Apparatus and methods for facilitating wagering on games conducted on an independent video gaming system
A gaming system includes a video gaming system and one or more video monitors operatively connected to receive a game video signal. A wager input device is also included in the system and configured to receive a wager on a result in the video game. An image evaluation processing system is connected to receive the game video signal and is configured to evaluate the game video signal to identify a result in the game. The wager resolution system is connected to the image evaluation processing system and to the wager input device, and is configured to receive the wager and the result identified by the image evaluation processing system, and to resolve the wager based at least in part on that result.
1. A method including:
(a) receiving a video signal for a game setup sequence for a game to be conducted on a video gaming system, the video signal comprising a stream of data defining a series of image frames which are displayable on a video display device;
(b) evaluating the video signal at a data processing system to identify one or more game setup screen images for the game; and
(c) generating gaming device setup control signals at the data processing system and communicating the gaming device setup control signals to a gaming device through a setup signal path separate from a signal path between the gaming device and a player-actuated game controller, the gaming device setup control signals comprising inputs to fill one or more input fields of the one or more game setup screen images and to initiate play on the video gaming system between predetermined players.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
(a) evaluating the video signal includes searching pixel data of a respective frame from the video signal for a setup field of the game setup sequence; and
(b) generating gaming device setup control signals includes, in response to detection of the setup field, producing an output including data to be entered in the setup field.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein searching the pixel data of the respective frame from the video signal for the setup field includes searching for alphanumeric characters at one or more locations in the respective frame.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein searching the pixel data of the respective frame from the video signal for the setup field includes searching for a color at one or more locations in the respective frame.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein searching the pixel data of the respective frame from the video signal for the setup field includes searching for one or more geometric shapes in the respective frame.
6. The method of claim 2 further including:
(a) searching the pixel data of the respective frame from the video signal for a threshold characteristic corresponding to a display graphic in which the setup field is displayed according to the game; and
(b) when the threshold characteristic is not detected in the respective frame from the video signal, searching pixel data for a subsequent frame from the video signal for the threshold characteristic.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein searching the pixel data of the respective frame from the video signal for the setup field is performed in response to the detection of the threshold characteristic in the respective frame.
8. The method of claim 1 further including blocking player inputs to the video gaming system during at least a portion of the game setup sequence.
9. The method of claim 1 further including blocking player inputs to the video gaming system which are inconsistent with the gaming device setup control signals.
10. A gaming system including:
(a) a gaming device for a video gaming system;
(b) one or more video monitors operatively connected to receive a game video signal of the gaming device for a game in the video gaming system;
(c) an image evaluation processing system operatively connected to receive the game video signal, the image evaluation processing system being configured to evaluate the game video signal to identify one or more game setup screen images for the gaming device; and
(d) a tournament processing system operatively connected to the image evaluation processing system, and having a separate operative connection to the gaming device, the tournament processing system being configured to receive play requests for the game, to produce gaming device setup control signals, and to output the gaming device setup control signals to the gaming device, the gaming device setup control signals comprising inputs to fill one or more input fields of the one or more game setup screen images and to initiate play on the video gaming system between predetermined players.
11. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein:
(a) the image evaluation processing system is configured to search pixel data of a respective frame from the video signal for a setup field of a respective game setup screen images; and
(b) the tournament processing system is configured to, in response to detection of the setup field, include in the gaming device setup control signals data to be entered in the setup field.
12. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein the tournament processing system is configured to block player inputs to the gaming device which are inconsistent with the gaming device setup control signals.
13. The gaming system of claim 10 further including:
(a) an additional gaming device for the video gaming system;
(b) one or more video monitors operatively connected to receive a game video signal from the additional gaming device;
(c) an additional image evaluation processing system operatively connected to receive the game video signal from the additional gaming device, the additional image evaluation processing system being configured to evaluate the game video signal from the additional gaming device to identify one or more game setup screen images for the game at the additional gaming device; and
(d) wherein the tournament processing system is operatively connected to the additional image evaluation processing system and has a separate operative connection to the additional gaming device, the tournament processing system being configured to produce additional gaming device setup control signals and direct the additional gaming device setup control signals to the additional gaming device, the additional gaming device setup control signals comprising inputs to fill one or more input fields of the one or more game setup screen images for the additional gaming device and to initiate play on the video gaming system between the predetermined players participating through the gaming device and the additional gaming device.
