U.S. Pat. No. 8,968,098

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a novel solution which enhances and adds to the capabilities of currently available live online games, and discloses a landbased gaming terminals running live online games.

In a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention, a game manager or a game operator is playing a game in a predetermined location, preferably a gaming room. The game manager can be the dealer of cards in such games where cards are being dealt, or have another managerial or supervisory role in the game in playing. In other embodiments the game manager would be an operator of the game facilities necessary to have the game conducted in the setting described herein. In addition to the equipment required for the game, equipment for computerizing one or more aspects of the game is supplied at the gaming room, for example a scanner for scanning a card drawn by the game manager and computerized device for determining which card is drawn based on the scanned image. In the preferred exemplary embodiment, the location also comprises a capturing device such as a video camera, for capturing an image stream. The game manager is managing the playing of the game in a normal manner, while using the computerizing equipment to capture one or more aspects, such as presenting a drawn card to the said scanner. The camera, such as the video camera captures an image stream of the scene, and preferably transfers it to a computing platform present at the gaming room. The computing platform then transfers the compressed stream to a broadcasting server. Alternatively, the captured stream is transferred to the broadcasting server as is, and the broadcasting server performs the compression of the stream. Analogously, the information captured by the computerizing equipment and additional information related to the game is transferred to a game server. The game server and the broadcasting server can be co-located on the same computing platform, on separate computing platforms located on the same place or on geographically apart computing platforms. The game server and the broadcasting server comprise at least a communication device and a computing device to capture, store and send information associated with the said game. The broadcasting server and the game server send the video stream and the information, respectively, to one or more gaming terminals used by one or more players. The gaming terminals can be placed in any desired location, preferably remote, including casinos, gas stations, hotel lobby, shopping malls or anywhere else. Players accessing the terminals pay with any of the standard mechanisms accepted by the terminal including coins, bills, credit cards, vouchers purchased from a cashier, or the like. A player is preferably presented with one screen or window playing the video stream showing the game manager and possibly the additional information, and with a second screen or window showing an illustration of the current state of the game. The reference to screen or window is referring in the present application to a part of the graphical user interface shown to the player. The player plays the game by using suitable buttons, levers, handles, touch screen buttons or other mechanisms offered by the terminal or peripherals attached thereto, also through selection of one or more options associated with the game. Preferably, in an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention, the stream showing the game undergoes a compression or encoding process, either at the gaming room or at the backend, or at another location there between, and decompression or decoding, respectively, at the terminal. In a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention, if an operator operates multiple terminals in the same physical location, the video stream, whether compressed or not, is preferably transferred once from the broadcasting server to a landbased terminal, and then distributed from the landbased terminal to additional co-located landbased terminals, rather than distributed from the broadcasting server to each terminal separately. Yet, it is possible to transfer the stream to each terminal separately, in order to keep its independence and avoid shutdown of all the terminals if the server is malfunctioning. If the video stream is compressed, it can be decompressed at the terminal to which it is sent from the broadcasting server and transferred uncompressed to the additional servers. Alternatively, the stream is transferred compressed and decompressed only at a terminal on which it is displayed.

Reference is now made toFIG. 1, showing the gaming room, generally referenced100. Game manager104manages a game106in an ordinary manner within gaming room100, but unlike ordinary gaming room, the game is not limited to players physically present at gaming room104, rather players located at a remote location to said playing room can participate in the game. Moreover, a game can take place even if no player is present at gaming room104, and only remote players are participating in the game. In order to communicate with remote players, game manager104uses a computer such as a personal computer or a network computer. The computer, showing on a display108information and enabling communication with remotely located players. In addition, game manager104uses specialized equipment such as a scanner112to provide information to a possibly remote game server (not shown). In the scene shown inFIG. 1, game manager104passes each drawn card through scanner112. Scanner112passes the image to the game server, which processes the image and determines which card was drawn. If a different game is played rather than a card game, scanner116can be replaced with another type of equipment, for example equipment for computerized determination of the result of a roulette round. In addition, a video camera116is capturing game manager104together with game106, and passes the stream to a broadcasting server (not shown). In another preferred embodiment, there are multiple video cameras, capturing game manager104and game106from different angles, and sending multiple streams of said game to the to a broadcasting server.

Referring now toFIG. 2, showing a landbased gaming terminal of a card game, according to the disclosed invention. The gaming terminal, generally referenced200comprises standard buttons for performing actions associated with the game such as bet button204or double button206, displays for providing indications about the game to a player such as bet display208, win display212or result display216, and other elements, such as betting slot218. Terminal200preferably further comprises two screens, an upper screen210and a lower screen220. Upper screen210further comprises two windows. Left hand window214displays the video stream taken by camera116ofFIG. 1, showing game manager104and game106and, and right hand window216showing the card as scanned by scanner112ofFIG. 1and analyzed by the game server. Alternatively, one of windows214,216is a zoomed view of the other one, for example one window shows the game manager while the other zooms on the drawn card or a computerized presentation thereof. The zoomed picture can be displayed in a continuous manner, or only at selected times, for example when a card is drawn. In yet another alternative, only one stream is displayed, showing the game manager, and switching to the zoomed one at times, for example when a card is drawn. Lower screen220shows a computerized illustration of the ongoing game, including the cards drawn by the game manager, the cards assigned to the player and other relevant information. The terminal further comprises a slot224for inserting coins as tip for the game manager. In alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the gaming terminal can comprise one or more touch screen display on which said buttons,204,206,208, are graphically represented. Likewise in such exemplary alternative embodiments the other elements and the screens214,216,218that are used to play the game can also be graphically represented, each on a portion of the touch screen display. According to this exemplary embodiment the touch screen display is configured such that the areas representing buttons are programmed to produce the same commands to be sent to the gaming server (element404ofFIG. 4) when the player so touches the screen at the appropriate location. For example, when the player (not shown) touches the respective area over bet button204, an appropriate command is sent to said gaming server such that will indicate that the player has placed his bet. The use of touch screen display will enable the game server to further add or delete buttons or parts of the display so as to enable a more complex or simple presentation of the progress of the game. The addition or deletion can be performed either constantly or dynamically as the game evolves Thus, for example, if the game manager determines at a certain point in time that no more bets can be placed, and such suitable command has been transferred from the game manager to the game server, the game server may indicate to the gaming terminal to remove said bet button204from the screen or display a sign on or in connection with said button that indicates that no more bets are allowed.

Referring now toFIG. 3, showing a landbased gaming terminal of a roulette game, according to the disclosed invention. The gaining terminal, generally referenced300comprises standard buttons for performing actions associated with the game such as bet conformation button304, displays for providing indications about the game to a player such as bet display308, win display312or result display316, and other elements, such as betting slot318. Terminal300preferably further comprises two screens, an upper screen310and a lower screen320. Upper screen310further comprises two windows: left hand window314displays a video stream such as the stream taken by camera116ofFIG. 1, showing a game manager playing a roulette game, and right hand window316showing information relevant to the roulette game, such as a computerized presentation of the winning number in the roulette. Alternatively, one of windows314,316is a zoomed view of the other one, for example one window shows the game manager while the other zooms on the roulette wheel. The zoomed picture can be captured in a continuous manner, or only at selected times, for example when the roulette stops. In yet another alternative, only one stream is displayed, showing the game manager, and switching to the zoomed one at times, for example when a card is drawn. Lower screen320shows a computerized illustration of the ongoing roulette game, including the current player bets. Using touch buttons328on lower screen320the player can make his or her decisions for the game, and confirm the bet with confirm bet button304. The terminal further comprises a slot324for inserting coins as tip for the game manager. In alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the gaming terminal can comprise a single touch screen display on which said buttons,304,306,308, so are graphically represented. Likewise in such exemplary alternative embodiments the other elements and the screens310,314,316,328that are used to play the game, can also be graphically represented each on a portion of the single touch screen display. According to this exemplary embodiment the touch screen display is configured such that the areas representing buttons are programmed to produce the same commands to be sent to the gaming server (element404ofFIG. 4) when the player so touches the screen at the appropriate location. For example, when the player (not shown) touches the respective area over confirm bet button304, an appropriate command is sent to said gaming server such that will indicate that the player has placed his bet. The use of touch screen display will enable the game server to further add or delete buttons, or parts of the display so as to enable a more complex or simple presentation of the progress of the game. The addition or deletion can be performed either constantly or dynamically as the game evolves. Thus, for example, if the game manager determines at a certain point in time that no more bets can be placed, and such suitable command has been transferred from the game manager to the game server, the game server may send the gaming terminal an instruction to then to block the slot for entering the bet wager. Such blockage can be performed in an exemplary embodiment through the use of a rigid material being moved to physically close the slit through money is deposited with the gaming terminal.

