Interchangeable and adjustable gaming layout system and controller

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an interchangeable gaming layout powered by a display element that shows the background graphics and table layouts of a gaming table. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are configured to provide the background graphics and table layout for a gaming table that is presented by a full color display element and is conveniently reconfigurable between games without requiring the entire gaming table and/or layout to be resurfaced. Further embodiments of the present invention are configured to allow for the gaming table and/or layout to provide content (e.g., multimedia content) during downtime or other intermission periods in game play.

1 . A system for an interchangeable gaming layout, the system comprising:
 a plurality of display elements arranged proximate to one another such that together the plurality of display elements form a playing surface;   a display element controller communicatively connected to each of said plurality of display elements, wherein said display element controller is further communicatively connected to a library of template images,   wherein said library of template images comprises a plurality of images necessary for recreating a game on said playing surface when said plurality of images are aligned and presented across said plurality of display elements,   wherein said display element controller retrieves said plurality of images and aligns each individual image of said plurality of images with the appropriate display element of said plurality of display elements in order to display said game on said playing surface,   wherein said game is selected from a plurality of games available to said display element controller; and   a surface material, laid on top of said playing surface and configured to allow for the transmission and display of said plurality of images from said plurality of display elements through said surface material and wherein said surface material replicates the friction, padding and other physical properties provided by standard gaming table surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of images is an animated image. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display element controller identifies said game via analysis of said plurality of images selected from said library of template images. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display element controller receives one or more ad-hoc images from a remote computing device and effects display of said one or more ad-hoc images display on the plurality of display elements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said display element controller provides messaging functionality, by way of the plurality of display elements, to players interacting with the playing surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display element controller is communicatively connected to a remote system and receives information related to progressive jackpot amounts, and wherein said display element controller effects display of said information related to progressive jackpot amounts on said plurality of display elements. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display element controller processes one or more images of said plurality of images in order to change visual characteristics of said one or more images. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said visual characteristics of said one or more images processed by said display element controller are selected from the group comprising, transparency, brightness, contract, color, hue, motion path and layer level. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said display element controller is further comprised of a human interaction device which allows for a user to build game templates from said library of template images. 
     
     
         10 . A method for providing an interchangeable gaming layout, the method comprising the steps of:
 selecting a game, via a display element controller, from a plurality of games available to said display element controller;   connecting to a library of template images, via said display element controller;   retrieving, via said display element controller, a plurality of images necessary for recreating said selected game on a playing surface from said library of template images; and   aligning, via said display element controller, each individual image of said plurality of images with an appropriate display element of a plurality of display elements which comprise said playing surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said plurality of images is an animated image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving, at the display element controller, one or more ad-hoc images from a remote computing device; and   effecting display of said one or more ad-hoc images display on the plurality of display elements.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said display element controller provides messaging functionality, by way of the plurality of display elements, to players interacting with the playing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 connecting, via said display element controller, to a remote system;   receiving, at said display element controller, information related to progressive jackpot amounts from said remote system, and   effecting, via said display element controller, display of said information related to progressive jackpot amounts on said plurality of display elements.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of processing, at said display element controller, one or more images of said plurality of images in order to change visual characteristics of said one or more images. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said visual characteristics of said one or more images processed by said display element controller are selected from the group comprising, transparency, brightness, contract, color, hue, motion path and layer level. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said display element controller is further comprised of a human interaction device which allows for a user to build game templates from said library of template images.