# US 11,113,927 B2 · Electronic betting assistant and methods therefor

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- Number: US 11,113,927 B2
- Document ID: US11113927B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/826,680
- Filed: 2017-11-30
- Published: 2019-05-30
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-30
- Assignees: Empire Technological Group Limited
- Applicants: Empire Technology Group Limited
- Inventors: Linyi Frank Feng; Daryn Kiely; Jeffrey E. Harris; Randy Graham
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113927B2

## CPC

- G07F 17/322: {Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means}
- G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen}
- G07F 17/3211: {Display means}
- G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes}
- G07F 17/3288: {Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking}
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

An electronic apparatus that facilitates wagers (or bets) for gaming apparatus. The electronic apparatus can be referred to as an electronic betting assistant (or electronic wager assistant). The electronic apparatus can assist dealer and/or players in placing wagers. In one embodiment, the electronic apparatus can include an electronic scale that is configured to weigh one or more objects representing a wager (e.g., chips) and then utilize at least the weight to determine a value of the wager. The electronic apparatus can be used with a multi-player gaming apparatus such as a gaming table that provides a wager-based game. Advantageously, wagers are able to be more rapidly and conveniently placed such that wager-based games are able to operate more efficiently.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wagering table for supporting wager-based table games, said wagering table comprising:
a table surface providing a gaming surface for a wager-based table game, the table surface supporting a plurality of player positions provided about the table surface;
a table controller supporting the wager-based table game; and
a plurality of electronic bet assistants, each of the electronic bet assistants being at least partially integrated into the table surface at or proximate to a corresponding one of the player positions,
wherein each of the electronic bet assistants includes at least:
an electronic scale;
a visual output apparatus configured to provide a visual notification at the corresponding one of the player positions;
a bet assistant controller operatively connected to the electronic scale; and
a communication interface, operatively connected to the bet assistant controller, for communicating with the table controller of said wagering table, and
wherein, for each of the electronic bet assistants, the visual output apparatus is positioned vertically over and mechanically coupled to the electronic scale.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the bet assistant controller monitors the electronic scale to enable acceptance and confirmation of a bet made using at least one of the electronic bet assistants.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the bet assistant controller monitors the electronic scale to enable a bet to be made during a permitted betting window using at least one of the electronic bet assistants.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein said wagering table comprises:
a display device configured to display a graphical user interface that presents an estimated bet and permits the corresponding player to confirm the bet amount.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The wagering table as recited in claim 4, wherein the bet assistant controller monitors the electronic scale to detect bet changes after the bet has been confirmed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic bet assistant comprises:
a presence sensor operatively connected to the bet assistant controller, the presence sensor detecting presence of an object on at least a portion of the electronic bet assistant.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic bet assistant comprises:
an optical sensor operatively connected to the bet assistant controller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual output apparatus comprises a touch screen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual output apparatus comprising a plurality of individually controllable lighting elements.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual output apparatus has a ring-shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the electronic bet assistants has a housing that at least partially contains at least the electronic scale, the visual output apparatus, the bet assistant and the communication interface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein each the electronic bet assistants provides one or more notifications using the visual output apparatus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the notifications include a betting permitted notification and a betting closed notification.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual output apparatus comprises a display provided as a top surface of the electronic bet assistant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic bet assistant comprises:
another electronic scale operatively connected to the bet assistant controller.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The wagering table as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual notification provided by the visual output apparatus includes a betting now permitted notification, a betting not now permitted notification, or a bet placed notification.

