U.S. patent application number 11/417442 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for device and method for a dynamically configurable user interface in a game of chance.
Invention is credited to Mark Nicely.
Application Number | 20060252542 11/417442 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37308736 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060252542 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nicely; Mark |
November 9, 2006 |
Device and method for a dynamically configurable user interface in
a game of chance
Abstract
The device and method of the present invention configures a
gaming device so that an input device receiving input in one game
state to be interpreted and applied according to one input state is
reconfigured so that input received in a different game state is
interpreted and applied according to a different input state. In an
optional embodiment, multiple different input devices may be
reconfigured to provide the same input in one or more game states.
Also in optional embodiment, a set of input devices of a
cardinality in one game state may be reconfigured into a set of
input devices of different cardinality in another game state.
Inventors: |
Nicely; Mark; (Daly City,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT RYAN MORISHITA;MORISHITA LAW FIRM, LLC
3800 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY,
SUITE 850
LAS VEGAS
NV
89169
US
|
Family ID: |
37308736 |
Appl. No.: |
11/417442 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60677513 |
May 3, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3209 20130101;
G07F 17/3232 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/036 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming device comprising: an electronic display; an input
device receiving user input; and a processor in communication with
said display and said input device, said processor adapted to
execute instructions to conduct a game of chance having at least
two game states and said input device adapted to reconfigure
between at least two different input states, each input state
correlated to a game state such that user input received at said
input device in a game state is interpreted by the processor
according to the input state associated with that game state.
2. The device of claim 1 comprising at least two input devices,
each said input device adapted to reconfigure between at least two
different input states, each input state correlated to a game state
such that user input received at said input device in a game state
is interpreted by the processor according to the input state
associated with that game state.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein at least two of said input devices
are configured such that in at least one game state, at least two
of said input devices are correlated to the same input state such
that user input received at any of said at least two input devices
is interpreted as the same user input by said processor.
4. The device of claim 2 wherein at least two of said input devices
are configured such that (a) in at least one game state, at least
two of said input devices are correlated to the same input state
such that user input received at any of said at least two input
devices is interpreted as the same user input by said processor and
(b) in at least one other game state, said at least two input
devices are correlated to different input states such that user
input received at any of said at least two input devices is
interpreted as different user input by said processor.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said input device is configured
with one or more visible attributes associated with each input
state, said input device adapted to alter its visible attributes to
indicate the input state for which said input device is
configured.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said game states include at least
one game state during conduct of said game of chance and at least
one game state between conduct of consecutive games of chance, and
wherein said input device is configured such that at least one of
said input states is correlated to a game state occurring during
conduct of said game of chance and at least one of said input
states is correlated to a game state occurring between consecutive
games of chance.
7. A gaming device comprising: an electronic display; an input
device receiving user input; and a processor in communication with
said display and said input device, said processor including a data
structure storing instructions to conduct a game of chance having
at least two game states and at least two different input states,
each said input state correlated to a game state, said input device
adapted to reconfigure between said at least two different input
states such that user input received at said input device in one
game state is interpreted by said processor according to the input
state associated with that one game state, whereas user input
received at said input device in a different game state is
interpreted by said processor according to the input state
associated with that different game state.
8. The device of claim 7 comprising at least two input devices,
each said input device adapted to reconfigure between at least two
different input states, each input state correlated to a game state
such that user input received at said input device in a game state
is interpreted by the processor according to the input state
associated with that game state.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein at least two of said input devices
are configured such that in at least one game state, at least two
of said input devices are correlated to the same input state such
that user input received at any of said at least two input devices
is interpreted as the same user input by said processor.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein at least two of said input
devices are configured such that (a) in at least one game state, at
least two of said input devices are correlated to the same input
state such that user input received at any of said at least two
input devices is interpreted as the same user input by said
processor and (b) in at least one other game state, said at least
two input devices are correlated to different input states such
that user input received at any of said at least two input devices
is interpreted as different user input by said processor.
