Gesture controlled casino gaming system

• US 20070259717A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Gadda, Chris, Stockdale, James, Wilder, Richard, Mattice, Harold, Griswold, Chan, Nguyen, Binh
• Granted Patent: US 8,460,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/00 Games not otherwise provided for aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00 ; miscellaneous sporting games A63B67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for controlling a wager-based game played at a gaming system. In one embodiment the gaming system may include a handheld device operable to communicate with a gaming controller. In one embodiment, the handheld device may include a gesture input interface device operable to detect movements gestures associated with one or more persons. The gaming system may further include a gesture interpretation component operable to identify selected movements or gestures detected by the gesture input interface device, and operable to generate gesture interpretation information relating to interpretation of the selected movements or gestures. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may be operable to control a wager-based game played at the gaming system; automatically detect a gesture by a player participating in a game session at the gaming system; interpret the gesture with respect to a set of criteria; identify at least one action to be initiated in response to the gesture interpretation; and initiate the at least one action. In at least one embodiment, information relating to the gesture and/or information relating to the gesture interpretation may be recorded as part of the game history associated with the game session.

Claims

1. A gaming system in a casino gaming network, comprising:

a gaming controller;

memory;

at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in the gaming network;

a first handheld device operable to communicate with the gaming controller, the first handheld device including a first gesture input interface device operable to detect movements gestures associated with one or more persons;

a first gesture interpretation component operable to identify selected movements or gestures detected by the first gesture input interface device, and operable to generate gesture interpretation information relating to interpretation of the selected movements or gestures;

the gaming system being operable to;

control a wager-based game played at the gaming system;

automatically detect a first gesture by a first player participating in a first game session at the gaming system;

interpret the first gesture with respect to a first set of criteria;

identify at least one first action to be initiated in response to the first gesture interpretation; and

initiate the at least one first action.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 being further operable to:

associate the first gesture with at least one first game play instruction relating to the first game session; and

store information relating to the at least one first game play instruction at a first data structure.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 being further operable to:

associate the first gesture with at least one first game play instruction relating to the first game session;

create first player input-game state association which associates the at least one first game play instruction with an advance of a state of the first game session; and

store, in at least one data structure, information relating to the at least one first game play instruction, information relating to the advance of the state of the first game session, and information relating to the first player input-game state association.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 being further operable to:

determine a current location of the gaming system; and

interpret the first gesture based on the current location of the gaming system.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of:

selecting game type, selecting a game theme, selecting a game denomination, and selecting a game paytable.

6. The gaming system of claim 1:

wherein the first game session relates to a spinning reel game which includes a first reel; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating cocking of the first reel, and initiating spinning of the first reel.

7. The gaming system of claim 1:

wherein the first game session relates to a dice game which includes a first die; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating shaking of the first die, and initiating rolling of the first die.

8. The gaming system of claim 1:

wherein the first game session relates to a roulette wheel game which includes a first roulette wheel; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating spinning of the first roulette wheel, and initiating launching of a roulette ball into the first roulette wheel.

9. The gaming system of claim 1:

wherein the first game session relates to a casino card game; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating dealing of at least one card, initiating discarding of at least one card, initiating collection of at least one card, and initiating selection of at least one card.

10. The gaming system of claim 1:

wherein the first game session relates to a casino card game; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating dealing of at least one card, initiating discarding of at least one card, initiating collection of at least one card, and initiating selection of at least one card.

11. A mobile hand held device for use in a casino gaming network, comprising:

a gaming controller;

memory;

a first display;

at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in the gaming network;

a first gesture input interface device operable to detect movements gestures associated with one or more persons;

a first gesture interpretation component operable to identify selected movements or gestures detected by the first gesture input interface device, and operable to generate gesture interpretation information relating to interpretation of the selected movements or gestures;

the hand held device being operable to;

control a wager-based game played at the hand held device;

automatically detect a first gesture by a first player participating in a first game session at the hand held device;

interpret the first gesture with respect to a first set of criteria;

identify at least one first action to be initiated in response to the first gesture interpretation; and

initiate the at least one first action.

12. The hand held device of claim 11 being further operable to:

associate the first gesture with at least one first game play instruction relating to the first game session; and

store information relating to the at least one first game play instruction at a first data structure.

13. The hand held device of claim 11 being further operable to:

associate the first gesture with at least one first game play instruction relating to the first game session;

create first player input-game state association which associates the at least one first game play instruction with an advance of a state of the first game session; and

store, in at least one data structure, information relating to the at least one first game play instruction, information relating to the advance of the state of the first game session, and information relating to the first player input-game state association.

14. The hand held device of claim 11 being further operable to:

determine a current location of the hand held device; and

interpret the first gesture based on the current location of the hand held device.

15. The hand held device of claim 11 wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of:

selecting game type, selecting a game theme, selecting a game denomination, and selecting a game paytable.

16. The hand held device of claim 11:

wherein the first game session relates to a spinning reel game which includes a first reel; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating cocking of the first reel, and initiating spinning of the first reel.

17. The hand held device of claim 11:

wherein the first game session relates to a dice game which includes a first die; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating shaking of the first die, and initiating rolling of the first die.

18. The hand held device of claim 11:

wherein the first game session relates to a roulette wheel game which includes a first roulette wheel; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating spinning of the first roulette wheel, and initiating launching of a roulette ball into the first roulette wheel.

19. The hand held device of claim 11:

wherein the first game session relates to a casino card game; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating dealing of at least one card, initiating discarding of at least one card, initiating collection of at least one card, and initiating selection of at least one card.

20. The hand held device of claim 11:

wherein the first game session relates to a casino card game; and

wherein the at least one first action includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of;

initiating dealing of at least one card, initiating discarding of at least one card, initiating collection of at least one card, and initiating selection of at least one card.

21. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

scrolling through at least one menu displayed at the first display.

22. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

navigating through at least one menu displayed at the first display.

23. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

scrolling through at least one menu displayed at the first display.

24. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

modifying a volume setting at the handheld device.

25. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

modifying a speed of play of a game being played at the handheld device.

26. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

modifying a wager amount relating to the wager-based game.

27. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

modifying a time interval for displaying selected information at the first display.

28. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

confirming selection of at least one player input parameter.

29. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

modifying a reference point for viewing an object displayed at the first display.

30. The hand held device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first action includes:

advancing a state of the first game session.

31. A gaming system in a casino gaming network, comprising:

means for controlling a wager-based game played at the gaming system

means for automatically detecting a first gesture by a first player participating in a first game session at the gaming system;

means for interpreting the first gesture with respect to a first set of criteria;

means for generating gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture;

means for automatically detecting a first gesture by a first player participating in a first game session at the gaming system;

means for interpreting the first gesture with respect to a first set of criteria; and

means for identifying at least one first action to be initiated in response to the first gesture interpretation;

means for initiating the at least one first action;

means for associating the first gesture with at least one first game play instruction relating to the first game session; and

means for storing information relating to the at least one first game play instruction at a first data structure.