Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 1 of 44 PageID #: 4474
`Case 6:l2—cv—00799—JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 1 of 44 Page|D #: 4474
`
`EXHIBIT E
`
`EXHIBIT E
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 2 of 44 PageID #: 4475
`
`(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Goldberg et al.
`
`US006183366B1
`US 6,183,366 B1
`*Feb. 6, 2001
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`NETWORK GAMING SYSTEM
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(54)
`(75)
`
`(73)
`(*)
`
`Inventors: Sheldon F. Goldberg, Henderson, NV
`(US); John Van Antwerp, Springdale,
`MD (US)
`
`Assignee: Sheldon Goldberg, Denver, CO (US)
`
`Notice:
`
`Under 35 U.S.C. 154(b), the term of this
`patent shall be extended for 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`Appl. No.: 09/105,401
`Filed:
`Jun. 26, 1998
`
`(63)
`(60)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 08/759,895, ?led on Dec. 3,
`1996, now Pat. No. 5,823,879.
`Provisional application No. 60/010,361, ?led on Jan. 19,
`1996, and provisional application No. 60/010,703, ?led on
`Jan. 26, 1996.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ...................................................... .. A63F 9/24
`
`US. Cl. .............................................................. .. 463/42
`Field of Search ................................ .. 463/11, 12, 13,
`463/26, 27, 42; 273/236, 237
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,796,433
`4,283,709
`4,339,798
`4,355,806
`4,467,424
`4,494,197
`4,528,643
`4,531,187
`4,614,342
`4,636,951
`
`3/1974 Fraley et al. .
`8/1981 Lucero et al. ..................... .. 340/147
`7/1982 Hedges et al. .
`.. 364/412
`10/1982 Buck et al.
`273/85 G
`8/1984 Hedges et al. .
`364/412
`1/1985 Troy et al.
`364/412
`7/1985 Freeny, Jr. .
`364/900
`7/1985 Uhland ..... ..
`364/412
`9/1986 Takashima .
`.... .. 273/85
`1/1987 Harlick ............................... .. 364/412
`
`2183882
`2205 188
`
`6/1987 (GB) .
`11/1988 (GB) .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Advertising brochure for “Trak—21”, by Digital Biometics,
`Inc., Gaming Division, 5600 Rowland Road, Minnetonka,
`MN 55343.
`Advertising page for “Tracker—Plus TP—700 Player Tracking
`Equipment for Table Games”, by Open Technologies, 6520
`Platt Ave., Suite 672, West Hills, CA 91307.
`
`(List continued on neXt page.)
`
`Primary Examiner—George Manuel
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sheridan Ross PC.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention is an information service and adver
`tising providing system for presenting interactive informa
`tion services together with interactive advertising on a
`communications network such as the Internet and LANs.
`The information service may be a game played interactively
`on the network while advertising is communicated between
`users and an advertising network node. However, other
`interactive services, such as are available on the Internet, are
`also accessible for concurrent use with advertising presen
`tations. Advertising or promotionals may be selectively
`presented to users by comparing archived user pro?les with
`demographic pro?les of desired users. User responses to
`advertising may be used for evaluating advertising effec
`tiveness such as for test or microtarget marketing. Compen
`sation to users for viewing advertising may also be provided.
`For instance, users may be provided with subsidized Internet
`access for receiving advertising while concurrently interact
`ing with an Internet service. Users may also be provided
`with various games and/or game tournaments via interactive
`network communications. Thus, users may respond to
`advertising while being entertained (e.g., via games), or
`while interacting with another network service.
`
`(List continued on neXt page.)
`
`133 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`uummvznnssmm w u SITE m
`
`‘
`
`24
`
`(yAMF/ADVERTISE‘AENI commum 604
`
`(PLAVFR)
`mmms
`m
`
`‘I W DAMN
`in mm
`
`\
`1
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 3 of 44 PageID #: 4476
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`7/1988 Sidley ................................ .. 364/412
`4,760,527
`6/1989 Tsetskin
`-- 273/1 R
`4,842,275
`7/1989 Karl
`379/92
`4,845,739
`8/1989 Itkis
`273/237
`4,856,787
`10/1989 Monfort
`364/412
`4,875,164
`2/1990 AuXier
`273/256
`4,902,020
`5/1990 Sidley --
`364/412
`4,926,327
`4/1991 Auxier ...... ..
`.. 273/240
`5,009,429
`7/1991 Von Kohorn
`358/84
`5,034,807
`8/1991 Lucero ...... ..
`.. 235/380
`5,038,022
`10/1991 Von Kohorn ..
`358/84
`5,057,915
`12/1991 Audebert et a1. .................... .. 380/23
`5,073,931
`1/1992 Thacher et a1~~
`5,083,271
`7/1992 Hallman, Jr. et a1. ............. .. 364/412
`5,129,549
`8/1992 Beylen et el--
`5,141,234
`273/85
`7/1993 Bridgemen et e1-
`5,224,706
`-- 358/84
`7/1993 Von Kehern --
`5,227,874
`273/309
`11/1993 LeVasseur .... ..
`5,257,789
`273/292
`11/1993 seherret 91-
`5,257,810
`273/292
`6/1994 Cauda
`5,320,356
`235/380
`6/1994 Creine
`5,321,241
`273/138
`7/1994 Pease et al. ...... ..
`5,326,104
`348/12
`8/1994 Leppingten et a1- -
`5,343,239
`273/439
`10/1994 Fioretti ............ ..
`5,351,970
`~- 273/292
`2/1995 Paulsen et a1~
`5,393,067
`273/138A
`3/1995 Eberherdt et 91
`5,398,932
`273/304
`4/1995 Forte et a1.
`5,403,015
`. 273/138A
`7/1995 Raven et a1.
`5,429,361
`-- 273/292
`7/1995 Hefberg et a1-
`5,431,407
`.. 273/292
`8/1995 Breeding ...... ..
`5,437,462
`- 273/138A
`4/1996 Eberherdt et a1
`5,505,449
`4/1996 Geno et a1
`5,507,491
`-- 273/139
`4/1996 Kohorn .................................. .. 348/1
`5,508,731
`6/1996 Lappington et a1. ................ .. 348/13
`5,526,035
`7/1996 Hendelman
`- 348/12
`5,539,450
`7/1996 Lett ...................................... .. 380/20
`5,539,822
`8/1996 Breeding ............................ .. 273/292
`5,544,892
`8/1996 Serderien
`-- 273/292
`5,549,300
`9/1996 Lucero ............................... .. 235/380
`5,559,312
`10/1996
`379/88
`5,561,707
`10/1996
`. 463/17
`5,569,082
`5,586,257 * 12/1996 Perlman ............................... .. 463/42
`5,586,766
`12/1996 Forte et a1. ........................ .. 273/309
`5,586,936
`12/1996 Bennett et a1.
`463/25
`5,592,212
`1/1997 Handelman .......................... .. 348/12
`5,593,349
`1/1997 Miguel etal. ....................... .. 463/30
`5,597,162
`1/1997 Franklin .... ..
`..
`Nalfagawa .......................... ..
`3/1997 Weiss ................................... .. 463/20
`311333 3552118861. ....................... .. 463746
`8/1997 Klasee ................................ .. 273/292
`9/1997 Tarantino
`11/1997 Kennedy .............................. .. 463/37
`12/1997 Von Kohorn ........................ .. 463/40
`12/1997 Malek et a1.
`..
`12/1997 Norman et a1. ...................... .. 463/42
`1/1998 McCrea, Jr. ......................... .. 463/27
`
`5,611,730
`212131325
`5,660,391
`576697817
`5,688,174
`5,697,844
`5,702,104
`5,702,305
`5,707,287
`
`5,709,603
`5,711,715
`577137574
`5,713,795
`5,718,431
`5,724,425
`5,729,212
`5,732,949
`5,735,525
`577357742
`5740549
`577467656
`577487742
`577497785
`5,755,621
`577597101
`5,768,382
`5,770,533
`5,774,664
`577797242
`5,779,549
`5,788,574
`5,794,210
`578007268
`5,809,482
`578167918
`5,830,067
`5,831,527
`578397725
`578487396
`5,851,149
`578577911
`5,871,398
`5,879,233
`578857158
`5901287
`5,916,024
`579177725
`579337811
`5,948,061
`579647463
`5,971,397
`
`1/1998 Kaye .................................... .. 463/17
`1/1998 Ringo et a1. ........................... .. 473/9
`2/1998 Hughes ___________________________ " 273/292
`2/1998 Kohorn .
`463/17
`2/1998 Ornstein
`. 273/292
`3/1998 Chang et a1.
