Automated Techniques for Table Game State Tracking

• US 20090131151A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Mattice, Harold E., Moser, Timothy W., Harris, Roger William, Pankas, Steven M., Meza, Eduardo Samuel, Burrill, Nevin A., McPhail, Gavin
• Application Number:
  US12/249,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131151A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/22
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for facilitating game state tracking of gaming activity conducted at a gaming system including a first live casino gaming table. In at least one embodiment, the system may be operable to: control a wager-based game played at the first gaming table; enable a first active game session to be conducted at the first gaming table; automatically detect a first table game state change event for triggering a change of state of the first active game session; and automatically update the state of the first game session using at least a portion of information relating to the first table game state change event. According to specific embodiments, the first table game state change event may include (or may correspond to) at least of the following events: an event relating to a first player'"'"'s physical gestures or movements; an event relating to a first casino employee'"'"'s physical gestures or movements; an event relating to the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions; an event relating to a casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions; and/or an event relating to wagering activity which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table. In at least one embodiment, the first table game state change event may be analyzed and/or interpreted with respect to selected criteria, and the state of the first game session may be automatically advanced (and/or updated) in response to the analysis and/or interpretation of the first table game state change event.

Claims

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

a first live casino gaming table;

a gaming controller;

memory;

the system being operable to;

control a wager-based game played at the first gaming table;

enable a first active game session to be conducted at the first gaming table;

automatically detect a first table game state change event for triggering a change of state of the first active game session, wherein the first table game state change event includes at least one event selected from a group consisting of;

an event relating to a first player'"'"'s physical gestures or movements;

an event relating to a first casino employee'"'"'s physical gestures or movements;

an event relating to the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions;

an event relating to a casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions; and

an event relating to wagering activity which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table; and

automatically update the state of the first game session using at least a portion of information relating to the first table game state change event.

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

analyze the first table game state change event; and

automatically advance the state of the first game session in response to analysis of the first table game state change event.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to a first player'"'"'s physical gestures or movements, the system being further operable to:

interpret the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advance the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to a first casino employee'"'"'s physical gestures or movements, the system being further operable to:

interpret the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advance the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions, the system being further operable to:

interpret the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advance the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to a casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions, the system being further operable to:

interpret the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advance the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to wagering activity which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table, the system being further operable to:

interpret the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advance the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

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

determine a current state of the first game session at the gaming table; and

interpret the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the current state of the first game session at the gaming table.

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

determine an active game type of the first game session at the gaming table; and

interpret the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the active game type of the first game session at the gaming table.

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

determine an active game theme of the first game session at the gaming table; and

interpret the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the active game theme of the first game session at the gaming table.

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

determine at least one rule associated with game play activity relating to the first game session; and

interpret the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the at least one rule.

12. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

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

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

the gaming system being operable to;

automatically detect a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes at least one gesture selected from a group consisting of;

the first player'"'"'s physical movements, and the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions;

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

generate gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advance a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information.

13. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

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

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

the gaming system being operable to;

automatically detect a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes at least one gesture selected from a group consisting of;

the first player'"'"'s physical movements, and the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions;

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

generate gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advance a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information;

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

advance the state of the first game session in accordance with the at least one first game play instruction.

14. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

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

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

the gaming system being operable to;

automatically detect a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes at least one gesture selected from a group consisting of;

the first casino employee'"'"'s physical movements, and the first casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions;

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

generate gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advance a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information.

15. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

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

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

the gaming system being operable to;

automatically detect a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes wagering activity conducted by the first player which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table;

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

generate gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advance a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information.

16. A method for facilitating game state tracking of gaming activity conducted at a gaming system including a first live casino gaming table, the method comprising:

controlling a wager-based game played at the first gaming table;

enabling a first active game session to be conducted at the first gaming table;

automatically detecting a first table game state change event for triggering a change of state of the first active game session, wherein the first table game state change event includes at least one event selected from a group consisting of;

an event relating to a first player'"'"'s physical gestures or movements;

an event relating to a first casino employee'"'"'s physical gestures or movements;

an event relating to the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions;

an event relating to a casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions; and

an event relating to wagering activity which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table; and

automatically updating the state of the first game session using at least a portion of information relating to the first table game state change event.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising:

analyzing the first table game state change event; and

automatically advancing the state of the first game session in response to analysis of the first table game state change event.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to a first player'"'"'s physical gestures or movements, the method further comprising:

interpreting the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advancing the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to a first casino employee'"'"'s physical gestures or movements, the method further comprising:

interpreting the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advancing the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions, the method further comprising:

interpreting the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advancing the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to a casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions, the method further comprising:

interpreting the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advancing the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the first table game state change event corresponds to a first event relating to wagering activity which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table, the method further comprising:

interpreting the first event with respect to a first set of criteria; and

advancing the state of the first game session based upon the interpretation of the first event.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining a current state of the first game session at the gaming table; and

interpreting the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the current state of the first game session at the gaming table.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining an active game type of the first game session at the gaming table; and

interpreting the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the active game type of the first game session at the gaming table.

25. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining an active game theme of the first game session at the gaming table; and

interpreting the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the active game theme of the first game session at the gaming table.

26. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining at least one rule associated with game play activity relating to the first game session; and

interpreting the first table game state change event based at least in part upon the at least one rule.

27. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

automatically detecting a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes at least one gesture selected from a group consisting of;

the first player'"'"'s physical movements, and the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions;

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

generating gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advancing a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information.

28. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

automatically detecting a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes at least one gesture selected from a group consisting of;

the first player'"'"'s physical movements, and the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions;

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

generating gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advancing a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information;

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

advancing the state of the first game session in accordance with the at least one first game play instruction.

29. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

automatically detecting a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes at least one gesture selected from a group consisting of;

the first casino employee'"'"'s physical movements, and the first casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions;

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

generating gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advancing a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information.

30. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

automatically detecting a first gesture by a first player participating in the first game session at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes wagering activity conducted by the first player which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table;

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

generating gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advancing a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information.

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

a first live casino gaming table;

a gaming controller;

memory;

means for controlling a wager-based game played at the first gaming table;

means for enabling a first active game session to be conducted at the first gaming table;

means for automatically detecting a first gesture by a first person at the first gaming table, wherein the first gesture includes at least one gesture selected from a group consisting of;

the first player'"'"'s physical movements, the first player'"'"'s verbal instructions, the first casino employee'"'"'s physical movements, the first casino employee'"'"'s verbal instructions, and wagering activity conducted by the first player which occurs outside of officially designated wagering zones at the gaming table;

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

generating gesture interpretation information relating to the interpretation of the first gesture; and

advancing a state of the first game session using at least a portion of the gesture interpretation information.