Generic game method for wireless electronic table game scoreboard

Abstract

A method of operating an electronic scoreboard apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving a game parameter; operating a game based upon the received game parameter; receiving a first indication of a first scoring event; receiving a second indication of a second scoring event; determining a first score of the game based on the first indication from the first score sensor; determining a second score of the game based on the second indication from the second score sensor; recording video of the game; transmitting the recorded video; and transmitting the first score and the second score.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an electronic scoreboard apparatus including an electronic scoring system having at least a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 transmitting a communication link to a user device from a data transmission module of the electronic scoring system to initiate the communication link with the user device before receiving at least one game parameter;   receiving, in the data transmission module from the user device, the at least one game parameter;   operating, using the processor, a game based on the at least one game parameter;   receiving, by the processor from a first score sensor, a first indication of a scoring event;   receiving, by the processor from a second score sensor, a second indication of a scoring;   determining, via the processor, a first score of the game based on the first indication from the first score sensor;   determining, via the processor, a second score of the game based on the second indication from the second score sensor;   recording, via a camera of the electronic scoreboard apparatus, a first recorded video of the game;   generating, based on the first and second score, a graphical overlay and overlaying the graphical overlay onto the first recorded video;   transmitting, from the data transmission module to the user device, the first recorded video;   updating, in response to an indication from one of the first sensor and the second sensor, the graphical overlay; and   transmitting, in real-time, from the data transmission module to the user device, the graphical overlay.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, using the processor, current values of the first and second scores;   determining, using the processor, at least one video frame of the first recorded video that corresponds to the current values of the first and second scores;   generating the graphical overlay with a graphical representation of the current values of the first and second scores; and   overlaying the graphical overlay with a graphical representation of the current values of the first and second scores on the at least one video frame.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 updating the graphical representation of the current values of the first and second scores in response to a change of at least one of the first and second scores.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating, using the processor, a game timer for the game;   identifying, using the processor, a most valuable player;   receiving, from the user device, an indication of a video replay option associate with the most valuable player;   generating, at a time prior to expiration of the game timer, a second recorded video including portions of the first recorded video which include the most valuable player;   interrupting, in response to expiration of the game timer, playback the first recorded video;   beginning playback of the second recorded video in response to interrupting playback of the first recorded video.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, from the data transmission module to the user device prior to beginning the game, an application configured to enable a user to select the at least one game parameter from a plurality of game parameters.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the user device and using the application, the first score and the second score.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, using the processor, that the at least one game parameter indicates that the game is to be a single-player game; and   disabling the second score sensor in response to determining that the game is to be a single-player game.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating, using the processor, a game timer for the game;   determining, using the processor and based on the game timer and the first score, a first statistic;   determining, using the processor and based on the game timer and the second score, a second statistic; and   transmitting, from the data transmission module to the user device, the first statistic and the second statistic.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating, using the processor, a game timer for the game;   recording a second recorded video including a portion leading to the end of the game;   editing the second recorded video, to play over a duration of time;   overlaying, using the processor, a winning graphic in at least a portion of the second recorded video, the portion of the second recorded video corresponding to the first score sensor;   transmitting, from the data transmission module to the user device, the second recorded video including the winning graphic;   interrupting, in response to expiration of the game timer, playback the first recorded video; and   beginning playback of the second recorded video in response to interrupting playback of the first recorded video.   
     
