Head tracking in community wagering games

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9342948-B2
Application number	US-201313791000-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Sep 12, 2012
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

Some embodiments include a method for conducting a multi-player wagering game. The method can include determining, by at least on processor, a head position of a player of the multi-player wagering game. The method can also include determining, based on the head position, a viewable portion of a virtual object used in the multi-player wagering game, and causing presentation of the viewable portion of the virtual object.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for presenting a shared virtual object in a community wagering game presented on a plurality of wagering game machines, the method comprising:
determining, by a movement tracking sensor, a head position of a first player of the community wagering game;
determining, by a location tracking device, a location of a first wagering game machine of the plurality of wagering game machines, wherein the first wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of wagers in the community wagering game;
determining, based on the head position of the first player and the location of the first wagering game machine, a viewable portion of the shared virtual object on which to present a first portion of a plurality of symbols that pertain to a first outcome for the community wagering game pertinent to the first player; and
causing the first portion of the plurality of symbols of the shared virtual object to be presented on a first display device of the first wagering game machine, without causing at least one symbol from a second portion of the plurality of symbols to be presented on the first display device, wherein the second portion of the plurality of symbols pertain to a second outcome for the community wagering game associated with a second player, and wherein the second outcome is a different outcome from the first outcome.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the community wagering game is a card game, and wherein the shared virtual object is a card of the card game.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the head position further comprises:
analyzing video content captured by a camera.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving player input indicating interaction with the shared virtual object on a display screen of the first display device; and
determining, based in part on the interaction with the shared virtual object, a result for the community wagering game.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shared virtual object is a graphical representation of a physical object.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the plurality of symbols are concurrently presented on a second display device of a second wagering game machine for the second outcome without at least one symbol from the first portion of the plurality of symbols being presented via the second display device.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by at least one processor of a first wagering game machine and a second wagering game machine cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
generating a shared virtual object as part of a community wagering game involving a first player and a second player;
determining, via one or more location tracking sensors, a first head position of the first player at the first wagering game machine residing at a first location, wherein the first wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of wagers in the community wagering game;
determining, a second head position of the second player at the second wagering game machine residing at a second location;
determining, based on the first head position and the second head position, a first viewing field for the first player and a second viewing field for the second player;
determining, based on the first viewing field and the first location, a first portion of the shared virtual object on which to present a first portion of a plurality of symbols that pertain to a first outcome for the community wagering game pertinent to the first player;
causing, as part of the community wagering game, presentation of the first portion of the plurality of symbols on the first portion of the shared virtual object by a first wagering game; and
causing, as part of the community wagering game, presentation of a second portion of the plurality of symbols on a second portion of the shared virtual object by the second wagering game machine, wherein the second portion of the plurality of symbols pertain to a second outcome for the community wagering game associated with the second player, and wherein the second outcome is a different outcome from the first outcome.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the first viewing field enables the first player to see information affecting a result of the community wagering game.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the first viewing field is captured by a virtual camera directed at the shared virtual object.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , said operations further comprising:
receiving, from the first player, input indicating selection of a game element appearing on the shared virtual object;
determining a result for the selection of the game element; and
providing the result for presentation to the first player and the second player.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the first viewing field and the second viewing field are limited based on rules of the community wagering game.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , said operations further comprising:
causing the presentation of the first portion of the plurality of symbols on the first portion of the shared virtual object by the first wagering game, wherein at least one symbol from the second portion of the plurality of symbols is not presented on the first portion of the shared virtual object; and
causing the presentation of the second portion of the plurality of symbols on the second portion of the shared virtual object by a second wagering game wherein at least one symbol from the first portion of the plurality of symbols is not presented on the second portion of the shared virtual object.

13. A method for presenting, via a gaming system, a shared virtual object as part of a community wagering game, the method comprising:
determining, via one or more location sensing devices of the gaming system, a location of a first wagering game machine associated with the community wagering game, wherein the first wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of wagers in the community wagering game;
determining, based on the location of the first wagering game machine, a first viewable portion of the shared virtual object on which to present a first portion of a plurality of symbols that pertain to a first outcome for the community wagering game pertinent to the first wagering game machine;
causing, as part of the community wagering game, presentation of the first portion of the plurality of symbols via the first viewable portion of the shared virtual object on a first display device of the first wagering game machine without causing at least one symbol from a second portion of the plurality of symbols to be presented on the first display device;
determining, based on a location of a second wagering game machine associated with the community wagering game, a second viewable portion of the shared virtual object on which to present a second portion of the plurality of symbols that pertain to a second outcome for the community wagering game pertinent to the second wagering game machine; and
causing, as part of the community wagering game, presentation of the second portion of the plurality of symbols via the second viewable portion of the shared virtual object on a second display device of the second wagering game machine without causing

Assignees

• Wms Gaming Inc
• Bally Gaming Inc

Inventors

• Aoki Dion K
• Kelly sean p
• Massing Scott A
• Smith Pamela S
• Vann Jamie W

Classifications

• G07F17/3209

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• G07F17/3293

  Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack · CPC title

• G07F17/3206 Primary

  Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics · CPC title

• G07F17/3204 Primary

  Player-machine interfaces · CPC title