Interactive real-time network gaming system

United States Patent im

Vuong et al.

US005762552A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,762,552 Jun. 9, 1998

[54] INTERACTIVE REAL-TIME NETWORK GAMING SYSTEM

[75] Inventors: Son Thanh Vuong, Vancouver, Canada;

Xuyen Thanh Vuong, Vienna, Va.;
Binh Thanh Vuong. Sirai Valley. Calif.;
Phu Thanh Vuong. Simi Valley. Calif.;
Vinh Thanh Vuong. Simi Valley. Calif.

[73] Assignee: VT Tech Corp.. Simi Valley, Calif.

[21] Appl. No.: 567,776
[22] Filed: Dec. 5,1995

[51] Int CI.6 G06F 15/28

[52] U.S. CI 463/25; 463/17; 463/29;

463/42

[58] Field of Search 463/40, 42, 16,

463/17, 22. 11, 34, 29, 25; 273/142 E, 142 R; 364/412

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,810,627 5/1974 Levy 463/42

4,339,798 7/1982 Hedges et al 463/31

4,614,342 9/1986 Takashima 273/85

4,875,164 10/1989 Monfort 364/412

4,926,327 5/1990 Sidley 463/42

5,249,800 10/1993 Hilgendorf et al 273/138 A

5,342,047 8/1994 Heidel et al 273/85 CP

5,361,091 11/1994 Hoarty et al 348/7

5,377,997 1/1995 Wilden et al 273/434

5,411,258 5/1995 Wilson et al 273/86

538,650 12/1996 Eman et al 463/17

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Bulkeley, William M; Electronics Is Bringing Gambling Into Homes. Restaruants and Planes; Wednesday, Aug. 16,1995; pp. Al and A5; The Wall Street Journal.

Primary Examiner—Jessica Harrison
Assistant Examiner—James Schaaf
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Craig E. Stunners

[57] ABSTRACT

The present invention is related to a network based gaming system that enables a plurality of players to place wagers on a real-time game of chance being conducted in a casino via a distributed network system or, alternatively, to place wagers on a game of chance using internally generated game sequences.

In the preferred embodiment of the system, a gaming machine provides a menu of a plurality of live-action board games of chance, such as roulette, craps or baccarat, from which a player selects a desired game. Once the game is selected, the player is presented a video representation of the possible bets on the gaming machine and a means for establishing a stake by either depositing currency or by accessing various credit accounts such as a credit card or casino credit line. After the player's bets are placed and recorded in memory resident in the gaming machine, the video representation displayed on the gaming machine is adapted to include a broadcast quality feed comprising, both audio and video signals from the selected gaming table in the casino. The transmission network and the gaming machines are coupled to a network manager which is responsible for maintaining network integrity and for providing memory capacity of the recording of bets placed by gaming machines locate outside the controlled environment of the casino. The result of the next-to-occur play of the selected game of chance is detected and transmitted to the remote gaming machines over the transmission network. The results are compared with the bets placed by the player at each of the gaming machines to determine if the player wins or loses the bets. The won/loss determination is also transmitted to the remote gaming machines by the network manager. If the bets placed by the player are determined to be winners, the appropriate winnings are calculated and returning to the player either in currency or credited to the appropriate account maintained at the network manager. If the bets placed by the player are not winning bets, deposited currency is retained by the gaming machine or. if the bets are placed using a credit account, the appropriate deductions are made from the account.

16 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets