US-20260127947-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLAYING WITH PHYSICAL PLAYING CARDS IN A VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM

US20260127947A1US 20260127947 A1US20260127947 A1US 20260127947A1US-20260127947-A1

Abstract

A system and method for playing with physical playing cards in virtual or augmented reality. The system includes physical playing cards having corresponding card identities, a card identity recognition system, a web server electronically connected with the card identity recognition system, and a virtual reality viewing device connected with the web server. The card identity recognition system is configured to recognize and convert a card identity into a digital representation of the physical playing card. The web server is configured to host the digital representation of the physical playing card. The virtual reality viewing device is configured to communicate with the web server, receive the digital representation of the physical playing card broadcasted by the web server, decrypt the digital representation of the physical playing card into a virtual visual representation of the card identity, and display the virtual visual representation of the card identity to a human card player.

Inventors

Philip Anthony Huffstickler

Assignees

PokerClub Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251218

Claims (20)

1 . A system for playing with physical playing cards in virtual reality, the system comprising: a plurality of physical playing cards having corresponding card identities; a card identity recognition system configured to recognize a card identity of a physical playing card, the card identity recognition system further configured to convert the card identity of the physical playing card into a digital representation of the physical playing card; a web server electronically connected with the card identity recognition system, the web server configured to host the digital representation of the physical playing card uploaded by the card identity recognition system and to perform a high-speed scan-to-broadcast handshake after receiving the digital representation of the physical playing card uploaded by the card identity system; and a virtual reality viewing device electronically connected with the web server and configured to communicate with the web server, the virtual reality viewing device further configured to receive the digital representation of the physical playing card broadcasted by the web server during the high-speed scan-broadcast handshake, the virtual reality viewing device further configured to decrypt the digital representation of the physical playing card into a virtual visual representation of the card identity of the physical playing card, the virtual reality viewing device further configured to display the virtual visual representation of the card identity of the physical playing card to a human card player accessing the virtual reality viewing device at a location in a mixed reality coordinate space that corresponds to a tracked location of at least one of the human card player's physical hands.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality viewing device is further configured to determine, by tracking the physical hands of the human card player, that the human card player has selected one or more virtual visual representations of the card identity of a physical playing card to trade for new cards, and wherein the web server is further configured to transfer ownership of the card identities of the selected one or more virtual visual representations of the card identity of a physical playing card to the dealer and transfer ownership of the card identities of one or more physical playing cards drawn from the deck by the dealer to the human card player in real-time.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the card identity recognition system is further configured to convert the card identity of the one or more physical playing cards drawn from the deck by the dealer into digital representations of the physical playing cards, wherein the web server is further configured to host the digital representations of the physical playing cards and to perform a high-speed scan-to-broadcast handshake after receiving the digital representations of the physical playing cards uploaded by the card identity system, and and wherein the virtual reality viewing device is further configured to receive the digital representations of the physical playing cards broadcasted by the web server during the high-speed scan-broadcast handshake, decrypt the digital representations of the physical playing cards into virtual visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards, and display the virtual visual representation of the card identities of the physical playing cards to the human card player.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality viewing device is further configured to detect a double knock gesture and sends an indication of a check command to the web server.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the virtual reality viewing device is further configured to detect the double knock gesture by tracking the physical hands of the human card player and detecting a closed fist followed by a two downward acceleration peaks from motion of the closed fist occurring within a specified time period, wherein the specified time period is less than one second.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality viewing device is further configured to detect a fold gesture and send an indication of a fold command to the web server, and wherein the web server is further configured to revoke the virtual identities of the visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards being folded.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the virtual reality viewing device is further configured to detect the fold gesture by tracking the physical hands of the human card player and detecting a horizontal pushing gesture made with visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards being displayed to the user by the virtual reality viewing device.
8 . A method of playing with physical playing cards in virtual reality, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of physical playing cards having corresponding card identities; presenting a card identity of a physical playing card to a card identity recognition system; recognizing the card identity of the physical playing card, by the card identity recognition system; converting the card identity of the physical playing card into a digital representation of the physical playing card, by the card identity recognition system; uploading the digital representation of the physical playing card on a web server, by the card identity recognition system; broadcasting the digital representation of the physical playing card to a virtual reality viewing device, by the web server using a high-speed scan-to-broadcast handshake; decrypting the digital representation of the physical playing card into a virtual visual representation of the card identity of the physical playing card, by the virtual reality viewing device; and displaying the virtual visual representation of the card identity of the physical playing card to a human card player accessing the virtual reality viewing device at a location in a mixed reality coordinate space that corresponds to a tracked location of at least one of the human card player's physical hands.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: determining, by virtual reality viewing device by tracking the physical hands of the human card player, that the human card player has selected one or more virtual visual representations of the card identity of a physical playing card to trade for new cards; and transferring, by the web server, ownership of the card identities of the selected one or more virtual visual representations of the card identity of a physical playing card to the dealer and transfer ownership of the card identities of one or more physical playing cards drawn from the deck by the dealer to the human card player in real-time.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: converting, by the card identity recognition system the card identity of the one or more physical playing cards drawn from the deck by the dealer into digital representations of the physical playing cards; hosting, by the web server, the digital representations of the physical playing cards; performing, by the web server, a high-speed scan-to-broadcast handshake after receiving the digital representations of the physical playing cards uploaded by the card identity system; and receiving, by the virtual reality viewing device, the digital representations of the physical playing cards broadcasted by the web server during the high-speed scan-broadcast handshake, decrypting, by the virtual reality viewing device, the digital representations of the physical playing cards into virtual visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards; and displaying, by the virtual reality viewing device, virtual visual representation of the card identities of the physical playing cards to the human card player.