It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the gaming room shown inFIG. 1can be captured by multiple video cameras such as116. A player of a terminal can then be presented with a selection among multiple video streams. Alternatively, window214ofFIG. 2or314ofFIG. 3can be divided into two or more sub windows, wherein each sub window displays a stream captured by another camera. It will also be appreciated that the windows shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3can be resized, moved, their order can be changed, and alternative or additional information can be displayed. It will further be appreciated that a gaming terminal as shown inFIG. 2orFIG. 3can comprise a single screen, presenting any one or more of the following views: a computerized presentation of the game, a stream of the game manager, a zoomed stream of a relevant part, such as a roulette wheel, or a computerized presentation of an aspect associated with the game such as a drawn card. Any one or more of the views can be presented continuously, at times, be replaced with each other, appear at changing positions or sizes on the screen, or the like, without deviating form the spirit of the disclosed invention.

Reference is now made toFIG. 4, showing a gaming network, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention. In a first gaming room location, such as a gaming room400, and/or in additional gaming rooms (not shown), one or more games are taking place. Gaming room400comprises a video camera402as shown inFIG. 1, an encoder server405and an operator computer407running an operator applet, which provides the operator with control over the game. Encoder server405, which is preferably a computing platform running an encoding application is responsible for encoding, for example for compression purposes the video stream taken by camera402. The information from the gaming room related to the logic of the game, such as the cards drawn by the operator, the commands to the terminals (for example “no more bets”) and the like are transferred from gaming room400to game server404, which administrates and handles the logic of the game, including decisions for which player won or lost and how much, or other issues related to the game. Game server404is in communication with data base409, which stores information related to games, players, locations and other information. Game server404stores and retrieves information from data base409. Concurrently, the video stream as captured by camera402and compressed by encoder server405is transferred to broadcasting server411, which can be located at or near gaming room400, or anywhere else. Game server404and broadcasting server411can be separate computing platforms or co-located on the same computing platform. Gaming room400, game server404and broadcasting server411are preferably connected via a communication network such as a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet, or the like. Game server404transfers the commands or updates related to the logic of the game to each terminal in each location where the game is played. Each location is a physical location, such as a hotel, airport, a gaming hall or other locations hosting one or more landbased gaming terminals, such as those shown inFIG. 2orFIG. 3. The gaming terminals can be placed in literally any location having a wired or wireless connection to the Internet through which connection is possible to the game server404. For example, the data is transferred to terminal1(416) and terminal2(420) in location1(408), and to terminal3(424) and terminal4(428) in location2(412). Each of gaming room encoder server405, game server404, broadcast server and terminals416,420,424,428the first location server408, the second location server412, is preferably a in computing platform, such as a network computer, a personal computer, a mainframe computer, or any other type of computing platform that is provisioned with a memory device (not shown), a CPU or microprocessor device, one or more communication devices, and several I/O ports (not shown). Alternatively, any of said servers or terminals can be a DSP chip, an ASIC device storing the commands and data necessary to execute the methods of the present invention. Data from terminals416,420,424,428, related to the player's options, selections, bets or other actions is optionally transferred to game server404, from there to gaming room400, and presented to the game manager through operator applet407. Gaming room400may optionally store the information in database409. The encoded video stream is transferred from broadcasting server411to one or more terminals within each location, such as location1(408) or location2(412). In a preferred embodiment, the encoded video stream is transferred to one terminal, such as terminal1(416) within location1(408), and then transferred internally within the location to other terminals, such as terminal2(420), and similarly within location2(412). In another preferred embodiment, the video stream is transferred from broadcasting server411separately to each terminal in each location, including terminals416,420,424and428. The first embodiment, in which the stream is transferred once to each location provides lower bandwidth consumption, but creates a dependency on a specific terminal within each location. Preferably, each terminal receiving the video stream decodes the video stream and presents it on the display, as described in association withFIG. 2andFIG. 3above. Alternatively, if the stream is transferred to a single terminal within each location, the receiving terminal can decode the stream and transfer the decoded stream to the other terminals within the location. Either game server404or one or more terminals within each location determine which game is shown and enabled on which terminal(s). Such determination can be made according to a plurality of factors, including, but not limited too, bandwidth, time of day, the availability of network resources, distribution of games, active games at each location, profit earning from each game, demand for each game, expected number and characteristics of players, and others. A terminal within each location can determine the enabled games according to a policy of distribution of games between and within locations, time of day, agreements with operators or any other factor. Alternatively, the determination can be left to a player, who will be presented with an opening screen suggesting the available games. Information from terminals416,420,424,428relating to choosing a game are optionally also passed from the terminals to game server404, and from there to gaming room400or to other gaming rooms, including even gaming rooms for different games.

