Apparatus for use with interactive table games and methods of use

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for use with an interactive gaming table. In one aspect, an administration tool is provided for use with an interactive gaming table. The interactive gaming table includes a playing surface for displaying a game, a signal source, and a signal collector. The administration tool includes a primary identifying indicia that uniquely identifies the tool to the gaming table by reflecting a signal emitted by the signal source such that the signal reflected by the primary identifying indicia is received and analyzed by the signal collector. The administration tool also includes a secondary identifying indicia that is recognized by the gaming table by reflecting the signal emitted by the signal source such that the signal reflected by the secondary identifying indicia is received and analyzed by the signal collector, wherein a present state of the displayed game is changed based on a player's action taken with the tool.

1 . An administration tool for use with an interactive gaming table, wherein the interactive gaming table includes a playing surface for displaying a game, a signal source, and a signal collector, said tool comprising:
 a primary identifying indicia that uniquely identifies said tool to the gaming table by reflecting a signal emitted by the signal source such that the signal reflected by said primary identifying indicia is received and analyzed by the signal collector; and   a secondary identifying indicia that is recognized by the gaming table by reflecting the signal emitted by the signal source such that the signal reflected by said secondary identifying indicia is received and analyzed by the signal collector, wherein a present state of the displayed game is changed based on a player's action taken with said tool.   
   
   
       2 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising:
 a base, said primary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of said base; and   a plunger sized for insertion within a portion of said base, said secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of said plunger.   
   
   
       3 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said plunger is configured to be moved within a channel defined within said base by the player during a game, said secondary identifying indicia is read by the gaming table when said plunger is inserted into said channel for use in determining an award for the player. 
   
   
       4 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said plunger is selectively moved within said channel by the player to enable the game to be advanced based on an action associated with said secondary identifying indicia. 
   
   
       5 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said plunger comprises a plurality of plungers, each of said plungers comprises at least one secondary identifying indicia associated with an award for the player during the game, each of said secondary identifying indicia extends over at least a portion of each of said plurality of plungers. 
   
   
       6 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising:
 a frame, said primary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of said frame; and   a lid coupled to said frame, said secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of said lid.   
   
   
       7 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said lid moved by the player during a game such that a corresponding movement of said secondary identifying indicia is read by the gaming table for use in determining an award for the player. 
   
   
       8 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said lid comprises a plurality of lids, each said lid comprises at least one secondary identifying indicia associated with an award for the player during the game, each of said at least one secondary identifying indicia extends over at least a portion of each of said plurality of lids. 
   
   
       9 . An administration tool in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said primary identifying indicia and said secondary identifying indicia each extend over at least a portion of a bottom surface of said device, the gaming table recognizes said secondary identifying indicia and changes the present state of the game based on a location of said tool relative the gaming table. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming device for use with an interactive gaming table comprising a display surface for presenting a game, a processor, a light source, and a detector, said gaming device comprising:
 a base comprising a primary identifying indicia that uniquely identifies said device by reflecting light emitted by the light source such that the light reflected by said primary identifying indicia is received and converted into a signal representative of the reflected light by the detector, wherein the signal is analyzed by the processor; and   a secondary identifying indicia, wherein said secondary identifying indicia reflects light emitted by the light source such that the light reflected by said secondary identifying indicia is received and converted into a signal representative of the reflected light by the detector, and wherein the signal is analyzed by the processor to determine how a present state of the presented game is to be changed.   
   
   
       11 . A gaming device in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a plunger sized for insertion within a portion of said base, said secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of said plunger. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming device in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said plunger is configured to be moved within a channel defined with said base by a player during a game, said secondary identifying indicia is read by the processor when said plunger is moved within said channel for use in at least one of one of determining an award for the player and advancing the game according to an action associated with said secondary identifying indicia. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming device in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a lid coupled to said base, said secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of said lid. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming device in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said lid is configured to be moved by a player during a game, a movement of said secondary identifying indicia is recognized by the processor when said lid is moved for use in determining an award for the player. 
   
   
       15 . A method of operating a rewards system for use with an interactive gaming table configured to display a game, wherein the rewards system includes a gaming device having a primary identifying indicia and a secondary identifying indicia, said method comprising:
 determining an identity of a device based on the primary identifying indicia;   determining an action by a player based on the secondary identifying indicia; and   changing a present state of the displayed game based on the determined action.   
   
   
       16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the device includes a plunger and a base sized to receive at least a portion of the plunger therein, wherein determining an action comprises:
 moving the plunger within a channel defined within the base; and   determining that the secondary identifying mark has moved in relation to the gaming table.   
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the device includes a plurality of plungers and a base sized to receive the plurality of plungers, wherein determining an action comprises:
 moving a first plunger of the plurality of plungers within a first channel defined within the base;   determining that a secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of the first plunger has moved in relation to the gaming table;   moving a second plunger of the plurality of plungers within a second channel defined in the base; and   determining that a secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of the second plunger has moved in relation to the gaming table.   
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the device includes a lid coupled to a base, wherein determining an action taken comprises:
 moving the lid, thereby moving the secondary identifying indicia; and   determining that the secondary identifying indicia has moved in relation to the gaming table.   
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the device includes a plurality of lids coupled to a base, wherein determining an action taken comprises:
 moving a first lid of the plurality of lids;   determining that a secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of the first lid has moved in relation to the gaming table;   moving a second lid of the plurality of lids; and   determining that a secondary identifying indicia extending over at least a portion of the second lid has moved in relation to the gaming table.   
   
   
       20 . A gaming system comprising:
 an interactive gaming display table comprising a playing surface for displaying a game, a video camera, and a processor; and   at least one player device comprising a primary identifying indicia that uniquely identifies said at least one player device, and at least one secondary identifying indicia, wherein said video camera is configured to receive light reflected by said primary identifying indicia and said at least one secondary identifying indicia, and to generate a signal representative of the reflected light, and said processor is configured to analyze the signal to recognize a movement of said at least one secondary identifying indicia and to one of determine an award for a player playing the game and advance the game according to the movement.   
   
   
       21 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 20  further comprising:
 at least one plunger, said at least one secondary identifying indicia extends over at least a portion of said at least one plunger; and   a base comprising at least one channel sized to receive said at least one plunger, said primary identifying indicia extends over at least a portion of said base.   
   
   
       22 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 20  further comprising:
 a base, said primary identifying indicia extends over at least a portion of said base; and   at least one lid coupled to said base, said at least one secondary identifying indicia extends over at least a portion of said at least one lid.   
   
   
       23 . A method for providing a gaming event at an interactive gaming table, said method comprising:
 presenting a gaming event on a display surface of the interactive gaming table;   determining an identity of a device based on a unique device identifier extending over at least a portion of a base of the device;   determining an action by a player with the device based on at least one action identifier; and   changing a present state of the gaming event based on the action.   
   
   
       24 . A method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein changing a present state of the gaming event comprises determining an award for the player having taken the action, wherein the award is associated with the at least one action identifier. 
   
   
       25 . A method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein changing a present state of the gaming event comprises advancing the gaming event according to an action associated with the at least one action identifier.