Intelligent wireless mobile device for use with casino gaming table systems

• US 8,287,380 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh, Gum, Kevin, Griswold, Chauncey
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US11/515,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,237 Days
• Field of Search: 463 11- 13
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A technique is disclosed for facilitating play of a casino table game at a casino gaming table system which includes a casino gaming table and at least one handheld device. At least a portion of operations or activities relating to the casino game may be performed at a first handheld device. Examples of such operations may include electronically dealing a first card to a first player via the first handheld device, displaying a representation of the first card to the first player via a display at the first handheld device, etc. In at least one embodiment, an association between a selected handheld device and the first player station may be created and used for subsequent game play activities to enable the selected handheld device to be operable to display game play data relating to game play activities associated with the first player station. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the features of a selected handheld device may be enabled/disabled based on the detection of one or more conditions or events. According to specific embodiments, the handheld device may be adapted to provide various functionality for facilitating game play at a casino gaming table. Examples of such functionality may include, for example, allowing a player to select cards for discard/holding; allowing a player to perform wagering activities; retrieving and/or displaying player tracking data; retrieving and/or displaying player account data; displaying game play assistance information; displaying casino layout information; displaying promotional information; etc.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld device configured to facilitate play of a casino table game at a casino gaming table system, the casino gaming table system including a casino gaming table, the casino gaming table comprising a plurality of player stations, including a first player station, each said player station comprising an associated docking region, the handheld device comprising;

at least one processor and at least one interface configured to provide a communication link to the casino gaming table system;

the handheld device being configured to;

detect a presence of a first docking region at the casino gaming table;

identify the first docking region as being associated with the first player station; and

verify whether the handheld device has been authorized for communicating with the first docking region for facilitating game play activities relating to the first player station;

establish a pairing mechanism between the handheld device and the first docking region, wherein said pairing mechanism disables the handheld device from communicating with any other docking region at the casino gaming table during game play;

implement operations relating to game play activities associated with the first player station only after receiving enabling instructions from the casino gaming table system;

receive a first portion of card information from the casino gaming table, the first portion of card information including information which identifies a first playing card which has been dealt to a first player at the first player station; and

display a graphical representation of the first playing card on a first display of the handheld device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handheld device further comprises at least one motion detection sensor for detecting motion or movement of the handheld device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handheld device is further configured to:

receive configuration instructions from the casino gaming table for configuring the handheld device to not be operable to display other player card information relating to cards which have been dealt to other players at the casino gaming table.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handheld device is further configured to:

receive instructions for configuring the handheld device to be authorized for facilitating game play activities relating to a first specified player.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handheld device is further configured to:

receive input, including first game play instructions, from a first player associated with the first player station; and

transmit the first game play instructions to the casino gaming table.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handheld device is further configured to:

receive input, including first game play instructions, from a first player associated with the first player station;

verify whether the handheld device has been authorized for communicating with the casino gaming table for facilitating game play activities relating to the first player station; and

transmit the first game play instructions to the casino gaming table in response to a determination that the handheld device has been authorized for communicating with the casino gaming table for facilitating game play activities relating to the first player station.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handheld device is further configured to:

determine whether the handheld device is within a predetermined distance from a first component of the casino gaming table; and

disable at least one feature at the handheld device in response to a determination that the handheld device is not within the predetermined distance from the first component of the casino gaming table.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld device for use in a casino, the casino including a casino gaming table system, the casino gaming table system including a casino gaming table, the handheld device comprising;

at least one processor; and

at least one interface configured to provide a communication link to the casino gaming table system; and

the handheld device being configured to;

determine a current location of the handheld device within the casino;

automatically select an appropriate mode of operation of the handheld device, wherein the selection of the appropriate mode of operation is based at least in part on the determined current location of the handheld device;

automatically update a current mode of operation of the handheld device to the selected appropriate mode of operation; and

modify accessibility of user-accessible features of the handheld device in response to the updating of the current mode of operation of the handheld device to the selected appropriate mode of operation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein, in response to detecting that the current location of the handheld device is within a predetermined proximity to the casino gaming table, the handheld device is configured to;

automatically update a current mode of operation of the handheld device to a gaming table mode of operation;

