Masque Publishing, Inc.

Other

James M Wisler

John C Ridges

Anthony G Andersen

Werner W Willemse

Waldemar A Willemse

Charles W Spaur

Edward Lappin

Steven R Setlik

Donna J Adam

Jeff Chun-sheng Wu

A system having a plurality of interconnected controls is provided for playing multiple-wager casino card games using gaming tables found at one or more casinos. Both physical and electronic cards can be utilized, depending on game play outcomes. Information related to game play can be sent by one or more table controls to a master casino control and then to a system owner control. A token detection apparatus, which includes a particular one of the table controls, provides light for use in detecting whether or not a token is present as part of game play. The token detection apparatus also includes an emitter for use in outputting such light and a receiver for use in receiving returned light. A calibration process involving the emitter and receiver is used to ensure token detection accuracy. The token is used in making a progressive/fixed amount wager as part of playing the casino card game.

Multi-wager casino games with token detection

A system having a plurality of interconnected controls is provided for playing multiple-wager casino card games using gaming tables found at one or more casinos. Both physical and electronic cards can be utilized, depending on game play outcomes. Information related to game play can be sent by one or more table controls to a master casino control and then to a system owner control. A token detection apparatus, which includes a particular one of the table controls, provides light for use in detecting whether or not a token is present as part of game play. The token is used in making a progressive/fixed amount wager as part of playing the casino card game.

A card reading apparatus is provided for playing a casino table game identified as Down Under Blackjack&#x2122;. The apparatus includes a camera assembly, a computer, a housing assembly and a plurality of color indicators. The computer receives pixel-based image data from the camera assembly. This data is obtained from the dealer's down card during play of the game. The computer processes this data to output information related to a predetermined set of playing cards associated with the down card. Such output activates one of the color indicators corresponding to that particular predetermined set. The information associated with the activated indicator can be used by players in playing the Down Under Blackjack&#x2122; game. Use of the apparatus enables the game to be played using conventional playing cards.

Playing card reader

Video of players is used to monitor them while they are playing online games. Each player utilizes a user terminal that includes a camera. Video, such as a player's face, from each camera is sent during game play to an observer system that includes a monitor. An observer can view players' faces using the monitor in connection with the observer making decisions related to players' behaviors and ages in order to regulate player online game play. Players are able to generate reports regarding other players' behaviors and appearances, which are sent to the controller, for review by the observer. Information related to a player's behavior and/or appearance could also be automatically generated using a player's video.

Communications between an A/V communications network and a system

A peer-to-peer (p2p) communication system is provided. One or both of audio and video can be transferred among a number of user terminals in the p2p system. The user terminals include at least one master terminal. The master terminal controls video or audio, or both, transfers among user terminals. The master terminal is identified, based on a determined topology, using obtained information provided in a data parameters table. Each user terminal includes a control for processing video and/or audio that is sent/received by the user terminal. Such processing can include encoding/decoding of video and/or audio. The master terminal control can process the same video and generate different video data to be provided to different user terminals. Such different video data is a function of the communication paths between the master terminal and the different user terminals. The master terminal control can also process the same audio and generate different audio data to be provided to different user terminals. Such different audio data can be a function of virtual relative positions associated with the user terminals. Audio volumes can also be separately controlled by each user terminal, including turning off audio volumes associated with one or more other user terminals. Similar controls can be provided for identity-related video images. Video and/or audio can be transferred in an aggregate manner, such as when the master terminal sends audio originating from a number of user terminals to another user terminal. In one embodiment, the master terminal control includes a Flash Player already configured to communicate with numerous webcams. This p2p system can be utilized with online game playing in which a game server is included, as well as having other communication applications.

Peer-to-peer communications

A system having a plurality of interconnected controls is provided for playing multiple-wager casino card games using gaming tables found at one or more casinos. Both physical and electronic cards can be utilized, depending on game play outcomes. Information related to game play can be sent by one or more table controls to a central control through one or more casino controls for use in generating additional information. A token detection apparatus, which includes a particular one of the table controls, provides un-modulated light for use in detecting whether or not a token is present as part of game play. The token is used in making a progressive/fixed amount wager.

A communication system is provided that is preferably a peer-to-peer (p2p) system. One or both of audio and video can be transferred among a number of user terminals in the p2p system. The user terminals can include at least one master terminal, which could be an unhosted master terminal that does not communicate its own audio and/or video. In one embodiment, a first master terminal is included that controls video or audio, or both, transfers among user terminals and an unhosted second master terminal is provided that communicates with at least two user terminals to provide desired connectivity involving such user terminals in order to ensure proper audio and/or video communications between or among them. In another embodiment, an unhosted master terminal is provided with the communication system when the user terminals include mobile terminals in order to avoid power usage by mobile terminals. This communication system can be utilized with online game playing in which a game server is included, as well as having other communication applications.

