WO2003015041A2

WO2003015041A2 - System for carrying out a virtual game of chance

Info

Publication number: WO2003015041A2
Application number: PCT/EP2002/009019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renata B. Hreczuch; Ralf D. Makris
Original assignee: Hreczuch Renata B; Makris Ralf D
Priority date: 2001-08-10
Filing date: 2002-08-12
Publication date: 2003-02-20
Also published as: WO2003015041A3; DE10139486A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for carrying out a virtual game of chance wherein telecommunication-network operators or providers (A, B, C) place the amount of telecommunication-call charge fees in a gambling winnings distribution station (16) as prize money for players. Said players can connect to a play venue simulation station (6) via a data transmission network (1) and an evaluation and booking station (10) in order to take part in the virtual game of chance. Selection of the play venue simulation station by the data input and receiving unit for taking part in the virtual game of chance of an individual player produces the basic credit capital for the corresponding player so that a direct input of money is not necessary for a player to take part. The telecommunication network operators or providers are compensated to their advantage for paying out winnings in the form of telecommunication charge credits by the total accrued amount of telecommunication charges.

Description

description

System for realizing a virtual game of chance

The invention relates to a system for realizing a virtual game of chance with data input and reception units that can be coupled to a data transmission network, in particular the Internet, and also with at least one game location simulation station that can also be coupled to the data transmission network and with an associated evaluation unit. and booking station, which contains a computing device which is controlled by booking order signals and game order signals from the data input and reception units and the game location simulation station.

There are currently a variety of gaming systems available and selectable over the Internet in which gamblers can participate in virtual gambling using, for example, their credit card.

Regardless of the problem of the legality of such games of chance, however, there is a need for systems of the type defined at the outset which only satisfy the play instinct in connection with the possibility of building up, as it were, as a side effect of effective business models.

According to the invention, this need is satisfied by a system having the features of the appended claim 1. Advantageous refinements and developments are the subject of the claims subordinate to claim 1, the content of which is hereby expressly made part of the present description without repeating the wording here.

The essential idea on which the system according to the invention is based is that the first selection of the gaming system by a player actuating its data input and reception unit in the evaluation and booking station triggers a "share capital storage entry" as a virtual initial credit which can be increased by the player through possible game winnings in such a way that the player can induce a game profit distribution station to store the evaluation entry corresponding to the share capital entry and the game win To have the booking station fully or partially rebooked into a telecommunication fee credit, which can be credited to the player's own telecommunication fee account or, based on the player's booking order, to a third-party telecommunication fee account.

The player's booking order can be credited to the

Telecommunications fee account with the provider through which the current

Connection has been established, or with a selectable other

Request provider. The booking order can also relate to Fiat rates or, separately, telecommunications and internet fees.

Due to the statistical chances of winning a virtual game of chance, the provider in question, who provides the system for realizing the virtual game of chance, and in particular telecommunications network operators or telecommunications providers, can afford both the first storage entry as gaming stake and telecommunications fee. Winning amounts of winnings, as it were, since overall the volume of telecommunication fees in realizing virtual gambling is higher than the fees due to the share capital made available to the players and due to the telecommunication fee contributions as winnings.

The realization of a virtual game of chance made possible by the system specified here can be referred to as one with free entry, whereby a monetary expense of the player only comes about if the player increases his memory entry in the evaluation and booking station only slowly over a longer period Time the telecommunication channels on the data transmission network, in particular the Internet, and thus invested or consumed amounts of telecommunication fees. A pursuit of the telecommunications route via the Internet may be necessary for the proper distribution of the telecommunications fees "used" by the player.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a system of the type specified here is characterized in that gambling is carried out essentially without an initial monetary value bet and in that the specified system in this embodiment characteristically comprises three interlocking subsystems, namely a gaming system, a winning system and one information exchange system.

In this special embodiment, players gain access to the game system by providing information, be it by entering the sender address, by specifying certain personal data that a player would also have to provide when entering a casino, or by selecting web detectors recorded by certain detector means. Site's of advertising companies.

In this special embodiment, the activities of the player bring about the accumulation in a special memory of an evaluation and booking station of a game bet amount corresponding to no monetary value, which is credited to the player as a memory entry in the evaluation and booking station and over which the player remains authorized, and with which the player can enter a game event that is transmitted from the game location simulation station to the receiving devices or playback devices at the player's location.