receive instructions from the casino gaming table system for enabling the handheld device to implement operations relating to game play activities associated with a first player station at the gaming table;

receive a first portion of card information from the casino gaming table, the first portion of card information including information which identifies a first playing card which has been dealt to a first player at the first player station; and

display a graphical representation of the first playing card on a first display of the handheld device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the appropriate mode of operation is selected from a group of operating modes of the handheld device consisting of;

restaurant operating mode, theater operating mode, lounge operating mode, hotel operating mode, parking service operating mode, room service operating mode, entertainment operating mode, and sports book operating mode; and

said restaurant operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with restaurant related activities;

said theater operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with theater related activities;

said lounge operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with lounge related activities;

said hotel operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with hotel related activities;

said parking service operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with parking related activities;

said room service operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with room service related activities;

said entertainment operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with entertainment related activities; and

said and sports book operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with sport wagering related activities.

11. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein the handheld device is configured to detect when a prespecified condition is met, and automatically update a current mode of operation to a restaurant mode of operation only upon said detection, said prespecified condition relating to at least one of;

a current location of the handheld device;

identity of a current user;

user input;

system override; and

proximity to another handheld device, specified object, region, or zones; and

said restaurant operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with restaurant related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

displaying menu items and prices, displaying electronic coupons, displaying food or beverage reviews, and displaying food or beverage recommendations.

12. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein the handheld device is configured to detect when a prespecified condition is met, and automatically update a current mode of operation to a theater mode of operation only upon said detection, said prespecified condition relating to at least one of;

a current location of the handheld device;

identity of a current user;

user input;

system override; and

proximity to another handheld device, specified object, region, or zones; and

said theater operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with theater related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

facilitating purchase of tickets, displaying events, displaying showtimes, displaying program information, displaying event calendar information, displaying coming attractions, and displaying show previews.

13. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein the handheld device is configured to detect when a prespecified condition is met, and automatically update a current mode of operation to a lounge mode of operationonly upon said detection, said prespecified condition relating to at least one of;

a current location of the handheld device;

identity of a current user;

user input;

system override; and

proximity to another handheld device, specified object, region, or zones; and

said lounge operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with lounge related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

paging hosts, facilitating wireless ordering, and facilitating beverage service.

14. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein the handheld device is configured to detect when a prespecified condition is met, and automatically update a current mode of operation to a hotel mode of operation only upon said detection, said prespecified condition relating to at least one of;

a current location of the handheld device;

identity of a current user;

user input;

system override; and

proximity to another handheld device, specified object, region, or zones; and

said hotel operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with hotel related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

implementing room key functionality, facilitating room check-in or checkout, and facilitating room service orders.

15. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein the handheld device is configured to detect when a prespecified condition is met, and automatically update a current mode of operation to a parking mode of operation only upon said detection, said prespecified condition relating to at least one of;

a current location of the handheld device;

identity of a current user;

user input;

system override; and

proximity to another handheld device, specified object, region, or zones; and

wherein the parking operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with parking related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

displaying a location of a desired car, facilitating payment of parking or valet fees, and facilitating exchange of e-tickets, vouchers, or tips.

16. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein the handheld device is configured to detect when a prespecified condition is met, and automatically update a current mode of operation to a entertainment mode of operation only upon said detection, said prespecified condition relating to at least one of;

a current location of the handheld device;

identity of a current user;

user input;

system override; and

proximity to another handheld device, specified object, region, or zones; and

said entertainment operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with entertainment related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

displaying news stories or magazine articles, presenting streamed audio/visual content, downloading audio, and downloading video content.

17. The apparatus of claim 8:

wherein the handheld device is configured to detect when a prespecified condition is met, and automatically update a current mode of operation to a sports wagering mode of operation only upon said detection, said prespecified condition relating to at least one of;

a current location of the handheld device;

identity of a current user;

user input;

system override; and

proximity to another handheld device, specified object, region, or zones; and

said sports wagering operating mode enables the handheld device to implement operations associated with sports wagering related activities, including at least one activity selected from the group consisting of;

facilitating placement of wagers, displaying desired sporting event information, displaying desired sporting statistical information, and displaying historical information relating to sports wagering activities.