Poker playing system using real cards and electronic chips

• US 6,626,757 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pokermatic, Inc. (Lightning Gaming Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Oliveras R. Martin
• Inventors: Oliveras, R. Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463/25, 463/26
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a system for playing poker comprises: a central processing unit; a plurality of player consoles; a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting said central processing unit to each of said player consoles; said central processing unit being capable of enabling a particular player console so that said enabled player console may send wagering information to said central processing unit only while said particular player console is enabled; and said central processing unit being capable of simultaneously dis-enabling the other player consoles so that said other dis-enabled player consoles may not be able to send any wagering information to said central processing unit while said other player consoles are dis-enabled. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a system for allowing a plurality of players to play poker against each other at each of several poker tables comprises: a central processing unit; a main console; a dealer console and a plurality of player consoles being located at each such poker table; a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting each player console at each such poker table to said central processing unit; a plurality of second interconnecting means for connecting each dealer console at each such poker table to said central processing unit; third interconnecting means for connecting said main console to said central processing unit; each player console at each such poker table further comprising means controlled by said central processing unit for allowing each such player console at each such poker table to send wagering information relating to a check, fold, call, bet or raise to said central processing unit when such player console is enabled by said central processing unit, all other player consoles at such poker table being simultaneously dis-enabled by said central processing unit while such player console is enabled.

Claims

1. A system for allowing a plurality of players to play poker at a poker table, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of player consoles, said player consoles being distributed at such poker table in a manner to accommodate such players; and

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting said central processing unit to each of said player consoles;

wherein during a betting round of a poker hand said central processing unit responds to wagering information being sent by a particular player console; and

wherein during such betting round of such poker hand said central processing unit does not respond to any wagering information being sent by the other player consoles.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said player consoles further comprises display means controlled by said central processing unit for displaying wager action be it check, fold, call, bet or raise.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said player consoles further comprises display means controlled by said central processing unit for displaying an amount of money remaining in a stored account of each player.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said player consoles further comprises tipping means controlled by said central processing unit for allowing each winning player to tip the dealer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each player has a stored account and each of said player consoles further comprises credit means controlled by said central processing unit for allowing each player to credit his stored player account.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said player consoles further comprises terminating means controlled by said central processing unit for allowing each player to terminate play and to dis-enable his player console.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said player consoles further comprises display means controlled by said central processing unit for designating a button player console, a little blind player console, and a big blind player console at the beginning of each poker hand.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit computes and stores a rake amount earned by a casino at the end of each poker hand and deducts such rake amount from the final value of a pot at the end of each poker hand.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit computes and stores the cumulative value of all tips given to a dealer up to the end of each poker hand.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit computes and stores the cumulative value of all rake amounts earned by a casino up to the end of each poker hand.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit enables the player console following a big blind player console and dis-enables every other player console at the beginning of each poker hand.

12. The system of claim 1 also comprising a secondary central processing unit being responsive to said central processing unit for continually storing a value of a stored account for each player, the cumulative value of all tips given to a dealer, and the cumulative value of all rake amounts earned by a casino.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a dealer console at such poker table; and

second interconnecting means for connecting said dealer console to said central processing unit;

wherein said dealer console further comprises display means controlled by said central processing unit for displaying the value of a pot during each betting round of each poker hand.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a main console; and

third interconnecting means for connecting said main console to said central processing unit;

wherein said main console further comprises display means controlled by said central processing unit for displaying information relating to each new player, a buy-in amount of each new player, and an assigned seat of each new player.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a main console; and

third interconnecting means for connecting said main console to said central processing unit;

wherein said main console further comprises printing means controlled by said central processing unit for printing information relating to each new player, a buy-in amount of each new player, and an assigned seat of each new player.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a main console; and

third interconnecting means for connecting said main console to said central processing unit;

wherein said main console further comprises display means controlled by said central processing unit for displaying the cumulative value of all tips given to a dealer and the cumulative value of all rake amounts earned by a casino.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a main console; and

third interconnecting means for connecting said main console to said central processing unit;

wherein said main console further comprises printing means controlled by said central processing unit for printing the cumulative value of all tips given to a dealer and the cumulative value of all rake amounts earned by a casino.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein said dealer console further comprises means controlled by said central processing unit for allowing activation of each player console at the beginning of play of each assigned player at his assigned player console.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said dealer console further comprises printing means controlled by said central processing unit for printing information relating to each player and the final amount of a stored account of each player upon termination of play by each player.

20. The system of claim 13:

wherein each of said player consoles further comprises display means controlled by said central processing unit for visually indicating its position as button player console, little blind player console, or big blind player console at the beginning of each poker hand; and

wherein said dealer console further comprises means for causing said central processing unit to activate said button player console display, little blind console display, and big blind console display at the beginning of each poker hand.

21. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a main console; and

third interconnecting means for connecting said main console to said central processing unit;

wherein said main console further comprises activating means controlled by said central processing unit for activating said dealer console at the beginning of play at such poker table.

33. The system of claim 13:

wherein said dealer console further comprises card swiping means controlled by said central processing unit for accessing information relating to the dealer; and

wherein said central processing unit stores such dealer information, dealer log-in time, and dealer log-out time.

35. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said player consoles further comprises display means being capable of displaying a pending wager action and a pending wager amount at any given stage of a betting round, said information being displayed only at said particular player console at such given stage.

36. The system of claim 14:

wherein said main console further comprises card swiping means controlled by said central processing unit for accessing information relating to each new player; and

wherein said central processing unit stores such new player information.

37. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said player consoles further comprises touch-responsive display means being capable of sending wager information to said central processing unit.

22. A system for playing poker, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of player consoles; and

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting said central processing unit to each of said player consoles;

wherein said central processing unit is capable of sending a signal to enable a particular player console so that said particular player console may send wagering information to said central processing unit only while said particular player console is enabled; and

wherein said central processing unit is capable of sending signals to simultaneously dis-enable the other player consoles so that said other player consoles may not be able to send any wagering information to said central processing unit while said other player consoles are dis-enabled.

23. A system for playing poker, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of player consoles; and

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting said central processing unit to each of said player consoles;

wherein said central processing unit is capable of enabling a particular player console so that said enabled player console may send wagering information to said central processing unit only while said particular player console is enabled; and

wherein said central processing unit is capable of simultaneously dis-enabling the other player consoles so that said other dis-enabled player consoles may not be able to send any wagering information to said central processing unit while said other player console are dis-enabled.

24. A system for playing poker, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of player consoles; and

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting said central processing unit to each of said player consoles;

wherein during a betting round of a poker hand said central processing unit central processing unit responds to wagering information being sent by a particular player console; and

wherein during such betting round of such poker hand said central processing unit does not respond to any wagering information being sent by the other player consoles.

32. The system of claim 24 wherein said central processing unit tabulates and stores the number of poker hands played per unit time.

25. A system for allowing a plurality of players to play poker against each other at each of several poker tables, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of player consoled being located at each such poker table;

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting each player console at each such poker table to said central processing unit;

wherein each player console at each such poker table further comprises means controlled by said central processing unit for allowing each such player console at each such poker table to send wagering information relating to a check, fold, call, bet or raise to said central processing unit when such player console is enabled by said central processing unit, all other player consoles at such poker table being simultaneously dis-enabled by said central processing unit while such player console is enabled.

34. The system of claim 25 wherein said central processing unit assigns to each new player a poker table and a player console at such poker table in order to even out the number of players per poker table.

26. A system for allowing a plurality players to play a poker hand against each other at a poker table, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of modular player consoles each being removably attached to such poker table; and

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting each of said player consoles at such poker table to said central processing unit;

wherein each of said player console further comprises means controlled by said central processing unit for allowing each active player remaining in the poker hand to check, fold, call, bet or raise when said player'"'"'s console is enabled by said central processing unit;

all other player consoles being simultaneously dis-enabled by said central processing unit;

said central processing unit sequentially enabling and dis-enabling the player consoles of the active players remaining in the poker hand.

27. The system of claim 26:

wherein said central processing unit computes and stores information relating to an amount of money remaining in an account of each player; and

wherein said central processing unit retains said stored amount if the active player checks or folds; and

wherein said central processing unit deducts the amount of the call, bet or raise from said stored amount if the active player calls, bets or raises, respectively.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said central processing unit computes and stores information relating to said deducted amounts for computing the cumulative value of a pot.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein said central processing unit deducts a time amount earned by a casino per unit time from a stored stack account of each player.

29. A system for allowing a plurality of players to play poker at a poker table, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of modular player consoles, said player consoles being removably attached to such poker table and being distributed at such poker table to accommodate such players; and

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting said central processing unit to each of said player consoles;

wherein said central processing unit is capable of sending a signal to enable a particular player console so that said particular player console may send wagering information to said central processing unit only while said particular player console is enabled; and

wherein said central processing unit is capable of sending signals to simultaneously dis-enable the other player consoles so that said other player consoles may not send any wagering information to said central processing unit while said other player consoles are dis-enabled.

30. A system for allowing a plurality of players to play poker at a poker table, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a plurality of modular player consoles, said player consoles being removably attached to such poker table and being distributed at such poker table to accommodate such players; and

a plurality of first interconnecting means for connecting said central processing unit to each of said player consoles;

wherein said central processing unit is capable of enabling a particular player console so that said enabled player console may send wagering information to said central processing unit only while said particular player console is enabled; and

wherein said central processing unit is capable of simultaneously dis-enabling the other player consoles so that said other dis-enabled player consoles may not be able to send any wagering information to said central processing unit while said other player consoles are dis-enabled.