In this special embodiment, in which a special winning loop is attached to the game winning distribution station for crediting telecommunication amount winnings, this winning loop comprises a winnings pool, so to speak, fed by sponsors and partners of the system, from which the players, according to their memory use, use the first- can buy in-first-out, whereby the sponsors and partners save which commitments in the memory of the game prize distribution station be rewarded with data from the evaluation and booking station of the system or a separate clearing station.

A billing loop via the game win distribution station and the sponsors thus forms a third information loop which feeds the first-mentioned information loop.

Exemplary embodiments of the system proposed here are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In these show:

Figure 1 shows a system of the type specified here in a schematic and greatly simplified representation using block symbols, wherein a game win distribution station mediates credits of telecommunications fees as winnings; and

FIG. 2 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a system for realizing a virtual game of chance which has been switched off further, this system additionally providing for a non-cash prize mediation by the game prize distribution station.

The system shown in FIG. 1 contains a data transmission network 1, primarily in the form of the Internet, to which data entry and reception units 3, 4 and 5 are coupled via providers 2. The data input and reception units are each assigned to players who want to participate in an Internet game of chance. The data input and reception units have the form of personal computers (for example 3) or mobile or portable computers or laptops (for example 4) or of mobile telephones or cell phones equipped with a visual display (for example 5).

Another essential component of the system specified here is one

Venue simulation station 6. In this, electrical image information signals are generated which can be transmitted via the Internet 1 and can be represented in the data input and reception units 3 to 5 and which simulate a venue and / or a type of game, for example a card game or a roulette game or the like. Certain game situations, which about the win or the Deciding loss of a game are entered by a random generator 7 in the game location simulation station and the image information signals transmitted to the data input and reception units 3 to 5 are impressed. Instead of the random generator 7, a game situation of an actual game location 8 can also be faded in by means of a television recording camera 9 such that the random generator 7 is, as it were, replaced by an actual game happening.

The participation of the players who hold the data input and reception units 3 to 5 and dial into the Internet 1 to take part in the virtual game happening in the game location simulation station 6 is controlled by an evaluation and booking station 10. In a section 11, this contains detector means for ascertaining and possibly checking certain data records entered by a player on his data input and reception unit 3 or 4 or 5 and storage means for storing these data records which the respective players or their data input and characterize receiving unit 3 or 4 or 5.

As soon as a player selects the evaluation and booking station 10 via his data input and reception unit 3 or 4 or 5 and the associated provider 2 and the Internet 1 to participate in the virtual game of chance, the player in question is stored in a memory 12 assigned to him someone specific

Memory entry credited as stake capital.

The evaluation and booking station 10 receives booking order signals and memory insert order signals from the data input and receiving units before the conclusion of a virtual game of chance in the location simulation station 6, and corresponding results signals from the location simulation station 6 after the end of a virtual game of chance, in such a way that the evaluation and Booking station 10 then determines which of the players in the data entry and receiving units 3 to 5 has a profit or a loss. These gains or losses are then added to or subtracted from the stores 12 to the initially registered virtual initial credit as “game stake capital”. If a player holding the data input and reception units 3 to 5 decides to exit the virtual game of chance, this occurs either when the player in question determines that his memory entry in the memory section 12 of the evaluation and accounting station 10 assigned to him has been emptied, or if the player decides to purchase a credit for a memory entry increased by winnings on a telecommunication fee debit account maintained for him.

For this purpose, telecommunications network drivers or

Provider A or B or C in the system has a game win distribution station 16 which is connected to the evaluation and booking station 10, this connection also being able to be carried out via the data transmission network 1, for example. The game win distribution station 16 is also connected to the telecommunications network operators or providers A, B and C either directly or indirectly or via the data transmission network 1 and finally there is also a connection from FIG. 1 to the game win distribution station 16 and the individual data input - and -Receiving units 3, 4 and 5 recognizable.

The telecommunications network operators A, B and C deliver to the game winning distribution station 16 data which can be selected by the data input and reception units 3, 4 and 5 and from which it can be seen at what "conversion rate" in the data input and - receiving units in the storage sections 12 can be converted into telecommunications fee amounts as game winnings.

