Game related systems, methods, and articles that combine virtual and physical elements
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hybrid game apparatus, comprising:
- at least one processor;
a gaming table playing surface configured to carry one or more physical elements placed thereon including at least one player identification card that has at least one machine-readable symbol on at least one surface thereof, the at least one machine-readable symbol which includes player identification data that identifies a respective player, the gaming table playing surface further configured to display one or more virtual elements thereon, at least a portion of the one or more virtual elements displayed at a specific location on the gaming table playing surface;
at least one emitter positioned beneath the gaming table playing surface and configured to emit light towards the specific location on the gaming table playing surface; and
at least one sensor positioned beneath the gaming table playing surface to receive the light emitted by the at least one emitter and reflected off of one of the physical elements carried directly on the gaming table playing surface at the specific location, the at least one sensor configured to optically acquire the player identification data that identifies the respective player from the received light emitted by the at least one emitter and reflected off of the at least one machine-readable symbol of the at least one player identification card only when the at least one player identification card is carried directly on the gaming table playing surface in the specific location on the gaming table playing surface where at least the portion of the one or more virtual elements are displayed, the at least one sensor communicably coupled to the at least one processor to provide the acquired player identification data thereto;
wherein the at least one processor is configured to access player specific data, including at least data indicative of an identifier unique to said player, from a database external to the at least one player identification card and stored in a nontransitory memory using the acquired player identification data and to cause a display of a portion of the player specific data, including the data indicative of the identifier unique to said player, on a region of the gaming table playing surface.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Physical objects may be employed with a virtual game layout to enhance wager and non-wagered based gaming. Displays subsystems may provide a changeable or selectable virtual game layout with demarcations appropriate to a selected game. A sensor subsystem may detect physical aspects of game related pieces (e.g., playing cards, chips, markers, dice, spinners, tokens, tiles) as well as media (e.g., identity media, financial media). All gaming functions may occur through interaction with a playing surface, as well as functions such as order food, beverages and services. Automated tracking of players, dealers and games may be realized along with bonusing and promotions.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A hybrid game apparatus, comprising:
-
at least one processor; a gaming table playing surface configured to carry one or more physical elements placed thereon including at least one player identification card that has at least one machine-readable symbol on at least one surface thereof, the at least one machine-readable symbol which includes player identification data that identifies a respective player, the gaming table playing surface further configured to display one or more virtual elements thereon, at least a portion of the one or more virtual elements displayed at a specific location on the gaming table playing surface; at least one emitter positioned beneath the gaming table playing surface and configured to emit light towards the specific location on the gaming table playing surface; and at least one sensor positioned beneath the gaming table playing surface to receive the light emitted by the at least one emitter and reflected off of one of the physical elements carried directly on the gaming table playing surface at the specific location, the at least one sensor configured to optically acquire the player identification data that identifies the respective player from the received light emitted by the at least one emitter and reflected off of the at least one machine-readable symbol of the at least one player identification card only when the at least one player identification card is carried directly on the gaming table playing surface in the specific location on the gaming table playing surface where at least the portion of the one or more virtual elements are displayed, the at least one sensor communicably coupled to the at least one processor to provide the acquired player identification data thereto; wherein the at least one processor is configured to access player specific data, including at least data indicative of an identifier unique to said player, from a database external to the at least one player identification card and stored in a nontransitory memory using the acquired player identification data and to cause a display of a portion of the player specific data, including the data indicative of the identifier unique to said player, on a region of the gaming table playing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A hybrid game apparatus, comprising:
-
at least one processor; a gaming table playing surface configured to carry one or more physical elements placed thereon including at least one coupon that has at least one machine-readable symbol on at least one surface thereof, the at least one machine-readable symbol which includes data, the gaming table playing surface further configured to display one or more virtual elements thereon, at least a portion of the one or more virtual elements displayed at a specific location on the gaming table playing surface; at least one emitter positioned beneath the gaming table playing surface and configured to emit light towards the specific location on the gaming table playing surface; and at least one optical sensor positioned beneath the gaming table playing surface to receive the light emitted by the at least one emitter and reflected off of one of the physical elements carried directly on the gaming table playing surface at the specific location, the at least one optical sensor configured to optically acquire the data from the received light emitted by the at least one emitter and reflected off of the at least one machine-readable symbol of the at least one coupon only when the at least one coupon is carried directly on the gaming table playing surface in the specific location on the gaming table playing surface where at least the portion of the one or more virtual elements are displayed, the at least one optical sensor communicably coupled to the at least one processor to provide the acquired data from the at least one coupon thereto; wherein the at least one processor is configured to access coupon specific data including at least data indicative of an identifier unique to said coupon from a database external to the at least one coupon and stored in memory to validate the at least one coupon, to redeem the at least one coupon by crediting a player account or virtually providing credits to a player at least during an instance of a game and to cause a display of data indicative of an identifier unique to said player along with a number of redeemed credits provided to said player or to said player account, on a region of the gaming table playing surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification