WO2018178746A1

WO2018178746A1 - Method of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system

Info

Publication number: WO2018178746A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/051821
Authority: WO
Inventors: Artem Oleksiiovych NILOV
Original assignee: Nilov Artem Oleksiiovych
Priority date: 2017-03-30
Filing date: 2017-03-30
Publication date: 2018-10-04

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the field of information technologies as well as to the entertainment field, and particularly to methods of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system using information technologies. A method of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system is disclosed wherein when setting game parameters by the user, the duration of a game step is determined which is a preset time span during which at least a gaming activity and one random chance event are performed and the transmission of the data on the game step of the preset duration selected by the user is performed from a game parameter generation unit to a gaming system control unit configured to determine subsequently the membership of the game in a gaming group with the identical game step and of generating a control signal for a random chance event control unit of the gaming system to determine a random chance event initiation frequency depending on the duration of the game step for each of the gaming groups. Thus, the present invention comprises a method, all steps of which ensure the implementation of the technical result which consists in widening the functionality of the gaming system at the expense of an effective interaction of gaming system units between each other, with consideration of the user's actual location and time zone, which allows to optimize the time taken by the user for interaction with the gaming system and to increase the user's interest in such interaction.

Description

METHOD OF ORGANIZING INTERACTION BETWEEN A USER AND A GAMING SYSTEM

The present invention generally relates to the field of information technologies as well as to the entertainment field, and particularly to methods of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system using information technologies.

Currently, due to development of modern information technologies, gaming systems have become widespread, these systems make it possible for a user, at the expense of performing gaming activities which are required in a given particular gaming system, to win a certain reward which may both be expressed in tangible terms and be of an intangible nature, for example, may consist in the acquisition of new skills or in becoming known amongst other users, in fact providing incentives for the user to take part in games which are performed in such gaming systems. The implementation of gaming systems in the Internet environment make them accessible for a wide circle of users. However, in order to take part in the overwhelming majority of gaming systems, a user should have knowledge of the rules of the games implemented by these systems, which therefore narrowing the circle of users and reducing their interest in the performance of required gaming activities. Furthermore, existing gaming systems are often characterized by a limited feature set due to a software implementation of a gaming system thereby determining the procedure of interaction between a user and such a system, namely resulting in the complication of a user interface, in the necessity of the performance by the user of a large set of gaming activities, in the limitation of the implementation of the gaming system depending on an actual location of the user, time zones, etc. Therefore, there is a need for providing the organization of interaction between a user and a gaming system in such a way as to ensure increasing of the user’s interest in the performance of required gaming activities at the expense of an improved feature set of the gaming system, while retaining the simplicity of a game implemented by the gaming system.

The closest analogue of the method according to the present invention is the method of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system disclosed in Canadian Patent Application No. 2481554 (published on 25.07.2002), said method comprising: signing up the user in the gaming system by means of a user interface, selecting, by the user, gaming parameters from a list of parameters accessible for selecting; performing, by the user, a gaming activity by means of selecting one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome from a list of random chance event outcome variants accessible for selecting via the user interface of the gaming system; initiating a random chance event by means of triggering a random-number generator by the gaming system; determining an actual random chance event outcome using outputs generated by said random-number generator; and notifying the user of his/her winning if his/her selection matches the actual random chance event outcome.

The drawbacks of the above described system include a limited feature set of the gaming system due to a software implementation of the gaming system. So, when selecting game parameters, a possibility of selecting only an amount of payment for user participation in the game and a game type is specified, and, in a preferred embodiment of the game, the user plays with the gaming system on the user’s own. It should be also noted that, in the above described solution, a random chance event is initiated by the user himself/herself. Thus, there is no possibility to optimize interaction of a user and a gaming system depending on his/her actual location, the time zone in which the user is located, the availability of spare time which he/she may allot for performing gaming activities, desire to unite with other users of the gaming system, etc., this in turn resulting in reduction in the user’s interest, the impossibility of global scaling of the gaming system, etc.

In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system the aggregate of steps whereof will ensure the implementation of the technical result which consists in widening the functionality of the gaming system at the expense of an effective interaction of gaming system units between each other, of due to the user’s actual location and time zone, thereby enabling optimization of the time taken by the user for interaction with the gaming system as well as increasing the user’s interest in such interaction.

The object of the invention is achieved with a method of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system, the method comprising: signing up the user in the gaming system by means of a user device; obtaining data about game parameters preset by means of accessing by the user to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system via a user interface of the gaming system from a list of game parameters accessible for selecting; obtaining data about a gaming group of users which corresponds to the game parameters preset by the user, selected by the user, and obtaining data about entering the game; assigning the user to the gaming group selected by him/her based on the game parameters set by him/her; obtaining data about performing, by the user, a gaming activity which consists in selecting one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome or the sequence of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of outcomes of a series of random chance events from a list of random chance event outcome variants accessible for selecting via the user interface of the gaming system; initiating a random chance event; determining one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the random chance event outcome; and inputting data on one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the actual random chance event outcome to the gaming system by a random chance event control unit of the gaming system; comparing, by the control unit of the gaming system, the data on the random chance event outcome obtained from the user with the data on the actual random chance event outcome obtained from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system, for assigning a game status to the user due to the game parameters selected by the user; notifying the user by the gaming system about the actual random chance event outcome and about the game status assigned to the user via the user interface; in which case, when setting the game parameters by the user, the duration of a game step is determined which is a preset time span during which at least a gaming activity and one random chance event are performed; and performing the transmission of the data on the game step of the preset duration selected by the user from the game parameter generation unit to the gaming system control unit configured to determine subsequently the membership of the game in a gaming group with the identical game step and to generate a control signal for a random chance event control unit of the gaming system to determine a random chance event initiation frequency depending on the duration of the game step for each of the gaming groups.

In the context of the present invention, the gaming system is an online system access whereto by the user is accomplished via a gaming system site or via the respective application installed at a user device of the user. As an example, a personal computer, a smartphone or any other device, which may be employed as a means of access to an information network and as a platform for games, can be used as the user device.

In accordance with the present invention, the game parameter generation unit of the gaming system is configured to ensure selecting, by the user, game parameters from a list of parameters accessible for selecting; said list may comprise the following parameters:

- selecting a user reward variant (such as a tangible reward or an intangible reward);

- selecting a game-playing territory (a worldwide game, a macro-regional game, a regional game, a city-wide game, etc.);

- selecting a game generation time, i.e., a period of time during which other users will be enrolled to create a gaming group such as an hour, a day, a week, a month, an individually set period of time, etc.;

- selecting a duration of the game step which is a preset time interval during which at least a gaming activity and one random chance event are performed, for example, 3 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, an individually set period of time;

- selecting a game currency;

- selecting an amount of an initial contribution to a game fund if a tangible reward is selected as a user reward;

- selecting a date and time of game start (selecting any time of game start with reference to a certain random chance event initiation frequency depending on the duration of the game step);

- selecting the number(s) of one or more game steps at which the user may quit the game and receive a share of the game fund as a reward which does not provide earning a game winner status by the user;

- selecting a method for random chance event implementation (such as coin tossing, dice throwing, roulette wheel rotation, another method of random chance event implementation which has only two outcome variants, or any combination thereof);

- selecting, by the user, an variant of performing a gaming activity (such as selecting by the user of a random chance event outcome is performed at each game step; selecting by the user of a random chance event outcome is performed in advance for all the game steps; selecting by the user of a random chance event outcome is performed at each game step, but the outcomes of a series of random chance events are selected in advance); and

- possibility to enter into an agreement for the division of the game fund and game completion with a certain number of users of the gaming group.

The above list of game parameters accessible for selecting makes it possible to ensure a high user’s interest in the performance of gaming activities since it allows him/her to produce the most interesting and optimal – for a given particular user game – variant taking account of that interval of spare time which the user has for playing the game due to the time zone in which the user is located, thereby eliminating the need for any interaction with the gaming system during a period of time inconvenient for the user, as well as taking account of his/her finances or no financial incentive as such.

Based on the game parameters selected by the user, the user is assigned to the respective gaming group of equal users. Each gaming group includes exclusively real equal users with equal game capabilities and equal odds in the game. According to preset game parameters, an amount equal to the initial contribution to the game fund is transferred from the user’s personal account to the game fund account. In such manner, a gaming group is created with a game fund equal to the sum of equal cash funds contributed by the game players at the step of creating the gaming group.

In accordance with the present invention, obtaining data about performing, by the user, a gaming activity which consists in selecting one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome or the sequence of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of outcomes of a series of random chance events from a list of random chance event outcome variants accessible for selecting via the user interface of the gaming system determines consequently the user’s status in the game: whether the user won or lost at least at the current game step. One of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome may be selected or changed not later than 60 seconds before the determination of a random chance event outcome. For this purpose, a time meter is provided in the user interface configured to provide the user with data on a time span, which remains until the determination of a random chance event outcome. In case when the user fails, for any reasons, to select a random chance event outcome within the preset period of time, the gaming system upholds the previous selection of a random chance event outcome performed by the user at the previous step of the game.

The sequence of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of outcomes of a series of random chance events from a list of random chance event outcome variants accessible for selecting may be preset by the user for a portion of the game steps or for all of the game steps which should supposedly be performed in a given particular game. In accordance with the present invention, the users who selected a possibility of a preliminary selection of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome for at least a portion of game steps or for all of the game steps, complete, at the first step of the game, a form of all the stepwise variants of a random chance event outcome and wait for the game completion. The code of the variants of a random chance event outcome inputted by such user is compared with the data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system and the respective status is assigned to the user at each step of the game. If the number of the preset variants of a random chance event outcome becomes exhausted, while the user remains in the game and no winner is revealed, the user accomplishes the selection of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome on the common basis. If the user fails to perform a required gaming activity, the gaming system control unit determines his/her selection based on the last selection of the user in accordance with the code of preset variants of a random chance event outcome inputted by him/her.

In accordance with the present invention, the actual random chance event outcome is the appearance of only one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome, the appearance of some or other variant of the random chance event outcome occurs exclusively in a random sequence.