`.... .. 380/25
`3/1998 Martin .... ..
`340/87028
`3/1998 Josephs .
`273/292
`4/1998 McCrea, Jr.
`. 273/309
`4/1998 French
`463/25
`4/1998 Reilly et a1
`705/14
`5/1998 Bezick et aL
`463/42
`5/1998 Tisdale et a1_
`380/49
`5/1998 Rossides
`463/25
`5/1998 Marks et a1 .
`463/42
`6/1998 Von Kohom
`463/40
`6/1998 Schneier et a1.
`380/23
`6/1998 Franchi . . . . . . .
`. . . . . .. 463/42
`6/1998 Hidary et al.
`395/200.48
`7/1998 Kaufmann
`273/459
`7/1998 Walker et a1. ..
`463/42
`8/1998 Ornstein et a1.
`463/25
`8/1998 Goldhaber et a1.
`705/14
`9/1998 Molnick ___ ~~
`463/40
`9/1998 Strisower .
`705/30
`10/1998 Kelly et a1_ __
`_ 463/16
`11/1998 Graves et a1. ..
`463/40
`11/1998 Jones, 11 et a1.
`. 340/540
`11/1998 Conway
`_ 273/244
`12/1998 Gerace
`705/10
`12/1998 Kidos et a1.
`463/42
`1/1999 Fioretti
`463/40
`2/1999 Schneier et a1.
`463/16
`3/1999 Stupero ......... ..
`463/11
`3/1999 Torango et a1_
`____ __ 463/27
`5/1999 Bull et aL ____ u
`39500048
`6/1999 Von Kohorn
`.... .. 463/40
`6/1999 Thacher et a1_ _
`_ 364/4101
`8/1999 Angles et al_ N
`___ u 705/14
`9/1999 Merriman et a1. ................. .. 709/219
`10/1999 IVIOOre JL _________________________ u 273/274
`10/1999 Miguel et a1.
`......... .. 273/371
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`_
`_
`Advertlslng Page 5 (15—16 and Order Form) for QQP game
`s, in eStrategy Plus, believed to be from 1994
`Estavanik, “Designing On—Line, Multiplayer Games”, in
`Game Developer, pp. 14—21, Premier 1994.
`Horton, “The Power of ImaginNatiOn”, in Advertising Age,
`Mar‘ 7, 1994'
`lnformi?on Sheet for “Action Tracker Electronic Voucher
`Systemg
`_
`_
`Marketing Plan for Manifest Destiny, Inc., 1994.
`O’Connell, “Advertisers Get Benched”, Promo, The Inter
`national Magazine for Promotion Marketing, p. 96, Mar.
`1994_
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 4 of 44 PageID #: 4477
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`BLACKJACK GAME CONTROLLER RI
`
`38
`
`CARD
`DEALER
`MODULE
`‘
`I
`
`42
`
`HOUSE
`BLACKJACK
`PLAYING
`MODULE
`I
`
`wAGER
`ACCOUNTING
`MODULE
`30
`—
`
`<—
`
`‘
`
`ILLL _LL_J\L C L , L _LLI
`I
`I
`|
`I
`1;“
`
`|
`
`I
`
`L,.?_LL_LLLtE
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`BLACKJACK <* i — BLACKJACK
`
`BLACKJACK
`
`EVALUATOR
`
`EVALUATOR
`
`34
`
`26
`
`46
`
`COMMUNICATION INTERFACE
`
`22
`
`GAMING
`f sTATION
`1s
`
`10
`
`GAMING
`GAMING
`STATION ' ' ' STATION
`18
`1s
`
`BLACKJACK
`PLAYER
`REGISTRATION
`AND PLAYING
`sTATUs
`DATABASE
`SYSTEM 125
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 5 of 44 PageID #: 4478
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`HOUSE HAND
`AV
`
`18 W
`STATUS OPTIONS