Reference is now made toFIG. 5, showing a schematic flowchart of the method of the disclosed invention. At step500a game manager is managing a game in a gaming room. The game, with or without the game manager, and possibly additional information such as scanned cards are captured by devices such as a video camera capturing a video stream, a scanner, or the like. The game manager receives during the game information about players at remote locations, and their actions. At step504the captured video stream is transferred to broadcasting server411ofFIG. 4. The video stream optionally undergoes compression at a computing platform in the gaming room, prior to being sent to broadcasting server411ofFIG. 4, or at broadcasting server411ofFIG. 4. Also at step504, additional information relevant to the game is transferred to game server404ofFIG. 4. At step508, broadcasting server and game server transfer the captured (and possibly compressed) stream and the additional information, respectively, to landbased terminals. Preferably, the stream and the information are sent to one landbased terminal in each physical location in which the games are played, but they can also be transferred to multiple landbased terminals in one or more locations. At step512a landbased terminal that received the stream or the information transfers said stream or information to additional landbased terminals, preferably those located in proximity to the receiving terminal. Alternatively, the video stream is distributed as described above through one terminal in each location in order to save bandwidth, while the additional information is transferred directly from the game server to each terminal. In one preferred embodiment, the first terminal to receive the video stream uncompresses it and sends it uncompressed to the additional terminals, Alternatively, each terminal receiving the stream decompresses it for presentation purposes, but transfers it in a compressed form. At step516a player, using a landbased gaming terminal is participating in the game taking place in the remotely located gaming room, and sees the captured and uncompressed video stream showing the game or the game manager, and the relevant information, such as a drawn card, the status of a roulette wheel or the like. At step520, information entered by the player, such as actions, selections, sums or the like is transferred to the gaming room, such as gaming room400ofFIG. 4, preferably through the game server. At the gaming room, the game manager receives the information and relates to it, if necessary. The loop continues until the player leaves the landbased gaming terminal at step524. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention information entered by the player, such as actions, selections, sums or the like is transferred to the gaining room400ofFIG. 4via game server404ofFIG. 4only after game server404has performed an action on such information, such as for example to bill the player's credit card, to credit the player's credit card, to credit or charge the player's internal record for points or similar value associated credits, to provide a notification to a supervisor or another person, to send the user a notification or information, such as of his present credit, and the like.

The disclosed invention suggests a method and apparatus for enabling a user using a landbased gaming terminal to participate in a live online game. Using such terminal does not require a player to provide credit card details, nor to install gaming software on a computer. On the other hand, the online gaming terminals can be placed in multiple easily accessible locations such as gas stations, hotel lobbies, shopping malls or other locations and not necessarily in places that are dedicated to gaming, thus enabling an accidental passer by to participate in such games.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a microphone and loudspeakers can be installed or otherwise connected to the landbased gaming terminal, so that the game manager's voice will be transferred to the landbased gaming terminal with the image stream, and the player's voice will be transferred to the gaming room, so that the player can chat with the game manager or another person at the gaming location. It will also be appreciated that the image stream can be monitored or recorded, either at the gaming room, at the broadcast server or on other locations, for purposes such as quality assurance and fraud prevention.

The present invention has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood that features described with respect to one embodiment may be used with other embodiments and that not all embodiments of the invention have all of the features shown in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the embodiments. It is noted that some of the above described embodiments may describe the best mode contemplated by the inventors and therefore include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the invention and which are described as examples.

The present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow. When used in the following claims, the terms “comprise”, “include”, “have” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.