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 reset the connection between the game computer and one or more of the electronic player interaction areas and/or restart software on one or more of the electronic player interaction areas and/or reboot one or more of the electronic player interaction areas.

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 the players, the game computer for administering an electronic card game on the electronic card table and being 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 user input; and,    a host controller coupled to the host display and the host user interface for displaying information related to the electronic card table and/or the electronic player interaction areas on the host display in response to host input received via the host user interface.    
   
   
       2 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the information includes a status of the electronic card table.  
   
   
       3 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 2 , the status being one of active or inactive.  
   
   
       4 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the information includes a status of each electronic player interaction area.  
   
   
       5 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 4 , the status being one of occupied, reserved, and disconnected.  
   
   
       6 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein an electronic player interaction area having the status of occupied may also have a status of one of sitting out, pending unseat, and penalty.  
   
   
       7 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the status of each electronic player interaction area includes one or more of the following: seat number, player's name, player stakes, and/or time player joined the game.  
   
   
       8 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the information includes descriptive information related to the card game being player on the electronic card table.  
   
   
       9 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the descriptive information includes one or more of the following: name and variation of the game and/or game type and/or stake information and/or jackpot information and/or game play information and/or tournament settings information and/or live game settings and/or historical information.  
   
   
       10 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the host display, host user interface, and host controller are embodied in a host computer.  
   
   
       11 . A host console, set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the host computer is a tablet personal computer or personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       12 . 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 a player, 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 input from the host via a user interface of the host console; and,    displaying information to the host on the host console regarding the electronic poker table and/or the electronic player interaction areas in response to the host input.    
   
   
       13 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the information includes a status of the electronic card table.  
   
   
       14 . A method, as set forth in  claim 13 , the status being one of active or inactive.  
   
   
       15 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the information includes a status of each electronic player interaction area.  
   
   
       16 . A method, as set forth in  claim 15 , the status being one of occupied, reserved, and disconnected.  
   
   
       17 . A method, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein an electronic player interaction area having the status of occupied may also have a status of one of sitting out, pending unseat, and penalty.  
   
   
       18 . A method, as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the status of each electronic player interaction area includes one or more of the following: seat number, player's name, player stakes, and/or time player joined the game.  
   
   
       19 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the information includes descriptive information related to the card game being player on the electronic card table.  
   
   
       20 . A method, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the descriptive information includes one or more of the following: name and variation of the game and/or game type and/or stake information and/or jackpot information and/or game play information and/or tournament settings information and/or live game settings and/or historical information.  
   
   
       21 . 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 the players, the game computer for administering the electronic card table and coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas, the host console being connected to the game computer, comprising: 
 a host display for displaying information relating to the electronic poker table to a host and/or the electronic player interaction areas;    a host interface for receiving host input; and,    a host controller coupled to the host display and the host interface for allowing the host to reset the connection between the game computer and one or more of the electronic player interaction areas and/or restart software on one or more of the electronic player interaction areas and/or reboot one or more of the electronic player interaction areas.    
   
   
       22 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the electronic card table includes a central screen for displaying information and a central screen controller coupled to the central screen for controlling the display of information thereon, the host controller being coupled to the game computer, the host controller allowing the host to reset the connection between the game computer and the central screen controller and/or restart software on the central screen controller and/or reboot the central screen controller.  
   
   
       23 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein each electronic player interaction area includes a touchscreen display, the host controller for allowing the user to initiate a calibration routine for at least one of the touchscreen displays.  
   
   
       24 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the host display, host user interface, and host controller are embodied in a host computer.  
   
   
       25 . A host console, set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the host computer is a tablet personal computer or personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       26 . A method for providing information to a user 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 a player, 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;    displaying information to the user on the host console regarding the electronic poker table and/or the electronic player interaction areas; and,    allowing a host user, through the host console, to reset the connection between the game computer and one or more of the electronic player interaction areas and/or restart software on one or more of the electronic player interaction areas and/or reboot one or more of the electronic player interaction area.    
   
   
       27 . A method, as set forth in  claim 26 , including the steps of: 
 providing a central screen on the electronic card table for displaying information and a central screen controller coupled to the central screen for controlling the display of information thereon, the host console being coupled to the game computer; and    allowing the user, through the host console, to reset the connection between the game computer and the central screen controller and/or restart software on the central screen controller, and/or reboot the central screen controller.    
   
   
       28 . A host console, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein each electronic player interaction area includes a touchscreen display, the host console for allowing the user to initiate a calibration routine for at least one of the touchscreen displays.