`CONTINUING
`HIT
`
`LAST TOTAL
`PLAYER HAND(S) STATUS oPTIoNs BET
`BET
`/>:sq~ Kv 5+
`STND
`NONE
`$50
`$200
`
`208
`
`\
`
`SOZJ/ //>3§ so
`\—
`
`PICK
`OPTION
`
`STND, HIT, $50
`DBL, BET $50
`
`$200
`$200
`
`ACCEPT / CANCEL
`300“ HI MOST RECENT BET ; $30
`ACCEPTED
`304*“ ~->INsuBANCE BET: $25
`32O_
`AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR BETTING: $1,000 <——'/312
`\—>ELAPSED PLAYING TIMES 45min REMAINING PLAYING TIME: 3hr/15min
`324* ~->TOURNAMENT ID: 12-28-6
`328/ __+CAMEs PLAYED: a
`RULES: INSURANCE PAYS 3:1
`DOUBLE DOWN AFTER sPLITTING ALLOWED ONCE
`MIN BET: $25
`342 \\
`\ PLAYER: I.B. SMITH
`
`GAME NUMBER: 15
`
`224
`
`}288
`\
`
`292
`
`296
`
`336
`J
`
`/
`r
`’
`\
`CACTIVATE% (( QuIT ) C HELP §284
`216
`U 228
`220
`24a /x/204
`
`232
`
`236
`
`244
`CANCEL
`BET 5
`
`272
`276
`CANCEL
`LAST
`8
`
`\\_/26s
`252 A
`C
`C
`256 E
`P
`
`T
`
`264 @ @ @260
`
`k c I
`I > J
`240
`SLOW SPEED OF PLAY FAST
`280
`
`221j
`
`Fig. 2
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 6 of 44 PageID #: 4479
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`WEB SITE3_§
`
`BLACKJACK GAME CONTROLLER 1;4_
`38
`
`42
`HOUSE/
`
`CARD
`GENERATOR
`MODULE
`
`WAGER
`ACCOUNTING
`MODULE _
`30
`"'
`II
`I
`
`I
`
`V BLACKJACK
`PLAYING
`MODULE
`1
`
`I
`:
`
`I _________
`
`I
`““““““““ "
`
`{
`I
`I
`:
`“I i
`I
`BLACKJACK +"- BLACKJACK
`PLAYER
`DRIVER
`EVALUATOR
`
`BLACKJACK
`HAND
`EVALUATOR
`
`/ I
`26
`34/
`/ COMMUNICATION INTERFACE
`22
`II
`I
`II
`
`46
`
`I
`
`l
`
`' Q
`
`CGISCRIPTHQ k
`I
`
`I
`
`WORLDWIDE SERVER 34_0
`I
`I
`INTERNET INTERFACE 3_3_Z
`I
`
`~
`
`I
`
`I
`
`INTERNET3_2_4_
`A
`
`I
`
`I
`
`‘
`
`10
`
`I
`INTERNET INTERNET
`CLIENT
`CLIENT ' ° ‘
`NODE
`NODE
`\
`8
`31
`
`318
`
`INTERNET
`CLIENT
`NODE
`
`318
`
`FIG. 3
`
`BLACKJACK
`PLAYER
`REGISTRATION
`AND PLAYING
`STATUS
`DATABASEgg
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 7 of 44 PageID #: 4480
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`I START )
`
`I
`THE BLACKJACK GAME
`CONTROLLER 14 IS INITIALIZED
`
`408
`
`I
`
`CARD DEALER MODULE 38 OUTPUTS AT
`REGULAR INTERVALS RANDOM CARD
`REPRESENTATIONS TO THE BLACKJACK
`PLAYER EVALUATOR 34 AND THE IIOUSE
`BLACKJACK PLAYING MODULE 42
`
`I
`WAIT FOR NEXT PLAYER INPUT \
`424
`
`V
`
`416
`
`430
`
`COMMUNICATION INTERFACE 22 RECEIVES A BLACKJACK
`GAME REQUEST FROM AN INTERNET CLIENT NODE 318
`(GAMTNG STATION I8) AND TRAN SMITS THE REQUEST TO
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26
`
`436
`
`NO
`
`DOES THE
`PLAYER
`REQUEST TO
`ENTER A
`BLACKJACK
`TOURNAMENT?
`
`PROCESS
`<4 MISCELLANEOUS
`REQUESTS
`
`470
`
`IS THE REQUEST RELATED TO A
`CURRENT BLACKJACK GAME AND/OR
`BLACKJACK TOURNAMENT?
`
`476
`
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26 USES THE
`PLAYER'S ID PROVIDED WITH THE
`REQUEST FOR RETRIEVING ANY
`STATUS INFORMATION FROM THE
`DATABASE SYSTEM 28 REGARDING
`ANY CURRENT BLACKJACK GAME
`AND/OR BLACKJACK TOURNAMENT
`IN WHICH THE PLAYER MAY BE
`CURRENTLY INVOLVED
`
`480
`
`NO
`
`DOES THE PLAYER REQUEST
`TO COMMENCE A NEW
`BLACKJACK GAME IN A
`CURRENT TOURNAMENT?
`YES
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 8 of 44 PageID #: 4481
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`454
`
`1
`
`Is THE PLAYER REQUEST
`
`DRIvER 26 DETERMINES
`A BLACKJACK
`TOURNAMENT AND
`ENTERS THE PLAYER
`
`NO
`
`BLACKJACK GAME?
`'
`
`YES
`
`458
`
`CREATE A CONFIRMATION
`RECORD IDENTIFYING THE
`BLACRIACR TOURNAMENT
`IN WHICH THE PLAYER IS
`ENTERED
`
`PROCESS
`MISCELLANEOUS
`REQUESTS
`
`\ 524
`
`OUTPUT THE
`CONFIRMATION RECORD
`TO THE PLAYER AT
`HIS/HER INTERNET
`CLIENT NODE 31s
`(GAMING STATION 18)
`
`528
`
`NO
`
`IS THE PLAYER REQUEST
`FOR A NEW CARD
`REPRESENTATION?
`YES
`
`462
`
`ENTER INTO THE DATA-
`BASE 2s INFORMATION
`INDICATING THE
`BLACKJACK TOURNAMENT
`IN WHICH THE PLAYER HAS
`BEEN ENTERED
`
`<_—I
`
`\ 466
`
`PROCESS OTHER
`BLACRJACR GAME
`REQUESTS
`
`576
`
`THE ELACRJACR DRIvER
`OUTPUTS A NEW
`BLACKJACK GAME
`CONFIGURATION TO THE
`PLAYER
`-
`
`580
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 9 of 44 PageID #: 4482
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`532
`
`FOR WHOM?
`
`HOUSE
`
`PLAYER
`
`536
`
`I
`
`I
`
`568
`
`THE BLACKJACK PLAYER
`EVALUATOR 34
`DETERMINES A NEW
`BLACKJACK GAME
`CONFIGURATION FOR
`THE CURRENT
`BLACKJACK GAME,
`WHEREIN THE NEW
`GAME CONFIGURATION
`INCLUDES THE MOST
`RECENTLY OUTPUT
`CARD REPRESENTATION
`FROM THE CARD
`DEALER MODULE 38 AS
`THE NEXT CARD
`REPRESENTATION FOR
`THE PLAYER'S HAND(S)
`
`V
`
`THE BLACKJACK
`PLAYER EVALUATOR 34
`DETERMINES THE NEXT
`BLACKJACK PLAY
`OPTIONS AND OUTPUTS
`A NEW BLACKJACK
`GAME CONFIGURATION
`TO THE BLACKJACK
`DRIVER 26
`
`\ 572
`
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26
`COMMUNICATES WITH THE
`HOUSE BLACKJACK PLAYING
`MODULE 42 FOR OBTAINING A
`NEW BLACKJACK GAME
`CONFIGURATION FOR THE
`CURRENT BLACKJACK GAME,
`WHEREIN THE NEW GAME
`CONFIGURATION INCLUDES
`THE MOST RECENTLY OUTPUT
`CARD REPRESENTATION FROM
`THE CARD DEALER MODULE 38
`AS THE NEXT CARD
`REPRESENTATION IN THE
`HOUSE HAND FOR THE
`BLACKJACK GAME FROM
`WHICH THE CURRENT
`PLAYER'S REQUEST CAME
`
`V
`
`THE HOUSE BLACKJACK
`PLAYING MODULE 42
`OUTPUTS BLACKJACK
`GAME CONFIGURATION
`INFORMATION
`INDICATTNG THE NEW
`HOUSE HAND CARD
`REPRESENTATION AND
`ANY PLAYER RESPONSE(S)
`
`542
`
`FIG. 4C
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 10 of 44 PageID #: 4483
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`546
`
`IS THERE A FURTHER
`PLAYER RESPONSE
`POSSIBLE?
