US5569083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for playing bingo over a wide geographic area
Assignee: Millennium Investments Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-07-14
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Granted: 1996-10-29
•
Expires: 2014-07-14
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus (systems) are set forth for enabling bingo (and similar games of chance, referred to hereinafter collectively as "bingo") to be played in real time at locations which are remote (geographically separated in a physical sense) from the location where the numbers (or more generally symbols) used to play a bingo type of game are being selected. The disclosed methods and apparatus are directed to both passive and interactive systems which allow bingo to be played from the aforementioned remote locations.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip R. Fioretti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:50
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/06; A63F3/00; A63F3/08; A63F3/081; A63F3/06; A63F3/0645; G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; A63F2003/082; A63F9/00; A63F9/0001; A63F2009/0003; A63F2009/0004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for enabling bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) means for sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular bingo game to thereby enable players at locations over the wide geographic area to participate in the bingo session.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for enabling bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) means for sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular bingo game to thereby enable players at locations over the wide geographic area to participate in the bingo session.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for enabling bingo to be interactively played over a wide geographic area, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) means for sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular bingo game to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in the bingo session; and (e) a communications path for allowing a game participant to interact with the system.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
120 words
A system for enabling bingo to be interactively played over a wide geographic area, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) means for sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular bingo game to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in the bingo session; and (e) a communications path for allowing a game participant to interact with the system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
180 words
A gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of game card arrays in play; (c) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (d) a communications path for allowing a game participant to interact with the system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
A gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of game card arrays in play; (c) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (d) a communications path for allowing a game participant to interact with the system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
An interactive gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (c) a communications path for allowing game participants to interact with the system when the game participants are physically located over a wide geographic area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
181 words
An interactive gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (c) a communications path for allowing game participants to interact with the system when the game participants are physically located over a wide geographic area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
A gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; and (b) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
A gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; and (b) means for communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for enabling bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular bingo game to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in the bingo session.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for enabling bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular bingo game to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in the bingo session.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for operating a gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) keeping track of game card arrays in play; (c) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (d) providing a communications path for allowing a game participant to interact with the system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for operating a gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) keeping track of game card arrays in play; (c) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (d) providing a communications path for allowing a game participant to interact with the system.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for operating a gaming system for interactively playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (c) providing a communications path for allowing game participants to interact with the system when the game participants are physically located over a wide geographic area.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for operating a gaming system for interactively playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance; and (c) providing a communications path for allowing game participants to interact with the system when the game participants are physically located over a wide geographic area.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for operating a gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; and (b) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for operating a gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; and (b) communicating over a wide geographic area the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular game of chance to thereby enable players over the wide geographic area to participate in said game of chance.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
94 words
A system which enables a game of bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) means for sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) means for enabling each potential participant in a bingo session to play bingo without physically having to attend a pre-established gaming hall.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
94 words
A system which enables a game of bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; (b) means for keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) means for sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) means for enabling each potential participant in a bingo session to play bingo without physically having to attend a pre-established gaming hall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for enabling is further operative to allow each participant in a bingo session to independently determine where to play bingo from a multiplicity of potential game participation sites other than pre-established gaming halls.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for enabling further comprises means for communicating, over said wide geographic area, the sequence of random symbols being generated during a particular bingo game utilizing a communications channel that is accessible from each of said multiplicity of potential game participation sites located within said geographic area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein a game participants home is included as one of said multiplicity of potential game participation sites.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for communicating further comprises a broadcast television system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for communicating further comprises a cable television system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
163 words
A gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; and (b) means for enabling each potential participant in said game to independently select, from a multiplicity of potential game participation sites within said area, where to play said game without having to physically attend a game participation site pre-established primarily for the purpose of playing bingo.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
163 words
A gaming system for playing a game of chance over a wide geographic area, wherein said game requires a plurality of game card arrays, each formed from a plurality of symbols positioned in predetermined symbol display locations, and further wherein it is an object of the game to sequentially and randomly generate symbols from a predefined symbol universe, matching generated symbols against the symbols on said game card arrays, with a winner being declared whenever a predefined pattern of generated symbols is formed on at least one of said game card arrays, comprising: (a) on-line point of sale terminal means for issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of request; and (b) means for enabling each potential participant in said game to independently select, from a multiplicity of potential game participation sites within said area, where to play said game without having to physically attend a game participation site pre-established primarily for the purpose of playing bingo.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A gaming system as set forth in claim 16, further comprising means for sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for enabling bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) enabling each potential participant in a bingo session to play bingo without physically having to attend a pre-established gaming hall.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for enabling bingo to be played over a wide geographic area, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing valid game card arrays in response to purchase requests, at the time of any such request, utilizing on-line point of sale terminal means; (b) keeping track of all game card arrays issued in response to said purchase requests; (c) sequencing through each bingo game in a scheduled bingo session; and (d) enabling each potential participant in a bingo session to play bingo without physically having to attend a pre-established gaming hall.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said on-line point of sale terminal means further comprises means for communicating said purchase requests to a remotely located system base station in order to register game card arrays as valid for play.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein at least one of said purchase requests includes data representing an array of numbers selected by a purchaser initiating a purchase request.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said on-line point of sale terminal means is operative to register game card arrays being issued as valid for play.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said on-line point of sale terminal means is operative to validate game card arrays for play in a given bingo game.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said on-line point of sale terminal means further comprises means for printing validated game card arrays.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of communicating said purchase requests to a remotely located system base station in order to register game card arrays as valid for play.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein at least one of said purchase requests includes data representing an array of numbers selected by a purchaser initiating a purchase request.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of issuing valid game card arrays further comprises the step of registering game card arrays being issued as valid for play.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of issuing game card arrays further comprises the step of validating card arrays for play in a given bingo game.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |