Augmented reality wagering game system

• US 8,002,619 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B., Pace, Mark C., Sylla, Craig J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US12/160,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/16, 463/25, 463/20, 273/149.R, 345/8
• US Class Current: 463/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

Augmented reality wagering game systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes presenting a first set of markings on a wagering game table, where the first set of markings is associated with a basic wagering game. The method can also include detecting an event associated with the basic wagering game. In one embodiment, after detecting the event, the method calls for presenting a second set of markings on the wagering game table, where the second set of markings is associated with a bonus wagering game.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting a game play experience at a wagering game table including a physical table surface and tangible game pieces played on the physical table surface, the method comprising:

projecting, via a presentation unit, a first set of markings onto the table surface, the first set of markings used in combination with at least a first tangible game piece for game play of a live-action wagering table game;

detecting, via an event detector, an event occurring in the table game, wherein the event is caused by an autonomous game participant;

recognizing the event, via an event processing unit, as one of a plurality of pre-defined events associated with the table game, wherein one or more of the pre-defined events are bonus-triggering events;

after detecting the event, and if the detected event is recognized to be a bonus-triggering event, projecting, via the presentation unit, a second set of markings to replace the first set of markings on the table surface, and the second set of markings used in combination with at least a second tangible game piece for game play of a bonus wagering game, and wherein input from the game participant during the bonus wagering game is detected and, if recognized as one of the plurality of pre-defined events, sent back to the presentation unit for further presentation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting wagers placed on the bonus wagering game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of markings are presented using a projector that is spaced apart from the wagering game table.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after detecting the event, and if the detected event is not recognized to be a bonus-triggering event, allowing the live-action table game to continue without augmentation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the live-action table game is selected from the group consisting of poker, black jack, and baccarat.

6. A gaming system comprising:

at least one presentation unit;

at least one event detector;

at least one event processing unit operating with the at least one presentation unit and the at least one event detector to;

detect an event occurring in a wagering game, the wagering game being conducted by autonomous game participants using tangible game pieces and a physical game table, wherein the event is caused by at least one of the autonomous game participants and is associated with the tangible game pieces;

using the at least one presentation unit, project one or more images on the game table in response to the detected event, wherein the one or more images are used in combination with the tangible game pieces for game play; and

continue the wagering game as augmented by the one or more projected images, wherein another event caused by at least one of the autonomous game participants during the continued wagering game is detected and sent back to the at least one presentation unit for further presentation.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the at least one presentation unit comprising a projector that is spaced apart from the physical game table.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the at least one presentation unit presents an image including a numerical representation of a wager, detected via the at least one event detector, onto the physical game table.

9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein an image including a numerical representation of a wager, detected via the at least one event processor, is presented on at least one of the tangible game pieces.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the tangible game pieces is a casino token.

11. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the wagering game is selected from the group consisting of poker, black jack, and baccarat.

12. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the tangible game pieces include playing cards.

20. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the at least one event processing unit detects a wager associated with the wagering game by detecting one or more physical wagering tokens on the physical game table.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one event processing unit is further operable to determine a total value of the one or more physical wagering tokens for a player and project the total value on the physical game table on or near the physical wagering tokens.

13. A gaming system for augmenting game play of a wagering table game that is controlled independently from the gaming system, the wagering table game including a physical table surface and tangible game pieces played on the physical table surface, the system comprising:

at least one event detector operable to detect an event occurring proximal to the table surface, wherein the detected event is caused by an autonomous table game participant;

at least one event processing unit;

at least one presentation unit operable to project images of a plurality of supporting game elements onto the table surface, wherein the images are used in combination with the tangible game pieces for the game play;

at least one memory device having a plurality of stored instructions which, when executed by the at least one event processing unit, cause the at least one event processing unit to operate with the at least one event detector and the at least one presentation unit to;

recognize the detected event as one of a plurality of pre-defined events associated with the table game;

interpret the detected event in accordance with the plurality of stored instructions; and

in response to the detected event, project one or more of the images of the plurality of game elements onto the table surface to be used for the game play, and wherein input from the game participant during the game play is recognized, interpreted, and sent back to the presentation unit for further presentation, as determined by one or more of the stored instructions.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, further comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver operable to receive wagering table game information; and

a display operable for presenting the wagering table game information.

15. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one event detector is an optical device.

16. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one presentation unit is separate from and spaced apart from the physical table surface on which the images are projected.

17. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the projected images are integrated with non-projected images on the physical table surface such that both the projected and non-projected images are used for the game play.

18. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one event detector includes a radiofrequency receiver operable to receive signals from one or more tangible game pieces used in the wagering table game.

19. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one presentation unit is further operable to present game information transmitted from the one or more tangible game pieces.