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`556
`
`550
`
`I
`
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26
`OUTPUTS A BLACKJACK
`GAME CONFIGURATION TO
`THE PLAYER AT HIS/HER
`INTERNET CLIENT NODE
`3 I8 (GAMING STATION 18)
`L%J
`
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26
`SENDS THE BLACKJACK
`GAME RESULTS TO THE
`WAGER ACCOUNTING
`MODULE 30 FOR UPDATING
`THE PLAYER‘S ACCOUNT
`
`I
`THE WAGER ACCOUNTING MODULE 30 RESPONDS
`WITH UPDATED ACCOUNTING INFORMATION TO BE
`PROVIDED TO THE PLAYER
`
`560
`
`564
`/
`I
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26 OUTPUTS THE
`RESULTS OF THE BLACKJACK GAME AND THE
`PLAYER‘S UPDATED ACCOUNT INFORMATION
`
`_
`
`I
`
`484
`
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26 REQUESTS CONFIRMATION
`FROM THE WAGER ACCOUNTING MODULE 30 THAT THE
`PLAYER CAN COMMENCE A NEW BLACKJACK GAME IN
`THE CURRENT TOURNAMENT
`
`IS CONFIRMATION GIVEN?
`
`FIG. 4D
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 11 of 44 PageID #: 4484
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
`
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26
`OUTPUTS A MESSAGE TO THE
`PLAYER AT HIS/HER INTERNET
`CLIENT NODE 318 (GAMING STATION
`18) INDICATING THAT A NEW GAME
`CANNOT BE COMMENCED IN THE
`CURRENT TOURNAMENT
`
`I
`CREATE A BLACKJACK GAME
`494/ RECORD FOR THE PLAYER
`
`I
`
`THE BLACKIACK DRIVER 26 REQUESTS THE
`BLACKJACK PLAYER EVALUATOR 34 TO PROVIDE
`AN INITIAL BLACKJACK GAME CONFIGURATION
`
`496
`
`500
`
`I
`THE HOUSE BLACKJACK PLAYING MODULE 42 RESPONDS
`WITH AN INITIAL BLACKIACK GAME CONFIGURATION
`INCLUDING THE INITIAL CARD REPRESENTATION FOR THE
`HOUSE HAND, THIS INITIAL CARD REPRESENTATION BEING
`THE MOST RECENT CARD REPRESENTATION PROVIDED TO IT
`BY THE CARD DEALER MODULE 38
`
`I
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26 STORES INFORMATION
`REGARDING THE IDENTITY AND INITIAL CONFIGURATION
`FOR THE PLAYER IN THE DATABASE 28
`
`504
`
`I
`
`THE BLACKJACK DRIVER 26 OUTPUTS AN INITIAL
`BLACKJ'ACK GAME CONFIGURATION FOR THE NEW
`GAME TO THE PLAYER AT HIS/HER INTERNET CLIENT
`NODE 318 (GAMING STATION 18)
`
`\ 508
`
`FIG. 4E
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 12 of 44 PageID #: 4485
`Case 6:12—cv—OO799—JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 12 of 44 Page|D #: 4485
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 13 of 44 PageID #: 4486
`Case 6:12—cv—OO799—JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 13 of 44 Page|D #: 4486
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 of 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 14 of 44 PageID #: 4487
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 6, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 0f 14
`
`US 6,183,366 B1
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 15 of 44 PageID #: 4488
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 17 of 44 PageID #: 4490
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`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 18 of 44 PageID #: 4491
`
`US 6,183,366 Bl
`
`1
`NETWORK GAMING SYSTEM
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This is a Continuation application of prior application Ser.
`No. 081759,895 filed Dec. 3, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No.
`5,823,879) which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Application No. 60/010,361 filed Jan. 19, 1996, and U.S.
`Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/010,703 filed Jan. 26,
`1996. The entire disclosure of the prior application 08/759,
`895, from which a copy of the oath or declaration is
`supplied, is considered to be part of the disclosure of the
`accompanying application and is hereby incorporated by
`reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is related to a method and apparatus
`for automating the playing games such as blackjack so that
`they can be played continuously and asynchronously by a
`potentially large plurality of players substantially, and
`wherein information related to goods and services for sale
`can be exchanged between players and sponsors of adver(cid:173)
`tisements presented during the playing of a game.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The cost effective automation of playing certain games,
`like blackjack, has been difficult due to the fact that these
`games typically require a dealer and only a relatively small
`number of players may play the game with a single dealer.
`However, with the popularity of local and wide-area data
`communication networks, it is desirable to have an auto(cid:173)
`mated gaming system for games such as blackjack wherein
`large numbers of players may cost-effectively and efficiently
`play such games.
