Gaming system including a gaming table and a plurality of user input devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10249131-B2
Application number	US-201715499147-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2017
Priority date	Oct 2, 2008
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

Intelligent gaming tables and methods of providing game play through the gaming tables are described herein. The gaming table includes a table having a table surface, a plurality of player stations, and a common display configured to display gaming content to a plurality of players. The gaming table further includes an interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user input devices. The gaming table includes a gaming controller. The gaming controller is configured to communicate with the plurality of user input devices through the interface, receive location information relating to touches or contacts detected on the table surface, analyze the information relating to the touches or contacts, identify a user performing each of the touches or contacts with the table surface, and implement player input instructions contained within the information relating to the touches or contacts.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic table comprising:
a base;
a display device supported by the base;
a plurality of player positions associated with a plurality of machine-readable codes;
a communication system supported by the base; and
a controller supported by the base and configured to:
establish wireless communication with a user device via the communication system;
receive, from the user device and via the communication system, data representing a first machine-readable code of the plurality of machine-readable codes;
associate the user device with a first player position based on the first machine-readable code represented by the received data; and
cause the user device to display content.

2. The electronic table of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display device to display one or more of the plurality of machine-readable codes.

3. The electronic table of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to associate the user device with the first player position in part in response to the user device reading the first machine-readable code.

4. The electronic table of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, after establishing communication with the user device, monitor a distance of the user device from the electronic table.

5. The electronic table of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to, after establishing communication with the user device, enable the user device to perform a first function when the user device is within a designated distance of the electronic table and prevent the user device from performing the first function when the user input is not within the designated distance of the electronic table.

6. The electronic table of claim 5 , wherein the first function includes an ability to display the content.

7. The electronic table of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to send to the user device and via the communication interface data to cause the user device to change its operating mode.

8. The electronic table of claim 7 , wherein the data comprises an identification of a game mode for which the controller is currently configured.

9. The electronic table of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive location information relating to a location of a detected contact between the user device and the display device, perform a first action responsive to determining that the location of the detected contact is a first location, and perform a second action responsive to determining that the location of the detected contact is a second location different from the first location.

10. The electronic table of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
increase a credit balance of a player associated with the user device in part in response to the user device reading a second machine-readable code of a ticket.

11. The electronic table of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to establish communication with a server via the communication system and to increase the credit balance of the player in part in response to an instruction received from the server.

12. A method of operating an electronic table comprising a base, a display device supported by the base, a plurality of player positions associated with a plurality of machine-readable codes, a communication system supported by the base, and a controller supported by the base, the method comprising:
establishing, by the communication system, wireless communication with a user device;
receiving, from the user device via the communication system, data representing a first machine-readable code of the plurality of machine-readable codes;
associating, by the controller, the user device with a first player position based on the first machine-readable code represented by the received data; and
causing, by the controller, the user device to display content.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising causing, by the controller, the display device to display one or more of the machine-readable codes.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein associating, by the controller, the user device with the first player position comprises associating, by the controller, the user device with the first player position in part in response to the user device reading the first machine-readable code.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising monitoring, by the controller and after establishing communication with the user device, a distance of the user device from the electronic table.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, after establishing communication with the user device, enabling, by the controller, the user device to perform a first function when the user device is within a designated distance of the electronic table and preventing, by the controller, the user device from performing the first function when the user input is not within the designated distance of the electronic table.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first function includes an ability to display content.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising increasing, by the controller, a credit balance of a player associated with the user device in part in response to the user device reading a machine-readable code of a ticket.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising establishing, by the communication system, communication with a server and increasing, by the controller, the credit balance of the player in part in response to an instruction received from the server.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending, to the user device and via the communication interface, data to cause the user device to change its operating mode.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the data comprises an identification of a game mode for which the controller is currently configured.

22. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving, by the controller, location information relating to a location of a detected contact between the user device and the display device; performing, by the controller, a first action responsive to determining that the location of the detected contact is a first location; and performing, by the controller, a second action responsive to determining that the location of the detected contact is a second location different from the first location.

Assignees

• Igt Reno Nev

Inventors

• Nguyen Binh T
• Rowe Richard E
• Nicely Mark C
• Wolf Bryan D
• Underdahl Brian

Classifications

• G07F17/322 Primary

  Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• G07F17/3251

  involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens · CPC title

• G07F17/3218

  wherein at least part of the system is portable · CPC title

• G07F17/3262

  Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played · CPC title