Electronic card table and method with player tracking

• US 20060058089A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pokertek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pokertek Incorporated
• Inventors: Crawford, James T. III, White, Gehrig Henderson
• Application Number:
  US11/052,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058089A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A system and method provides an electronic card game to a plurality of players using an electronic card table. The system includes a player tracking system. The player tracking system is coupled to the electronic card table and stores information related to the players.

Claims

1. A system for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players, comprising:

an electronic card table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of the players;

a game computer coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for administering the electronic card game by dealing one or more hands using electronic cards and electronic chips; and

,

a player tracking system, coupled to the electronic card table and the game computer, for storing information related to the players, the information including identification information and play information related to the players'"'"' play of the electronic card game.

2. A system, as set forth in claim 1, the game computer for assigning players to electronic player interaction areas.

3. A system, as set forth in claim 2, the player tracking system including a player tracking device coupled to the electronic card table for allowing the player to log-in to the assigned electronic player interaction area.

4. A system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the player tracking device includes a card reader for reading a player tracking ID card.

5. A system, as set forth in claim 4, the player tracking device include a numeric pad for entering a personal identification number.

6. A system, as set forth in claim 2, including a player tracking device located at each electronic player interaction area.

7. A system, as set forth in claim 1, the game computer for monitoring each player'"'"'s play of electronic card game.

8. A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the play information includes play information related to each card hand in which the player plays.

9. A system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the play information includes each card dealt to the player and the other players and any common cards.

10. A system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the play information includes wager information related to any wagers made by any of the players.

11. A system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the play information includes information related to any pot won by the player.

12. A system, as set forth in claim 1, the game computer for providing a player report which ranks players based on at least one player characteristic.

13. A system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one player characteristic including one or more of number of hands won, amount won, amount lost, type of card game played, and type of card game played.

14. A system, as set forth in claim 12, the player report remotely viewable.

15. A system, as set forth in claim 14, the player report remotely viewable over a computer network.

16. A system, as set forth in claim 14, the player report remotely viewable over the internet.

17. A system, as set forth in claim 14, the player report being configurable.

18. A system for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players, comprising:

a plurality of electronic card tables, each card table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of the players;

a server computer coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for administering the electronic card game by dealing one or more hands using electronic cards and electronic chips; and

,

a player tracking system, coupled to the electronic card tables and the game computer, for storing information related to the players, the information including identification information and play information related to the players'"'"' play of the electronic card game.

19. A system, as set forth in claim 18, the server computer for assigning players to electronic player interaction areas.

20. A system, as set forth in claim 19, the player tracking system including a player tracking device coupled to the electronic card table for allowing the player to log-in to the assigned electronic player interaction area.

21. A system, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the player tracking device includes a card reader for reading a player tracking ID card.

22. A system, as set forth in claim 21, the player tracking device include a numeric pad for entering a personal identification number.

23. A system, as set forth in claim 19, including a player tracking device located at each electronic player interaction area.

24. A system, as set forth in claim 18, the game computer for monitoring each player'"'"'s play of electronic card game.

25. A system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the play information includes play information related to each card hand in which the player plays.

26. A system, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the play information includes each card dealt to the player and the other players and any common cards.

27. A system, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the play information includes wager information related to any wagers made by any of the players.

28. A system, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the play information includes information related to any pot won by the player.

29. A system, as set forth in claim 18, the game computer for providing a player report which ranks players based on at least one player characteristic.

30. A system, as set forth in claim 29, wherein the at least one player characteristic including one or more of number of hands won, amount won, amount lost, and type of card game played.

31. A system, as set forth in claim 29, the player report remotely viewable.

32. A system, as set forth in claim 31, the player report remotely viewable over a computer network.

33. A system, as set forth in claim 31, the player report remotely viewable over the internet.

34. A system, as set forth in claim 31, the player report being configurable.

35. A method for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players via one or more electronic card tables and a server computer, each electronic card table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of the players, the server computer being coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for administering the electronic card game, comprising:

dealing one or more hands using electronic cards and electronic chips; and

,

storing information related to the players in a player tracking system, the information including identification information and play information related to the players'"'"' play of the electronic card game.

36. A method, as set forth in claim 35, including the step of assigning players to electronic player interaction areas.

37. A method, as set forth in claim 36, the player tracking system including a player tracking device coupled to the electronic card table, the method including the step allowing the player log-in to the assigned electronic player interaction area via the player tracking device.

38. A method, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the player tracking device includes a card reader for reading a player tracking ID card.

39. A method, as set forth in claim 38, the player tracking device including a numeric pad for entering a personal identification number.

40. A method, as set forth in claim 36, including the step of providing a player tracking device located at each electronic player interaction area.

41. A method, as set forth in claim 35, including the step of monitoring each player'"'"'s play of electronic card game.

42. A method, as set forth in claim 35, wherein the play information includes play information related to each card hand in which the player plays.

43. A method, as set forth in claim 42, wherein the play information includes each card dealt to the player and the other players and any common cards.

44. A method, as set forth in claim 42, wherein the play information includes wager information related to any wagers made by any of the players.

45. A method, as set forth in claim 42, wherein the play information includes information related to any pot won by the player.

46. A method, as set forth in claim 35, including the step of providing a player report which ranks players based on at least one player characteristic.

47. A method, as set forth in claim 46, wherein the at least one player characteristic including one or more of number of hands won, amount won, amount lost, and type of card game played.

48. A method, as set forth in claim 46, the player report remotely viewable.

49. A method, as set forth in claim 48, the player report remotely viewable over a computer network.

50. A method, as set forth in claim 48, the player report remotely viewable over the internet.

51. A method, as set forth in claim 48, the player report being configurable.

52. A method for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players via one or more electronic card tables and a server computer, each electronic card table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of the players, the server computer being coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for administering the electronic card game, comprising:

assigning each player to an electronic player interaction area;

allowing each player to log-in to the assigned electronic player interaction area;

dealing one or more hands using electronic cards and electronic chips;

tracking play of the electronic card game; and

,

storing information related to the players in a player tracking system, the information including identification information and play information related to the tracked play of the electronic card game.