`Furthermore, it has been difficult to cost-effectively pro(cid:173)
`vide a network gaming system on such networks as the
`Internet in that gaming restrictions prohibit wagering and
`ante fees in most contexts except such situations as local
`area networks within a casino. However, since many players
`have an interest in playing casino-type games, it would also
`be desirable to have a way to benefit from interests in such
`games. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a system
`that utilized a gaming context as a vehicle for delivering
`product and/or service information to users of a network
`such as the Internet. In particular, it would be desirable to
`have a data processing system that provided a large number
`of players with the ability to substantially asynchronously
`play casino-style games on the Internet for prizes at a
`reduced risk or at substantially no risk, wherein the data
`processing system coordinated the presentation of products
`and/or services from sponsors of the games so that there is
`a coordinated, interactive exchange of information between
`players and sponsors regarding advertisements, samples,
`prizes and questionnaires related to sponsor products and/or
`services.
`Accordingly, since the present invention, as described in
`the sections hereinbelow, addresses the above-discussed
`problems within the context of playing blackjack, an over(cid:173)
`view of this particular game is provided so that the novelty
`and various related aspects of the present invention may be
`more fully appreciated.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF BLACKJACK
`
`The card game of blackjack is a game of chance played
`between a designated player known as a "dealer" and one or
`more other players. Basically, each player plays against the
`
`10
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`2
`dealer in the sense that each player attempts to achieve a
`collection or hand of cards having a total score for the hand
`closer to the value 21 than the score of the hand of the dealer.
`However, if a player's card hand goes over 21, the player
`5 may lose any wagers bet on the hand regardless of the value
`of the card hand of the dealer.
`In further detail, blackjack is typically played with one or
`more standard playing card decks wherein each card has a
`value. In particular, each of the face cards has the value of
`10 and non-face card has a value identical to the numerical
`value as indicated on the card, except for aces. That is, for
`aces a value may be assigned of either 1 or 11, depending on
`which value a player deems most beneficial to his/her hand.
`In one conventional method for playing blackjack, at the
`15 commencement of a blackjack hand, each player initially is
`provided with two cards and the dealer also receives two
`cards. Typically, one of the dealer's cards is dealt with the
`value of the card showing whereas the other card is dealt
`with the value of the card hidden. However, variations on
`20 when the dealer receives his/her cards may depend on the
`blackjack gaming rules where blackjack is being played but,
`in any case, one of the dealer's cards must be face-up before
`the players exercise various wagering options beyond an
`initial ante.
`After a player has reviewed his/her cards, the player may
`request one or more additional cards in an attempt to get: (a)
`a value for a card hand that will be greater than the hand the
`dealer will have, and (b) a value for the card hand that is less
`than or equal to 21. Further, a player may under certain
`circumstances, as will be described below, simultaneously
`play more than one hand of cards against the dealer's cards.
`However, in requesting such additional cards, a player runs
`the risk of "busting" each hand played wherein the player
`loses his/her wager(s) on a card hand by adding cards to the
`hand until a value exceeding 21 occurs. Further note that
`such busting of a hand occurs regardless of whether or not
`the dealer has a card hand value of less than or equal to 21.
`Note that after each player has ceased to request further
`cards (i.e., each player "stands" on his cards), the dealer
`either takes one or more further cards (i.e., "hits") according
`to predetermined blackjack rules as established, for
`example, by the gaming establishment where the blackjack
`game is being conducted. In general, the dealer must take
`additional cards if his/her current card count total is less than
`17 and the dealer must decline further cards if the dealer's
`hands has a value of 17 or more. However, there are various
`rules regarding whether a dealer may stand or hit when the
`card count total is a "soft 17." That is, one of the dealer's
`cards is an ace (and therefore may have a value of 1 or 11)
`and one of the values for the dealer's hand is 17. For
`example, the dealer may be required to take a hit on a soft
`17.
