Device and method of termination for open-ended cooperative games

Abstract

A self-contained apparatus for displaying poker tournament information, the apparatus having an operator-input interface, control circuitry and a display. The operator-input interface is dedicated to receiving input relating to the poker tournament from a human operator. The control circuitry is coupled to receive the input relating to the poker tournament from the operator-input interface and to generate, based at least in part on the input, information relating to the poker tournament. The information generated by the control circuitry is displayed to poker tournament players on the display.

1 . A self-contained apparatus for displaying poker tournament information, the apparatus comprising: 
 an operator-input interface dedicated to receiving input relating to the poker tournament from a human operator;    control circuitry coupled to receive the input relating to the poker tournament from the operator-input interface and to generate, based at least in part on the input, information relating to the poker tournament; and    a display to display the information relating to the poker tournament.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the information relating to the poker tournament comprises a sequence of prompts to prompt the human operator to enter poker tournament setup information.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sequence of prompts to prompt the human operator to enter poker tournament setup information comprises prompts to specify, via the operator-input interface, a number of players to participate in the poker tournament and a value of a starting set of poker chips to be provided to each player.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuitry is configured to limit the specification of the value of the starting set of poker chips according to the number of players and a number poker chips of one or more denominations.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuitry comprises a processor and a non-volatile semiconductor memory having program code stored therein which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate the information relating to the poker tournament.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to: 
 prompt the human operator to specify setup information in a pre-determined sequence; and    limit the setup information specified by the human operator at a given point in the sequence to be within a range determined, at least in part, based on the setup information specified at one or more previous points in the sequence.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the operator-input interface comprises fewer than twenty-six pressure-actuated switch elements.  
   
   
       8 . A method of operation within a poker tournament control apparatus, the method comprising: 
 receiving operator input indicative of an individual chip value of a first denomination of poker chips available to be distributed among tournament players;    determining, based at least in part on the individual chip value of the first denomination of poker chips, an upper limit and lower limit of an individual chip value of a second denomination of poker chips to be distributed among the tournament players; and    prompting an operator to input a value between the upper and lower limit as the individual chip value of the second denomination of poker chips.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein prompting an operator to input a value between the upper lower limit comprises displaying a value between the upper and lower limit in a manner indicating that the operator may adjust the value.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein prompting an operator to input a value between the upper and lower limit comprises generating a notification in response to operator input indicative of a value outside a range defined by the upper limit and lower limit.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein generating a notification comprises generating an audible alert.  
   
   
       12 . A method of operation within a poker tournament control apparatus, the method comprising: 
 receiving operator input indicative of a number of tournament players;    obtaining information indicative of a total quantity and individual chip value of each of a plurality of denominations of poker chips available to be distributed among the tournament players;    determining, based at least in part on the number of tournament players and the total quantity and individual chip value of each of the denominations of poker chips, an upper limit and lower limit for the value of an initial set of poker chips to be allocated to each of the tournament players.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein obtaining information indicative of a total quantity and individual chip value of each of a plurality of denominations of poker chips comprises retrieving the information from a non-volatile semiconductor memory within the poker tournament control apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein obtaining information indicative of a total quantity and individual chip value of each of a plurality of denominations of poker chips comprises receiving operator input indicative of the total quantity and individual chip value of each of the plurality of denominations of poker chips.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising limiting the number of poker tournament players based on the total quantity and individual chip value of each of the plurality of denominations of poker chips.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 prompting an operator to input a value between the upper and lower limit as the value of the initial set of poker chips allocated to each of the tournament players; and    determining a quantity of each of the denominations of poker chips that are to be included in the initial set of poker chips based, at least in part, on the value of the initial set of poker chips, the number of tournament players and the total quantity and individual chip value of each of the denominations of poker chips.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein determining a quantity of each of the denominations of poker chips comprises determining the quantity of each of the denominations that are to be included in the initial set of poker chips such that, at any point in the poker tournament, sufficient chips are available to allow a poker chip of a first tournament player to be exchanged for chips of one or more smaller denominations as may be required for the first tournament player to call a bet by another of the tournament players.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising prompting the human operator to distribute the initial set of poker chips to each of the tournament players, including displaying the quantity of each of the denominations of poker chips that are to be included in the initial set of poker chips.  
   
   
       19 . A method of operation within a poker tournament control apparatus, the method comprising: 
 displaying a sequence of prompts in a predetermined order to prompt an operator to input information indicative of: 
 a total quantity and individual chip value of each of a plurality of denominations of poker chips,  
 a number of tournament players,  
 a value of an initial set of the poker chips to be allocated to each of the tournament players, and  
 a desired tournament duration;  
   receiving operator input in response to the prompts; and    determining, based on the operator input, a proposed blind schedule to be applied in each of a plurality of poker rounds and an initial number of poker chips of each of the denominations to be allocated to each of the tournament players.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising operator input indicative of at least one of the following: 
 a duration of at least one round of the poker tournament;    an ante value to be applied in at least one round of the poker tournament;    a small blind value to be applied in at least one round of the poker tournament;    a big blind value to be applied in at least one round of the poker tournament; and    placement and duration of at least one intermission between rounds of the poker tournament.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising assigning, as a big blind value, a predetermined multiple of the small blind value indicated by the operator input.  
   
   
       22 . A poker tournament kit comprising: 
 a case;    poker chips disposed within the case; and    an apparatus for displaying poker tournament information disposed within the case, the apparatus including: 
 an operator-input interface to receive operator input relating to the poker tournament including input at least indicative of a number of tournament players,  
 control circuitry coupled to receive the operator input and to generate, based at least in part on the operator input, information relating to the poker tournament, and  
 a display to display the information relating to the poker tournament.  
   
   
   
       23 . The poker tournament kit of  claim 22  wherein the poker chips comprise a plurality of groups of poker chips having distinct colors.  
   
   
       24 . The poker tournament kit of  claim 22  wherein the control circuitry is configured to prompt the operator to input information relating to the poker tournament including the input indicative of a number of tournament players and additionally input indicative of a desired tournament length.  
   
   
       25 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: 
 receive operator input indicative of a number of tournament players;    obtain information indicative of a total quantity and individual chip value of each of a plurality of denominations of poker chips available to be distributed among the tournament players;    determine, based at least in part on the number of tournament players and the total quantity and individual chip value of each of the denominations of poker chips, an upper limit and lower limit for the value of an initial set of poker chips to be allocated to each of the tournament players.