In accordance with the present invention, a game manager creates preliminarily a gaming group using game parameters accessible for selecting in the gaming system. As an example, a company, which acts as both organizer and sponsor of the game, may act as the game manager.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, when setting the game parameters by the user, there is provided a possibility to create by the user a gaming group, which is accessible for selecting by other users of the gaming group under the same conditions as for the existing gaming groups.

When signing up the user, the user’s personal cabinet and the user’s personal account associated therewith are created in the gaming system for subsequent settlements with the user.

In accordance with the present invention, once the gaming system control unit compared the data on the random chance event outcome received from the user with the data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system, no matter how the random chance event was implemented, a status in the game is assigned to the user due to the game parameters selected by the user: a game step winner; a game step loser; a game winner; or the one who quit the game. If a winner selected the correct variant of the random chance event outcome, he/she is assigned the relevant status whereupon he/she may continue playing the game at the subsequent step; if the user selected the incorrect variant, he/she quits the game. The user is notified of the assigned status by means of the user interface. The gaming activities within the framework of the game are performed hereafter in case the game step winner status is assigned to the user at the previous game step and in case there are other users having the game step winner status at the previous game step until the game step at which only one user wins. Such user is assigned the winner status, and all the amount of the game fund excluding a fee payable to the company, which organizes the game is transferred to his/her account from the game fund. The other users are assigned the respective status; they quit the game; and, accordingly, earn no reward unless otherwise specified when selecting game parameters or, for example, unless otherwise specified by conditions of the participation of the game sponsor (advertiser).

In accordance with the present invention, when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a tangible reward as the user reward variant, said reward is selected from a tangible object and a cash reward. When the user selects a tangible reward as the user reward variant, said reward is selected from a tangible object and a cash reward.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a cash reward as a user reward variant and the game winner status is assigned to the user, the user’s personal account is credited with the cash reward excluding fees for gaming system services.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a tangible object as a user reward variant and the game winner status is assigned to the user, the tangible object contributed to the game fund when creating the gaming group is given as the reward, in which case the user is assigned to the gaming group selected by him/her without making initial contributions of the users of the gaming group to the game fund.

In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a tangible object as a user reward variant and the game winner status is assigned to the user, the tangible object contributed to the game fund when creating the gaming group is given as the reward and the personal account of the user who created the gaming group is credited with the cash reward in the amount of the game fund preliminarily established from equal initial contributions of the users excluding fees for gaming system services.

In accordance with the present invention, when setting game parameters by the user, it is determined whether there is a possibility for a certain number of users, having the game step winner status at the previous step of the game, to enter into a unanimous agreement for the division of the game fund into equal shares and for the completion of the game in the gaming group, the game winner status is assigned to said users.

Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, when setting game parameters by the user, it is determined whether there is a game step(s) whereat the user is provided with a possibility to quit the game and receive a share of the game fund as a tangible reward, in which case quit the game status is assigned to the user upon quitting the game, and the user’s personal account of the user with the game winner status assigned afterwards is credited with the cash reward in the amount of the game fund preliminarily established from equal initial contributions of the users of the gaming group excluding fees for gaming system services and payment to the users who quit the game. When all of the users quit the game at this step, the game is terminated without determining the winner. When all but one user quit the game at this step, the game is terminated and the respective winner status is assigned to the remaining user, in which case the residue of the game fund is transferred to such game player as a reward.

In accordance with the present invention, when setting game parameters by the user, a method of random chance event implementation is determined.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method of random chance event implementation selected by the user is performed in the real world (off-line), and the determining one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the actual random chance event outcome is performed based on the data of recording one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome in the real world which are received by the random chance event control unit of the gaming system following their input into the gaming system. In this case, a random chance event is organized in the real world (off-line) by the game manager for all of the user groups in accordance with the determined random chance event initiation frequency depending on the duration of the game step. At the time preset by each game, in the gaming system, an online broadcasting of a random chance event, for example, coin tossing, is launched. The game manger records the random chance event outcome and inputs the same into an electronic system of the game. A video-record of the random chance event for the gaming group is downloaded into the gaming system with the provision of a common access for the users of the gaming group to the video-record. In order to implement a random chance event, for example, coin tossing, movie, stage, sports stars, and other famous people may be involved thereby increasing the user’s interest in the participation in this gaming system. Furthermore, during the implementation of a random chance event in the real world, advertising of the sponsor of this game or any other useful information may be placed.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method of random chance event implementation selected by the user is performed within the gaming system by means of generating one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome directly by the random chance event control unit of the gaming system using any known method for generating a random chance event. In this case a computer simulation of a random chance event may be performed in the gaming system, wherein simulation may be provided with any suitable audio-video sequence.

Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, the data of predicting the course of the game may be displayed in the user interface in order to encourage users to participate further in the gaming system. For example, the gaming system control unit is configured to calculate the user’s chances of winning at the current step of the game based on information about the selection by other users at the current step as well as the user’s chances of winning in the game as a whole, the amount of a possible reward of the user based on the number of users at a given particular step of the game, etc., and to adjust predictions presented previously. In addition, a possibility of displaying that share of the game fund, which accrues to a given particular user based on the number of users who remain in the game, may be implemented in the user interface.

