Obviousness

To analyze the obviousness of US Patent 11011014 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, we must determine whether the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA). This analysis requires identifying a primary reference that teaches most of the claimed elements, a secondary reference(s) that teaches the remaining elements, and a motivation to combine these references.

The independent claims of US11011014 (Claims 1, 9, and 17) primarily describe a system, method, or non-transitory computer-readable medium for internet-based roulette wagering. Key features include:

1. Generating graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for multiple player devices.
2. Receiving bet information for a single spin, where bets correspond to only a single position on the roulette wheel.
3. Determining the wheel and ball have been spun.
4. Randomly selecting a first selected position on the roulette wheel prior to the ball falling into an outcome position, where this selected position matches a player's single bet.
5. Determining a higher payout for the first selected position and a second (lower) payout for another position.
6. Determining the ball has fallen into the first selected position.
7. Indicating that the first player is to be paid the higher payout.

Combination of Prior Art References:

A compelling combination of prior art references that would render the independent claims of US11011014 obvious is JP2004520089A in view of US9327186B1.

Primary Reference: JP2004520089A (Remote roulette system and method)

JP2004520089A explicitly discloses a "Remote roulette system and method". This reference would teach or render obvious the fundamental aspects of an internet-based roulette wagering system:

• A system, method, and medium for wagering with a roulette wheel and ball: The title itself confirms a roulette system.
• Generating GUIs for multiple player devices and receiving bet information: A "remote roulette system" necessarily involves player devices interacting remotely, implying the generation of user interfaces for placing bets and receiving such bet information. Standard roulette play allows for bets on single positions (e.g., straight-up bets).
• Determining that the roulette wheel and ball have been spun: This is inherent to any roulette game, whether physical or remote.

Secondary Reference: US9327186B1 (Roulette system with side bet and random multiplier event)

US9327186B1, titled "Roulette system with side bet and random multiplier event," describes a system that enhances a roulette game with variable payouts. The abstract states: "The system also runs a side bet that includes a random multiplier event. The random multiplier event includes selecting at least one random multiplier and selecting at least one random number from the roulette wheel that is eligible for the random multiplier. The system determines a side bet payout based on the random multiplier event and pays side bet payouts."

When combined with the teachings of JP2004520089A, US9327186B1 would address the remaining elements of the independent claims of US11011014:

• Randomly selecting a first selected position on the roulette wheel prior to the ball falling into an outcome position: US9327186B1 discloses "selecting at least one random number from the roulette wheel that is eligible for the random multiplier." While the abstract does not explicitly state "prior to the ball falling," the nature of a "random multiplier event" that makes a number "eligible for the random multiplier" strongly implies that this selection and multiplier determination would occur before the ball settles into an outcome position. A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) would understand that introducing such a random event before the outcome is known dramatically increases player anticipation and excitement in a wagering game, which is a common and obvious game design principle. If a player places a bet on one of these "randomly selected numbers" that receive a multiplier, this directly corresponds to the "first selected position is the same as the single first position" limitation.
• Determining a first payout (higher) for the first single position and a second payout for the single second position: US9327186B1 explicitly describes a "random multiplier event" and "selecting at least one random multiplier," which directly teaches that the payout for the selected number(s) (i.e., the first position) would be higher than the standard payout for other numbers (i.e., the second position). The "side bet payout based on the random multiplier event" confirms the determination of these enhanced payouts.
• Determining that the ball has fallen in the single first position and indicating payment: These are the natural consequence of a winning outcome in a roulette game with an enhanced payout, as taught by the combination of JP2004520089A for the game mechanics and US9327186B1 for the payout determination and notification ("pays side bet payouts").

Motivation to Combine:

A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) in the field of internet-based wagering systems would have been motivated to combine the remote roulette system of JP2004520089A with the enhanced payout features of US9327186B1 to improve player engagement and increase the attractiveness of the game.

The background of US11011014 explicitly states that "many Internet-based wagering systems are simply computer-generated interfaces that do not replicate in any way a real environment like is present in a casino" and expresses a desire "to provide Internet-based wagering that replicates aspects of a real casino." Introducing a "random multiplier event" and randomly selecting specific numbers for enhanced payouts, as disclosed in US9327186B1, directly addresses this desire by adding a dynamic and exciting element to a standard online roulette game. A POSA would recognize that offering higher, randomly determined payouts for certain positions creates greater thrill and potential rewards for players, thus enhancing the overall wagering experience. Furthermore, the timing of the random selection prior to the ball falling would be an obvious design choice to maximize anticipation, as this builds suspense and excitement before the game's outcome is revealed, a well-established technique in game design.

Therefore, the combination of JP2004520089A and US9327186B1 would have rendered the independent claims of US11011014 obvious to a POSA at the time of the invention.