11. The device of claim 7 wherein said input device is configured
with one or more visible attributes associated with each input
state, said input device adapted to alter its visible attributes to
indicate the input state for which said input device is
configured.
12. The device of claim 7 wherein said game states include at least
one game state during conduct of said game of chance and at least
one game state between conduct of consecutive games of chance, and
wherein said input device is configured such that at least one of
said input states is correlated to a game state occurring during
conduct of said game of chance and at least one of said input
states is correlated to a game state occurring between consecutive
games of chance.
13. A gaming device for conducting at least one game of chance
having a plurality of game states comprising: at least one input
device receiving user input, said input device having at least one
input button adapted to dynamically reconfigure between at least
two different input states with one or more visible attributes
associated with each input state, said input device adapted to
alter its visible attributes to indicate the input state for which
said input device is configured; a processor in communication with
said at least one input device; and a data structure in
communication with said processor, said data structure storing
correlations between said input states and said game states and
instructions executable by said processor to conduct said game of
chance such that user input received at said input device at one
game state of said game of chance is interpreted by said processor
according to an input state correlated to that one game state and
user input received at said input device at a different game state
of said game of chance is interpreted by said processor according
to an input state correlated to that different game state.
14. The gaming device of claim 13 wherein said input device
includes at least one mechanical button.
15. The gaming device of claim 14 wherein said mechanical button
includes indicia for each input state and an illumination device
for each indicia, said processor adapted to selectively illuminate
indicia for an input state correlated to a game state during said
game of chance.
16. The gaming device of claim 13 wherein said input device
includes at least one display button at said display.
17. The gaming device of claim 16 wherein said data structure
stores a display button image for each input state, said processor
adapted to display a display button for an input state correlated
to a game state during said game of chance.
18. The gaming device of claim 17 wherein said display button image
for each input state is substantially the same dimensions when
displayed on said display.
19. The gaming device of claim 17 wherein said data structure
stores at least one large display button image and at least two
small display button images that are substantially the same
dimensions as said large display button image when displayed
simultaneously adjacent to one another on said display.
20. The gaming device of claim 13 further comprising: a terminal
processor in communication with said input device; a terminal
communication device in communication with said terminal processor;
and a host communication device in communication with said terminal
communication device and said processor, such that said input
device is remote from said processor.
21. The gaming device of claim 20 wherein said host communication
device and said terminal communication device are adapted to
communicate through a computer network.
22. The device of claim 13 comprising a plurality of input devices,
wherein at least two of said input devices are configured such that
in at least one game state, at least two of said input devices are
correlated to the same input state such that user input received at
any of said at least two input devices is interpreted as the same
user input by said processor.
23. The device of claim 13 comprising a plurality of input devices,
wherein at least two of said input devices are configured such that
(a) in at least one game state, at least two of said input devices
are correlated to the same input state such that user input
received at any of said at least two input devices is interpreted
as the same user input by said processor and (b) in at least one
other game state, said at least two input devices are correlated to
different input states such that user input received at any of said
at least two input devices is interpreted as different user input
by said processor.
24. The device of claim 13 wherein said game states include at
least one game state during conduct of said game of chance and at
least one game state between conduct of consecutive games of
chance, and wherein said input device is configured such that at
least one of said input states is correlated to a game state
occurring during conduct of said game of chance and at least one of
said input states is correlated to a game state occurring between
consecutive games of chance.
25. A method for conducting a game of chance having a plurality of
game states comprising: providing an input device receiving user
input; defining at least two different input states, each input
state associated with different effects in said game of chance;
correlating each input state to at least one game state; conducting
said game of chance; and receiving user input from said input
device during said game of chance, said user input effecting said
game of chance according to the effect associated with the input
state correlated to the game state at the point when the user input
is received, such that user input received at said input device
during game states correlated to different input states effects
said game of chance differently.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein said input device is a
mechanical button including indicia for each input state, the
method further comprising selectively illuminating indicia for an
input state correlated to a game state during said game of
chance.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein said input device is a display
button, the method further comprising: storing a display button
image for each input state; and displaying a display button image
for an input state correlated to a game state during said game of
chance.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein said display button image for
each input state is substantially the same dimensions when
displayed on said display.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said display
button images is a large display button image and at least two of
said display button images are small display button images that are
substantially the same dimensions as said large display button
image when displayed simultaneously adjacent to one another on said
display.
