). The identification information may include a player's name, password, and/or various other information that may be stored in the game machine or at the central management system. Once the player has input his/her predictions and identification information, data representing the predictions and associated identification information is sent to the central management system at 418.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method of monitoring predictions made at remote game machines according to an embodiment of the present invention. At 500, the central management system receives a prediction(s) and associated identification information from a remote game machine(s). The central management system then stores this information. At 502, the central management system monitors outcomes of the various events/games of which players predicted outcomes. At 504, the central management system determines whether the events/games were predicted accurately by the player(s).
The central management system relays results of the events/games and predictions to the remote game machines at 506. The game machines display the results on monitors or the like. The central management system may also store the results of the events/games and predictions at 508. Further, the central management system may tabulate and compile stats for players at 510. For example, the central management system may keep up-to-date prediction accuracy scores for each player. The accuracy scores may then be relayed to the game machines at 512. The game machines may include a menu option that allows a player to review accuracy scores, rankings, and the like for various predictions-based game at various times, such as when a game machine is not being played.
Embodiments of the present invention may also be used with voting on future events. That is, an electronic gaming system, such as the dart game machine 100, may be used to input and track voting with respect to a host of different events or occasions, such as elections, meetings, and the like.
Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunction with memory storage devices, such as memory buttons, that may be used to store a user's predictions and results, and the like. The memory button may be positioned on a key chain. For example, in order for a player to register or a play a particular predictions-based game, player information is programmed, or loaded, into the button. Player information may be programmed into the button at a central database or at an authorized game unit. The button may then connected to a database connector, or receptor. The button then receives and stores player information and predictions information via the database connector. The information is then stored on the button and within the central data base or central management system.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of efficiently inputting predictions in prediction-based games. Users may enter identification information and predictions through various electronic gaming systems on-site that are in communication with a remote central management system that stores information regarding the predictions-based game, and operates accordingly. Embodiments of the present invention effectively eliminate the middle man because users may directly enter their predictions into an existing electronic gaming system.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing a predictions-based game based on a particular event, comprising:

inputting identification information into an electronic gaming system through a user interface;

inputting prediction information into the electronic gaming system through the user interface;

relaying the identification information and prediction information to a central management system that is configured to operate the predictions-based game;

monitoring the status of the particular event;

determining whether the prediction information is in accordance with an outcome of the particular event at the central management system;

relaying results of said determining step to the electronic gaming system; and

displaying the results of the particular event on a display of the electronic gaming system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic gaming system is an electronic dart game machine that includes the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic gaming system is a video game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic gaming system is a parlor game having an activation assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic gaming system is remotely located from a location where the particular event is monitored.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the central management system is in communication with a plurality of electronic gaming systems.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular event is a sporting event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular event is an election.

9. A method of voting on a particular event, comprising:

inputting voting information into an electronic gaming system through a user interface of an electronic gaming system;

relaying the voting information to a central management system that is configured to tabulate vote totals;

monitoring the status of the particular event;

relaying results of the particular event to the electronic gaming system; and

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic gaming system is an electronic dart game machine that includes the user interface.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic gaming system is a video game.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic gaming system is a parlor game having an activation assembly.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic gaming system is remotely located from a location where the particular event is monitored.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the central management system is in communication with a plurality of electronic gaming systems.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the particular event is an election.

16. A method of playing a predictions-based game based on a particular event, comprising:

inputting identification information into an electronic dart game system through a user interface;

inputting prediction information regarding the particular event into the electronic dart game system through the user interface;

relaying the identification information and prediction information to a central management system that is remotely located from the electronic dart game system;

monitoring the status of the particular event at the central management system;

relaying results of said determining step to the electronic dart game system; and

displaying the results on a display of the electronic dart game system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising player statistics regarding the prediction information and past predictions at the central management system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising relaying player statistics to the electronic dart game system, and displaying the player statistics on the display of the electronic dart game system.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the central management system is in communication with a plurality of electronic gaming systems.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the particular event is a sporting event.