Real-time gaming or activity system and methods

• US 20060217199A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CVC Global Provider LP
• Original Assignee: CVC Global Provider LP
• Inventors: Adcox, Thomas A., Rutherford, Joe A.
• Application Number:
  US11/364,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217199A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication

Abstract

An on-line gaming or other activity system utilizing videoconferencing or other communication methods in a broadband network provides remote locations (participants or spectators) with live video/audio of the on-going game or activity occurring at a different location. A network device, such as a videoconferencing unit, at the remote location receives video that includes real-time or live images of actual physical object(s) as presented or utilized during the game or activity (at the other location). The remote participant device is operable for receiving real-time or live video/audio or other user input (at the remote location) and transmitting this information to the game or activity location. This user input information received by the game or activity is operable for controlling, affecting or playing the game/activity at the game/activity location.

Claims

1. An interactive on-line gaming method, the method comprising:

generating a first real-time video signal of a first physical object in an on-going game occurring at a first location;

transmitting the first video signal to a first remote participant at a second location;

receiving input from the first remote participant, the input operable for interacting with the on-going game.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

converting the generated real-time video signal from a first format to a second format, and wherein the transmitting transmits the converted real-time video signal to the remote participant at the second location.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

generating a second real-time video signal of a second physical object in an on-going game occurring at the first location;

generating a third real-time video signal of a third physical object in an on-going game occurring at the first location;

transmitting the second video signal to a second remote participant at a third location;

transmitting the third video signal to the first remote participant and to the second remote participant; and

receiving input from the second remote participant, the input from the second remote participant operable for interacting with the on-going game.

4. An on-line interactive card gaming method, the method comprising:

dealing, at a first location, one or more playing cards associated to a first participant by placing the one or more cards within a first participant viewing area;

generating a first video signal comprising an image of the first participant viewing area thereby generating an image of the one or more playing cards placed therein;

transmitting the first video signal to a first remote participant at a second location;

dealing, at the first location, one or more playing cards associated to a second participant by placing the one or more cards within a second participant viewing area;

generating a second video signal comprising an image of the second participant viewing area thereby generating an image of the one or more playing cards placed therein;

transmitting the second video signal to a one of the first remote participant and a second remote participant at a second location; and

receiving, at the first location, input from the first remote participant, the input operable for affecting the on-going game.

5. A gaming system comprising,

a gaming table residing at a first location, the gaming table having a plurality of predefined areas on the table;

a plurality of cameras corresponding to the plurality of predefined areas, each of the plurality of cameras operable for viewing the respective predefined areas and generating a video signal comprising an image of an object placed within the predefined area;

means for transmitting the plurality of video signals generated by the plurality of cameras over a network to one or more players geographically remote from the first location; and

means for receiving input from the one or more remote players.

6-8. -8. (canceled)