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Playing a game of chance in spaceRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Chance DevicesPlaying a game of chance in space description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070108700, Playing a game of chance in space. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to gaming and in particular for playing a game of chance in space. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] There are a variety of popular games that have traditionally relied upon the use of a number of uniquely identifiable game pieces pooled together in a container, mixed in a random fashion, and chosen from the pool one at a time pursuant to the rules of the particular game. Often these game pieces are in the form of balls, however the present invention is not so limited. Such games of chance include, among others, Bingo, Keno, Powerball, and a variety of lottery related games. [0005] In most instances, players can view the action of the balls being bounced around in the container and then a ball being chosen from the pool. An air of excitement develops as the players watch in anticipation of the drawing of the balls from the pool. Each player hoping the balls chosen will provide them the opportunity to win the game. [0006] This is repeated innumerable times in homes and gaming establishments around the world every day. While the types of games and the rules vary, many games are familiar to player worldwide. One such game is bingo. [0007] In bingo each player has at least one Bingo card. The card has a matrix of five rows and five columns. The columns are lettered B I N G 0 from left to right across the top of the matrix and each bingo card has five numbers in each row except the center I column which has a "free space" at the intersection of the third row and the third column. Numbers 1-15 are assigned to the first or "B" row, 16-30 to the "I" row, etc. In play, there are 75 individually numbered balls mixed together and then balls are selected one at a time. When each ball is withdrawn, the number is announced to the players, who cover any corresponding number on their bingo card. When five matrix locations are covered in a vertical column, a horizontal row or along one of the two diagonals, that player yells out "Bingo!" and he wins he game. [0008] Variations of the game exist to peek the interest of players and provide variety. In one such variation an extra colored ball can be added as a wildcard. Rather than achieving five matrix locations in a row, a pattern such as four corner spots, or each corner of the card could be identified as a winning combination. In English Bingo the pool of balls ranges from 1 to 99. [0009] This variety attracts an assortment of players to the game and provides the players a diverse range of interesting games to play. A profitable gaming industry has risen from drawing the players into the action of the games by displaying the random movement of the balls, the numerous variations of the rules, offering of prizes to the winners, and exalting the winners with public notoriety and recognition. [0010] However, while each adaptation may appear to be distinct from the other, there is one common thread running through the variants. The games are all being played on the planet Earth. [0011] A variant not yet explored is playing the games in the zero gravity environment of space. In this venue, the manner in which balls are randomized must account for the lack of a gravitational field. Also, the players are given a new incentive to play. [0012] The players would be participating in more than a game of chance. They would be integral players in a space-based enterprise allowing them to take part in the experience of space exploration and commercialization. A new level of excitement could be offered to players that would not be available on the Earth. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] The present invention is directed to a method of playing a game of chance in space. A container, a number of game pieces each having a unique value, a display screen, display screen controller, at least one camera, and a communications system are placed into space. The game pieces reside in a container and are moved about in the container. A number of game pieces are chosen one at a time. A camera receives the image of the value of the chosen game piece. The communications system transmits the camera image to a ground station. The value is also transmitted to a display screen controller that controls the display screen and the display screen displays the values of the chosen game pieces. A camera receives the image of the display screen. The communications system transmits the image of the display screen to a ground station. At the end of a game, the chosen game pieces are returned to the container and the display screen is cleared. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a container for playing a game; [0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram identifying the transmission of the game piece image information from the structure; [0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram identifying transmission of the display information from the structure; and [0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram identifying transmission of the camera information from the structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] The present invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [0019] The present invention is directed to the use of uniquely identifiable game pieces in a game of chance. Such game piece could be, but not limited to, coin-like, square, octagonal, or other shapes. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to the use of balls. In alternate embodiments the mechanical structures used with the game pieces may vary significantly, however the principles identified remain substantially the same. [0020] When a gaming device using balls is operated on Earth, the gravity figures into the method chosen for randomly moving the balls. The situation is different where gravity may be negligible such as when a spacecraft is in orbit about the Earth. In this situation, the method for moving the balls must account for the lack of gravity. Continue reading about Playing a game of chance in space... Full patent description for Playing a game of chance in space Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Playing a game of chance in space patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Playing a game of chance in space or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sheet registering device Next Patent Application: Apparatus and method for constructing number puzzles Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Playing a game of chance in space patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.17615 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
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