Many games depend on random numbers or on random events that add surprise, luck, and chance to games, such as throwing dice, spinning wheels, or drawing random cards. Traditional game pieces for generating the random outcome suffer from drawbacks of limited visibility and volatility. The limited visibility arises because traditional game pieces are often small: coins, cards, dice, and so forth, so that a larger audience may have difficulty seeing the actual random result. Volatility arises because a dealer or player may move the game pieces that generate the random result before all players or bystanders can register the results. The effort needed to see the random outcome and to follow the game with enough attention to avoid missing a result can add some strain to playing the game.
At a crowded craps table, for example, players and bystanders may not be able to see the thrown dice or may see them too late after they are handled again. For wagering games, the limitations imposed by particular local jurisdictions may add to the disadvantages of conventional random outcome generating pieces. For example, in a jurisdiction that allows bingo balls randomly selected by a mechanical blower, the balls are not easy to see at a distance and they often move before many players can see or check the results.
What is needed is a random outcome generating device that is comfortably visible and pleasantly interactive and controllable to persist the results long enough for all to see. Such a device may be recruited to provide many other display benefits in addition to generating random outcomes for rounds of a game. In addition, such a device may replace playing cards, mechanical shufflers, and reduce employee labor.
In one implementation, a digital random outcome interactive display (“droid”) consists of a visual display accessory for a gaming environment. The gaming environment may be, for example, a conventional or electronic game table in a casino. The droid can provide a random outcome for each round of a game being played. The random outcome may be displayed as virtual dice, coins, tiles, dominos, playing cards, numbered balls, a spinner, roulette wheel, or combinations of these and other such virtual game pieces. An example droid can directly generate the random outcome when actuated, or can convert a random outcome from real game pieces, such as dice, to a different random outcome in another form.
Droid devices may optionally be networked with each other to manage a progressive jackpot across multiple games and players, communicate identity of a winning player to multiple locations, broadcast an image, message, camera feed, video, sound, or television feed to multiple game locations, or administer side betting rounds and bonus rounds across multiple game locations. Droids networked with each other and a server may also provide interactive menus for services, food and drink, shopping, and Internet.
This summary section is not intended to give a full description of digital random outcome interactive displays, or to provide a comprehensive list of features and elements. A detailed description with example implementations follows.
Overview
As shown in
Each droid 100 may be attached to a surface (e.g., floor, table, wall) with a mounting device to fix an enclosure of the droid 100 above a horizontal surface used for playing a game. In one implementation, a droid 100 is embedded horizontally in a countertop or game top. A typical mount holds the visual display surface of the droid 100 in a vertical disposition, which may be adjustable for tilting in all directions or rotating about the mount.
In one implementation, a droid system is comprised of a number (e.g., two) of individual droids (e.g., 100 and 100′) communicatively coupled together and running innovative software together. The droid hardware can be mounted to any existing table 102, such as a Craps table. An important purpose of the droids 100 is to electronically select and display a chance or random outcome for each round of the game at hand, e.g., a dice roll, a roulette wheel spin, a sum of playing cards, and so forth.
Example Droid Configuration
In one implementation, an example droid 100 consists of a self-contained computing device unit with touch screen display and other components.
The example droid 100 includes computing-device components, such as a processor 200, memory 202, and data storage 204. A display controller 206 controls a visual display 208, which may also include a touch screen interface (user interface) 210, coupled with a user interface controller 212. Input received via the touch screen interface 210 may be processed by a security manager 214 (e.g., to apply logon or password functions) to prevent unauthorized change of droid settings.
The droid 100 may operate in multiple different modes, or may perform multiple functions simultaneously. A current configuration controller 216 includes stored mode schemas 218 and a mode selector 220 so that a user can select through the touch screen interface 210 how the droid 100 functions. Functions of the droid 100 may also be selected remotely when the droid 100 is connected to a network.
A random outcome engine 222 generates the random outcome events, and includes one or more random outcome programs 224 and a random number generator 226. Each random outcome program 224 includes programming, i.e., software, that controls the operation and graphics of the droid 100. For example, a first random outcome program 224 may display the random outcome with dice graphics, while a second random outcome program may generate a random outcome though multiple user interactions at the touch screen interface 210, displayed as dominos graphics. They random number generator 226 is typically a jurisdictionally approved routine or engine that is certified to generate a truly random numerical output.
Besides generating and displaying a random outcome though a random outcome program 224, the droid 100 may perform and offer many other functions within its selectable mode schemas 218. In one implementation, the droid 100 displays betting limits, as editable through the touch screen interface 210 or other user interface, on the visual display 208. A side bet engine 230 may offer secondary game options as an auxiliary to the main game being played. The droid 100 may also include a bonusing engine 232, to award an enhanced prize as an auxiliary to the main game being played, for which the droid 100 is generating random outcomes.
A jackpot engine 234 may administer a progressive jackpot between multiple instances of the droid 100, connected together for communication. A video stream engine 236 can enable one or more of the droids 100 to serve as video monitors to one of more game locations within a casino. A menus manager 238 may enable each droid 100 to offer various interactive menus, so that a user may order food and drink, casino services, or even shop or access the Internet.