In accordance with the present invention, obtaining data about a centralized selection of game parameters by a third party, e.g., by the game organizer, may be implemented. In this case the company acting as the game organizer also implements a random chance event in the real world.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a flow chart illustrating partially interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention (the user selects a cash reward as a reward);

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention (the user selects a tangible object as a reward);

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention (the user selects a tangible object as a reward and at the same time the transfer of a cash reward to the user who created a given particular gaming group);

Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention (the user selects a cash reward as a reward as well as a possibility to quit the game and receive a share of the game fund as a reward); and

Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention (the user selects a cash reward as a reward and there is a possibility enter into an agreement for the division of the game fund and game completion with a certain number of users of the gaming group).

The present invention may be embodied as an example as one of the embodiments described herein below.

The signing up 1 of the user in the gaming system is accomplished by means of obtaining the required data on the site of the gaming system with the aid of the user device, e.g., a personal computer. A personal cabinet 2 and a personal account 3 of the user associated with the personal cabinet 2 are then created in the gaming system. A possibility is then afforded to the user to set 4 game parameters 5 from a list of the game parameters 5 accessible for selecting by means of accessing by the user via a user interface of the gaming system to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system, for example, a method 6 for random chance event implementation (in the real world (off-line) – 7; generation by the random chance event control unit – 8). Preliminarily, in the gaming system, a game manager is granted with a possibility to enter 9 into the gaming system as well as with a possibility to create 10 gaming groups with various parameters characterizing said gaming groups – a list 11 of gaming groups containing, for example, gaming groups 12 to 15. At the step of setting 4 game parameters, it is also provided a possibility to create 10 a gaming group for the user of the gaming system. The user is then granted a possibility to select 16 a gaming group of users corresponding to the game parameters preset by the user, to enter 17 into the game, upon which the user is assigned 18 to the preselected gaming group.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention providing the selection by the user of a cash reward as a reward. The signing up 1 of the user in the gaming system is accomplished by means of obtaining the required data on the site of the gaming system with the aid of the user device, e.g., a personal computer. A personal cabinet 2 and a personal account 3 of the user associated with the personal cabinet 2 are then created in the gaming system. A possibility is then afforded to the user to set game parameters 5 from a list of the game parameters 5 accessible for selecting by means of accessing by the user via a user interface of the gaming system to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system. In this example, the following game parameters 5 are received from the user: a tangible reward 19 in the form of a cash reward 20 and an amount 21 of a contribution to the game fund. A possibility is then afforded to the user to select a gaming group of users which corresponds to the game parameters preset by the user, to enter 17 into the game, and the user is then assigned 18 to the preselected gaming group 22, and a contribution 23 to a game fund 24 is received from the user. A step 25 of the game is than performed which step is a preset time span (a duration of the game step) during which at least a gaming activity 26 is performed by means of selecting by the user one of the two possible and equally

likely variants

27, 28 of a random chance event outcome and inputting 29 of the selected variant. Following this, the initiation 30 of the random chance event, a determination 31 of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome, and an input 32 of data on one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome into the gaming system are then performed by a random chance event control unit of the gaming system. Following this step, a gaming system control unit compares 33 data on the random chance event outcome received from the user with data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system for assigning a status to the user in the game due to the game parameters selected by him/her. If the match 34 of said data is determined, a winner status 37 is assigned to the user at the game step. If it is determined that there is no 35 match of said data, a loser status 36 is assigned to the user at the game step. Under the condition 38 when there are more than one user at a given step, prediction indicators are displayed 39, and the subsequent game step is performed. Under the condition 40 when there is only one user at a given step, a game winner status 41 is assigned to the user, and the user’s personal account 3 is credited 42 with the cash reward.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, providing the selection by the user of a tangible object as a reward. The signing up of the user in the gaming system is accomplished by means of obtaining the required data with the aid of the user device, e.g., a personal computer. A personal cabinet 2 and a personal account 3 of the user associated with the personal cabinet 2 are then created in the gaming system. A possibility is then afforded to the user to set game parameters 5 from a list of the game parameters 5 accessible for selecting by means of accessing by the user via a user interface of the gaming system to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system. In this example, the following game parameters 5 are received from the user: a tangible reward 43 in the form of a cash reward 44. A possibility is then afforded to the user to select a gaming group of users, which corresponds to the game parameters preset by the user, to enter 17 into the game, and the user is then assigned 18 to the preselected gaming group 22. Preliminarily, in the gaming group, following the creation 10 of the gaming group by a game manager, the game manager is afforded a possibility to contribute 45 a tangible object to a game fund 24. A step 25 of the game is then performed which step is a preset time span (a duration of the game step) during which at least a gaming activity 26 is performed by means of selecting by the user one of the two possible and equally