     
         10 . A system for operating a game scoreboard apparatus, the system comprising:
 an electronic scoring system, wherein the electronic scoring system includes a processor and is configured to:
 transmit a communication link to a user device from a data transmission module of the electronic scoring system to initiate the communication link with the user device before receiving at least one game parameter; 
 receive, in the data transmission module from the user device, the at least one game parameter; 
 operate, using the processor, a game based on the at least one game parameter; 
 receive, by the processor from a first score sensor, a first indication of a scoring event; 
 receive, by the processor from a second score sensor, a second indication of a scoring; 
 determine, via the processor, a first score of the game based on the first indication from the first score sensor; 
 determine, via the processor, a second score of the game based on the second indication from the second score sensor; 
 record, via a camera of the electronic scoreboard apparatus, a first recorded video of the game; 
 generate, based on the first and second score, a graphical overlay and overlaying the graphical overlay onto the first recorded video; 
 transmit, from the data transmission module to the user device, the first recorded video; 
 update, in response to an indication from one of the first sensor and the second sensor, the graphical overlay; and 
 transmit, in real-time, from the data transmission module to the user device, the graphical overlay. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic scoring system is further configured to:
 determine, using the processor, current values of the first and second scores;   determine, using the processor, at least one video frame of the first recorded video that corresponds to the current values of the first and second scores;   generate the graphical overlay with a graphical representation of the current values of the first and second scores; and   overlay the graphical overlay with a graphical representation of the current values of the first and second scores on the at least one video frame.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic scoring system is further configured to update the graphical representation of the current values of the first and second scores in response to a change of at least one of the first and second scores. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic scoring system is further configured to:
 operate, using the processor, a game timer for the game;   identify, using the processor, a most valuable player;   receive, from the user device, an indication of a video replay option associate with the most valuable player;   generate, at a time prior to expiration of the game timer, a second recorded video including portions of the first recorded video which include the most valuable player;   interrupt, in response to expiration of the game timer, playback the first recorded video;   begin playback of the second recorded video in response to interrupting playback of the first recorded video.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic scoring system is further configured to:
 transmit, from the data transmission module to the user device prior to beginning the game, an application configured to enable a user to select the at least one game parameter from a plurality of game parameters to cause the user device to display, using the application, the first score and the second score.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic scoring system is further configured to:
 determine, using the processor, that the at least one game parameter indicates that the game is to be a single-player game; and   disable the second score sensor in response to determining that the game is to be a single-player game.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic scoring system is further configured to:
 operate, using the processor, a game timer for the game;   determine, using the processor and based on the game timer and the first score, a first statistic;   determine, using the processor and based on the game timer and the second score, a second statistic; and   transmit, from the data transmission module to the user device, the first statistic and the second statistic.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic scoring system is further configured to:
 operate, using the processor, a game timer for the game;   record a second recorded video including a portion leading to the end of the game;   edit the second recorded video, to play over a duration of time;   overlay, using the processor, a winning graphic in at least a portion of the second recorded video, the portion of the second recorded video corresponding to the first score sensor;   transmit, from the data transmission module to the user device, the second recorded video including the winning graphic;   interrupt, in response to expiration of the game timer, playback the first recorded video; and   begin playback of the second recorded video in response to interrupting playback of the first recorded video.   
     
     
         18 . An electronic scoreboard apparatus comprising:
 a first score sensor configured to, during playing of a game, generate a first indication of a scoring event;   a second score sensor configured to, during playing of the game, generate a second indication of a scoring event;   a processor configured to:
 receive, from the first score sensor, the first indication; 
 receive, from the second score sensor, the second indication; 
 determine a first score of the game based on the first indication; 
 determine a second score of the game based on the second indication; 
 cause a communication link to be transmitted to a user device from a data transmission module of the electronic scoring system to initiate the communication link with the user device before receiving at least one game parameter; 
 receive, in the data transmission module from the user device, the at least one game parameter; 
 operate a game based on the at least one game parameter; 
 cause a camera of the electronic scoreboard apparatus to record a first recorded video of the game; 
 generate, based on the first and second score, a graphical overlay and overlaying the graphical overlay onto the first recorded video; 
 cause the data transmission module to transmit, to the user device, the first recorded video; 
 update, in response to a subsequent indication from one of the first sensor and the second sensor, the graphical overlay; and 
 cause, in real-time, the data transmission module to transmit to the user device the graphical overlay. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 operate, using the processor, a game timer for the game;   record a second recorded video including a portion leading to the end of the game;   edit the second recorded video, to play over a duration of time;   overlay, using the processor, a winning graphic in at least a portion of the second recorded video, the portion of the second recorded video corresponding to the first score sensor;   transmit, from the data transmission module to the user device, the second recorded video including the winning graphic;   interrupt, in response to expiration of the game timer, playback the first recorded video; and   begin playback of the second recorded video in response to interrupting playback of the first recorded video.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 operate a game timer for the game;   identify a most valuable player;   receive, from the user device, an indication of a video replay option associate with the most valuable player;   generate, at a time prior to expiration of the game timer, a second recorded video including portions of the first recorded video which include the most valuable player;   interrupt, in response to expiration of the game timer, playback the first recorded video;   begin playback of the second recorded video in response to interrupting playback of the first recorded video.