Communications adaptable to mobile devices

Communication networks are established involving gaming machines, preferably slot machines. Each gaming machine has a card reader for obtaining player identity-related information using player identification cards and also has a number of communication related devices including a video screen. In forming a network, identity-related information from two or more player identification cards are accessed using the card reader of one of the machines. A menu and a number of screens are displayable using the machine's video screen to facilitate the establishment of communication networks, as well as control elements being displayed for use in controlling communications using the communication-related devices.

Gaming machines players' communications

A peer-to-peer (p2p) communication system is provided. One or both of audio and video can be transferred among a number of user terminals in the p2p system. The user terminals include at least one master terminal. The master terminal is identified, based on a determined topology, using obtained information provided in a data parameters table. Each user terminal includes a control for processing video and/or audio that is sent and/or received by the user terminal. The master terminal control can process the same video and/or audio and generate different video and/or audio data to be provided to different user terminals. Such different video data is a function of the communication paths between the master terminal and the different user terminals. Such different audio data can be a function of virtual relative positions associated with the user terminals. Audio volumes can also be separately controlled by each user terminal. Video and/or audio can be transferred in an aggregate manner, such as when the master terminal sends audio originating from a number of user terminals to another user terminal. This p2p system can be utilized with online game playing.

A communication system is provided that is preferably a peer-to-peer (p2p) system. One or both of audio and video can be transferred among user terminals in the p2p system. The user terminals can include at least one master terminal, which could be an unhosted master terminal that does not communicate its own audio and/or video. In one embodiment, a first master terminal is included that controls video and/or audio transfers and an unhosted second master terminal is provided that communicates with at least two user terminals to provide desired connectivity involving such user terminals. In another embodiment, an unhosted master terminal is provided when the user terminals include mobile terminals in order to avoid power usage by mobile terminals. This communication system can be utilized with online game playing in which a game server is included, as well as having other communication applications.

Blackjack and Blackjack-related card games are provided in which the speed of play is increased over the conventional ways these games are played. After the initial cards are provided to each of the players, determinations regarding the order in which players are to receive requested, additional cards are made using a control that communicates with terminals. The player who is determined to be the first to make a request for another card is provided the next additional card(s). Such determinations rely on requests generated by the players using input elements associated with their terminals. For each set of one or more additional cards being requested, one or more players make a request using the player's input element. A number of such sets of requests are typically made until all players are finished receiving requested cards. Accordingly, players do not need to wait until one or more other players have completed their game play before being able to receive their own additional card(s). The order related to being provided additional cards depends on the speed of input requests and not the positions of the players. The modified Blackjack and Blackjack-related games can be played at a table and online.

Faster play card games

A poker game that uses a five card hand in making certain determinations related to player payouts is provided. The game has one or more community cards that can be used by each player and, preferably also, by the dealer in deciding the best five card player and dealer hands. The player payouts can include a predetermined hand and higher payout and a bet payout. The predetermined hand and higher payout does not depend on whether the dealer hand is a qualified hand. The bet payout does depend on whether the dealer hand is a qualified hand. The community card by itself can also be used in determining a player payout.

Casino card games with one or more community cards

The playing of games with advertising over a network, such as the Internet, is provided. The system for on-line game playing and advertising includes one or more client machines, game servers with advertisement servers, together with at least one database server. One advertisement is displayed using the client machine immediately after a validated detection of the completion of the game is made by the game server. This advertisement is displayed using the client machine for at least a predetermined time interval during which the player is not provided with control for removing the advertisement. Another advertisement is displayed using the client machine at the time the game is being played using game elements, such as card backs and banners. Advertising data is stored related to each displayed advertisement including the identity of the advertisement, when the advertisement was displayed, and the reaction to the advertisement by each player playing the on-line game utilizing a client machine.

On-line game playing with advertising

Multiplayer card games capable of being played online using a communications network are provided. The card games are solitaire-related in that card plays are made to foundations using a number of different card piles. In one embodiment, each player uses a client that includes computer hardware and software for displaying the card layout for that player. The cards of the players of the same multiplayer card game, except for foundation cards, are different. Client and server software are utilized in controlling card plays to the foundations and regulate card movement as displayed using the computer screens of the clients. Certain card plays are disabled for a particular player until validation thereof is received using the server. Indication is provided on a particular player's screen related to the disabled card play. When the same card is played to the same foundation close in time by two or more players, a determination is made as to which player played first using the server software. Depending upon the results of this determination, client software can be utilized in illustrating on the display screen a return of a card that was just played to its origination position. Under such circumstances, the screen displays of the players illustrating these card movements for the particular card play are different.

Growing community of inventors

Lone Tree, CO, United States of America

James M Wisler