likely variants

27, 28 of a random chance event outcome and inputting 29 of the selected variant. Following this, the initiation 30 of the random chance event, a determination 31 of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome, and an input 32 of data on one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome into the gaming system are then performed by a random chance event control unit of the gaming system. Following this step, a gaming system control unit compares 33 data on the random chance event outcome received from the user with data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system for assigning a status to the user in the game due to the game parameters selected by him/her. If the match 34 of said data is determined, a winner status 37 is assigned to the user at the game step. If it is determined that there is no 35 match of said data, a loser status 36 is assigned to the user at the game step. Under the condition 38 when there are more than one user at a given step, prediction indicators are displayed 39, and the subsequent game step is performed. Under the condition 40 when there is only one user at a given step, a game winner status 41 is assigned to the user and the user receives a reward 46.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention providing the selection by the user of a tangible object as a reward and at the same time the transfer of a cash reward to the user who created a given particular gaming group. The signing up of the user in the gaming system is accomplished by means of obtaining the required data on the site of the gaming system with the aid of the user device, e.g., a personal computer. A personal cabinet 2 and a personal account 3 of the user associated with the personal cabinet 2 are then created in the gaming system. A possibility is then afforded to the user to set game parameters 5 from a list of the game parameters 5 accessible for selecting by means of accessing by the user via a user interface of the gaming system to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system. In this example, the following game parameters 5 are received from the user: a tangible reward 43 in the form of a cash reward 44, as well as an amount of a contribution 47 to a game fund 24. In which case, at the step of setting the game parameters 5, the user of the gaming system is afforded a possibility to create 10 a gaming group and contribute 45 a tangible object to the game fund 24. A step 25 of the game is then performed which step is a preset time span (a duration of the game step) during which at least a gaming activity 26 is performed by means of selecting by the user one of the two possible and equally

likely variants

27, 28 of a random chance event outcome and of inputting 29 of the selected variant. Following this, the initiation 30 of the random chance event, a determination 31 of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome, and an input 32 of data on one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome into the gaming system are then performed by a random chance event control unit of the gaming system. Following this step, a gaming system control unit compares 33 data on the random chance event outcome received from the user with data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system for assigning a status to the user in the game due to the game parameters selected by him/her. If the match 34 of said data is determined, a winner status 37 is assigned to the user at the game step. If it is determined that there is no 35 match of said data, a loser status 36 is assigned to the user at the game step. Under the condition 38 when there are more than one user at a given step 38, prediction indicators are displayed 39, and the subsequent game step is performed. Under the condition 40 when there is only one user at a given step, a game winner status 41 is assigned to the user and the user receives a reward 46. A cash reward is then transferred 48 to the user who created the gaming group in the amount of the game fund preliminarily established from equal initial contributions of the users of the gaming group excluding fees for gaming system services.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention providing the selection by the user of a cash reward as a reward as well as a possibility to quit the game and receive a share of the game fund as a reward. The signing up of the user in the gaming system is accomplished by means of obtaining the required data on the site of the gaming system with the aid of the user device, e.g., a personal computer. The personal cabinet 2 and a personal account 3 of the user associated with the personal cabinet 2 are then created in the gaming system. A possibility is then afforded to the user to set game parameters 5 from a list of the game parameters 5 accessible for selecting by means of accessing by the user via a user interface of the gaming system to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system. In this example, the following game parameters 5 are received from the user: a tangible reward 43 in the form of a cash reward 20, an amount of a contribution 47 to a game fund 24, as well as the presence 49 of a game step “X” at which a possibility to quit the game is provided. A step 25 of the game is then performed which step is a preset time span (a duration of the game step) during which at least a gaming activity 26 is performed by means of selecting by the user one of the two possible and equally

likely variants

27, 28 of a random chance event outcome and of inputting 29 of the selected variant. Following this, the initiation 30 of the random chance event, a determination 31 of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome, and an input 32 of data on one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome into the gaming system are then performed by a random chance event control unit of the gaming system. Following this step, a gaming system control unit compares 33 data on the random chance event outcome received from the user with data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system for assigning a status to the user in the game due to the game parameters selected by him/her. If the match 34 of said data is determined, a winner status 37 is assigned to the user at the game step. If it is determined that there is no 35 match of said data, a loser status 36 is assigned to the user at the game step. Under the condition 38 when there are more than one user at a given step, prediction indicators are displayed 39, and the subsequent game step is performed. Under the condition 40 when there is only one user at a given step, a game winner status 41 is assigned to the user and the user receives a reward 46. The above described actions are performed before a game step “X” 50 at which a possibility to quit the game is provided. If the system records a user’s selection “No” 51 (refusal to quit the game), interaction between the user and the gaming system is continued. When the system records a user’s selection 52 (quit the game), quit the game status 53 is assigned to the user and transferring of a cash reward is performed in the amount of a share of the game fund 24 preliminarily established from equal initial contributions of the users of the gaming group 22 in proportion to the number of users with a game step winner status at the previous game step excluding fees for gaming system services and the payment to the users who quit the game is transferred to the user’s personal account.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating interaction between a user and a gaming system in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention providing the selection by the user of a cash reward as a reward as well as a possibility to enter into an agreement for the division of the game fund and game completion with a certain number of users of the gaming group. The signing up of the user in the gaming system is accomplished by means of obtaining the required data on the site of the gaming system with the aid of the user device, e.g., a personal computer. The personal cabinet 2 and a personal account 3 of the user associated with the personal cabinet 2 are then created in the gaming system. A possibility is then afforded to the user to set game parameters 5 from a list of the game parameters 5 accessible for selecting by means of accessing by the user via a user interface of the gaming system to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system. In this example, the following game parameters 5 are received from the user: a tangible reward 43 in the form of a cash reward 20, an amount of a contribution 47 to a game fund 24, as well as the presence 55 of a possibility for a certain number of users having a winner status at the previous game step to enter into a unanimous agreement for the division of the game fund 24 into equal shares and for the completion of the game in the gaming group 22. A step 25 of the game is then performed which step is a preset time span (a duration of the game step) during which at least a gaming activity 26 is performed by means of selecting by the user one of the two possible and equally

likely variants

27, 28 of a random chance event outcome and of inputting 29 of the selected variant. Following this, the initiation 30 of the random chance event, a determination 31 of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome, and an input 32 of data on one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome into the gaming system are then performed by a random chance event control unit of the gaming system. Following this step, a gaming system control unit compares 33 data on the random chance event outcome received from the user with data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system for assigning a status to the user in the game due to the game parameters selected by him/her. If the match 34 of said data is determined, a winner status 37 is assigned to the user at the game step. If it is determined that there is no 35 match of said data, a loser status 36 is assigned to the user at the game step. Under the condition 38 when there are more than one user at a given step, prediction indicators are displayed 39, and the subsequent game step is performed. Under the condition 40 when there is only one user at a given step, a game winner status 41 is assigned to the user and receives a reward 60. The above described activities are performed till compliance with a condition 56 – achieving a certain number of users in a given particular gaming group 22. Then if the system records a user’s selection 57 (refusal to enter into the unanimous agreement for the division of the game fund 24 into equal shares and for the completion of the game in the gaming group 22), interaction between the user and the gaming system is continued. If the system records a user’s selection 58 (enter into the unanimous agreement for the division of the game fund 24 into equal shares and for the completion of the game in the gaming group 22), a game winner status 59 is assigned to the users who entered in said agreement, and a cash reward in the amount of equal shares of the game fund 24 preliminarily established from equal initial contributions of the users of the gaming group 22 in proportion the number of the users with a game winner status 59 assigned thereto excluding fees for gaming system services and the payment to the users who quit the game is transferred to the personal account of each of said users.

An embodiment of the present invention with particular parameters set by a user will now be described.

At the respective step of interaction between a user and a gaming system, a possibility is afforded to the user to set game parameters from a list of the game parameters accessible for selecting by means of accessing by the user via a user interface of the gaming system to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system. For example, the reward: a tangible reward – a cash reward; the territory for playing the game – the United Kingdom; the game generation time – 1 week; the game step for performing at least a gaming activity and one random chance event – 1 hour; the game currency – British pound; the amount of the initial contribution to the game fund – 10 pounds; the date and time of game start – April 01, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.; the number of one or more game steps at which the user may quit the game and receive a share of the game fund as a reward – each even step; the method for random chance event implementation – in the real world (off-line); the method of determining a random chance event outcome – coin tossing; the variant of performing the gaming activity by the user – the stepwise one; a possibility to enter into the agreement for the division of the game fund into equal shares and for the completion of the game with a certain number of users of the gaming group – a possibility to enter into the agreement when the number of users who remain in the game is equal to or less than 3 at any step of the game.

Based on the above listed set parameters, a gaming group is created of users who reside in the United Kingdom during 1 week from March 21, 2018 through April 01; a game players enters into the game after making an initial contribution at an amount of 10 pounds; a duration of the game step will be 1 hour; a random chance event (coin tossing) will be implemented in the real world to complete the game step with an online broadcasting of the determination of a random chance event outcome for each user of a given gaming group in his/her personal cabinet.

Once the user selected the gaming group, the user is provided with a possibility to enter the game. Where a game parameter for a given gaming group provides for making an initial contribution to the game fund by the user, the user transfers, in the process of entering the game, the amount of the initial contribution to the game fund from the user’s personal account. Upon completion of the procedure of entering the game, the user is assigned to the respective gaming group.

In a given particular embodiment, the user then performs a gaming activity by means of the selection of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome, i.e., heads or tails, from a list of the variants of a random chance event outcome accessible for selecting via a user interface of the gaming system. The random chance event is then initiated, for example, in the real world (off-line), by coin tossing by a real person, as well as the actual random chance event outcome is determined by means of recording data on the actual side of the coin and of inputting these data to the gaming system control unit. Then the gaming system control unit compares the data on the random chance event outcome received from the user with the data on the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system. If these data match, a winner status is assigned to the user at a game step; otherwise, a game loser status is assigned to the user. After that the gaming system control unit checks whether there are other game players with the winner status at the game step. If there are no such game players, the game winner status is assigned to the user; otherwise, the subsequent game step is performed. For example, 10 users play the game.

Users

1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 select the “tail” variant of the random chance event outcome whilst

users

3, 5, 7, 8, and 10 select the “head” variant. The actual random chance event outcome recorded by the gaming system is the “tail”. Following data comparison, the winner status at this game step is assigned to the

users

1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 whilst the game loser status is assigned to the

users

3, 5, 7, 8, and 10. Since there is more than one winner at the game step, the subsequent game step is performed.