14. The gaming system of claim 13 wherein:
(a) the additional image evaluation processing system is configured to search pixel data of a respective frame from the video signal from the additional gaming device for a setup field of a respective game setup screen image of the additional gaming device; and
(b) the tournament processing system is configured to, in response to detection of the setup field of the respective game setup screen image of the additional gaming device, include in the additional gaming device setup control signals data to be entered in the setup field of the additional gaming device.
15. The gaming system of claim 13 wherein the tournament processing system is configured to block player inputs to the additional gaming device which are inconsistent with the additional gaming device setup control signals.
16. A program product comprising one or more computer readable non-transitory data storage devices storing program code, the program code including:
(a) image evaluation program code executable to evaluate a game video signal generated by a gaming device of a video gaming system and to identify one or more game setup screen images for the gaming device, the game video signal comprising a stream of data defining a series of image frames which are displayable on a video display device; and
(b) tournament program code executable to generate gaming device setup control signals and communicate those gaming device setup control signals to the gaming device through a setup signal path separate from a signal path between the gaming device and a player-actuated game controller, the gaming device setup control signals comprising inputs to fill one or more input fields of the one or more game setup screen images and to initiate play on the video gaming system between predetermined players.
17. The program product of claim 16 wherein:
(a) the image evaluation program code is executable to search pixel data of a respective frame from the video signal for a setup field of a respective game setup screen images; and
(b) the tournament program code is executable to, in response to detection of the setup field, include in the gaming device setup control signals data to be entered in the setup field.
18. The program product of claim 16 wherein the tournament program code is executable to block player inputs to the gaming device which are inconsistent with the gaming device setup control signals.
19. A method including:
(a) receiving a video signal for a game setup sequence for a game to be conducted on a video gaming system;
(b) evaluating the video signal at a data processing system to identify one or more game setup states for the game;
(c) generating gaming device setup control signals at the data processing system and communicating the gaming device setup control signals to a gaming device, the gaming device setup control signals comprising inputs to fill one or more input fields of the one or more game setup states and to initiate play on the video gaming system between predetermined players; and
(d) blocking player inputs to the video gaming system during at least a portion of the game setup sequence.
20. The method of claim 19 further including blocking player inputs to the video gaming system which are inconsistent with the gaming device setup control signals.
21. A gaming system including:
(a) a gaming device for a video gaming system;
(b) one or more video monitors operatively connected to receive a game video signal of the gaming device for a game in the video gaming system;
(c) an image evaluation processing system operatively connected to receive the game video signal, the image evaluation processing system being configured to evaluate the game video signal to identify one or more game setup states for the gaming device by searching pixel data of a respective frame from the video signal for a setup field of a respective game setup state; and
(d) a tournament processing system operatively connected to the image evaluation processing system, and having a separate operative connection to the gaming device, the tournament processing system being configured to receive play requests for the game, to produce gaming device setup control signals, and to output the gaming device setup control signals to the gaming device, the gaming device setup control signals comprising inputs to (i) fill one or more input fields of the one or more game setup states, including, in response to detection of the setup field, data to be entered in the setup field, and to (ii) initiate play on the video gaming system between predetermined players.
22. The gaming system of claim 21 wherein the tournament processing system is configured to block player inputs to the gaming device which are inconsistent with the gaming device setup control signals.
23. A program product comprising one or more computer readable non-transitory data storage devices storing program code, the program code including:
(a) image evaluation program code executable to evaluate a game video signal generated by a gaming device of a video gaming system and to identify one or more game setup states for the gaming device; and
(b) tournament program code executable to generate gaming device setup control signals and communicate those gaming device setup control signals to the gaming device, the gaming device setup control signals comprising inputs to fill one or more input fields of the one or more game setup states and to initiate play on the video gaming system between predetermined players, and wherein the tournament program code is executable to block player inputs to the gaming device which are inconsistent with the gaming device setup control signals.