Under the control of the data input and reception units and the evaluation and booking station, a booking order is then issued from the game win distribution station 16, the one

Telecommunications fee account of the player concerned or a person favored by him reached, these accounts in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, for example, with the network operators or providers A, B or C. be performed. Memory for the individual accounts are designated in FIG. 1 with 21 or 22 or 23.

The person skilled in the art recognizes that the evaluation and booking station 10 and the game win distribution station 16 do not necessarily have to be designed to be spatially separate, but can also be provided at the same location.

Furthermore, it is indicated in FIG. 1 that booking order signals which originate from the data input and reception units 3 or 4 or 5 and reach the game win distribution station 16 are also such

Can relate to telecommunication fee accounts that are not assigned to the ordering data entry and receiving unit, as indicated in FIG. 1 by mobile telephones 24, 25 and 26 shown next to units 3 to 5. Of course, this could also be other data network devices for which

Telecommunication fee accounts.

In this context, it should be mentioned that the telecommunication fee credit does not necessarily have to be made electronically, but according to the embodiment according to the principles explained in connection with FIG.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, section 11 contains the

Evaluation and booking station 10 detector means for determining the selection of very specific addresses of subscribers 13 or 14 or 15 connected to the data transmission network 1 or the Internet, primarily advertisers, in association with the address of the dialing data input and reception unit 3 or 4 or 5, that is, in association with the address of the dialing player, and finally storage means for fixing this fact.

This means that the section 11 of the evaluation and booking station in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 when the location simulation station is selected 6 detected and stored by a player a data record characterizing this and also detected and stored during the game event or in periods thereafter, which of the participants 13, 14 or 15 connected to the Internet the respective player selected, for example in order to close the website read.

This data set is covered by section 11 of the evaluation and

Booking station 10 either kept available or on a separate

Settlement station 16a transmitted, as indicated in the drawing figure 2, this data set being kept ready for the purposes specified below.

In addition, the data set is used to set the memories 12 of the evaluation and booking station 10, which are also provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and which are respectively assigned to the data input and reception units 3, 4 and 5 is designed such that a first memory entry is made in the memories 12, as in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, when a player selects the system for realizing the virtual game of chance at the data input and reception units 3 to 5, whereby this Memory entry is again the basic stake in the game. The memory entry in the memories 12 increases if the player has made a correct game decision for the game simulated in the location simulation station 6, or the memory entry decreases if the player has made the wrong game decision, i.e. has lost. In addition, there is an increase in the memory entry in the memory 12 when the player in question selects one of the participants 13 to 15 in a storage section with existing share capital, so that the player is interested in one of the participants 13 to 15 depending on the report of the aforementioned detector means of section 11 of the evaluation and booking station 10 is rewarded. Feedback and logic circuits in association with the individual memory areas 12 ensure that a memory entry increase in the memories 12 only takes place if a share capital memory entry due to the selection of the present system by the player and where appropriate, based on the input of characteristic data of a player at one of the data input and reception units 3, 4 or 5.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the game profit distribution station 16 contains, in addition to the unit which displays the telecommunication fee contribution offers of the network operators A and B and keeps it ready for booking as a profit, a gambling prizes accounting computer 30. Coupled to the data transmission network 1, in particular the Internet Participants 13, 14 and 15 feed the gambling property price accounting computer with data corresponding to gaming property prices which are suspended by the participant 13, 14 or 15 in question, for example 5 mountain bikes, a motor vehicle, a holiday trip or a home furnishings.

The coupling of the gambling material price accounting calculator 30 the

Game win distribution station 16 to the data transmission network 1 causes that both the data input and reception stations 3 to 5, and under their control, the evaluation and booking station can connect to the gambling prizes accounting computer 30 with the following result :

If a player has accumulated an increased memory entry in the memory section 12 assigned to him, which has accumulated from the share capital, from the selection of the participants 13 to 15 and from game profits due to the coupling between the game location simulation station 6 and the evaluation and booking station 10, so The player can not only have the memory entry booked in whole or in part as a telecommunication fee amount credit from one of the network operators or providers A, B, but can optionally choose a profit against his profit memory entry from the profits represented by commitments in the gambling property price accounting computer 30 trade in, the gambling property price accounting computer 30 withdraws the "bought" profit from the profit list and the storage entry in the storage section 12 assigned to a player is reduced accordingly. First-in-first-out registers of the gaming material prizes accounting computer 30 ensure that the player who first registers for a profit is also served first.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, an at least partially automatic remuneration of the material price commitments of the participants 13, 14 and 15 is provided by issuing a data treasure from the section 11 of the evaluation and booking station 10, as indicated by the dash-dotted lines in FIG. 2, which are indicated by 18 are designated. The data set representing the reward for the promised material prizes can either be transmitted directly from section 11 of the evaluation and booking station 10 or via the clearing station 16a.