Since the subsequent game step for this gaming group is a step (even step) at which the user may quit the game and receive a share of the game fund as a reward, the user is asked whether he/she desires to quit the game. If the user agrees to quit the game, the quit the game status is assigned to him/her and a cash reward in the amount of a share of the game fund in proportion to the number of users with the winner status at this game step excluding fees for gaming system services is transferred to the user’s personal account. If the user chose not to quit the game, he/she is provided with a possibility to perform a gaming activity. For example, if 1,000 pounds is contributed to the game fund (10 users contributed 100 pounds each) and, based on the outcome of the game step, the winner status is assigned to 5 users at the game step, a cash reward equal to 1,000/5*0.9=180 (if the fees for gaming system services are 10%) is transferred from the game fund to the user who chose to quit the game.

The remaining users select one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome and wait for the completion of the game step. The random chance event is initiated again, the actual outcome thereof is determined (one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the random chance event outcome), the data are input to the gaming system control unit, and it is performed the comparison of the data on the random chance event outcome received from the users and the data of the actual random chance event outcome received from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system. If the data, for example, from three users match, the winner status is assigned to such users at this game step whilst the game loser status is assigned to two other users. Since there are more than one winner at the game step, the subsequent game step is performed.

Since the number of users with the game step winner status at this game step corresponds to the number preset in the game parameters (3 users with one user who quit the game), each of such users is provided with a possibility to enter into an agreement for the division of the game fund into equal shares. Said agreement is entered unanimously and voluntarily and, as a result thereof, the game winner status is assigned to each user who entered into the agreement. Upon the entering into the agreement, a cash reward equal to (1000-200)/3*0.9=240 pounds (if the fees for gaming system services are 10%) is transferred from the game fund to each of the users. Even if one of the users chose to refuse to enter into the agreement for the division of the game fund, the users perform the gaming activity and wait for the end of the game step. At the subsequent game step, the remaining users also have a possibility to enter into an agreement for the division of the game fund. For example, if there are two such users, upon the entering into the agreement, a cash reward equal to (1000-200)/2*0.9=360 pounds (if the fees for gaming system services are 10 %) is transferred from the game fund to each of the users.

If agreement for the division of the game fund is not entered, and, based on the outcome of the previous game step, the game step winner status is assigned only to one user, then the game winner status is assigned to such a user. A cash reward in the amount of the game fund, excluding the amount of rewards transferred to the users who quit the game and the fees for gaming system services, is transferred from the game fund to the user with the game winner status. In this example, if agreement for the division of the game fund is not entered, a cash reward in the amount of (1000-200)*0.9=720 pounds (if the fees for gaming system services are 10 %) is transferred from the game fund to the game player with the game winner status.

When a tangible reward in the form of a tangible object is selected as a reward, two variants of implementing the method for interaction between the user and the gaming system are possible. In the first variant, the game fund consists only of the tangible object which is contributed thereto when a gaming group manager created the gaming group, and, accordingly, no amount of an initial contribution is transferred to the game fund from the personal accounts of the users who select this gaming group for the game. Therefore, in such an embodiment of the method of interaction between the user and the gaming system, neither quitting the game nor entering into the agreement for the division of the game is specified and a tangible reward is only transferred to the user to whom the game winner status is assigned. For example, if the game manager contributes a Toyota car to the game fund of a given gaming group, such a car is transferred to the user with the game winner status as a reward for winning the game.

In the second variant of implementing interaction between the user and the gaming system, the game fund consists of both a tangible object which is contributed thereto when a gaming group manager (or any user) created the gaming group and a cash reward formed of initial contributions of the users of the gaming group. In this case, the tangible object contributed by the game manager of the gaming group is transferred as a tangible reward to the user to whom the game winner status is assigned based on the game outcome while the manager of the gaming group (or the user who created the gaming group) receives the cash reward in the amount of the game fund excluding fees for gaming system services. For example, the user may create a gaming group with such game parameters as follows: a reward – a tangible reward, namely a tangible object; the territory for playing the game – Germany; the game generation time – 1 day; the game step for performing at least a gaming activity and one random chance event – 10 minutes; the game currency – Euro; the amount of the initial contribution to the game fund – 10 euro; the date and time of game start – May 01, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.; the user may not quit the game; the method for random chance event implementation – in the real world (off-line); the method of determining a random chance event outcome – throwing two dices; the variant of performing the gaming activity by the user – the stepwise one; no possibility to enter into the agreement for the division of the game fund into equal shares and for the completion of the game with a certain number of users of the gaming group.

The user who created the game contributes, for example, a Honda bike to the game fund as the tangible reward; in this case, the initial contribution to the game fund is established as 5 euro. Three hundred users, who selected this gaming group, make their contributions of 5 euro each to the game fund as the initial contribution to the game fund. Thus, the game fund is formed which consists of 5,000 euro and the tangible object, the Honda bike. The Honda bike is transferred as the tangible reward to the user to whom the game winner status is assigned and the cash reward in the amount of 1,500*0.9=1,350 euro (if the fees for gaming system services are 10 %) is transferred to the user who created the game and who is the manager for this gaming group.

Thus, the present invention comprises a method of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system, all steps of which ensure the implementation of the technical result which consists in widening the functionality of the gaming system at the expense of an effective interaction of gaming system units between each other, with consideration of the user’s actual location and time zone, which allows to optimize the time taken by the user for interaction with the gaming system and to increase the user’s interest in such interaction.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they are described by way of example only, and not for limitation. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the appended claims.

