Electronic Card Table With Player Interaction Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional poker games, both in-person and online, face issues such as human dealer errors, training and retention challenges for dealers, and the lack of a human element which affects player interaction and strategy development, as well as limitations in private and secure pre-selection of wagering actions.
Innovation Solution
An electronic card table system with networked electronic player interaction areas and a game computer that administers betting rounds, allowing players to send pre-selected wagering actions privately and securely, while maintaining the ambience of a live game by displaying hole cards and community cards in a controlled manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a human dealer is used to coordinate the game, then player interaction and strategy development are enhanced, but human error and training/retention challenges occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual representations of players (avatars) that copy human player behaviors, betting patterns, and strategic decisions. These virtual players are programmed to simulate human-like gameplay, allowing the game to continue without human dealers while maintaining the essence of player interaction. The system captures and reproduces player characteristics digitally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical human dealer system with an electronic computer-controlled system. The dealer functions (dealing cards, managing bets, enforcing rules) are transferred from human dealers to software algorithms, eliminating human error while maintaining game coordination through automated electronic processes.
2Ease of operation
If players can pre-select wagering actions privately, then strategy development is enhanced, but security and fairness challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the pre-selected wagering action is embedded within the game's betting round framework. The system allows players to nest their strategic decisions (pre-selected actions) within the structured progression of betting rounds, ensuring that pre-selections are processed securely within the established game protocol and timing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables players to perform preliminary actions by pre-selecting wagering actions before their actual turn in the betting round. This allows players to strategize and commit to decisions in advance, improving ease of operation and strategic depth, while the system securely processes these pre-selected actions when the appropriate moment arises in the game flow.
3Productivity
If Internet gaming is used, then convenience and speed are improved, but the human element and live gaming experience are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual representations of players (avatars) that copy human player behaviors, betting patterns, and strategic decisions. These virtual players are programmed to simulate human-like gameplay, allowing the game to continue without human dealers while maintaining the essence of player interaction. The system captures and reproduces player characteristics digitally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the gaming experience by changing parameters from purely physical human interaction to a hybrid digital-physical experience. The system maintains parameters related to human-like behavior (strategic decision-making, betting patterns, interaction timing) while changing the medium from physical presence to electronic representation, preserving the human element's essence while enabling Internet-based convenience and speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing an electronic card game of the present invention includes a table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas (EPIAs) located around the playing surface. Each electronic player interaction area is designed to provide a player interface for interaction with one of the players. A wager options buttons, such as “Raise”, “Fold”, and “Check” buttons are defined in each EPIA to allow the players to make pre-selected wagering action in advance as the electronic card game proceeds. A game computer is coupled to the plurality of EPIAs for administering the electronic card game and for determining when the player is allowed to activate on of the wager options buttons.