30. The method of claim 25 wherein a plurality of input devices are
provided, said method further comprising configuring at least two
of said input devices such that in at least one game state, at
least two of said input devices are correlated to the same input
state such that user input received at any of said at least two
input devices is interpreted as the same user input by said
processor.
31. The method of claim 25 wherein a plurality of input devices are
provided, said method further comprising configuring at least two
of said input devices such that (a) in at least one game state, at
least two of said input devices are correlated to the same input
state such that user input received at any of said at least two
input devices is interpreted as the same user input by said
processor and (b) in at least one other game state, said at least
two input devices are correlated to different input states such
that user input received at any of said at least two input devices
is interpreted as different user input by said processor.
32. The method of claim 25 further comprising: associating one or
more visible attributes of said input device with each input state;
and altering visible attributes of said input device to indicate
the input state for which said input device is configured.
33. The method of claim 25 wherein said game states include at
least one game state during conduct of said game of chance and at
least one game state between conduct of consecutive games of
chance, said method further comprising correlating at least one of
said input states to a game state occurring during conduct of said
game of chance and correlating at least one of said input states to
a game state occurring between consecutive games of chance.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] The present application claims the priority of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/677,513, entitled "Device and
Method for User Interface in Games of Chance," filed May 3, 2005 by
Applicant herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to electronic gaming systems
and devices. More particularly, the present invention is a method
and system in which an input interface is reconfigurable to a
primary input during the course of a game, thereby allowing players
to input certain selections faster and easier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] User interface is a critical component to the success of an
electronic gaming system. There are two major factors that come
into play. A player may be unlikely to even play a game whose user
interface is too confusing. Similarly, a confusing experience,
though overcome, may still leave the player feeling insecure.
Another factor is one of ergonomics. The more effort and movement
required by a player to continue playing, the more likely such a
player will end their play session early.
[0004] There are some techniques used in electronic gaming systems
to address these user interface concerns. One such technique would
be to put user control buttons close to one another to minimize the
amount of hand or pointer movement the player has to make to move
between the last selection and the next one. Another technique is
to somehow brighten, color or highlight buttons that the game
designer wishes to encourage the player to notice and use. Another
technique is to place the most important button in the most
convenient place relative to the other buttons. For an electronic
game with a touch-screen interface, this often would be the
right-most position closest to the player's right hand.
[0005] These techniques, however, are limited or made more
difficult by the fact that the relative use of game buttons often
changes as the game progresses through multiple game states. For
example, the game buttons to control initial wagers may be
essential prior to the start of a game, but unused after the play
commences. The Hold/Discard game buttons in a draw poker game are
not needed until after wagering completes, but then become
essential.
[0006] In order to take such variability of importance into
account, one technique would be to employ reconfigurable game
buttons where the function and labeling of a given game button may
be altered as the phase of the game changes. For example, a game
may continually offer the most-used or most desirable function at
the right edge of the control bar at the bottom of the screen, with
such game button displayed in a distinct bright color such as
gold.
[0007] In a game like Three Card Poker, the rightmost game button
would change function and label based on the step of the game.
After a game has been played, and before the next game is begun,
this game button functions as REBET. Once a bet is placed, the game
button becomes DEAL. Once the deal begins and the player must make
play decisions, the game button is PLAY. Other play decision game
buttons, such as FOLD, are placed proximal to the REBET/DEAL/PLAY
game button to reduce the distance between such game buttons as are
typically used in sequence, and hence the effort required for the
player to move his cursor from where it originally was (typically
over the DEAL game button when the game is started) to where it
needs to be for the player to input the desired selection.