A history manager 240 has access to a record of past recorded results 242, which may include the past random outcomes generated by the droid 100. In one implementation, droids 100 are communicatively isolated from the primary game activity for which the droid 100 generates random outcomes, except such communication as is signaled by a human user touching the touch screen interface 210. In another implementation, a droid 100 is communicatively coupled with the primary game activity that the droid 100 is generating random outcomes for, i.e., when electronic games are in play, and when communication between the electronic game and the droid 100 is desirable. In this case, the primary game activity may signal the droid 100 to generate a random outcome, or to perform another function, such as a side bet or a bonusing round when triggered by a circumstance of the primary game activity for which the droid 100 generates random outcomes. In this use of the droid 100, the history manager 240 may also display past results of the primary game, which may also be included in the recorded results 242.
A network interface 244 enables the droid 100 to connect with other droids 100 into a network. In one implementation, this network is a closed network of droids 100 only. In another implementation, only two droids 100, or limited number of droids, can connect with each other to provide redundant display of random results and graphics at a single game location or a single game table. In this case, the clone module 246 sets up the limited network through the network interface 244 and a master-slave selector 248 controls which droid 100 is master and which droid(s) 100 are passive redundant displays. One or more timers 250 may automate the generation of random outcome sequences. In one implementation, after a random outcome is displayed and an operator has resolved all wagers in a casino game, a simple touch of the touch screen interface 210 begins a new animated random outcome sequence.
The network interface 244 may also allow each droid 100 to connect to a standard network, e.g., an Ethernet, and/or the Internet, to provide advanced modes 218 and functions, such as progressive jackpots though the jackpot engine 234, broadcast of video to multiple droids 100 via the video stream engine 236, display of menus for ordering goods and services across multiple droids 100, and so forth.
Example Network Configurations
As just described, and as shown in
The example system in
Thus, the example droid 100, which typically includes its own computing device components, is networked with the server 300 and with other droids 100′ & 100″ to provide local random outcome results, side bets, and bonus rounds for its associated game table or game environment, and to optionally display a wide range of information from the server 300, such as progressive jackpots, advertisements, news, pay-per-view events, announcements, ordering menus, intercoms, schedules, custom images, animation, video; commercial broadcasts, Internet access, etc. The server 300 may also be another third party casino system to display other pertinent or casino-related data or information.
The master-slave selector 248 can enable an operator to select which units in a network of droids 100 can allow user input, and which are solely passive displays. In one implementation, a droid network can be managed from one “master unit” of from a select subgroup of “master units” without connecting to a non-droid computing device or server 300.
Supervisor privileges may or may not be allotted to each networked droid 100 via keyed access. The keyed access may consist of either a physical key, hardware, or a software key (e.g., a PIN or secret).
In another implementation, when intentionally networked with an electronic wagering game, the droid 100 typically becomes a passive recipient of game information for purposes of display only so that the security of the electronic game is not compromised.
Example Functions
In preferred embodiments, programming of displayable content is carried out through the self-contained touch screen interface 210 (or via a server 300, when networked). Images and video content for display can be uploaded through a port or downloaded via the network interface 244. In one implementation, the droid 100 may store a profile or configuration file of its displayable content and settings that can be transferred to other instances of the droid 100.
At a basic level of implementation, in which the droid 100 functions as a self-contained sign for an individual casino table 102 or game, the droid 100 can display an animated game logo, e.g., a custom logo or animation, and betting limits for a casino table game. Even as a standalone game table display, the droid 100 can also act as a promotion display and advertising device for the gaming establishment. The droid 100 includes the touch screen interface 210 which may enable the gaming establishment to access a system of GUIs that have logically related pages to enable an operator to program the visuals displayed by the droid 100 without having to resort to extra user interface devices, such as keyboard and mouse, to program the display. In other words, the droid 100 displays information and animated graphics and is fully programmable “on its face,” that is, via a user operating the front-facing touch screen interface 210 without requiring other equipment.
In one implementation, the droid 100 identifies a specific touch gesture on the face of the touch screen interface 210 to reveal and enable access to a security GUI for entering a secret, such as a key, code, or password authenticated by the security manager 214. The secret maintains security over the hierarchy of GUI pages and other functionality that enable editing or selecting displayable content. Typically, a user must be authenticated by the security manager 214 to select or change the programming. The gesture for revealing the security GUI need not itself be secure, and may consist of various finger motions, e.g., a sequence of finger motions along one or more sides of the touch screen interface 210 (for a single-touch implementation of the droid 100), or a combination of finger contacts and movements (for a multi-touch implementation of the droid 100). Once access is gained, the gaming establishment can access the betting limits editor 228 to change game limits and edit message areas to be presented on the display, or import custom graphics, e.g., for a promotional slide show.
In one implementation, the droid 100 is interactive in real time with an electronic game, albeit passively. That is, droid 100 can display game states and other information as the game is played in real time. For example, the media sign can display numbers drawn, cards dealt, card hands, dice rolled, bets wagered, winners and losers, stages of the game, jackpots, etc. In one implementation, the jackpot engine 234 of the droid 100 displays a progressive jackpot meter between multiple droids 100 at multiple game devices.
