Universal gaming engine

Abstract

An apparatus for implementing a game having a deterministic component and a non-deterministic component wherein a player uses the game through at least one player interface unit. Each player interface unit generates a player record indicating player-initiated events. A random number generator provides a series of pseudo-random numbers and a rules library stores indexed rules for one or more games. An interface registry stores mapping records where the mapping records are used to associate the player-initiated events to pre-selected rules in the rules library. A control means is coupled to the player interface to receive the output of the player interface unit, coupled to the interface registry, the rules library, and the random number generator. The control means processes the player record and returns an output record to the player interface unit where the output record is determined by executing the game's rules with reference to the pseudo-random numbers and predefined combinatorial algorithms for selecting sets of the pseudo-random numbers.

1 . An system for implementing a game, the system comprising:
 a data bus;   a gaming engine, coupled to the data bus, configured to selectively
 (a) make available the result of at least one gaming function prior to a request for the result; 
 (b) execute at least one gaming function; and 
 (c) provide a result of at least one gaming function; and 
   a player interface unit, coupled to the data bus, configured to selectively
 (a) request execution of at least one gaming function; and 
 (b) receive the result of at least one gaming function, wherein the result 
   is based on at least one result of a first at least one gaming function made available prior to a request for an execution of the first at least one gaming function.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein making available the result of at least one gaming function comprises storing generated random numbers in a buffer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gaming function includes at least one of random number generation, a verification algorithm, a transform function, a public interface registry function, and a rule implemented via a rules library. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein providing the result of at least one gaming function comprises returning accumulated results to the player interface unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the player interface unit comprises at least an output configured to communicate information to a player and an input configured to communicate information from the player. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein requesting execution of at least one gaming function comprises transmitting a player record to the gaming engine over the data bus, the player record comprising at least one of player-initiated events, data associated with player-initiated events, and state of the game. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data communicated over the data bus is encrypted. 
     
     
         8 . A method of implementing a game, the method comprising:
 making available the result of at least one gaming function prior to a request for the result;   executing at least one gaming function;   providing a result of at least one gaming function;   requesting execution of at least one gaming function; and   receiving the result of at least one gaming function, wherein the result is based on at least one result of a first at least one gaming function made available prior to a request for execution of the first at least one gaming function.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein making available the result of at least one gaming function comprises storing generated random numbers in a buffer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing a result of at least one gaming function comprises providing the result for further processing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing a result of at least one gaming function comprises altering a display of a player interface unit. 
     
     
         12 . A system for implementing a game, the system comprising:
 means for making available the result of at least one gaming function prior to a request for the result;   means for executing at least one gaming function;   means for providing a result of at least one gaming function;   means for requesting execution of at least one gaming function; and   means for receiving the result of at least one gaming function, wherein the result is based on at least one result of a first at least one gaming function made available prior to a request for execution of the first at least one gaming function.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for making available comprises a random number circuit, the means for executing comprises a main control circuit, the means for providing comprising network interface circuit, the means for requesting comprises a network I/O circuit, or the means for receiving comprises a network I/O circuit. 
     
     
         14 . One or more computer-readable media storing instructions that when executed perform a method of implementing a game, the method comprising:
 making available the result of at least one gaming function prior to a request for the result;   executing at least one gaming function;   providing a result of at least one gaming function;   requesting execution of at least one gaming function; and   receiving the result of at least one gaming function, wherein the result is based on at least one result of a first at least one gaming function made available prior to a request for execution of the first at least one gaming function.   
     
     
         15 . A system for implementing a gaming, the system comprising:
 a gaming engine comprising a first network interface coupled to a network;   gaming engine software, executing in the gaming engine, which
 (a) executes a gaming function upon receiving a request over the network for execution of the gaming function; and 
 (b) provides the result of a gaming function upon receiving a request over the network for the result of a gaming function a player interface unit comprising a second network interface coupled to the network; and 
   player interface unit software, executing in the player interface unit, which
 (a) enables game play; 
 (b) requests that the gaming engine execute a gaming function; and 
 (c) receives the result of a gaming function. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gaming function includes at least one of random number generation, a verification algorithm, a transform function, a public interface registry function, and a rule implemented via a rules library. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein providing the result of a gaming function comprises returning accumulated results to the player interface unit. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the player interface unit comprises at least an output configured to communicate information to a player and an input configured to communicate information from the player. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein game play is enabled via the input and output. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein requesting that the gaming engine execute a gaming function comprises transmitting a player record to the gaming engine over the data bus, the player record comprising at least one of player-initiated events, data associated with player-initiated events, and state of the game. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein data communicated over the data bus is encrypted. 
     
     
         22 . A method of implementing a game, the method comprising:
 executing a first gaming function upon receiving a request over a network for execution of the first gaming function;   providing the result of a second gaming function upon receiving a request over the network for the result of a second gaming function;   enabling game play;   requesting execution of a third gaming function; and   receiving the result of a fourth gaming function.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the first, second, third, or fourth gaming function are the same gaming function. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein providing a result of a second gaming function comprises providing the result for further processing. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein providing a result of a second gaming function comprises altering a display of a player interface unit. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein game play is enabled via an input and an output of a player interface unit. 
     
     
         27 . A system for implementing a game, the system comprising:
 means for executing a first gaming function upon receiving a request over a network for execution of the first gaming function;   means for providing the result of a second gaming function upon receiving a request over the network for the result of a second gaming function;   means for enabling game play;   means for requesting execution of a third gaming function; and   means for receiving the result of a fourth gaming function.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the means for executing comprises a main control circuit, the means for providing comprises a network interface circuit, the means for enabling game play comprises a player unit interface, the means for requesting comprises a network I/O circuit, or the means for receiving comprises a network I/O circuit. 
     
     
         29 . One or more computer-readable media storing instructions that when executed perform a method of implementing a game, the method comprising:
 executing a first gaming function upon receiving a request over a network for execution of the first gaming function;   providing the result of a second gaming function upon receiving a request over the network for the result of a second gaming function;   enabling game play;   requesting execution of a third gaming function; and   receiving the result of a fourth gaming function.