Method and apparatus for playing an electronic bridge game

Abstract

An electronic system and method for playing an electronic card game. The system is constructed and arranged to permit a number of card game players to sit around a card game table for creating a social environment associated with playing cards. The system includes a plurality of game stations coupled to a central base module. Each game station includes a player interface device and a display. The base module is adapted for receiving signals from each of the game stations and for processing the signals. The processed signals are representative of player transactions that relate to card game conditions and rules stored on the base module.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic gaming system, comprising: 
 a base module; and    a plurality of local game stations operatively coupled to the base module, each of the plurality of local game stations having a display adapted to display a plurality of electronic game cards communicated to each of the plurality of local game stations by the base module, wherein the base module is constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of local game stations representing player transactions and for processing the player transactions according to at least one group of game conditions and rules stored on the base module.    
     
     
         2 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 1   , wherein the base module includes: 
 a micro-controller; and    at least one memory device coupled to the micro-controller for storing the at least one group of game conditions and rules.    
     
     
         3 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 2   , wherein the base module further includes an interface coupled to the at least one memory device for enabling at least one other group of game conditions and rules to be loaded into the at least one memory device.  
     
     
         4 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 3   , wherein the interface is adapted to accept a smart card having the at least one other group of game conditions and rules.  
     
     
         5 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 3   , wherein the interface is adapted to accept a template having the at least one other group of game conditions and rules.  
     
     
         6 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 3   , wherein the interface comprises: 
 a data storage peripheral device; and    a removable storage medium adapted for use with the data storage peripheral device.    
     
     
         7 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 2   , wherein the base module further includes: 
 a voice synthesizer circuit that is responsive to annunciation of a player; and    a speaker coupled to the voice synthesizer circuit that annunciates information responsive to the annunciation of the player.    
     
     
         8 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 7   , wherein the base module further includes a volume control switch that is coupled to the voice synthesizer circuit.  
     
     
         9 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 1   , wherein each of the plurality of local game stations includes: 
 a keyboard coupled to the base module; and    a display coupled to the keyboard.    
     
     
         10 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 9   , wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of controls that are operatively configured to communicate information to the base module.  
     
     
         11 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 10   , wherein the plurality of controls include a plurality of buttons.  
     
     
         12 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 10   , wherein the keyboard further includes a wireless communication device that is operatively configured to communicate information to the base module.  
     
     
         13 . The electronic gaming system of    claim 1   , wherein the at least one group of game conditions and rules includes a bridge card game program.  
     
     
         14 . A method of using an electronic gaming system, comprising the steps of: 
 dealing a plurality of electronic game cards from a base module to a plurality of local game stations;    providing a signal from at least one of the a plurality of local game stations to the base module representing at least one player transaction; and    processing the at least one player transaction at the base module according to predetermined game conditions and rules stored on the base module.    
     
     
         15 . The method of using an electronic gaming system of    claim 1   , wherein after the step of dealing, the method further includes the step of displaying the plurality of electronic game cards on a display associated with each of the plurality of local game stations.  
     
     
         16 . The method of using an electronic gaming system of    claim 1   , wherein the step of processing further includes storing the at least one player transaction in a memory device located on the base module.  
     
     
         17 . The method of using an electronic gaming system of    claim 16   , wherein the step of processing further includes storing at least one game score associated with the at least one player transaction in the memory device located on the base module.  
     
     
         18 . The method of using an electronic gaming system of    claim 17   , further comprising the step of storing the at least one player transaction and the at least one game score on a removable storage medium located on the base module for enabling a player to remove and transport the removable storage medium.