Intelligent wireless mobile device for use with casino gaming table systems

• US 20080076505A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh, Griswold, Chauncey, Gum, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A technique is disclosed for facilitating play of a casino table game at a casino gaming table system which includes a casino gaming table and at least one handheld device. At least a portion of operations or activities relating to the casino game may be performed at a first handheld device. Examples of such operations may include electronically dealing a first card to a first player via the first handheld device, displaying a representation of the first card to the first player via a display at the first handheld device, etc. In at least one embodiment, an association between a selected handheld device and the first player station may be created and used for subsequent game play activities to enable the selected handheld device to be operable to display game play data relating to game play activities associated with the first player station. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the features of a selected handheld device may be enabled/disabled based on the detection of one or more conditions or events. According to specific embodiments, the handheld device may be adapted to provide various functionality for facilitating game play at a casino gaming table. Examples of such functionality may include, for example, allowing a player to select cards for discard/holding; allowing a player to perform wagering activities; retrieving and/or displaying player tracking data; retrieving and/or displaying player account data; displaying game play assistance information; displaying casino layout information; displaying promotional information; etc.

Claims

1. A handheld device for facilitating play of a casino table game at a casino gaming table system, the casino gaming table system including a casino gaming table, the casino gaming table including a dealer station and a first player station, the handheld device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in a data network; and

memory;

the handheld device being operable to;

receive instructions for enabling the first handheld device to implement operations relating to game play activities associated with the first player station;

receive a first portion of card information from the casino gaming table, the first portion of card information including information which identifies a first playing card which has been dealt to a first player at the first player station; and

display a graphical representation of the first playing card on a first display of the first handheld device.

2. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising at least one motion detection sensor for detecting motion or movement of the handheld device.

3. The handheld device of claim 1 being further operable to:

receive configuration instructions from the casino gaming table for configuring the first handheld device to not be operable to display other player card information relating to cards which have been dealt to other players at the casino gaming table.

4. The handheld device of claim 1 being further operable to:

detect a presence of a first docking system at the casino gaming table;

identify the first docking system as being associated with the first player station; and

verify whether the first handheld device has been authorized for communicating with the first docking system for facilitating game play activities relating to the first player station.

5. The handheld device of claim 1 being further operable to:

receive instructions for configuring the first handheld device to be authorized for facilitating game play activities relating to a first specified player.

6. The handheld device of claim 1 being further operable to:

receive input, including first game play instructions, from a first player associated with the first player station; and

transmit the first game play instructions to the casino gaming table.

7. The handheld device of claim 1 being further operable to:

receive input, including first game play instructions, from a first player associated with the first player station;

verify whether the first handheld device has been authorized for communicating with the casino gaming table for facilitating game play activities relating to the first player station; and

transmit the first game play instructions to the casino gaming table in response to a determination that the first handheld device has been authorized for communicating with the casino gaming table for facilitating game play activities relating to the first player station.

8. The handheld device of claim 1 being further operable to:

determine whether the first handheld device is within a predetermined distance from a first component of the casino gaming table; and

disable at least one feature at the first handheld device in response to a determination that the first handheld device is not within the predetermined distance from the first component of the casino gaming table.

9. A handheld device for use in a casino, the casino including a casino gaming table system, the casino gaming table system including a casino gaming table, the handheld device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface; and

memory;

the handheld device being operable to;

determine a current location of the handheld device within the casino;

automatically select an appropriate mode of operation of the handheld device, wherein the selection of the appropriate mode of operation is based at least in part on the determined current location of the handheld device;

automatically update a current mode of operation of the handheld device to the selected appropriate mode of operation; and

modify accessibility of user-accessible features of the handheld device in response to the updating of the current mode of operation of the handheld device to the selected appropriate mode of operation.

10. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting that the current location of the handheld device is within a predetermined proximity to the casino gaming table, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update a current mode of operation of the handheld device to a gaming table mode of operation;

receive instructions for enabling the handheld device to implement operations relating to game play activities associated with a first player station at the gaming table;

receive a first portion of card information from the casino gaming table, the first portion of card information including information which identifies a first playing card which has been dealt to a first player at the first player station; and

display a graphical representation of the first playing card on a first display of the handheld device.

11. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein the appropriate mode of operation is selected from a group of operating modes of the handheld device consisting of;

restaurant operating mode, theater operating mode, lounge operating mode, hotel operating mode, parking service operating mode, room service operating mode, entertainment operating mode, and sports book operating mode;

wherein the restaurant operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with restaurant related activities;

wherein the theater operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with theater related activities;

wherein the lounge operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with lounge related activities;

wherein the hotel operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with hotel related activities;

wherein the parking service operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with parking related activities;

wherein the room service operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with room service related activities;

wherein the news magazine operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with entertainment related activities; and

wherein the and sports book operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with sport wagering related activities.

12. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting an event or condition for causing the handheld device to update its current mode of operation to a theater mode of operation, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update the current mode of operation of the handheld device to a theater mode of operation;

wherein the theater operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with restaurant related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

displaying menu items and prices, displaying electronic coupons, displaying food or beverage reviews, and displaying food or beverage recommendations.

13. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting an event or condition for causing the handheld device to update its current mode of operation to a theater mode of operation, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update the current mode of operation of the handheld device to a theater mode of operation;

wherein the theater operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with theater related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

facilitating purchase of tickets, displaying events, displaying showtimes, displaying program information, displaying event calendar information, displaying coming attractions, and displaying show previews.

14. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting an event or condition for causing the handheld device to update its current mode of operation to a lounge mode of operation, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update the current mode of operation of the handheld device to a lounge mode of operation;

wherein the lounge operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with lounge related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

paging hosts, facilitating wireless ordering, and facilitating beverage service.

15. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting an event or condition for causing the handheld device to update its current mode of operation to a hotel mode of operation, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update the current mode of operation of the handheld device to a hotel mode of operation;

wherein the hotel operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with hotel related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

implementing room key functionality, facilitating room check-in or checkout, and facilitating room service orders.

16. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting an event or condition for causing the handheld device to update its current mode of operation to a parking mode of operation, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update the current mode of operation of the handheld device to a parking mode of operation;

wherein the parking operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with parking related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

displaying a location of a desired car, facilitating payment of parking or valet fees, and facilitating exchange of e-tickets, vouchers, or tips.

17. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting an event or condition for causing the handheld device to update its current mode of operation to a entertainment mode of operation, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update the current mode of operation of the handheld device to a entertainment mode of operation;

wherein the entertainment operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with entertainment related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

displaying news stories or magazine articles, presenting streamed audio/visual content, downloading audio, and downloading video content.

18. The handheld device of claim 9:

wherein, in response to detecting an event or condition for causing the handheld device to update its current mode of operation to a sports wagering mode of operation, the handheld device is operable to;

automatically update the current mode of operation of the handheld device to a sports wagering mode of operation;

wherein the sports wagering operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with sports wagering related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

facilitating placement of wagers, displaying desired sporting event information, displaying desired sporting statistical information, and displaying historical information relating to sports wagering activities.

19. A handheld device for facilitating play of a casino table game at a casino gaming table system, the casino gaming table system including a casino gaming table, the casino gaming table including a dealer station and a first player station, the handheld device comprising:

means for receiving instructions for enabling the first handheld device to implement operations relating to game play activities associated with the first player station;

means for receiving a first portion of card information from the casino gaming table, the first portion of card information including information which identifies a first playing card which has been dealt to a first player at the first player station; and

means for displaying a graphical representation of the first playing card on a first display of the first handheld device.

20. The handheld device of claim 19 further comprising:

means for detecting a presence of a first docking system at the casino gaming table;

means for identifying the first docking system as being associated with the first player station; and

means for verifying whether the first handheld device has been authorized for communicating with the first docking system for facilitating game play activities relating to the first player station.

21. The handheld device of claim 19 further comprising:

means for receiving instructions for configuring the first handheld device to be authorized for facilitating game play activities relating to a first specified player.

22. The handheld device of claim 19 further comprising:

means for receiving input, including first game play instructions, from a first player associated with the first player station; and

means for transmitting the first game play instructions to the casino gaming table.

23. A handheld device for use in a casino, the casino including a casino gaming table system, the casino gaming table system including a casino gaming table, the handheld device comprising:

means for determining a current location of the handheld device within the casino;

means for automatically selecting an appropriate mode of operation of the handheld device, wherein the selection of the appropriate mode of operation is based at least in part on the determined current location of the handheld device;

means for automatically updating a current mode of operation of the handheld device to the selected appropriate mode of operation;

means for modifying accessibility of user-accessible features of the handheld device in response to the updating of the current mode of operation of the handheld device to the selected appropriate mode of operation;

means for automatically updating a current mode of operation of the handheld device to a gaming table mode of operation;

means for receiving instructions for enabling the handheld device to implement operations relating to game play activities associated with a first player station at the gaming table;

means for receiving a first portion of card information from the casino gaming table, the first portion of card information including information which identifies a first playing card which has been dealt to a first player at the first player station; and

means for displaying a graphical representation of the first playing card on a first display of the handheld device.