Gaming system having user interface with uploading and downloading capability

• US 8,545,321 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Campbell, Kimberly M., Champagne, Christiaan R., Davis, Dwayne A., Elias, Hans, Ennis, Damien C., Myers, David N., Palmer, David M., Khamis, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US12/267,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A game table having a multiplayer interactive display/input device which enables multiple players to simultaneously play primary or base wagering games and/or secondary or bonus games using the display/input device. The display/input device enables multiple players to simultaneously interact with the gaming system, the game table and the various games using the same display/input device. The gaming system also enables use of a card that is encoded or encrypted with a tag (such as an radio frequency tag) that the cameras or readers of the game table can detect. The card interacts with the display/input device of the game table.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a game table having a single multiplayer display/input device; and

at least one processor configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to;

(a) identify a card which is placed on the game table, said card including a passive encoded pattern and wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to identify the passive encoded pattern,

(b) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to determine a position of the card on the game table,

(c) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to display a plurality of selections associated with the card in relation to the position of the card on the game table, said selections having a stored pre-determined relationship with the card prior to the card being placed on the table, wherein the card is one of a plurality of different cards, and different selections have different stored pre-determined relationships with the different cards,

(d) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to enable a player to input a pick of one of the displayed selections,

(e) determine if any predetermined awards associated with the card are to be provided to the player based on the selection picked by the player, and

(f) display any determined award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the card has a pre-determined relationship with a promotion and any said determined award is provided as part of the promotion.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the card is see through and the at least one processor is configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to display at least one of the selections under the card on the game table.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the card is see through and the at least one processor is configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to display at least one of the selections adjacent to the card on the game table.

5. A gaming system comprising:

a game table having a single multiplayer display/input device; and

at least one processor configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to;

(a) identify a card which is placed on the game table, said card including at least two passive encoded patterns and wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to identify the passive encoded patterns,

(b) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to determine a position and an orientation of the card on the game table based on a plurality of the encoded patterns,

(c) randomly select an award associated with the card from a plurality of possible predetermined awards associated with the card, and

(d) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to display any award resulting from said random selection associated with the card in relation to the position and the orientation of the card on the game table.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the card is associated with a promotion and any selected award is provided as part of the promotion.

7. The gaming system of claim 5, which requires a wager to be made by a player to perform the random determination.

8. The gaming system of claim 5, which does not require a wager to be made by a player to perform the random determination.

9. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the card is see through and the at least one processor is configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to display the selected award under the card on the game table.

10. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to display the selected award adjacent to the card on the game table.

11. A gaming system comprising:

a game table having a single multiplayer display/input device; and

at least one processor configured to operate with the multiplayer display/input device to;

(a) identify a card which is placed on the game table by a player, said card including a passive encoded pattern and associated with a promotion, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to identify the passive encoded pattern, wherein the card is at least partially see through,

(b) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to determine a position of the card on the game table,

(c) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to display a play of a promotional game relative to the position of the card and at least partially under the see through portion of the card on the game table without requiring the player to make any wager, and

(d) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to display any award resulting from said play of the promotional game to the player.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to display the play of the promotional game adjacent to the card on the game table.

13. A gaming system comprising:

a game table having a single multiplayer display/input device;

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

at least one processor configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device, the receiver and the transmitter to;

(a) display a play of a game, said game being one of a primary wagering game, a secondary game, and a promotional game,

(b) identify a communication device which is placed on the single multiplayer display/input device of the game table,

(c) after the play of the game, if the play of the game results in a designated winning outcome, enable the player to request to upload a first selected image from the play of the game representing the designated winning outcome, and if the player request said upload, after the play of the game, cause the transmitter to transfer first data representing the first selected image from said play of the game to the communication device for subsequent display by the communication device,

(d) cause the receiver to receive second data representing a second selected image which is stored on and electronically sent from the communication device to the receiver, and

(e) cause the single multiplayer display/input device to display the second selected image based on the second data.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein communication device is selected from the group consisting of:

a personal digital assistant, a digital camera, an email device, and a cellular telephone.

15. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein a passive encoded pattern is attached to the communication device, and the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to identify the passive encoded pattern.

16. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate with the transmitter to transfer data representing at least one of a plurality of selected images and a plurality of selected sounds from said play of the game to the communication device for subsequent display by the communication device.

17. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate with the transmitter to transfer data representing a plurality of selected sounds from said play of the game to the communication device for subsequent display by the communication device.

18. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate with the transmitter to transfer data representing at least one of the casino name at which the designated winning outcome occurred and a time at which the designated winning outcome occurred.