Automated gaming assembly providing a game visual enhancement
One embodiment of the present invention may be described as an automated gaming system comprising an outcome generating means, a platform surrounding it, and a plurality of player stations. Player stations are communicatively linked to the outcome generating means to provide players with participations in a wagering game. The automated gaming system is adapted to provide player stations to at least five players to concurrently participate in the game, these players being located at similar distance from the outcome generating means and being offered an unobstructed view of the outcome generating means since the player stations are located on one side of a player when the player faces the outcome generating means.
This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority from, PCT application Ser. No. CA 05/000382, filed on Mar. 11, 2005 and entitled “Automated Gaming Assembly Providing a Game Visual Enhancement”, which claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/551,833 filed on Mar. 11, 2004, the specifications of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a new device designed to offer a casino-type automated game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFurther features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIn an embodiment, the present description details an automated gaming system which comprises: a central section comprising an outcome generation system; and a plurality of player stations substantially disposed in periphery of the central section. The player stations are adapted to register wagers depending on received wagering inputs from players using input means disposed substantially on one operative face of each player station, and to resolve wagers based on an outcome signal received from the outcome generation system. The automated gaming system is adapted to receive a substantial portion of the player stations with their operative face facing substantially tangentially with respect to the outcome generation system thereby substantially facing a side of a player operating the player station when the player faces toward the outcome generation system.
In another embodiment, the present description details an automated gaming assembly comprising:—an outcome generation system;—a platform disposed in periphery of the outcome generation system at an appropriate height for a player facing toward the outcome generation system to have a direct view of an outcome generated by the outcome generation system. The platform comprises platform sections adapted to attach player stations to be communicatively linked to the outcome generation system for a player to play an outcome generation system associated game with the player operating a player station by using input means disposed on an operative face of each player station. The automated gaming assembly is adapted to attach a player station with the operative face of the player station substantially facing a side of the player operating the player station when the player faces toward the outcome generation system.
In a first embodiment of the invention as illustrated on
While the embodiment provides possible solutions for particular functional structures, variants are available. For example, many outcome generating means are available, including a roulette system 45, a die game system, and a ball game system. The player stations 40 are any interactive terminals communicatively linked to an outcome generating system and permitting players to participate in the wagering game. The complementary screens are any displaying means such as electronic screens, electronically controlled lights, and other suitable displays.
As illustrated on
As illustrated in
The type of attachment used to secure player stations 40 on the platform 30 offers the benefit of allowing attaching different models of player stations 40. The attachment illustrated on
Even if the above example of attaching means uses a cylindrical connector and a stop-pin combination, other variants are available such as a permanent attachment, a sliding attachment, etc. The same applies with wire or wireless communication with the roulette system.
To generate a roulette outcome, the section of the roulette structure 45 that bears slots 90 is driven in one rotational direction, namely clockwise, while the ball 92 is propelled counter clockwise onto the roulette structure 45 through an ejection conduit 102 disposed on periphery of the roulette structure edge 100 slightly over the normal course of the ball 92. Thus, as the ball 92 starts its course on the roulette structure 45, the ball 92 first follows the edge 100, decelerates, potentially bumps onto one or more canoes 94, and ultimately lands in one slot 90.
Securely disposed in the assembly base 25, an airflow motor (not shown) propels the ball 92 into a conduit (not shown) leading the ball 92 into the ejection conduit 102 when needed, a roulette motor (not shown) drives the rotation of the rotating section of the roulette structure, and a gaming controller 120 (schematically shown on
As stated, the player stations 40 are in communication with the gaming controller 120. Each player station 40, in the described embodiment, comprises a controlling means (a controller 140 or a program) controlling participation in the game, namely exchanging data and signals with other player station components and controlling communication with the gaming controller 120. Displaying means (the electronic screen 142, lights) visible by the player provides information to the player on the conduct of the game, as illustrated on
Communicatively linked to the automated gaming assembly 160 but physically separately located is a service station 170 permitting players to transfer money entered in the service station 170 into credits available to be wagered. Thus, a player feeds the service station 170 with the amounts he wants to wager at the beginning of its play session, receives a ticket identifying his account, goes to a wagering station 180 or a player station 190, and places his ticket into the ticket reader 182 or 192. The station 180 or 190, after reading the ticket, communicates with an accounting system, transfers founds to the station 180 or 190 where the credits become available for the player to wager. When the player desires to ends his session, he removes the ticket from the station 180 or 190, places it into a service station 170 wherein the ticket is exchanged for a redeemable voucher an attendant may exchange for standard currency.
