Method for exhibiting a card game

Abstract

A method for exhibiting a card game, such as a poker game, in which graphic and text data is superimposed on continuous video images of the game in progress to inform the video viewing audience of each player's cards and each player's bets. In this manner, the video viewers can get the feel of the game from each player's perspective while viewing the game at the same time. The graphic and text data is superimposed on the video image in the form of pop-up boxes which can be selectively displayed in an unobstructive manner.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for exhibiting a card game comprising the steps of: 
 (a) continuously exhibiting video images of a card game in progress as a series of video frames;    (b) displaying a data box in a portion of the video frames which includes current data regarding the game, said data box primarily overlaid over said video frames to thereby allow concurrent exhibition of the card game and its status.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) further comprises: displaying first data boxes which include representations of each player's current hand.  
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein step (b) further comprises: displaying second data boxes which identify each player's current bet.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second data boxes are displayed continuously.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second data boxes are selectively displayed during a portion of the game in progress.  
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein steps (b) includes providing a game table having a bumper therearound with a video camera disposed at each player's station to enable the player's cards to be viewed remotely without revealing the cards to other player's at the game table.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein video images from said video cameras at said player stations are used to identify each player's card for the purpose of generating the data in said data box.  
     
     
         8 . A method for exhibiting a card game comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a game table having a plurality of video cameras vertically oriented with respect to a playing surface of the poker table;    (b) providing a main video camera for recording video images of the card game in progress;    (c) exhibiting the video images of the card game in progress in a series of video frames; and    (d) overlaying first data boxes over a portion of a plurality of said frames representing each player's cards as determined by the vertically oriented video cameras at each player's station.    
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further including the steps of: overlaying second data boxes representing each player's current bet.  
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further including a third data box representing each player's odds.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further including a fourth data box representing the dealer's cards.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further including a fifth data box for providing additional information selected from group of bingo, hand update or prior play.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further including a sixth data box representing the current pot size.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further including the steps of: exhibiting data boxes between card games.  
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said step of exhibiting data boxes between card games includes exhibiting a data box listing all of the players and their current chip count.  
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further including the step of illustrating informational video frames between games which include an image of a player and informational regarding the player.  
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the step of illustrating informational video frames includes exhibiting one or more video frames of a player with a data box representing data about the player.  
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the step of illustrating informational video frames includes one or more video frames as data boxes and providing a video window within said data box of a video image of a player.  
     
     
         19 . A video format for a video representation of a card game comprising: 
 a plurality of video frames representing a video image of a card game in progress; and    one or more data boxes overlaid over said video frames which include data regarding the current status of the game in progress.    
     
     
         20 . The video format as recited in  claim 19  wherein one of said one or more data boxes includes data representative of each player's current hand.  
     
     
         21 . The video format as recited in  claim 20 , wherein one of said one or more data boxes includes data representative of each player's current bet.