`Since a hit(s) taken by the dealer is performed after all
`players have exercised their wagering options, the final
`numerical value of the dealer's hand is then compared to the
`final numerical value of each of the player's hand(s) to
`determine the winning and losing wagers. Note that if the
`dealer's hand exceeds the value of 21, then any player that
`60 has not busted wins the wagers for their hand(s) regardless
`of the hand's total value. Alternatively, if the dealer's card
`hand is less or equal to 21, then it is compared with each of
`the player's card hand(s) and in each comparison the card
`hand with the closest total value to 21 without exceeding 21
`65 wins. Of course, ties are possible. In such cases (called a
`"push"), the player's wager(s) on his/her card hand are
`returned.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-2 Filed 04/24/14 Page 19 of 44 PageID #: 4492
`
`US 6,183,366 Bl
`
`3
`It is typical in blackjack to have at least three additional
`player options depending on the circumstances of play. A
`first such option is known as "doubling down" wherein if the
`player's first two cards have a value within a predetermined
`range (e.g., 10 or 11), then the player may double his or her 5
`wager and once dealt a single additional card, the total of the
`three card hand becomes the value for the player's hand.
`Alternatively, another option is that of "splitting pairs"
`wherein if the player's first two cards are identical with the
`exception of suit (i.e., a pair), then the pair may be split so 10
`that two card hands are created with one card of the pair in
`each hand. Thus, the player must wager on each of the hands
`at least the initial wagering or ante amount. Subsequently, a
`second card and any subsequent successive cards are dealt to
`each of the separate hands as the player requests and the 15
`results of both hands are compared to the dealer's hand,
`assuming neither the dealer nor either of the player's two
`hands busts.
`In a third option, played immediately after each player has
`been dealt their first two cards and the dealer has been dealt
`at least a first card, a player may request "insurance" under
`the circumstances where the dealer's single face-up card is
`an ace. In this circumstance, the player is betting that the
`dealer has blackjack (i.e., a card value total of 21). If the
`dealer does not have blackjack, then the insurance bet is
`forfeited and the player plays his/her blackjack hand as if the
`insurance bet were never made. Note that the player can
`typically wager an insurance bet on one-half of the amount
`of his/her initial blackjack wager or ante and if the dealer has
`blackjack, then the dealer (or the gaming establishment)
`pays the player double or triple his/her insurance bet.
`Further note that options for splitting pairs and doubling
`down may interact with one another according to certain
`pre-established gaming establishment rules wherein, for
`example, a player may double down on one or more of
`his/her split hands.
`Additionally, there are blackjack tournaments having
`tournament entrants that compete against each other for
`tournament prizes. In such tournaments each entrant has a
`fixed initial number of points that can be wagered in a
`pre-established number of tournament blackjack games to be
`played. Accordingly, the player having the highest number
`of points at the end of the tournament wins the tournament.
`Note that in such tournaments, there may be specific guide(cid:173)
`lines established at the beginning of the tournament for
`varying the blackjack gaming rules between tournament
`games. For example, rules may vary on when a player may
`split pairs repeatedly during the same blackjack game. Also,
`double down rules may vary so that, for example, after a
`splitting of pairs, a player may be allowed to double down
`on any two cards or, alternatively, an additional wager of less
`than the initial wager may be acceptable when a player
`requests to double down.
`However, in all known variations of blackjack, players are
`only allowed to enter a blackjack game at the completion of
`a previous game and, further, there is a relatively small
`number of players that can play blackjack at a dealer's
`station simultaneously. Accordingly, it is desirable to pro(cid:173)
`vide a system for playing blackjack wherein potentially a
`very large number of players can play blackjack simulta(cid:173)
`neously from a single dealer station and wherein players can
`commence playing blackjack at their own discretion without
`waiting for a previous blackjack game to complete.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is a computerized interactive adver(cid:173)
`tising system (i.e., method and apparatus) for exchanging
`
`4
`information regarding goods and/or services between a first
`population of users (hereinafter also known as "players" or
`"users") and a second population of users (hereinafter also
`known as "sponsors" or "advertisers"). In particular, the
`sponsors or advertisers may present information related to
`goods and/or services to the players using the present
`invention and the players may view this information while,
`for example, interacting with the present invention for
`playing a game such as blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, pai
`gow or the like. Moreover, a player may also interact with
`the present invention so that the player has the capability for
`responding to sponsor or advertiser presented
`questionnaires, as well as for purchasing or viewing sponsor
`goods and/or services. Thus, the present invention provides
`an information exchange service within a gaming context for
`enticing players to view and/or interact with sponsor pre-
`sentations such as interactive advertisements.
`It is also an aspect of the present invention that each
`player or user is presented with advertisements for products
`20 and/or services, wherein