### Claim 17

A computer-implemented method for assisting a player of a wager-based game in wagering one or more objects on the wager-based game, the method comprising:
detecting a first weight of a first set of the one or more objects, on a first electronic bet assistant associated with the player, that the player intends to wager on the wager-based game, the first electronic bet assistant being provided at a player bet area of a gaming table, and the first electronic bet assistant having a display screen and a digital scale, wherein the display screen is positioned vertically over and mechanically coupled to the digital scale;
determining whether the wager-based game is presently accepting first wagers on the wager-based game;
permitting the player to make a first wager on the wager-based game when the determining determines that the wager-based game is presently accepting first wagers on the wager-based game;
detecting a second weight of a second set of the one or more objects, on a second electronic bet assistant associated with the player, that the player intends to wager on the wager-based game, the second electronic bet assistant being provided at the player bet area of the gaming table;
determining whether the wager-based game is accepting second wagers on the wager-based game;
permitting the player to make a second wager on the wager-based game when the determining determines that the wager-based game is accepting second wagers on the wager-based game;
estimating the first wager that the player intends to wager on the wager-based game based on at least the first weight of the first set of the one or more objects; and
estimating the second wager that the player intends to wager on the wager-based game based on at least the weight of the second set of the one or more objects.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein the method comprises:
receiving a confirmation of the first wager based on the estimating of the first wager; and
accepting the first wager from the player, the first wager being based on the estimating of the first wager provided that the confirmation of the first wager has been received, and further provided that the permitting permits the player to make the first wager.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein the method comprises:
subsequently monitoring the first weight of the first set of the one or more objects for a change in weight that indicates that one or more of the first set of the one or more objects have been removed or added.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19, wherein the wager-based game is a wager-based table game operating on the gaming table, and wherein the first wager is a primary wager, and wherein the second wager is a secondary or auxiliary wager.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 20, wherein a dealer manages the wager-based table game, and wherein the method comprises:
notifying the dealer if the monitoring indicates that one or more of the first set of the one or more objects have been removed or added, at least after the first wager from the player has been accepted.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein the method comprises:
displaying the first wager as determined by the estimating of the first wager, and
receiving a confirmation of the first wager in response to the displaying of the first wager as determined by the estimating of the first wager.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17,
wherein the wager-based game is a wager-based table game operating on a wagering table,
wherein the wagering table is operated by a live dealer, and
wherein the wagering table is resident at a gaming establishment that utilizes chips for wagering, and wherein the one or more of the objects are chips.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein the method comprises:
presenting a notification that indicates that the wager-based game is presently not accepting first wagers when the determining determines that the wager-based game is presently not accepting first wagers on the wager-based game.

### Claim 25

A method for assisting a player of a wager-based game in wagering one or more objects on the wager-based game, the method comprising:
detecting presence of one or more objects at a player bet area of a gaming table supporting play of the wager-based game, the player bet area of the gaming table having an electronic betting assistant at least partly embedded therein, wherein the electronic betting assistant having a display screen and a digital scale, wherein the display screen is positioned vertically over and mechanically coupled to the digital scale;
activating an electronic wager assistant for assisting the player to place a wager at the player bet area;
determining whether the wager-based game is presently accepting wagers on the wager-based game;
detecting, via the digital scale, a weight of the one or more objects that the player intends to wager on the wager-based game;
determining whether the weight detected is within an acceptable weight range;
determining a number of the one or more objects that the player intends to wager based on the weight detected;
acquiring image data of the one or more objects that the player intends to wager;
processing the image data to determine value of each of the one or more objects that the player intends to wager;
determining an amount of the wager that the player intends to wage based on the determined number of the one or more objects and the determined value of each of the one or more objects;
displaying, via the display screen, the determined amount of the wager; and
subsequently determining whether the determined amount of the wager as displayed is confirmed by the player and/or an operator of the wager-based game.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the method comprises:
presenting a bet made notification indicating that the wager has been placed for the player.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the method comprises:
displaying the determined amount of the wager; and
subsequently determining whether the determined amount of the wager as displayed is confirmed by the player and/or an operator of the wager-based game.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the method comprises:
placing the wager for the player in accordance with the determined amount of the wager if the determining determines that the determined amount of the wager as displayed is confirmed.

### Claim 29

An electronic bet assistant, comprising:
an exposed outer surface having a display screen;
a digital scale coupled to the exposed outer surface, wherein the display screen is positioned vertically over and mechanically coupled to the digital scale;
at least one visual indicator provided proximate to the exposed outer surface;
a controller operatively connected to the digital scale and/or the at least one visual indicator; and
an input/output interface, operatively connected to the controller, for communicating with another electronic device over a network,
wherein the controller monitors the digital scale to enable a bet to be made,
wherein the digital scale yields a weight of one or more objects that are placed on the exposed outer surface, and
wherein the controller determines a money value of the one or more objects based at least in part by the weight of the one or more objects.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The electronic bet assistant as recited in claim 29, wherein each of the one or more objects is a chip associated with a gaming establishment where the electronic bet assistant is located.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The electronic bet assistant as recited in claim 29, wherein the display screen is configured to display notifications.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The electronic bet assistant as recited in claim 30, wherein the electronic bet assistant comprises:
an optical sensor operatively connected to the controller.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The electronic bet assistant as recited in claim 32, wherein the optical sensor detects presence of an object on the exposed outer portion of the electronic bet assistant.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The electronic bet assistant as recited in claim 29, wherein the electronic bet assistant comprises:
a proximity sensor operatively connected to the controller.