Electronic player interaction area with player customer interaction features

• US 7,794,324 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everi Games Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pokertek Incorporated
• Inventors: Crawford, James T. III, White, Gehrig Henderson
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/073,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 463 10- 13, 463 16- 22, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 42, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/142.B, 273/142.A, 273/142.J, 273/148.A, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/149.P, 273/149.R, 273/274, 273292-293, 273/304, 273/306, 273/309
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A system and method for providing an electronic card game of the present invention includes a table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas (EPIAs) located around the playing surface. Each electronic player interaction area is designed to provide a player interface for interaction with one of the players. A wager options buttons, such as “Raise”, “Fold”, and “Check” buttons are defined in each EPIA to allow the players to make pre-selected wagering action in advance as the electronic card game proceeds. A game computer is coupled to the plurality of EPIAs for administering the electronic card game and for determining when the player is allowed to activate on of the wager options buttons.

Claims

1. An electronic card table for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players, comprising:

a table having a table top with a playing surface;

a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top, the plurality of electronic player interaction areas being configured to be used by a plurality of players,

a wagering interface provided by each electronic player interaction area, the wagering interface being configured to allow the player to send an initial wagering action from the electronic player interaction area at a time that is during a hand of the electronic card game and prior to the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in a betting round of the hand of the electronic card game, and

a network including a game computer coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas, the game computer being configured to administer at least the betting round of the hand of the electronic card game, comprising the game computer being configured to determine when the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round occurs, wherein

during the betting round of the hand of the electronic card game the game computer responds to the initial wagering action sent by the player by

storing the initial wagering action in the game computer and thereby allowing the player to proceed with the initial wagering action, and

allowing the player to select a wagering action other than the initial wagering action at a time that is during the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round of the hand of the electronic card game and after the time that is prior to the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round of the hand of the electronic card game, and the game computer is operative so that

at the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round, the betting round proceeds, on behalf of the player, with the initial wagering action, rather than the wagering action other than the initial wagering action, if the player selects the initial wagering action prior to the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round and thereafter the player takes no further action upon the electronic card table until after completion of the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round, wherein the player taking no further action upon the electronic card table until after completion of the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round comprises the player not selecting the wagering action other than the initial wagering action before completion of the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round, and

the betting round proceeds, on behalf of the player, with the wagering action other than the initial wagering action, rather than the initial wagering action, if the player selects the wagering action other than the initial wagering action before completion of the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round, wherein the completion of the player'"'"'s turn to make a wagering action in the betting round occurs at least by completion of the hand of the electronic card game.

2. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 1, including a wager selection area defined in each electronic player interaction area being visible to the player as the player activates the wager selection area thereby allowing the player to make the initial wagering action.

3. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 2, including at least one game button defined in the wager selection area being visible to the player, the wager selection area being configured to allow the player to activate the at least one game button thereby signaling a game play decision to the game computer.

4. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one game button comprises three game buttons.

5. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least one game button is dimmed when the at least one game button appears in a non-activated mode.

6. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least one game button is highlighted when the at least one game button appears in an activated mode.

7. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the three game buttons comprise a fold button, a call button, and a raise button.

8. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the game computer animates at least one electronic playing card by displaying an animation sequence designed such that a corner of the playing card appears to bend in an upward direction revealing the at least a portion of the front side of the playing card.

9. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 8, wherein three game buttons are implemented below the at least one electronic playing card as the corner of the playing card appears to bend in an upward direction revealing the at least a portion of the front side of the electronic playing card.

10. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the game computer animates the electronic playing card by displaying an animation sequence designed such that the at least the portion of the front side of the playing card is displayed in a wiping motion.

11. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the game computer in administering the electronic card game administers at least two of the betting rounds.

12. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the electronic player interaction areas are touchscreen displays.