Electronic gaming machine with architecture supporting a virtual dealer and virtual cards

Abstract

An automated gaming system comprises a gaming table and an upright video display panel. The system comprises a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions. There is a processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface. The processor directs video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface. The same or a separate processor provides game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table. Each player position has an individual intelligent player processing board dedicated to that position. Communication between the automated gaming system and a host casino computer takes place from the intelligent player processing boards in one form of the invention.

1 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel comprising: 
 an upright video display panel, the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer;    a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions; and    at least one main game processor and optionally at least one additional game display processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the main processor or at least one display processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and the main game processor providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table.    
     
     
         2 . The automated gaming system of  claim 1  wherein each player position has an individual player processing board dedicated to that position.  
     
     
         3 . The automated gaming system of  claim 2  wherein each individual player processing board communicates directly with the main game processor.  
     
     
         4 . The automated gaming system of  claim 2  wherein each individual player processing board communicates directly with a single Dealer game engine processor.  
     
     
         5 . The automated gaming system of  claim 4  wherein the single Dealer game engine processor communicates directly with the display processor.  
     
     
         6 . The automated gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the main game processor contains data enabling the play of at least three different casino table games wherein cards are used in the play of each of the games.  
     
     
         7 . The automated gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the video display surface has changeable light filtering that can screen displayed images from various angles.  
     
     
         8 . The automated gaming system of  claim 7  wherein the light filtering can be changed upon command by the processor.  
     
     
         9 . The automated gaming system of  claim 7  wherein the light filtering can be changed upon external command.  
     
     
         10 . The automated gaming system of  claim 1  wherein player input is provided at least in part by controls in the video display surface.  
     
     
         11 . The automated gaming system of  claim 10  wherein the controls comprise touch screen controls.  
     
     
         12 . The automated gaming system of  claim 10  wherein the controls comprise a panel embedded into the video display surface.  
     
     
         13 . The automated gaming system of  claim 10  wherein additional player input can be provided from player input provided on a surface below the video display surface and facing a position where players are to be seated.  
     
     
         14 . The automated gaming system of  claim 11  wherein additional player input can be provided from player input provided on a surface below the video display surface and facing a position where players are to be seated.  
     
     
         15 . The automated gaming system of  claim 12  wherein additional player input can be provided from player input provided on a surface below the video display surface and facing a position where players are to be seated.  
     
     
         16 . The automated gaming system of  claim 2  wherein communication between the main game processor and the individual player processor is performed through a transaction-based protocol.  
     
     
         17 . The automated gaming system of  claim 16  wherein either the main game processor or the individual player processor can start a transaction.  
     
     
         18 . The automated gaming system of  claim 4  wherein communication between the main game processor and the individual player processor is performed through a transaction-based protocol.  
     
     
         19 . The automated gaming system of  claim 18  wherein either the main game processor or the individual player processor can start a transaction.  
     
     
         20 . The automated gaming system of  claim 10  wherein each player position has an individual player processing board dedicated to that position and communication between the main game processor and the individual player processor is performed through a transaction-based protocol.  
     
     
         21 . The automated gaming system of  claim 20  wherein either the main game processor or the individual player processor can start a transaction.  
     
     
         22 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel comprising: 
 an upright video display panel, the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer;    a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions; and    at least one main game processor and optionally at least one additional game display processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the main processor or at least one display processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and the main game processor providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table    and a plurality of player stations, each player station having its own intelligence.    
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22  wherein each player station and the main game processor are in communication.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  wherein the communication is event driven.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein information communicated is included in an information packet.  
     
     
         26 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel comprising: 
 an upright video display panel, the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer;    a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions, each player position having an intelligent board; and    at least one main game processor and optionally at least one additional game display processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the main processor or at least one display processor directing video display on both the    upright video display panel and the video display surface, and the main game processor providing    game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table;    wherein the intelligent boards are in communication with the main game processor, sending packets of information from player positions as events occur.    
     
     
         27 . The automated gaming system of  claim 26  wherein the communication between the intelligent boards and the main game processor comprises communication of player input.  
     
     
         28 . The automated gaming system of  claim 27  wherein there is a dealer game engine intermediate the intelligent boards and the main game processor.  
     
     
         29 . The automated gaming system of  claim 26  wherein there is a direct line of communication between the intelligent boards and the main game processor for communication of player input.  
     
     
         30 . The automated gaming system of  claim 26  wherein packets of information are sent from the main game processor to the player position intelligent boards.  
     
     
         31 . A method of playing an automated game having an upright video display panel, the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer, a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions, each of the at least two player positions having an intelligent board, and a main game processor, the method comprising sending packets of information from intelligent boards at player positions to the main game processor as events occur at player positions.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein player input initiates the communication between the intelligent boards and the main game processor.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein there is a dealer game engine intermediate the communication path between the intelligent boards and the main game processor.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26  wherein there the packets of information are sent directly from the intelligence boards to the main game processor for communication of player input.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the communication is event driven.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the communication comprises a cyclic redundancy check.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the communication is transaction based.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the communication is event driven.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26  herein the communication comprises a cyclic redundancy check.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26  herein the communication is transaction based.