U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,985

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although various implementations of the disclosure are described with reference to games of Internet poker, the disclosure is not so limited. Implementations may be directed to other online games in which hands of cards are played. Additionally or alternatively, the disclosure may be implemented in relation to other or additional online environments, including but not limited to other or additional internets, intranets and/or computing environments.

It has been observed that people who play poker and other games frequently enjoy playing at a table with the same opponents over multiple hands of a game. In this way the players can come to understand their opponents' betting and playing habits. Poker games can tend to be battled, after several rounds of betting and examination of hands, by two or three players “seeing all streets” and having a “showdown.” Meanwhile, however, the players who have “folded” their cards typically must sit and wait for a hand to complete. This can be a boring wait.

One embodiment of a system for providing game play is indicated generally inFIG. 1by reference number20. The system20includes one or more processors24configured with one or more memories28. A single processor24and memory28are shown inFIG. 1. The processor24is capable of communicating via the Internet32with a plurality of user devices36, e.g., personal computers of a plurality of users of the system20. It should be noted generally that various types of processors, memory and/or networking elements could be used, including but not limited to various computers, servers, routers, storage devices, computer-based phones, computer tablets, etc. Those knowledgeable in the art will appreciate that many devices and combinations thereof are possible in various embodiments of the disclosure.

In one implementation shown conceptually inFIG. 2A, the processor24and memory28are configured to include the users of the devices36as players at a table100in an online game and to provide cards104to the players for playing a first hand of the game. It should be understood that the number of cards104shown inFIG. 2Ais for illustrative purposes only, and that various games may entail the dealing and/or play of various numbers of cards. When a jump point is reached in the first hand as further described below, the system20provides, to at least the players no longer playing the first hand, cards104for playing a second hand at the table100, and also provides continued online access, by the players no longer playing the first hand, to view the play of the first hand.

Generally, a jump point happens in the course of a game when a set of predefined criteria are met to cause the play of a hand at a table to change into play of more than one hand at the table. Criteria for reaching a jump point can be predefined in various ways depending at least in part on the type of game being played. For a given game, logic for predefining and determining the occurrence of one or more jump points may be stored in the system20for reference by the processor24during play of that game. In some implementations, a jump point may be determined to have been reached when a number of players playing the first hand has decreased to a predetermined plural number. Additionally or alternatively, a jump point may be determined to have been reached when a predetermined number of players playing the first hand have committed to play (in other words, these players have not folded) in the first hand. Another possible jump point may be defined as occurring when all remaining players in the first hand have committed to play in that hand. Jump points may be triggered, for example, by players calling, checking and/or raising bets. Other possible jump points may determined at set points in a hand, e.g., when flop cards and/or turn cards and/or river cards have been dealt, at which point any player who had folded would be dealt into the second (next) hand. It should be noted that the possible criteria for defining and/or reaching jump points are many and varied.

By providing a player with at least partly concurrent hands within the same online table100environment, the system20can increase the time during which that player actively plays a game. For example, with reference toFIG. 2A, when players who have folded are waiting on other players to complete a hand, more cards104can be dealt to the players who have folded, who can continue to compete in another hand, e.g., instead of being bystanders. Where, e.g., a game at the table100is a ten-handed ring game, the following actions might take place. A seat110is a small blind seat, a seat112is the large blind seat, and action of interest begins at a seat116. In the present example, the player at seat116folds, the player at a seat120raises the bet to four times the large blind, and the rest of the players at the table100fold around to the player at the seat112who calls the action. At this point, if this were a conventional game, eight players would have to wait until the two remaining players at seats112and120have completed the pot. In the present example, however, in various implementations of the disclosure a “jump point” has been reached. The two remaining players at seats112and120are included, e.g., in a sub-table130at which all ten players can observe the play, and at least the eight “folded” players are dealt a new hand of cards. Thus the action of the game may continue, regardless of various choices made by the players.

Generally, users may individually and initially select and set options to (a) continue playing a hand at a “sub-table” of the table100and/or (b) play a new hand at the table100(which may be referred to in the disclosure and claims as the “main table”100). There could be virtually any number of sub-tables active at any particular time. There also could be virtually any number of players at a sub-table, depending on the type of game and on the type of jump point that prompted the sub-table play.FIG. 2Billustrates a comparison of hands played sequentially in a conventional game and partially concurrent hands played in accordance with one implementation of the disclosure. Sequentially played hands160take longer to play in real time compared to hands170played partially concurrently.

A flow diagram of one implementation of a method of providing game play is indicated generally inFIGS. 3A through 3Eby reference number200. The method200may be performed, e.g., by the system20. An example of a high-level logic flow is shown inFIG. 3A. In a process202a user of the system20selects personal settings for game play. For example, a user may select a play style (“PS”) setting and/or an auto fund (“AF”) setting. A PS setting determines whether a player wishes to be dealt into a new hand as he/she is still playing a hand at a sub-table of the main table100. If the PS setting is “Linear”, the player finishes the hand at the sub-table before playing in the new hand at the main table100(assuming that play in the new hand has not passed that player's position in the new hand.) If the PS setting is “Parallel”, a player in a hand at a sub-table will also be dealt cards in a current hand at the main table100, and the player may play both hands. If an AF setting for a player is “Yes,” that player's position in a hand at the main table100is protected if that player is still playing a hand at a sub-table. In such case the system20makes a deduction from the player's account to cover current play at the main table100, if necessary. The player typically is required to have enough funds in his/her online account to cover play.

