Automated multiplayer game table with unique image feed of dealer

• US 8,272,958 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Philip Stephen, MacKenna, Ezra Christopher, Bush, Donald T., Savage, Daymon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US10/764,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,165 Days
• Field of Search: 463 11- 13, 463 31- 33
• US Class Current: 463/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A method and apparatus are used to simultaneously display a virtual dealer and a dynamic visual background image in connection with a multi-player video platform simulating and effecting play of a casino table card game. The dealer imagery is in the foreground and the background is behind the dealer. The background is either a live video feed from the casino, live feed from another location or event or pre-recorded image sequences. The various videos are keyed or masked and layered together using known video production technology.

Claims

1. An automated wagering gaming event system, comprising:

at least two distinct video displays, a first dealer video display for showing a dealer in a card game and at least a second video display showing playing cards provided to individual players;

at least one processor for enabling play of the automated wagering gaming event system;

a live camera feeding live video data to the at least one processor;

multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the card game;

wherein the at least one processor is connected to at least two distinct feeds of video information so that the at least one processor is fed at least two different multiple video images and merges the at least two multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background,

the at least one processor having a feed from a live video image from a live camera that is one of at least two distinct feeds that is merged and provides a background component for a video feed of the image of the dealer that is virtually merged on the first dealer video display screen to show a dealer with a live video image background.

2. The automated wagering game event system of claim 1, wherein a picture-in-picture image is positioned into at least one of the first dealer video display or the second video display.

3. The automated wagering gaming event system of claim 1, wherein a multiple number of background images are stored in files and the files are connected through a feed into the at least one processor for a dealer foreground image and are available for feed into the first dealer video display, wherein at least one background image is a dynamic background image.