[0008] Usually, the last game button input a player makes in the
Three Card Poker game is either FOLD or PLAY. If the player last
chose PLAY, then the cursor will already be positioned for to click
REBET without being moved. If the player has reason to believe that
the cursor has not moved since clicking PLAY, the player does not
even need to look at the position of the cursor to know it is
properly placed to click the next game button. If the player last
chose FOLD, the player will have to move the cursor to be
positioned to subsequently click the rightmost game button (REBET)
to continue play. The distance to move the cursor will, however, be
minimized.
[0009] As the exigencies of the game vary from game step to game
step, the expected sequence of game buttons to be selected may
vary. Thus in order to continue to improve the ergonomic efficiency
of a game by minimizing cursor movement or effort required for user
input selection, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for
a method and device which include an input device that is
reconfigurable throughout the play of a game to ease the selection
of game options by a player. Furthermore, as the number of relevant
game buttons may vary between game states, in implementations where
it is technically feasible, there is a need to be able to
reconfigure one set of game buttons to a second set of game buttons
of unlike cardinality, e.g. 1-to-n or n-to-1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is a method for dynamically
reconfiguring an input device for different input states depending
upon game state. The present invention also includes a device with
one or more reconfigurable input devices. According to the present
invention, a single input device can have different effects during
the course of a game. That is, according to the present invention,
an input device may be dynamically reconfigured for different input
states to provide different input to a game depending upon the game
state of a game of chance when the input device is actuated.
[0011] According to an optional embodiment of the present
invention, a gaming device for conducting a game of chance with
multiple game states includes an electronic display, an input
device receiving user input, and a processor in communication with
the display and the input device. The processor is adapted to
execute instructions to conduct a game having at least two game
states. Two or more input states are correlated to different game
states and the input device is adapted to reconfigure between the
different input states. In this manner, user input received at the
input device in a game state is interpreted by the processor
according to the input state associated with that game state. More
specifically, user input received at the input device in one game
state is interpreted by the processor according to the input state
associated with that one game state, whereas user input received at
the input device in a different game state is interpreted by the
processor according to the input state associated with that
different game state. It is noted that the present invention may
include multiple input devices, with each the input device adapted
to reconfigure between or among different input states correlated
to different game states.
[0012] For example, in one optional embodiment, a gaming device
conducts at least one game of chance having a plurality of game
states. The gaming device includes at least one input device
receiving user input communicating with a processor.
[0013] The input device has at least one input button adapted to
dynamically reconfigure between at least two different input
states. The input device may include mechanical buttons, display
buttons, or the like. In one optional embodiment including
mechanical buttons, the mechanical buttons may include indicia for
each input state and an illumination device for each indicia. In
such an optional embodiment, the processor is adapted to
selectively illuminate indicia for an input state correlated to a
game state during the game of chance.
[0014] In another optional embodiment, the input device may include
at least one display button at the display. In such an optional
embodiment, the data structure may store a display button image for
each input state and the processor directs the display of a display
button for an input state correlated to a game state during the
game of chance. The display buttons could take many different
forms. In one optional embodiment, the display button image for
each input state is substantially the same dimensions when
displayed on the display. In another optional embodiment, the data
structure stores at least one large display button image and at
least two small display button images that are substantially the
same dimensions as the large display button image when displayed
simultaneously adjacent to one another on the display.
[0015] As noted above, a processor is in communication with the one
input device(s) and a data structure communicating with the
processor. The data structure stores correlations between the input
states and the game states and instructions executable by the
processor to conduct the game of chance. User input received at the
input device at one game state of the game of chance is interpreted
by the processor according to an input state correlated to that
game state and user input received at the input device at a
different game state of the game of chance is interpreted by the
processor according to an input state correlated to that different
game state.
[0016] In an optional embodiment, the processor is remote from the
input device. In such an optional embodiment, the input device is
in communication with a terminal processor. The terminal processor
communicates with a terminal communication device which, in turn,
communicates with a host communication device. Optionally, the
terminal communication device and host communication device
communicate through a computer network, such as a local area
network ("LAN"), wide area network ("WAN"), or Internet. The
processor communicates with the host communication device.