Thus, the block diagram illustrating the system for the play of an automated die game using the assembly of
As illustrated, each service station 260 comprises a controller 262 that: a) maintains communication with the central server 280; b) commands the printing of ticket printing and voucher printing by a printer 264 for allowing player to play or to redeem prizes won; c) commands ticket reading to be read by a reader 266 when a player ends its session; and d) accesses memory 268.
The automated die assembly 200 may comprise protecting means 206 (as example including a dome) preventing players from fraudulently influencing the outcome, an outcome generation mechanism 204 being partially controllable by a player at a player station using outcome control inputs, die 208, and die identification means 210 including image capturing and analysing means. These components are more or less controlled by the gaming controller 202 depending in part from signals received from a player station for the outcome generation. The assembly further comprises memory 212 for storing necessary programs and registering information.
The player station(s) 220 and wagering stations 240 are composed of a controller 222 and 242; an electronic screen 224 and 244 adapted for their particular needs; input means 226 and 246 also adapted for their particular needs; a ticket reader 228 and 248; and memory 230 and 250. As stated, the needs of a wagering station 220 differ from the ones of a player station 240. The latter permits a player to influence the outcome generation process while the wagering station 220 capability is limited to placing wagers regarding die outcomes. Thus, an outcome generation process includes signal exchange between the gaming controller 202 and a player station controller 222.
Other physical embodiments are possible according to the kind of stations that are suitable for the game, the available equipment, and the services that have to be offered at the player stations. For instance, the stations may essentially be located on the platform, be distinct devices extending around the platform, or partially to almost totally embedded in the platform. Touch screen, buttons, matting with wired sensors underneath, one screen or many screens of different dimensions, or even no screen can be used according to the needs.
Another embodiment (not illustrated) is one wherein the players are all facing the same direction. For instance, the player stations may all have their operative faces facing clockwise, therefore establishing that players are all facing the some direction between the back and the side of the player placed in front of him. Accordingly, players may prefer this configuration depending on his preferences regarding the proximity of other players.
Yet another embodiment (not illustrated) is one wherein player stations comprise two operative faces substantially opposed to each other. According to this embodiment, two players disposed at locations on the two sides of a platform tip may participate in the wagering game.
An addition to one embodiment is a player station remotely located from the automated gaming system, and receiving both outcome signals and captured images from the automated gaming system. In this case, the player located at this remote player station would witness the outcome through the captured image rather than witnessing it live.
Another embodiment is an assembly wherein an attendant would participate in the game even if the wagers are resolved by player stations.
As the above embodiments were disclosed for the play of roulette and die games, other games may benefit from similar gaming systems. The list of suitable games includes bingo, keno, electronic card games, or even automated race games.
Furthermore, the automated gaming assembly and player station controllers may be adapted for the play of a pari-mutuel game. Accordingly, wagering information would be continuously exchanged between player stations. In consequence, the wagering resolution process, rather than demanding knowledge only of the outcome and of a static pay schedule, would demand more information from other sources, at least wagering information from other player stations. The information exchange would be different but the assembly would essentially remain the same. Other embodiments could also differ regarding programs, games, communication, game control, etc. without departing from the scope of the invention.
It is intended, while block diagram illustrates system components communicating with each other, that those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied through a combination of hardware and software components. These components are illustrates as such in the appended block diagrams solely to teach their functionalities and relationship. Thus, programmable computers, computer applications or operating systems may be suitable to perform functions illustrated by one or more illustrated components without departing from the scope of the invention.
Furthermore, in case of some functional components being possible to be embodied as functional methods, these methods may be embodied in a machine or a system, carried out as a computer readable medium, a processing-readable memory, or communicated as an electrical or electro-mechanic signal.
Thereupon, the intent of the above document is to efficiently teach the invention through exemplary embodiments, while solely the appended claims are intended to define the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An automated gaming system comprising:
- a central section comprising an outcome generation system; and
- a plurality of player stations disposed in periphery of the central section, wherein the player stations are adapted to register wagers depending on received wagering inputs from players using input means disposed on an operative face of each player station, and to resolve wagers based on an outcome signal received from the outcome generation system, and
- wherein the automated gaming system is adapted to provide the player stations with their operative face facing substantially tangentially with respect to the outcome generation system thereby substantially facing a side of a player operating the player station when the player faces toward the outcome generation system.
2. The automated gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said player stations further comprises:
- displaying means for displaying information regarding participation in the wagering game;
- storing means for storing data related to the wagering game;
- communicating means for receiving signals from the outcome generation means; and
- controlling means controlling participations in the wagering game, comprising controlling the displaying of game information, the storing of game data used in game participations and the exchange of communications with the outcome generating means.