In one implementation, a game/movie pane or area of the visual display 208 of the droid 100 presents a custom graphic, logo, video, or animation. For example, a video may be stored and played on continuous loop, or the video may be streamed from an external source. In one implementation, the droid 100 displays one or more television channels on at least a part of the visual display 208. Thus, game players may watch television and/or videos while playing the casino game, or between rounds.
Example Random Outcome Programs
An example droid 100 may store or be programmed with multiple random outcome programs 224. Each random outcome program 224 can be executed by the processor 200 to implement a random outcome sequence for each round of a game. An example random outcome sequence consists of an animated representation of a shuffle, for example, and random distribution of virtual (digital) cards, or other game pieces, e.g., face down, or visually spinning until selected.
For example, a one-step option (not shown) simply shows the two virtual decks (green and red in
An example two-step option allows the shooter/player to roll two real dice (e.g., one green and one red) to determine which red and green cards are selected and exposed by the table operator to get an outcome total. In one version, a table operator executes the selection and initiation of an outcome, while in another version a selected player initiates the outcome total through a button at or near the player.
As introduced above, the initiation of the random outcome sequence can be controlled by the game operator, by a player, or can be fully automatic through the use of timers 250 (e.g., by selecting that option in a setup menu). For example, after a random outcome is displayed and the operator resolves all wagers, the operator may merely touch the touch screen interface 210 to begin a new animated random outcome sequence. The sequence may consist of an animated representation of a shuffle and the random distribution of the selected game pieces (dice, cards dominos, etc.) face down or otherwise hidden.
At least two types of play out modes, “automatic” and “player assisted” can be made available by a droid 100. If an automatic play out mode has been selected, then one of the randomly distributed game pieces is automatically selected and displayed as the final outcome. If the “player assisted” mode is selected, then the randomly distributed game pieces remain face down, visually spinning, or otherwise obscured, awaiting selection by the operator based on the player-supplied input information. The player-supplied input can be obtained from actual, real game pieces. The outcome of a real game piece, e.g., dice, can be used either for selecting a randomized virtual playing piece shown on the visual display 208 (e.g., designating a position or coordinates on the visual display 208), or by seeding the random number generator 226 of the droid 100 with the outcome from the real game piece(s). The random number generator 226 may be thus seeded, in “player assisted” mode, by outcome from real coins, cards, dice, dominos, numbered balls, spinners, roulette wheels, and so forth. A player or operator might roll dice, for example, to determine which pieces to reveal, or might simply telling the operator when to stop the visual spinning action of a virtual game piece shown on the visual display 208, or might directly indicate which piece with concealed identity to select. The player assist mode allows the player to be more involved with the game outcome process.
In the example random outcome sequence implemented by the random outcome program 224 suitable for California Card Craps, two top cards of two visual card stacks or decks may be selected and revealed. The outcome total is then displayed on the visual display 208 and history bar is updated by the history manager 240.
The revealed cards are then turned face down after a predetermined amount of time measured by a timer 250 or when the table operator touches the touch screen interface 210 e.g., in a location above the displayed table limits.
The two decks (e.g., one red and one green) may be cut and animated into two stacks of 12 each and then shuffled back into two 24-card decks. The shuffle animation may be repeated for a set amount of time or until the operator touches the screen above the table limits.
The table operator may touch the touch screen interface 210 to reveal both top cards or can touch each card individually to reveal one card at a time. The two revealed cards are displayed along with an outcome total message. When the table is closed an idle screen may displays the game logo.
In this implementation, as shown in
In
The operator then selects and touches the second corresponding die button on the visual display 208, selecting the associated column, which is highlighted and the domino at the intersection of the row and the column is selected, and enlarges. If the selection is correct, then the operator touches the representation of the large domino “16” and the selected virtual domino animates and enlarges to show the final outcome. In the game, the dominoes may represent both a dice outcome (dots), a number, and a color (red and black) roulette outcome.
The operator may then start a new random outcome sequence by touching the touch screen interface 210. The large domino from the previous action reduces in size, and all dominoes are shown. Then, the dominoes turn face down and animate off the screen. The displayed history outcome is updated. The visual display 208 shows 36 empty spaces as the dominoes begin to randomly re-populate the blank spaces until all 36 dominoes have been randomly distributed face down awaiting a new selection process.
Conclusion
Although exemplary systems and techniques have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed systems, methods, and structures.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/292,158 to Kuhn et al., filed Jan. 4, 2010, entitled, “Digital Random Outcome Interactive Display,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; and also claims priority as a continuation-in-part application to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/353,262 to Kuhn, filed Jan. 14, 2009, entitled, “Interactive and Programmable Media Sign and Graphical User Interface for Casino Games,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/115,544 to Krise et al., entitled, “Interactive and programmable media sign and graphical user interface for casino games,” filed Nov. 18, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61292158 | Jan 2010 | US | |
61115544 | Nov 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12353262 | Jan 2009 | US |
Child | 12984588 | US |