[0017] The present invention also includes a method. According to
an embodiment of the present invention, a method for conducting a
game of chance having a plurality of game states includes providing
an input device receiving user input. At least two different input
states are defined with each input state associated with different
effects in the game of chance. Each input state is correlated to at
least one game state in the game of chance. The game of chance is
conducted. User input is received at the input device during the
game of chance. The user input effects the game of chance according
to the effect associated with the input state correlated to the
game state at the point when the user input is received. In this
manner, user input received at the input device during game states
correlated to different input states effects the game of chance
differently.
[0018] The input device could take many different forms. In one
optional embodiment, the input device is a mechanical button
including indicia for each input state. In such an optional
embodiment, the method further includes selectively illuminating
indicia for an input state correlated to a game state during the
game of chance.
[0019] In another optional embodiment, the input device is a
display button. In such an optional embodiment, the method further
includes storing a display button image for each input state. A
display button image is displayed for an input state correlated to
a game state during the game of chance. Optionally, the display
button image for each input state is substantially the same
dimensions when displayed on the display. In another optional
embodiment, at least one of the display button images is a large
display button image and at least two of the display button images
are small display button images that are substantially the same
dimensions as the large display button image when displayed
simultaneously adjacent to one another on the display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a state diagram of a game state transition from
a single input state to a multiple inputs state according to an
optional embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a state diagram of a game state transition from
a multiple inputs state to a single input state according to an
optional embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3A shows a game button configuration associated with a
state according to an optional embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 3B shows a game button configuration associated with a
different state of the game buttons of FIG. 3A;
[0024] FIG. 3C shows a game button configuration associated with a
different state of the game buttons of FIG. 3A;
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a game device according to an
optional embodiment of the present invention with mechanical game
buttons showing multiple states;
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a game device according to the
optional embodiment of FIG. 4 with mechanical game buttons in a
game state;
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a front view of a game device according to the
optional embodiment of FIG. 4 with mechanical game buttons in an
alternate game state;
[0028] FIG. 7 shows a front view of a game device according to an
optional embodiment of the invention with mechanical and display
game buttons in a game state;
[0029] FIG. 8 shows a front view of a game device according to the
optional embodiment of FIG. 7 with mechanical and display game
buttons in an alternate game state.
DESCRIPTION
[0030] Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are
referred to by like numerals throughout. The present invention is a
device and method for reconfiguring an input device according to
the step of a game being played. It is noted that the present
invention could be directed for use with any game and the examples
given below should not be construed as limiting. It is also noted
that the present invention encompasses any form of input device
including the display and buttons illustrated in the figures, as
well as any other form of input device including, but not limited
to, mechanical button, display button, touchscreen, controllers,
mice, keypads, keyboards, pointers, joysticks, or any other device
receiving input from a user.
[0031] The present invention is a method and device directed for
use for any game of chance having at least two game states. It is
noted that the game states may be defined in any manner. At least
two input states are defined and correlated to game states. Input
states define how input received at an input device is to be
interpreted in the game of chance at the correlated game state.
Thus, as each game state is reached, the input state associated
with that game state is enabled and the input device may be
reconfigured so that the input called for in the input state are
prompted.
[0032] According to the present invention, the input device is
reconfigured to receive input during the multiple steps of a game,
using a single input device or instrumentation for multiple
distinct input purposes or effects throughout the course of a game.
More specifically, an input device is adapted to reconfigure
between at least two different input states. Each input state is
correlated to a game state. In this manner, user input received at
the input device in any game state is interpreted according to the
input state associated with that game state. Thus, user input
received at the input device in one game state is interpreted
according to the input state associated with that one game state,
whereas user input received at the input device in a different game
state is interpreted according to the input state associated with
that different game state.
[0033] For example, when playing a card game offering the player
two or more play choices, such as in the case of Three Card Poker
having a FOLD or PLAY input during the play of a hand, and at least
one wager input prior to commencement of the play of the hand, each
step of play would reconfigure at least one input game button to
facilitate the entry of such player's choice or choices as may be
associated with the step in progress. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in
optional embodiments where it is technically feasible, the
reconfiguration may redefine a set of n game buttons as a set of m
game buttons, where n is unequal to m.
[0034] In such an implementation, illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and
discussed in greater detail later, an interface for Three Card
Poker incorporating the present invention could include
reconfiguring mechanical game buttons 737, 738 used for selection
of a FOLD 737 or PLAY 738 selection at a game state during the play
of a hand (shown in FIG. 7) into mechanical game buttons 737, 738
used for selection of a REBET 737, 738 selection at a game state
following completion of the play of a hand (shown in FIG. 8).
Similarly, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an optional embodiment in which
display game buttons 727, 728 used for selection of a FOLD 727 or
PLAY 738 selection at a game state during the play of a hand are
reconfigured to a single display game button 827 used for selection
of a REBET 827 selection at a game state following completion of
the play of a hand. In this manner, the player could effect a FOLD
or PLAY input during the game and a REBET input after the game
without repositioning his finger or pointing device. In an
alternate optional embodiment, the reconfiguration could effectuate
a REDEAL input which would activate a new game using the same wager
as the prior game, combining a REBET and a DEAL input. In an
alternate optional embodiment, such as in jurisdictions which
require the player to actively collect any prize awarded to them,
the input after an award event could be reconfigured to permit a
COLLECT input.
[0035] It is noted that the present invention could be applied to
any input device, whether that input device is mechanical,
electronic, or any other type of input device. Thus, even though
FIGS. 4-6 illustrate an optional embodiment in which the input
device includes mechanical buttons, and FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an
optional embodiment in which the input device includes mechanical
buttons and display buttons, it is contemplated that other types of
inputs could be used in the present invention, including,
specifically, an optional embodiment using only display
buttons.
[0036] Referring specifically to FIGS. 4-6, the present invention
could be applied to a gaming device having mechanical game buttons
that have indicia to identify the input state and an illumination
device, such as a lamp, light, light emitting diode ("LED"), or the
like, to illuminate or highlight the indicia corresponding to the
input state at that particular game state. That is, as illustrated
in FIGS. 5 and 6, the input device could include one or more
mechanical buttons with different indicia (text areas in this
example) that can be independently lighted or highlighted to
reflect the reconfiguration of the input device.
[0037] In alternate embodiments, not shown, a mechanical game
button may change its display of indicia, or of illumination of
indicia, under computer control. Similarly, in an alternate
optional embodiment (not shown), the color of a mechanical game
button may be changed to reflect a reconfiguration of input
options. In yet another optional embodiment (not shown), the
reconfiguration status of mechanical game buttons may be indicated
on a display device in such a way that the player may readily
determine the purpose and effect of such game buttons. Optionally,
the display area may be proximal to the game buttons. It is
contemplated that an embodiment may include two or more input
devices, such as multiple game buttons, which share a similar text
or display to indicate that any of these input devices could
provide the same input. Such implementation may be effective for
implementations utilizing, for example, a PC connected to a server
or the Internet for execution of a gaming event which employs
remote processing or other interface.
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a state diagram of a game state
transition from a single input state 101 to a multiple input state
102 according to an optional embodiment of the present invention.
In this optional embodiment, the input game button could be
reconfigurable between utilization for a single input and
utilization for multiple inputs. For example, in one optional
embodiment, a single input game button could be reconfigurable to
cover the size and space of multiple input game buttons and vice
versa. After the transition, the reconfigurable input game button
may be replaced by a plurality of input game buttons. FIG. 2 shows
a state diagram of a game state transition from a multiple input
state 201 to a single input state 202 according to another optional
embodiment. It is noted that the game states, and the corresponding
input states, may be cyclical, i.e. cycle between or among two or
more states, or may be non-cyclical, i.e. linear, branching, or the
like, depending upon the game of chance.
