Computerized gaming machine with finite outcomes

Abstract

This invention is a computerized video game machine having a finite number of outcomes embodied in a computer readable tab cartridge that must be replenished after the total number of outcomes is exhausted. As each player plays the game, the number tabs playable is reduced by one and the play tab is analyzed as to whether it is a winning tab or not. If the tab is a winning tab then the symbols of the tab are compared to a look-up table to determine the pay-out which is then provided to the player. Once the tab is exhausted the machine is no longer operable until the tab cartridges are recharged. The tab cartridges are recharged by electronic means by entering a reset code through input means such as touching buttons. Once the tab has been recharged then the machine will be able to be operable having the same number of tabs before the tabs were exhausted through play.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computerized gaming machine for allowing a customer to play a predetermined number of games with a finite number of outcomes comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a video display carried by said cabinet;    a computer readable medium carried within said cabinet in communication with said video display;    an input controller in communication with said computer readable medium for receiving input from the customer and communicating said input to said computer medium;    a tab cartridge embodied in said computer readable medium containing a predetermined number of individual tab records associated with a game, each of said games having an associated award outcome; and,    a set of computer readable instructions embodied in said computer readable medium for, when executed by a processor, performing the tasks of selecting a tab record from said tab cartridge, providing the associated game of the tab record to the customer via said video display, reporting the award outcome of the game to the customer, and removing the tab record from said tab cartridge so that no games can be played once the tab records are fully depleted from said tab cartridge.    
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes reset instructions for replenishing said tab cartridge with a predetermined number of tab records so that an exhausted tab cartridge may be further played.  
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2  including: and, 
 a reset code embodied within said tab cartridge;  
 said set of reset instructions includes instructions for receiving a reset request via said input controller, comparing said reset request with said reset code, and replenishing said tab cartridge according to said reset request if said reset request matches said reset code.  
 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 2  including: 
 a slot reader in communication with said computer readable medium;  
 a reset code embodied within said tab cartridge; and  
 said set of reset instructions includes instructions for receiving a reset request according to a reset key having an id code received by said slot reader so that said tab cartridge is replenished according to said id code and said reset code matching.  
 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1  including: 
 a pay table embodied in said computer readable medium having individual pay records, with each of said pay records associated with at least one of said tab records;  
 a tab identification contained within said pay record;  
 an award information contained within said pay record; and  
 said set of computer readable instructions embodied in said computer readable medium including instructions for retrieving an associated pay record from said pay table according to tab record played and determining the award outcome according to said retrieved pay record.  
 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1  including: 
 a plurality of windows contained with the computer readable medium having game images, said game images are revealed to the customer when the customer plays the game; and  
 said set of computer readable instructions contains instructions for revealing said game images to the customer so that the customer is provided with the game images associated with the reported game outcome.  
 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 1  including a predetermined total payout amount associated with said tab cartridge so that when said tab cartridge is exhausted, a finite total award outcome amount has been reported to the customers.  
     
     
         8 . A computerized pull tab game program for use with a video gaming machine having a video display, a computer having a computer readable medium, an input controller in communication with the computer readable medium, and computer readable game instructions embodied in the computer readable medium for implementing a prescribed game, wherein said computer readable game instructions comprise; 
 a tab cartridge embodied in said computer readable medium containing a predetermined number of tab records associated with a predetermined number of games, each game having an associated game outcome representing different levels of winning ranging from zero to predetermined win pay-outs;    deletion instructions for deleting each of the tab records of a game as said game is played by a player;    termination instructions for terminating the play of said computer readable game instructions once all of said tab records are depleted from said tab cartridge; and    reset instructions responsive to a reset code received by said computer readable medium for replenishing said tab records of said tab cartridge so that said computer readable game instructions can be resumed after said tabs have been replenished.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said game outcomes are in the form of credit receipts.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said game outcomes are in the form of monies.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  including providing a predetermined total payout amount associated with said tab cartridge so that when said tab cartridge is exhausted, a finite total monies award amount has been reported to the customers.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  including providing a predetermined total payout amount associated with said tab cartridge so that when said tab cartridge is exhausted, a finite total credit receipt award amount has been reported to the customers.  
     
     
         13 . A computerized method for a gaming machine of the type having a cabinet, a video display disposed within the cabinet, a computer readable medium, an input controller included in the computer, and a game program for allowing a customer to play a game embodied in the computer readable medium, said method comprising: 
 providing a tab cartridge embodied in said computer readable medium which contains a predetermined number of tabs having an associated game, each of said games having a predetermined outcome for that game;    operating said game program according to a play request of the customer allowing the customer to play a game;    providing said game outcome associated with said game played by the customer;    removing said tab associated with said played game from said tab cartridge;    receiving a reset code; and    resetting said tab cartridge responsive to said reset code after all of said tabs have been depleted so that said game program may be played again until said tabs are once again exhausted from said tab cartridge.    
     
     
         14 . Computerized gaming machine for allowing the customer to play a predetermined number of games with finite number of outcomes comprising: 
 a computer readable medium;    a tab cartridge embodied inside computer readable medium containing a predetermined number of tab records representing the number of times a particular game can be played;    a set of predetermined outcomes embodied in said computer readable medium and associated with said tab records of said tab cartridge so that a particular play of the game has a particular game outcome; and    a set of computer readable instructions embodied inside computer readable medium for, when executed by a processor, performing the tasks of presenting a game to be played to the customer, receiving input for playing the game from the customer, displaying the game outcome associated with the game played to the customer, and deleting the tab record from said tab cartridge so that no games can be played once the tab records are fully depleted from said game cartridge.    
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 14  when said set of computer readable instructions includes reset instructions for replenishing said tab cartridge with a predetermined number of tab records so that an exhausted tab cartridge may be further played.  
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 14  including: 
 a reset code embodied within said computer readable medium; and,  
 a set of reset instructions including said computer readable medium for receiving reset requests, comparing said reset requests with said reset code, and replenishing said tab cartridge according to said reset request if said reset request matches said reset code.  
 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 14  wherein said game outcomes are in the form of credit receipts.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  including providing a predetermined total payout amount associated with said tab cartridge so that when said tab cartridge is exhausted, a finite total credit receipt award amount has been reported to the customers.  
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 14  wherein said game outcomes are in the form of monies.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  including providing a predetermined total payout amount associated with said tab cartridge so that when said tab cartridge is exhausted, a finite total monies award amount has been reported to the customers.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the set of computer readable instruction contains instructions for allowing the game outcomes associated with a played game to be modified so that a finite total game outcome award can be controlled.