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

• US 20090118005A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Eichmann, Kenneth J., Ferrara, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout; and

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem.

2. The game playing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable, wherein the display subsystem is positioned to display the images such that the demarcations at least appear to be on or below the first game playing surface.

3. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the display subsystem includes at least one display device selected from the group consisting of a cathode ray tube display, a liquid crystal (LCD) display, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display, a plasma display, a digital light processing (DLP) display or a projector.

4. The game playing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable with the at least one game related piece, and wherein the display subsystem includes at least one display device positioned relatively below or relatively above the first game playing surface.

5. The game playing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable with the at least one gaming related piece located there upon, and wherein the first game playing surface is at least approximately horizontal with respect to a floor and sized to accommodate at least two participants.

6. The game playing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable, the first game playing surface forming a portion of a table top or a bar top.

7. The game playing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable, and wherein the first game playing surface is part of a slant top or vertical gaming machine.

8. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the display subsystem includes a plurality of display devices and the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause at least two of the display devices to each display a respective portion of the virtual game layout such that the virtual game layout formed by the portions of the virtual game layout is continuous.

9. The game playing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable; and

at least a second game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable, where the sensor subsystem is configured to detect at least one physical aspect of the at least one game related piece when the game related piece is located on the first game playing surface and when the game related piece is located on the second game playing surface.

10. The game playing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable; and

at least a second game playing surface on which at least a portion of the one or more games is playable, wherein the display subsystem includes a first display device and at least a second display device, the first display device positioned to display the images on or under the first game playing surface and the second display device positioned to display the images on or under the second game playing surface.

11. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display the virtual game layout at a different orientation than previously displayed between portions of the games.

12. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to update a display of information in response to a movement of the at least one game related piece between at least two game playing surfaces.

13. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the display subsystem and the sensor subsystem are remotely located from the computing subsystem.

14. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the display subsystem and the sensor subsystem are located in a wireless communications device.

15. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the display subsystem and the sensor subsystem are collocated remotely from a gaming floor of a gaming premises.

16. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the display subsystem and the sensor subsystem are collocated remotely from a gaming premises.

17. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the display subsystem and the sensor subsystem are collocated remotely from a gaming premises, and the display subsystem displays representative of physical game related pieces in use at a gaming table.

18. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the virtual game layout comprises a casino table game.

19. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computing subsystem controls the display subsystem to display images of a menu including icons representing a number of items that may be ordered, and the sensor subsystem is configured to detect participant selections of the icons indicative of a participant request for the item represented by the selected one of the icons.

20. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computing subsystem controls the display subsystem to display images indicative of participant account information for at least one participant in the at least one game.

21. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computing subsystem controls the display subsystem to display images indicative of at least one characteristic of the game related piece.

22. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the computing subsystem is configured to determine a value indicative of a net worth of a patron based at least in part on information received from the sensor subsystem that is indicative of the at least one aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem.

23. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display instructive information regarding the at least one game.

24. The game playing system of claim 1 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display video information regarding the at least one game.

25. A game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout; and

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem;

wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more sensors configured to detect at least one of;

a presence/absence of the game related piece from at least a portion of at least one game playing surface, a position of the game related piece on the at least one game playing surface or an orientation of the game related piece with respect to the at least one game playing surface.

26. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more optical sensors to optically detect the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece.

27. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more machine-readable symbol readers to optically detect a machine-readable symbol carried by the game related piece.

28. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more sensors to inductively or magnetically detect the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece.

29. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more interrogators to wirelessly interrogate at least one of a radio frequency identification transponder or a resonant circuit carried by the game related piece.

30. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the game related piece is at least one of a playing card, a chip, a marker, a multisided die, a tile, a token, or a spinner.

31. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to detect a number of spots on a face of at least one die.

32. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to detect a machine-readable symbol on a face of at least one die.

33. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to read information from a radio frequency identification transponder carried by at least one die.

34. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the computing subsystem receives information indicative of respective ones of the game related pieces associated with each of at least two different participants at a single game playing surface playing a single game.

35. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the computing subsystem receives information indicative of respective ones of the game related pieces associated with each of at least two different participants at a respective game playing surfaces playing a single game.

36. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the computing subsystem receives information indicative of respective ones of the game related pieces associated with each of at least two different participants at a respective game playing surfaces playing in respective games.

37. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to detect chips within a back betting area associated with a primary participant playing a game.

38. The game playing system of claim 25 wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to detect chips within a demarcated back betting area associated with a primary participant playing a game.

39. A game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout; and

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem;

wherein the sensor subsystem includes one or more sensor devices configured to read at least one of participant identification media or financial media located at least proximate at least one game playing surface of the game playing system.