[0039] Turning to FIGS. 3A-3C, an optional embodiment of dynamic
reconfiguration of an input device, in this case display buttons,
to provide input appropriate to several different game states
illustrated. Within each such state user an input device in the
form of a display button panel 301 associated with that state are
displayed. This embodiment includes a prewager state (shown in FIG.
3A), a predeal state (shown in FIG. 3B), and a game play state
(shown in FIG. 3C). Each of the states features a Help game button
305 in a fixed location. Thus, in this optional embodiment, the
Help game button 305 undergoes no reconfiguration. In the prewager
state of FIG. 3A, there is a reconfigurable REBET game button 307,
which occupies an area substantially equivalent to the area
occupied by multiple input game buttons, i.e. a FOLD game button
327 and PLAY game button 328, in FIG. 3C. The prewager state of
FIG. 3A also includes two smaller input game buttons, HELP 305 and
BET 1 306. In this example, according to the underlying game of
chance, the BET 1 game button 306 is only used in the prewager
state of FIG. 3A, and reconfigures in the other two states shown in
FIGS. 3B and 3C to provide no function or effect in those game
states.
[0040] Continuing with the example, the predeal state of FIG. 3B
has a DEAL game button 317 as well as a HELP game button 305. The
HELP game button 305 is carried over from the prewager state shown
in FIG. 3A, and the DEAL game button 317 in the predeal state of
FIG. 3B is a reconfiguration of the REBET game buttons 307 in the
prewager state shown in FIG. 3A and occupies the same location.
Optionally, as illustrated, the reconfigurable REBET game button
307 and DEAL game button 317 may be displayed in a highlighted form
to be more noticeable to the player.
[0041] In the optional embodiment illustrated, the location
allocated to the REBET game button 307 in the prewager state of
FIG. 3A and the DEAL game button 317 in the predeal state of FIG.
3B is reconfigured in the game play state of FIG. 3C as two game
buttons, a FOLD game button 327 and a PLAY game button 328, along
with the HELP game button 305 which is not reconfigured between
game states. That is, the HELP game button 305 is carried over
through each game state in this example. The FOLD game button 327
and the PLAY game button 328 of the game play state of FIG. 3C
together occupy the same space as the REBET game button 307 of the
prewager state of FIG. 3A or the DEAL game button 317 of the
predeal state of FIG. 3B. It should be noted that, while FIGS.
3A-3C show the reconfigured game buttons occupying the same size
and shape in each reconfiguration, this limitation is not necessary
to this invention and the reconfigured game buttons could occupy
larger, smaller, or differently-shaped areas in each
reconfiguration while remaining within the scope and spirit of this
invention.
[0042] The game illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 includes two game states,
a predeal state, which includes wager information, and a game play
state. FIG. 4 illustrates an optional embodiment consisting of a
gaming device 402 comprising a processor 406, a display 404,
optionally a video display, an input device comprising a mechanical
game button panel 430, and one or more areas for identifying other
game information such as wagers 440 placed and awards 442
collected. It is noted that in this optional embodiment, the input
device communicates with the data processor 406 and the data
processor 406 interprets user input received at the input device
depending upon game state, as described in greater detail below. In
an optional embodiment, the processor 406 may be in communication
with a data structure storing instructions for the conduct of the
game of chance along with the input states correlated with game
states. In this manner, when a game state is reached, the
appropriate input state is used by the processor 406 to interpret
user input received at the input device.
[0043] The mechanical game button panel 430 may include
non-reconfigurable input game buttons 431, 432, i.e. game buttons
that do not have different input states depending upon game state,
in addition to reconfigurable input game buttons 437, 438, i.e.
game buttons that do have different input states depending upon
game state. In this optional example, one portion 451, 453 of the
reconfigurable game buttons 437, 438 display visual attributes, in
this case indicia, associated with a predeal game state while
another portion 452, 454 of the reconfigurable game buttons 437,
438 display indicia associated with a different post-play game
state. In one embodiment, there is includes no special lighting in
or on the mechanical game buttons 437 438 to indicate the
configuration status of the game buttons. In such an optional
embodiment, the input state could be determined by the player based
upon game context or indicated by messaging in the game display
area 408. In an other optional embodiment, the portion of the game
buttons 437 with the visual attribute, e.g. indicia, color,
graphic, or the like, identifying the input state is illuminated,
highlighted, or otherwise signified during each game state
associated with that input state.
