GAME RELATED SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND ARTICLES THAT COMBINE VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL ELEMENTS

• US 20090118001A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Eichmann, Kenneth J., Ferrara, Paul J., Kelly, Bryan M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,613,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00072 played along an endless track, e.g. monopoly A63F3/00069 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0423 Word games, e.g. scrabble electric A63F3/0421; two-dimensional puzzles with rotating rings or discs A63F9/0811, A63F9/0819
• 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 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

Physical objects may be employed with a virtual game layout to enhance wager and non-wagered based gaming. Displays subsystems may provide a changeable or selectable virtual game layout with demarcations appropriate to a selected game. A sensor subsystem may detect physical aspects of game related pieces (e.g., playing cards, chips, markers, dice, spinners, tokens, tiles) as well as media (e.g., identity media, financial media). All gaming functions may occur through interaction with a playing surface, as well as functions such as order food, beverages and services. Automated tracking of players, dealers and games may be realized along with bonusing and promotions.

Claims

1. A hybrid game apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a playing surface communicably coupled to the processor; and

a sensor communicably coupled to the processor, the sensor operable to read player identification information from a player card proximate to the playing surface;

the processor operable to access player information data from a database stored in memory using the read player identification information and to display a portion of the player information on a region of the playing surface proximate to the player card while the player card is on the playing surface.

2. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein,

the region of the playing surface adjacent to the player card is touch-sensitive;

the portion of the player information includes an indication of an amount of credits or funds available for wagering;

the region includes a display of a keypad operable for entry of a personal identification number and a wager amount;

upon receipt of the wager amount, the processor is operable to reduce the amount of credits or the funds displayed on the playing surface; and

in the event of a player win, the processor is operable to increase the amount of credits or the funds displayed on the playing surface.

3. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the playing surface comprises a semi-transparent liquid crystal display.

4. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the emitter comprises an infrared beam emitter.

5. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the hybrid game apparatus further comprises:

one or more physicals element associable with the playing surface; and

one or more virtual elements displayed on the playing surface by the processor.

6. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the sensor is operable to read the physical elements on the playing surface.

7. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the physical elements include one or more identifier tags, and the sensor comprises an emitter operable to transmit one or more signals to the physical elements and a receiver operable to receive one or more returning signals from the physical elements, and wherein the sensor is operable to capture the information from at least one of the one or more identifier tags.

8. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the sensor is operable to track a movement and a position of the physical elements.

9. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the processor is operable to statically determine a game state.

10. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the processor is operable to dynamically determine a game state.

11. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the processor is operable to store the game state.

12. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the processor is operable to restore the game state.

13. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the processor is operable to reinitiate a selected game including physical elements and virtual elements from a stored game state, by initiating a display of any stored virtual elements, and initiating a display of icon representations of the physical elements associated with the stored game state.

14. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the selected game includes a player position and one or more credits associated with the player position, and wherein the processor is operable to access a player account to restore any credits associated with the stored game state.

15. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the processor is operable to initiate a display of a query at, or about, the player position.

16. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the query comprises a request for the player to provide additional credits to continue the selected game.

17. A hybrid game apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a playing surface communicably coupled to the processor; and

a sensor communicably coupled to the processor, the sensor operable to read one or more coupons;

the processor operable to access a database stored in memory to validate the coupons and to redeem the coupon by crediting a player account or virtually providing credits to a player at the game.

18. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 17 wherein,

the playing surface includes a touch-sensitive region proximate to a location of the coupon such that, when the coupon is on the playing surface, the touch-sensitive region operable to display a menu of player options;

wherein the menu of player options includes an option to display an amount of credits or funds available for wagering, and the touch-sensitive region includes a display of a keypad for entry of a personal identification number or a wager amount, or combinations thereof; and

wherein upon receipt of the wager amount, the processor is operable to reduce the amount of credits or the funds displayed on the playing surface; and

in the event of a player win, the processor is operable to increase the amount of credits or funds displayed on the playing surface to reflect the win.

19. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the hybrid game apparatus further comprises:

one or more physicals element associable with the playing surface; and

one or more virtual elements displayed on the playing surface.

20. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the sensor is operable to read the physical elements on the playing surface.

21. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 20 wherein the physical elements include one or more identifier tags;

and

the sensor comprises an emitter operable to transmit one or more signals to the physical elements and a receiver operable to receive one or more returning signals from the physical elements, the sensor capturing the information from the one or more identifier tags.

22. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 20 wherein the processor is operable to track the movement and position of the physical elements.

23. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 20 wherein the processor is operable to statically determine the game state.

24. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 20 wherein the processor is operable to dynamically determine the game state.

25. A hybrid game apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a playing surface communicably coupled to the processor;

one or more physical elements associable with the playing surface; and

one or more virtual elements displayed on the playing surface and associable with the physical elements.

26. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 25 wherein the one or more physical elements are identifiable by the processor, and the processor is operable to determine a game result based on the physical and virtual elements.

27. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 25 wherein the one or more virtual elements are shift-able on the display by a player movement.

28. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 27 wherein the playing surface comprises a touch screen display, and wherein the touch screen display is operable to detect a movement of the one or more physical elements on the playing surface, on or about the location of one of the virtual elements, and to sliding-move the physical element along the playing surface to a desired location.

29. The hybrid game apparatus as in claim 25 wherein the physical elements comprise at least on of a token and a card, and the virtual elements comprise at least one of a token icon and a card icon.