Keno Game Mechanism With Duplicate Ball Draws

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional keno games do not allow for duplicate balls to be drawn, limiting payout options and player engagement, as the number of matches and payouts are solely based on unique ball selections.

Innovation Solution

Introducing a keno game mechanism where duplicate balls are allowed, with balls remaining in the pool for further draws, enabling new payout categories based on duplicate draws, such as progressive paytables and additional awards for duplicate balls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional keno games do not allow duplicate balls to be drawn, then the game follows standard lottery principles, but payout options are limited and player engagement decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayout optionsVSAvoiddrawing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of ball drawing by allowing duplicates through replacement. After each ball is drawn, it is returned to the pool, enabling the same ball to be drawn multiple times. This parameter change creates new payout categories based on duplicate draws while maintaining the basic drawing mechanism, thus improving versatility without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If duplicate balls are allowed in the draw, then additional payout options and player engagement are achieved, but the traditional keno game structure is altered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayout categoriesVSAvoidgame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the payout structure into two independent components: traditional match-based payouts and new duplicate-based payouts. This segmentation allows the game to maintain its traditional structure while adding new payout categories, thereby achieving versatility without fundamentally altering the stable core of the game structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If balls are returned to the pool after drawing, then duplicate draws become possible increasing award variety, but the drawing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailable ballsVSAvoiddrawing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the ball return operation automatically as part of the drawing sequence. After a ball is drawn and its number recorded, the ball is automatically returned to the pool without manual intervention. This self-service approach enables duplicate draws while minimizing the increase in process complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9293012B2Individual ball draw keno

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A method of providing a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of the combination of: displaying a keno board having a first predetermined number of keno board spots; receiving a player selection of a second predetermined number of keno board spots; selecting a first plurality of drawn balls; and calculating a player award in part based on data associated with the first plurality of drawn balls, wherein at least two of the drawn balls in the first plurality of drawn balls are duplicates.