Referring again toFIG. 3A, in a process204the system20deals cards to the players for a first hand of a poker game at the main table100. Play continues in a process206until it is determined in a process208that a jump point has been reached. In a process210a sub-table is created for players still playing in the first hand. In a process212a new main table (e.g., “second”) hand is dealt to all players in the game, including those playing at the sub-table. In a process214players at the sub-table continue to play out the first hand. The system20performs management functions as to players' active seats at both a sub-table and the main table100. For example, as sub-table play of the first hand proceeds, in process216the system20manages active seats at the main table100belonging to players at the sub-table. As play of the second hand proceeds at the main table100, in process218the system20performs management functions as to players at the sub-table who are also active players in the second hand at the main table100. Play of the first hand completes in a process220. Play of the second hand at the main table completes in a process222, after which a subsequent main table (e.g., “third”) hand is dealt in a process224. If a jump point is not reached in the third hand in the process208, then play of the third hand continues in the process206.

An example of a starting logic flow is shown inFIG. 3B. In a process226a user chooses to play a game in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. In a process228the user selects an option as to whether to auto-fund blinds from his/her online account if needed, as previously discussed with reference toFIG. 3A. In a process230the user selects a play style, e.g., whether to play in a Linear or Parallel mode as previously discussed. In a process232the system20stores the user's preference data, e.g., in memory28. In a process234the user plays a hand, e.g., of ten-handed Texas Hold'em at the main table100. Play continues until it is determined in a process236that a jump point has been reached. For example, a jump point may have been reached when two to four players at the main table100have, at a minimum, called the last bet. When it is determined that a jump point has been reached, in process238a sub-table is created that includes the players remaining in the main table hand. Sub-table logic is performed as further described below with reference toFIG. 3C. Additionally, in process240it is arranged for all “folded” players at the main table100to play a new main table hand. Main table logic is performed as further described below with reference toFIG. 3D.

Referring toFIG. 3C, play at the sub-table is continued in process242by the remaining players of the previous main table hand. In process244it is determined whether, for a given player at the sub-table, that player's seat at the main table100has been reached in play of the current main table hand. If yes, then in process246it is determined whether the player is playing in Linear or Parallel mode. If it is determined that the player is playing in Linear mode, then in process248the player's current main table hand is folded by the system20, and the player plays the sub-table hand to completion. In process250the player may join the next available hand at the main table100. If in process246it is determined that the given player is playing in Parallel mode, it is determined in process252whether the player wishes to continue playing the hand at the sub-table. If not, then in process254the player's hand at the sub-table is folded, and in process256the player may join the play of the current main table hand. If it is determined in process252that the player wishes to continue playing the hand at the sub-table, then in process258the player plays the hand at the sub-table to conclusion and also may play the current hand at the main table100.

Main table logic is performed as shown inFIG. 3D. In process260it is determined whether any players in the current hand at the main table have a “Missed Blind” button. If yes, then in process262the system20deducts a “Missed Blind” amount from each player who has been determined to have missed paying a blind. In process264a new hand is dealt to “folded” players from the main table hand and also to any “ghost” players still playing at the sub-table. In process266it is determined whether play at the main table has reached a “ghost” seat, e.g., of a player who is still playing at the sub-table. If yes, then in process268it is determined whether the “ghost” player is playing in Linear or Parallel mode. If the “ghost” player is determined to be playing in Linear mode, then in process270the system20folds the cards for the “ghost” player at the main table. If the “ghost” player is determined to be playing in Parallel mode, then right-to-play logic is performed as shown inFIG. 3Eand further described below. Control then returns to a process272in which a play clock is started. If in a process274it is determined that the “ghost” player did not bet in time at the main table, then in process276the system20folds the cards of the “Ghost” player in the main table hand. If the “ghost” player is determined to have bet in time, then in process278it is determined whether the hand at the sub-table is still in play. If not, then in process280the stakes at the main table are re-calculated for that player. In process282that player plays the hand at the main table in a normal manner. In a process284a new hand is dealt at the main table.

Referring now toFIG. 3E, it is determined whether a “ghost” player at the main table meets all conditions for playing in a hand at the main table. In a process302it is determined whether the player has enough money in his/her online account to cover any current sub-table exposure, i.e., amount of table stakes at risk of being lost by that player in the hand at the sub-table. If it determined that the player does not have enough money, then in a process304the system20folds the player's cards at the main table. If it is also determined in a process306that the player's seat is a “Blind” seat, then in process308the player receives a “Missed Blind” button. If it is determined that the player has enough money to cover exposure, and if it is also determined in process310that the player's seat is not a “Blind” seat, then the play clock is started in process272(shown inFIG. 3D.) If it is determined in the process310that the player's seat is a “Blind” seat, then it is determined whether the player has enough money in his/her online account to cover this blind. If not, then in process314the system20registers a blind overdraft to the player's online account and folds the player's cards at the main table. If the player does have enough money to cover the blind, then in process316the system20debits the player's online account by the amount of the blind and the play clock is started in process272(shown inFIG. 3D.) It should be noted generally that the order of various processes described above is exemplary and may vary in a given implementation. Additionally, unless otherwise stated in this disclosure, various processes may be performed substantially in parallel and not necessarily sequentially.

In various implementations of the disclosure, the integrity of a conventional game can be maintained, including but not limited to blinds, dealer buttons and “all-in” play. Strategic aspects of face-to-face poker play are retained to provide a canny player with the ability to compete at high levels of sophistication. Additionally, an action-seeking player is provided with the ability to see more hands per hour. For online poker operators, more hands-per-hour serves to increase both operator rake and player satisfaction.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.