The person skilled in the art recognizes that, as already mentioned, the evaluation and booking station 10 and the game win distribution station 16 do not necessarily have to be located in different locations, but can also be combined. It also follows for the person skilled in the art that the components 10, 16 and 16a can be implemented in terms of both hardware and software.

Claims

Expectations

1. System for realizing a virtual game of chance with data input and reception units (3, 4, 5), which can be coupled to a data transmission network (1), in particular the Internet, and also with at least one likewise Game location simulation station (6) that can be coupled to the data transmission network and with an associated evaluation and booking station (10), which contains a computing device that transmits booking order signals and game order signals of the data input and reception units and is controlled by signals from the location simulation station (6), characterized in that

that the evaluation and booking station (10) has first detector means for determining and checking certain data records entered by a player at his data input and reception unit (3, 4, 5) and for triggering one dependent thereon has a first memory entry in a memory (12) of the evaluation and booking station (10) assigned to the relevant data input and reception unit (3, 4, 5), this memory entry being used as a virtual initial credit or game stake Capital serves;

that the evaluation and booking station (10) booking order signals for changing the respective memory entry for a player also from the game location simulation station (6) for reducing the memory entry corresponding to a lost game or for increasing the memory entry corresponding to a won game in accordance with that of the Venue simulation station (6) receives controlled game exit; that with the data transmission network (1) a game winning distribution station (16) is coupled, which in a profit memory to the data input and receiving units (3, 4, 5) at the respective player location transmissible telecommunication fee amount displays as selectable winnings; and

that the game winning distribution station (16), in particular via the data transmission network (1), is coupled to the evaluation and booking station (10) and to the data input and reception units (3, 4, 5) in this way that a player has a memory entry accumulated in the evaluation and booking station (10), in particular through game wins, in whole or in part as a credit for telecommunication fees to an own or third-party telecommunication fee account that can be entered in particular at the relevant data entry and reception unit, at least can be booked by a telecommunications network operator or provider

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one telecommunications network operator or provider (A, B) over the data transmission network (1) telecommunication fee credit orders from the game winning distribution station (16) under control by the relevant data input and reception unit (3, 4, 5) and under the control of the game win distribution station (16).

System according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data input and reception units (3, 4, 5) are designed in such a way that at least when certain addresses of subscribers (13, 14, 15) connected to the data transmission network (1) are selected ), especially owners of internet net-Web-Site 's, by the player concerned also output their sender address and that the evaluation and booking station (10) contains second detector means for determining the selection of the specific addresses and the associated sender address and, depending on the response of the second detector means Memory entry in said memory (12) changes.

4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an electronic image signal generator circuit is provided in the venue simulation station (6), which via the data transmission network

(1) to the data input and reception units (3, 4, 5) of the player, which can be transmitted and displayed there, generates a gambling event, in particular by means of a random generator (7), simulating electrical image signals.

5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data from the players on their data input and reception units (3, 4, 5) insertable certain data sorted by sender addresses in a memory (11) of the evaluation and booking station (10) or a separate billing station (16a), which is also coupled to the data transmission network (1), are kept available.

6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the game winning distribution station additionally contains a gambling material prizes bookkeeping calculator (30), which displays and / or descriptions of material prizes in the form of retrievable electrical image signals, and the possibly . keeps available number of such non-cash prizes, and that, in accordance with the chronological order of the orders, booking order signals from a data input and reception unit (3, 4, 5) of a player and memory entry confirmation signals from the evaluation and booking station in the accounting computer (30) for the reservation of a material price for trigger a player.

7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the data input and reception units are interactive data network value terminals.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 1, characterized in that min-de-stens are some of the data input and reception units (3, 4, 5) personal computer (3).

9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least some of the data input and reception units (3, 4, 5) are portable computers or laptops (4).

10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least some of the data input and reception units (3, 4, 5) are mobile telecommunications devices (5) with visual display.