System and method for providing a host console for use with an electronic card game

Abstract

A host console and method for use with an electronic card table is disclosed. The electronic card table has plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table and a game computer. The game computer administers the electronic card table and is coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas. The host console is connected to the game computer. The host console includes a host display, a host interface, and a host controller. The host controller is coupled to the host display and the host interface and allows the host to display information related to the card game and to pause and/or stop the game, to reserve seats at a table and to penalize players.

1 . A host console, for use with an electronic card table, the electronic card table having a playing surface, a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table, and a game computer, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of a plurality of players, the game computer for administering an electronic card game on the table, coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas, comprising: 
 a host display for displaying information to a host;    a host user interface for receiving host input; and,    a host controller coupled to the host display and the host user interface for interrupting the electronic card game in response to input from the host.    
   
   
       2 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the host controller in interrupting the electronic card game stops the electronic card game.  
   
   
       3 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the host controller in interrupting the electronic card game pauses a hand of the electronic card game.  
   
   
       4 . A host console, as se forth in  claim 1 , wherein the host controller resumes the hand of the electronic card game in response to host input.  
   
   
       5 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 1 , the host controlling allowing the user to specify that the game will be interrupted with no delay or in a specified time period or in a specified number of hands.  
   
   
       6 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the host may enter the specified time period.  
   
   
       7 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the host may enter the specified number of hands.  
   
   
       8 . A method for providing information to a host related to an electronic card table, the electronic card table a plurality of electronic player interaction areas and a game computer, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of a plurality of players, the game computer for providing an electronic card game to the players, including the steps of: 
 providing a host console, the host console being coupled to the electronic poker table;    receiving information from the host via a user interface of the host console; and,    interrupting the electronic card game in response to input from the host.    
   
   
       9 . A method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the step of interrupting the electronic card game includes the step of stopping the electronic card game.  
   
   
       10 . A method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the step of interrupting the electronic card game includes the step of pausing a hand of the electronic card game.  
   
   
       11 . A method, as se forth in  claim 10 , including the step of resuming the hand of the electronic card game in response to host input.  
   
   
       12 . A method, as set forth in  claim 8 , including the step of allowing the host to specify that the game will be interrupted with no delay or in a specified time period or in a specified number of hands.  
   
   
       13 . A method, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the host may enter the specified time period.  
   
   
       14 . A method, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the host may enter the specified number of hands.  
   
   
       15 . A host console, for use with an electronic card table, the electronic card table having a playing surface, a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table, and a game computer, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of a plurality of players, the game computer for administering an electronic card game on the table, coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas, comprising: 
 a host display for displaying information to a host;    a host user interface for receiving host input; and,    a host controller coupled to the host display and the host user interface for reserving an electronic player interaction area in response to input from the host.    
   
   
       16 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the host may reserve an electronic player interaction area for a specific player.  
   
   
       17 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each player has an associated identification number, the electronic player interaction area being reserved via the specific player's identification number.  
   
   
       18 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 15 , the host controller changing a status of the electronic player interaction area from open to reserved.  
   
   
       19 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the player is required to logon to the reserved electronic player interaction area within a specified time period.  
   
   
       20 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the specified time period is predetermined.  
   
   
       21 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the specified time period may be entered by the host.  
   
   
       22 . A method for providing information to a host related to an electronic card table, the electronic card table a plurality of electronic player interaction areas and a game computer, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of a pluralities of players, the game computer for providing an electronic card game to the players, including the steps of: 
 providing a host console, the host console being coupled to the electronic poker table;    receiving information from the host via a user interface of the host console; and,    reserving an electronic player interaction area in response to input from the host.    
   
   
       23 . A method, as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the host may reserve an electronic player interaction area for a specific player.  
   
   
       24 . A method, as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein each player has an associated identification number, the method including the step of reserving the electronic player interaction area via the specific player's identification number.  
   
   
       25 . A method, as set forth in  claim 22 , including the step of changing a status of the electronic player interaction area from open to reserved.  
   
   
       26 . A method, as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the player is required to logon to the reserved electronic player interaction area within a specified time period.  
   
   
       27 . A method, as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the specified time period is predetermined.  
   
   
       28 . A method, as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the specified time period may be entered by the host.  
   
   
       29 . A host console, for use with an electronic card table, the electronic card table having a playing surface, a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table, and a game computer, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with the players, the game computer for administering an electronic card game on the table, coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas, comprising: 
 a host display for displaying information to a host;    a host user interface for receiving host input; and,    a host controller coupled to the host display and the host user interface for penalizing one of the players by preventing the player from participating in the electronic card game for a specified period.    
   
   
       30 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the specified period is a period of time.  
   
   
       31 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the host controller allows the host to enter the period of time.  
   
   
       32 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the specified period is defined by a number of hands.  
   
   
       33 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the host controller allows the host to enter the number of hands.  
   
   
       34 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 29 , the host controller changing a status of the electronic player interaction area from occupied to penalty.  
   
   
       35 . A method for providing information to a host related to an electronic card table, the electronic card table a plurality of electronic player interaction areas and a game computer, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of a pluralities of players, the game computer for providing an electronic card game to the players, including the steps of: 
 providing a host console, the host console being coupled to the electronic poker table;    receiving information from the host via a user interface of the host console; and,    penalizing one of the players by preventing the player from participating in the electronic card game for a specified period.    
   
   
       36 . A method, as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the specified period is a period of time.  
   
   
       37 . A method, as set forth in  claim 36 , including the step of allowing the host to enter the period of time.  
   
   
       38 . A method, as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the specified period is defined by a number of hands.  
   
   
       39 . A method, as set forth in  claim 38 , including the step of allowing to enter the number of hands.  
   
   
       40 . A method, as set forth in  claim 35 , including the step of changing a status of the electronic player interaction area from occupied to penalty.