3. The automated gaming system of claim 1, wherein the outcome generating means comprising:
- outcome setting means for setting outcomes;
- outcome identifying means for identifying outcomes;
- communicating means for communicating signals [which signals?] from ???? to???; and
- controlling means adapted to signal the outcome generating means to initiate a game outcome generation process, to receive an outcome signal from the outcome identifying means, and to transmit a game outcome signal to at least one of player stations.
4. The automated gaming system of claim 3, wherein the controlling means of the outcome generation means receives a signal from one of said player stations, and generates and communicates a response signal to one of said player stations modifying one of a game outcome generation process, and a wager resolving process.
5. The automated gaming system of claim 1, wherein two of said player stations are disposed substantially back to back.
6. The automated gaming system of claim 1, wherein the outcome generating means and the platform are at similar height.
7. The automated gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said player stations is attached to the platform through attaching means that permits, when the player station is released, to exchanged said player station with another one of a different model.
8. The automated gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said player stations is rotationally attached to the platform, whereby permitting adjustment of orientation of said player station.
9. The automated gaming system of claim 3, wherein the game outcome is one of roulette, a die game, a ball game, and a virtual card game.
10. The automated gaming system of claim 3, wherein the game outcome is one generated using at least one of balls, cards, electronically generated images, and die.
11. The automated gaming system of claim 3, wherein the game outcome is one generated using symbols, with said symbols being provided either by reels, wheels or electronic displays.
12. The automated gaming system of claim 3, wherein the outcome generation system comprises a roulette system using a roulette spinning portion and a ball rolling at an initial speed gradually decreasing during the outcome generation process, the automated gaming system further comprising speed evaluating means that evaluates the speed of the ball and that signals the controlling means of the outcome generation system when a predetermined speed criterion is reached upon which said controlling means signals the player stations to prevent new wagers from being registered.
13. The automated gaming system of claim 1, wherein the automated gaming system is communicatively linked to an additional remote player station.
14. The automated gaming system of claim 1, further comprising an attendant position where an attendant controls the conduct of the wagering game.
15. The automated gaming system of claim 1, further comprising an additional displaying means providing one of: a) special feature information, b) game history information, and c) advertising information.
16. The automated gaming system of claim 1, further being communicatively linked to a service station wherein one of said players performs monetary processes permitting said player to register credits available to be used on one of said player stations.
17. The automated gaming system of claim 16, wherein the service station is structurally remote from the automated gaming system.
18. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein one of said player stations further comprises an operative face which normally points a direction between a vertical direction and substantially toward one of said players operating said player station.
19. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein one of said player stations further comprises two operative faces facing substantially opposite directions, wherein each one of said operative faces is adapted to provide participations in the wagering game to one of said players.
20. An automated gaming assembly comprising:
- an outcome generation system;
- a platform disposed around the outcome generation system at an appropriate height for a player facing toward the outcome generation system to have a direct view of an outcome generated by the outcome generation system; the platform comprising platform sections adapted to attach player stations to be communicatively linked to the outcome generation system for a player to play an outcome generation system associated game with the player operating a player station by using input means disposed on an operative face of each player station,
- wherein the automated gaming assembly is adapted to attach a player station with the operative face of the player station substantially facing a side of the player operating the player station when the player faces toward the outcome generation system.
21. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein the platform comprises a tip section extending outwardly with respect to the outcome generating means wherein said attaching means is located.
22. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein the outcome generating means and the platform are at similar height.
23. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein said attaching means are adapted to attach two of said player stations in a back to back configuration.
24. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein said attaching means are adapted to attach one of said player stations comprising two operative faces facing substantially opposite directions, thereby adapted to provide concurrent participations of two of said players in the wagering game.
25. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein one of said player stations is either embedded in the platform, annexed to the platform, or installed on the platform.
26. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein the outcome generating means generates roulette outcomes.
27. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein the outcome generating means uses at least one of a ball, a card, an electronically generated image and a dice to generate an outcome.
28. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein the outcome generating means uses symbols to generate outcomes, with said symbols being provided either by reels, wheels or an electronic displaying means.
29. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein the attaching means permits to adjust orientation of an attached player station.
30. The automated gaming assembly of claim 20, wherein the operative face of one of said player stations, when attached to the platform, is pointing a direction between a vertical direction and substantially toward the player operating said player station.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 23, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2006
Inventors: Martin Parent (St-Germain de Grantham), Marjolaine Marcotte (St-Joachim de Courval)
Application Number: 11/359,457
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);