Claims

A method of organizing interaction between a user and a gaming system, the method comprising:
signing up the user in the gaming system by means of a user device,
obtaining data about game parameters preset by means of accessing by the user to a game parameter generation unit of the gaming system via a user interface of the gaming system from a list of game parameters accessible for selecting,
obtaining data about a gaming group of users which corresponds to the game parameters preset by the user, selected by the user, and
obtaining data about entering the game,
assigning the user to the gaming group selected by him/her based on the game parameters set by him/her,
obtaining data about performing, by the user, a gaming activity which consists in selecting one of the two possible and equally likely variants of a random chance event outcome or the sequence of one of the two possible and equally likely variants of outcomes of a series of random chance events from a list of random chance event outcome variants accessible for selecting via the user interface of the gaming system,
initiating a random chance event; determining one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the random chance event outcome; and inputting data on one of the two possible and equally likely variants of an actual random chance event outcome to the gaming system by a random chance event control unit of the gaming system,
comparing, by a gaming system control unit, the data on the random chance event outcome obtained from the user with the data on the actual random chance event outcome obtained from the random chance event control unit of the gaming system, for assigning a game status to the user due to the game parameters selected by the user,
notifying the user by the gaming system about the actual random chance event outcome and about the game status assigned to the user via the user interface of the gaming system,
wherein when setting the game parameters by the user, the duration of a game step is determined which is a preset time span during which at least a gaming activity and one random chance event are performed, and
the transmission of the data on the game step of the preset duration selected by the user is performed from the game parameter generation unit to the gaming system control unit configured to determine subsequently the membership of the game in a gaming group with the identical game step and to generate a control signal for the random chance event control unit of the gaming system to determine a random chance event isinitiation frequency depending on the duration of the game step for each of the gaming groups.
The method of claim 1, wherein a game manager preliminarily creates a gaming group using the game parameters accessible for selecting in the gaming system.
The method of claim 1, wherein when setting the game parameters by the user, there is provided a possibility to create by the user a gaming group which is accessible for selecting by other users of the gaming group under the same conditions as for the existing gaming groups.
The method of claim 1, wherein when signing up the user, the user’s personal cabinet and the user’s personal account associated therewith are created in the gaming system.
The method of claim 1, wherein a game status is assigned to the user by the gaming system control unit by selecting a status from the group including, due to the game parameters selected by the user, the following statuses: a game step winner; a game step loser; a game winner; or the one who quit the game.
The method of claim 5, wherein the subsequent game step is performed during which at least a gaming activity and one random chance event are performed in case the game step winner status is assigned to the user at the previous game step and in case there are other users having the game step winner status at the previous game step.
The method of claim 1, wherein when setting game parameters by the user, a user reward variant is determined, the user reward variant is selected from a group including a tangible reward and an intangible reward.
The method of claim 7, wherein when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a tangible reward as the user reward variant, said reward is selected from a tangible object and a cash reward.
The method of claim 8, wherein when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a cash reward as a user reward variant and the game winner status is assigned to the user, the user’s personal account is credited with the cash reward in the amount of the game fund preliminarily established of equal initial contributions of the users of the gaming group excluding fees for gaming system services.
The method of claim 8, wherein when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a tangible object as a user reward variant and the game winner status is assigned to the user, the tangible object contributed to the game fund when creating the gaming group is given as the reward, in which case the user is assigned to the gaming group selected by him/her without making initial contributions of the users of the gaming group to the game fund.
The method of claims 3 and 8, wherein when obtaining data about selection, by the user, a tangible object as a user reward variant and the game winner status is assigned to the user, the tangible object contributed to the game fund when creating the gaming group is given as the reward, and the personal account of the user who created the gaming group is credited with the cash reward in the amount of the game fund preliminarily established from equal initial contributions of the users excluding fees for gaming system services.
The method of claim 1, wherein when setting game parameters by the user, it is determined for a certain number of users, having the game step winner status at the previous step of the game, whether it is possible to enter into an unanimous agreement for the division of the game fund into equal shares and for the completion of the game in the gaming group, in which case the game winner status is assigned to said users.
The method of claim 1, wherein when setting game parameters by the user, it is determined whether there is a game step(s) whereat the user is provided with a possibility to quit the game and receive a share of the game fund as a tangible reward, in which case quit the game status is assigned to the user upon quitting the game, and the user’s personal account of the user with the game winner status assigned afterwards is credited with the cash reward in the amount of the game fund preliminarily established from initial contributions of the users of the gaming group excluding fees for gaming system services and payment to the users who quit the game.
The method of claim 1, wherein when setting game parameters by the user, a method of random chance event implementation is determined.
The method of claim 14, wherein the method of random chance event implementation is performed in the real world (off-line), and determining one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the actual random chance event outcome is performed based on the data of recording one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the random chance event outcome in the real world which are received by the random chance event control unit of the gaming system following their input into the gaming system.
The method of claim 14, wherein the method of random chance event implementation is performed within the gaming system by means of generating one of the two possible and equally likely variants of the actual random chance event outcome directly by the random chance event control unit of the gaming system.