Gaming System with Mobile User Input Device

• US 20100087241A1
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark Carlton, Nguyen, Binh T., Rowe, Rick, Wolf, Bryan, Underdahl, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

One aspect is directed to a system whereby a live gaming table system is provided with one or more handheld user input devices which, for example, may allow multiple different players to simultaneously or concurrently provide wager input data and/or other data to the gaming table system. In at least one embodiment, the handheld user input devices may form part of a multi-player touch input interface system which is operable to identify or determine where, who, and what transactions are taking place at a multi-player gaming table and/or multi-player gaming system.

Claims

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

a gaming table system comprising;

a gaming controller, memory, at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in the gaming network, and a gaming table including a gaming table surface, the gaming table surface including displayed content;

a first handheld device operable to communicate with the gaming controller, the first handheld device including a first input interface operable to acquire information relating to a first portion of content which is displayed at the gaming table surface, the first handheld device being further operable to provide a first portion of the acquired information to the gaming table system;

the gaming table system being operable to;

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

receive the first portion of acquired information from the first handheld device;

determine, using the first portion of acquired information, a first portion of input instructions;

associate the first portion of input instructions with a first player at the gaming table;

identify at least one first action to be initiated on behalf of the first player for implementing the first portion of input instructions; and

initiate the at least one first action.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming table surface includes a first common wagering region, the first common wagering region being configured or designed to be concurrently accessible to multiple different players for placing one or more wagers at one or more locations of the common wagering region, wherein the first portion of input instructions include wager-related information, the gaming table system being further operable to:

process a first contact event record including a first portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a first contact between the first handheld device and the gaming table surface at a first location of the common wagering region; and

determine, using the wager-related information and the first portion of event information, instructions for placing a wager on behalf of the first player at a the first location of the common wagering region.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming table surface includes a first common wagering region, the first common wagering region being configured or designed to be concurrently accessible to multiple different players for placing one or more wagers, wherein the first portion of input instructions include wager-related information, the gaming table system being further operable to:

process a first contact event record including a first portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a first contact between the first handheld device and the gaming table surface at a first location of the common wagering region;

determine, using the wager-related information and the first portion of event information, player wager instructions for placing a first wager on behalf of the first player at a the first location of the common wagering region; and

wherein the at least one first action includes electronically placing the first wager on behalf of the first player, the first wager being associated with the first location of the common wagering region.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the gaming table surface includes a first common wagering region, the first common wagering region being configured or designed to be concurrently accessible to multiple different players for placing one or more wagers, wherein the first portion of input instructions include first wager-related information, the gaming system further comprising:

a second handheld device operable to communicate with the gaming controller, the second handheld device including a second input interface operable to acquire information relating to a second portion of content which is displayed at the gaming table surface, the second handheld device being further operable to provide a second portion of the acquired information to the gaming table system;

the gaming table system being further operable to;

process a first contact event record including a first portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a first contact between the first handheld device and the gaming table surface at a first location of the common wagering region;

determine, using the first wager-related information and the first portion of event information, player wager instructions for placing a first wager on behalf of the first player at a the first location of the common wagering region;

electronically place the first wager on behalf of the first player, the first wager being associated with the first location of the common wagering region;

receive the second portion of acquired information from the second handheld device;

determine, using the second portion of acquired information, a second portion of input instructions including second wager-related information;

associate the second portion of input instructions with a second player at the gaming table;

process a second contact event record including a second portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a second contact between the second handheld device and the gaming table surface at a second location of the common wagering region;

determine, using the second wager-related information and the second portion of event information, player wager instructions for placing a second wager on behalf of the second player at a the second location of the common wagering region; and

electronically place the second wager on behalf of the second player, the second wager being associated with the second location of the common wagering region.

5. The gaming system of claim 4:

wherein the first handheld device has associated therewith a first unique identifier; and

wherein the second handheld device has associated therewith a second unique identifier.

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

associate the first portion of input instructions with a user of the first handheld device.

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

identify the first portion of input instructions as originating from the first handheld device.

8. The gaming system of claim 1:

wherein the first portion of input instructions includes a first portion of player input instructions selected from a group consisting of;

game play related instructions and wager related instructions.

9. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first handheld device is further operable to perform optical read of wager related information displayed at a first region of the gaming table surface, and wherein the first portion of acquired information includes a first portion of the wager related information, the system being further operable to:

determine, using the wager-related information, player wager instructions for placing a first wager on behalf of the first player at the gaming table system;

wherein the at least one first action includes electronically placing the first wager on behalf of the first player at the gaming table system.

10. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first handheld device is further operable to perform optical read of machine readable data displayed on an electronic display.

11. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first handheld device is further operable to perform optical read of machine readable data displayed an object selected from a group consisting of:

a voucher, a coupon, a ticket, a wagering token, a credit card, a debit card, and a player tracking card.

12. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first handheld device is further operable to acquire, using a wireless communication protocol, a first portion of gaming related information which is associated with a first region of the gaming table surface.

13. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a controller;

memory;

at least one interface for communicating with a wager-based gaming system;

the handheld device being operable to;

detect an occurrence of a first contact event relating to a first contact between the handheld device and a first region of the gaming system;

acquire first wager-related information relating to a first portion of content displayed at a first region of the gaming system;

generate a first contact event record which includes first event information relating to the first contact event and the first wager-related information;

detect an occurrence of a second contact event relating to a second contact between the handheld device and a second region of the gaming system;

acquire second wager-related information relating to a second portion of content displayed at a second region of the gaming system; and

generate a second contact event record which includes second event information relating to the second contact event and the second wager-related information.

14. The wireless handheld device of claim 13 being further operable to provide to the gaming system, using a wireless communication protocol, the first event information and the second event information.

15. A method for operating a wager-based gaming system in a casino gaming network, the wager-based gaming system including a gaming table having a gaming table surface, the method comprising:

operating a first handheld device to acquire information relating to a first portion of content which is displayed at the gaming table surface;

providing a first portion of the acquired information to the gaming table system;

determining, using the first portion of acquired information, a first portion of input instructions;

associating the first portion of input instructions with a first player at the gaming table;

identifying at least one first action to be initiated on behalf of the first player for implementing the first portion of input instructions; and

initiating the at least one first action.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the gaming table surface includes a first common wagering region, the first common wagering region being configured or designed to be concurrently accessible to multiple different players for placing one or more wagers at one or more locations of the common wagering region, wherein the first portion of input instructions include wager-related information, the method further comprising:

processing a first contact event record including a first portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a first contact between the first handheld device and the gaming table surface at a first location of the common wagering region; and

determining, using the wager-related information and the first portion of event information, instructions for placing a wager on behalf of the first player at a the first location of the common wagering region.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the gaming table surface includes a first common wagering region, the first common wagering region being configured or designed to be concurrently accessible to multiple different players for placing one or more wagers, wherein the first portion of input instructions include wager-related information, the method further comprising:

processing a first contact event record including a first portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a first contact between the first handheld device and the gaming table surface at a first location of the common wagering region;

determining, using the wager-related information and the first portion of event information, player wager instructions for placing a first wager on behalf of the first player at a the first location of the common wagering region; and

electronically placing the first wager on behalf of the first player, the first wager being associated with the first location of the common wagering region.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the gaming table surface includes a first common wagering region, the first common wagering region being configured or designed to be concurrently accessible to multiple different players for placing one or more wagers, wherein the first portion of input instructions include first wager-related information, the method further comprising:

operating a second handheld device to acquire second information relating to a second portion of content which is displayed at the gaming table surface;

providing a second portion of the second acquired information to the gaming table system;

processing a first contact event record including a first portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a first contact between the first handheld device and the gaming table surface at a first location of the common wagering region;

determining, using the first wager-related information and the first portion of event information, player wager instructions for placing a first wager on behalf of the first player at a the first location of the common wagering region;

electronically placing the first wager on behalf of the first player, the first wager being associated with the first location of the common wagering region;

determining, using the second portion of acquired information, a second portion of input instructions including second wager-related information;

associating the second portion of input instructions with a second player at the gaming table;

processing a second contact event record including a second portion of event information relating to an occurrence of a second contact between the second handheld device and the gaming table surface at a second location of the common wagering region;

determining, using the second wager-related information and the second portion of event information, player wager instructions for placing a second wager on behalf of the second player at a the second location of the common wagering region; and

electronically placing the second wager on behalf of the second player, the second wager being associated with the second location of the common wagering region.

19. The method of claim 18:

wherein the first handheld device has associated therewith a first unique identifier; and

wherein the second handheld device has associated therewith a second unique identifier.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

associating the first portion of input instructions with a user of the first handheld device.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

identifying the first portion of input instructions as originating from the first handheld device.

22. The method of claim 15:

wherein the first portion of input instructions includes a first portion of player input instructions selected from a group consisting of;

game play related instructions and wager related instructions.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

operating the first handheld device to perform optical read of wager related information displayed at a first region of the gaming table surface, wherein the first portion of acquired information includes a first portion of the wager related information;

determining, using the wager-related information, player wager instructions for placing a first wager on behalf of the first player at the gaming table system; and

electronically placing the first wager on behalf of the first player at the gaming table system.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

operating the first handheld device to perform optical read of machine readable data displayed on an electronic display.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

operating the first handheld device to perform an optical read of machine readable data displayed an object selected from a group consisting of;

a voucher, a coupon, a ticket, a wagering token, a credit card, a debit card, and a player tracking card.

26. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

operating the first handheld device to acquire, using a wireless communication protocol, a first portion of gaming related information which is associated with a first region of the gaming table surface.

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

a gaming table system comprising;

a gaming controller, memory, at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in the gaming network, and a gaming table including a gaming table surface;

means for acquiring wager related information displayed at a first region of the gaming table surface,

means for determining, using the wager-related information, player wager instructions for placing a first wager on behalf of a first player at the gaming table system; and

means for electronically placing the first wager on behalf of the first player at the gaming table system.