40. The game playing system of claim 39 wherein the one or more sensor devices of the sensor subsystem includes one or more optical readers configured to read at least one machine-readable symbol from at least one of the participant identification media or financial media located on the at least one game playing surface of the game playing system.

41. The game playing system of claim 39 wherein the one or more sensor devices of the sensor subsystem includes one or more interrogators configured to wireless read information from at least one memory of at least one of the participant identification media or financial media located at least proximate the at least one game playing surface of the game playing system.

42. The game playing system of claim 39 wherein the one or more sensor devices of the sensor subsystem includes one or more readers configured to read at least one of a loyalty program card, a credit card, a debit card or a prepaid card.

43. The game playing system of claim 39 wherein the one or more sensor devices of the sensor subsystem includes one or more readers configured to read information from at least one of a loyalty program card, a credit card, a debit card or a prepaid card and the at least one computing subsystem is configured to transfer funds between a financial institution and a participant account based at least in part on the read information.

44. The game playing system of claim 39, further comprising:

a reader configured to read at least one of participant identification media or financial media at least partially inserted in the sensor device.

45. A game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout; and

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem;

wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to randomly generate a value.

46. The game playing system of claim 45 wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause the display subsystem to display an image of an indicator that is indicative of the randomly generated value

47. The game playing system of claim 45 wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause the display subsystem to display an image of an indicator that is indicative of the randomly generated value in the form of at least one of a portion of a spinner, a die, a roulette wheel, a playing card, or a bonus card.

48. The game playing system of claim 45 wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause the display subsystem to display an image of an indicator that is indicative of the randomly generated value in the form of at least one virtual playing card that is combinable with at least one physical playing card to form a hand.

49. The game playing system of claim 45 wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause the display subsystem to display an image of an indicator that is indicative of the randomly generated value in the form of at least one of a bonus, a progressive jackpot, or a promotional reward.

50. A game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout; and

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem;

wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause the display subsystem to display an image of an indicator that is indicative of a virtual bonus game.

51. The game playing system of claim 50 wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause the display subsystem to display the image of the indicator that is indicative of the virtual bonus game based on an occurrence of an event.

52. The game playing system of claim 50 wherein the at least one computing subsystem is configured to cause the display subsystem to display the image of the indicator that is indicative of the virtual bonus game based on an occurrence of an appearance of defined physical card or a combination of physical cards.

53. A game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout;

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem; and

a participant interface subsystem communicatively coupled to the at least one computing system, wherein the display subsystem displays images of a number of participant selectable icons, and the participant interface subsystem provides signals indicative of selected ones of the participant selectable icons in response to detection of participant selection of the participant selectable icons.

54. The game playing system of claim 53 wherein the participant interface subsystem includes at least one participant selectable key.

55. A game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout; and

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem;

wherein the display subsystem displays a first virtual game layout with a first set of demarcations during a first period and displays a second virtual game layout with a second set of demarcations during a second period, the second set of demarcations different from the first set of demarcations.

56. The game playing system of claim 55 wherein the display subsystem displays the first virtual game layout with a set of blackjack demarcations during the first period and displays the second virtual game layout with the set of poker demarcations during a second period.

57. The game playing system of claim 55 wherein the display subsystem displays the first virtual game layout with a set of demarcations of a first board game during the first period and displays the second virtual game layout with a set of demarcations of a second board game during the second period.

58. A game playing system, comprising:

a display subsystem configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface, the images including a virtual game layout including a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games;

a sensor subsystem configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout; and

at least one computing subsystem, the at least one computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem, the at least computing subsystem communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem;

wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display representations of one or more virtual chips, one or more virtual playing cards, or one or more virtual dice.

59. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display information that is indicative of a previous location of the at least one game related piece.

60. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display information that is indicative of a current location of the at least one game related piece.

61. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display information that is indicative of a next location of the at least one game related piece.

62. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to highlight an area surrounding a physical playing card on a game playing surface.

63. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display an area surrounding at least one of a virtual playing card or a physical playing card on a game playing surface that form part of a bonus combination.

64. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the game related pieces include at least a pair of physical dice and the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to highlight an area surrounding each of the dice on a game playing surface.

65. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display at least a virtual pair of dice with a pattern that matches a pattern of a physical pair of dice that have been rolled.

66. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display information indicative of a history of previous rolls of dice.

67. The game playing system of claim 58 wherein the computing subsystem is configured cause the display subsystem to display information indicative of a history of previous rolls of dice and the sensor subsystem is configured to detect selections of participants identifying an outcome of a future roll of dice.