[0044] Thus, in the optional embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and
6, each reconfigurable game button 437, 438 includes an
illumination device, or other illumination means, to highlight the
indicia identifying the input state 551, 553, 652, 654 enabled for
that game state. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 5, the text
indicating the input state of game button 437 for FOLD 551 is
highlighted and the text indicating the input state of game button
438 for CALL 553 is highlighted while the disabled REDEAL 452, 454
input states of the game buttons 437, 438 are dimmed or
unilluminated. In FIG. 6 the text indicating the input state of
both game buttons 437, 438 for REDEAL 652, 654 are highlighted
while the disabled FOLD 451 and CALL 453 input states of the game
buttons 437, 438 are dimmed or unilluminated.
[0045] In this example, the game state of FIG. 6 includes redundant
game buttons 437, 438, that is, game buttons that are correlated to
the same input state. In other words, at the game state of FIG. 6,
user input received at either game button 437, 438 would be
interpreted as the same user input, a REDEAL in this example. This
is contrasted from the preceding game state of FIG. 5 where the
game buttons 437, 428 are correlated to different input states so
that user input received at the game buttons 437, 438 would be
interpreted as different user input, a FOLD or a CALL,
respectively, in this example. It is noted that each of these game
state-input state correlations could be used separately or together
within the scope of the present invention.
[0046] It is also noted that in this example, the game state of
FIG. 6 occurs between games whereas the game state of FIG. 5 occurs
during a game. It is contemplated that game states at any point
during the conduct of a game of chance, or a series of games of
chance, and the input states may similarly receive user input
during conduct of a game of chance, or between games of chance.
[0047] An alternate optional embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 7
and 8 that includes reconfigurable mechanical game buttons 737, 738
and reconfigurable display game buttons 727, 728, 827 such as mouse
fields, touchscreen buttons, or other displayed, rather than
physical, buttons. In this optional embodiment the display area 704
may include an area 708 in which to display standard video game
information and a display button panel 720 for the display and
operation of reconfigurable display game buttons 727, 728, 827. In
the optional embodiment illustrated, such display game buttons 727,
728, 827 are part of the input device and receive input directly by
the player such as by touch, a mouse, a pointer, or other input. In
alternate optional embodiments (not shown), such display game
buttons might be for display only with the corresponding mechanical
game buttons being the sole input device. In the optional
embodiment illustrated, non-reconfigurable display game buttons
721, 722, i.e. game buttons that do not change input states
depending upon game state, may be displayed along with the
reconfigurable display game buttons 727, 728, 827. In alternate
optional embodiments, more, or less, display game buttons may be
utilized, and such game buttons may include only reconfigurable
display game buttons, only non-reconfigurable display game buttons,
or both.
[0048] Turning to the optional embodiment of FIG. 7, a game state
associated with FOLD and CALL input states are enabled. Thus, in
the game state of FIG. 7, the FOLD game button 727 and the CALL
game button 728 are displayed and actuating the FOLD button 727 or
CALL button 728 would be interpreted in accord with those input
states. In FIG. 8 a different game state is illustrated in which
the FOLD button 727 and CALL button 728 has been reconfigured as a
REDEAL game button 827. This REDEAL game button 827 occupies the
same screen area in the game state of FIG. 8 as would be occupied
by both the FOLD game button 727 and the CALL game button 728 in
the game state of FIG. 7. In alternate optional embodiments, the
REDEAL game button 827 may be displayed to occupy the area of only
the FOLD game button 727 or the CALL game button 728, or may occupy
a totally different area instead. Such variation is within the
spirit and scope of the invention being described.
[0049] While certain embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described it is to be understood that the present
invention is subject to many modifications and changes without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention presented
herein.
* * * * *