11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising detecting, by the virtual reality viewing device, a double knock gesture; and sending, by the virtual reality viewing device, an indication of a check command to the web server.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting, by the virtual reality viewing device the double knock gesture by tracking the physical hands of the human card player and detecting a closed fist followed by a two downward acceleration peaks from motion of the closed fist occurring within a specified time period, wherein the specified time period is less than one second.
13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: detecting, by the virtual reality viewing device, a fold gesture; sending, by the virtual reality viewing device, an indication of a fold command to the web server; and revoking, by the web server, the virtual identities of the visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards being folded.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting, by the virtual reality viewing device the fold gesture by tracking the physical hands of the human card player and detecting a horizontal pushing gesture made with visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards being displayed to the user by the virtual reality viewing device.
15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a processor, are configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving a plurality of physical playing cards having corresponding card identities; presenting a card identity of a physical playing card to a card identity recognition system; recognizing the card identity of the physical playing card, by the card identity recognition system; converting the card identity of the physical playing card into a digital representation of the physical playing card, by the card identity recognition system; uploading the digital representation of the physical playing card on a web server, by the card identity recognition system; broadcasting the digital representation of the physical playing card to a virtual reality viewing device, by the web server using a high-speed scan-to-broadcast handshake; decrypting the digital representation of the physical playing card into a virtual visual representation of the card identity of the physical playing card, by the virtual reality viewing device; and displaying the virtual visual representation of the card identity of the physical playing card to a human card player accessing the virtual reality viewing device at a location in a mixed reality coordinate space that corresponds to a tracked location of at least one of the human card player's physical hands.
16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise: determining, by virtual reality viewing device by tracking the physical hands of the human card player, that the human card player has selected one or more virtual visual representations of the card identity of a physical playing card to trade for new cards; and transferring, by the web server, ownership of the card identities of the selected one or more virtual visual representations of the card identity of a physical playing card to the dealer and transfer ownership of the card identities of one or more physical playing cards drawn from the deck by the dealer to the human card player in real-time.
17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise: converting, by the card identity recognition system the card identity of the one or more physical playing cards drawn from the deck by the dealer into digital representations of the physical playing cards; hosting, by the web server, the digital representations of the physical playing cards; performing, by the web server, a high-speed scan-to-broadcast handshake after receiving the digital representations of the physical playing cards uploaded by the card identity system; and receiving, by the virtual reality viewing device, the digital representations of the physical playing cards broadcasted by the web server during the high-speed scan-broadcast handshake, decrypting, by the virtual reality viewing device, the digital representations of the physical playing cards into virtual visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards; and displaying, by the virtual reality viewing device, virtual visual representation of the card identities of the physical playing cards to the human card player.
18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise: detecting, by the virtual reality viewing device, a double knock gesture; and sending, by the virtual reality viewing device, an indication of a check command to the web server.
19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise detecting, by the virtual reality viewing device the double knock gesture by tracking the physical hands of the human card player and detecting a closed fist followed by a two downward acceleration peaks from motion of the closed fist occurring within a specified time period, wherein the specified time period is less than one second.
20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise: detecting, by the virtual reality viewing device, a fold gesture; sending, by the virtual reality viewing device, an indication of a fold command to the web server; and revoking, by the web server, the virtual identities of the visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards being folded.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/527,385 , filed on Jul. 18, 2023, titled “System and method for playing with physical playing cards in a virtual reality system”, and to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/558,461, filed on Feb. 27, 2024, titled “System and method for playing with physical playing cards in a virtual reality system”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and should be considered part of this specification. BACKGROUND Playing with physical cards (also referred to as, for example, “paper cards”) has traditionally been a popular group or community entertainment. This mode of playing cards, however, comes with some challenges. When engaging in the traditional way of playing cards with physical cards, players are limited to those co-players who are physically located in their vicinity. This restriction of physical co-location may restrict opportunities for exploring new gaming communities, playing with individuals from different backgrounds, different geographical locations, and different time zones. Further, the traditionally popular and local nature of physical card games can inadvertently limit the diversity and breadth of experiences that may associate with a wider version of the card playing game such as virtual card games. Further, there remains the inherent physical contact-related constraints of playing with physical cards. Physical cards are subject to wear and tear over time, leading to damaged edges, fading designs, or even misplaced cards. This can hinder the smooth flow of the game and affect the overall player experience. Moreover, in the post-pandemic world after Covid-19, the inevitable human-to-human physical contacts that come with actual playing cards are disadvantageous and physiologically risky to many players, specifically the senior people and those with high morbidity. These and other drawbacks exist. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosed subject matter, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings also illustrate implementations of the disclosed subject matter and together with the detailed description explain the principles of implementations of the disclosed subject matter. No attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than can be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the disclosed subject matter and various ways in which it can be practiced. FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of example playing cards, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a card identity recognition system, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of a card identity recognition system, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 4 an illustrative view of a web server, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 5 an illustrative view of a digital identity interpreter for playing cards, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of a virtual visual representation of the card identities of the physical playing cards as viewed on a virtual reality or augmented reality viewing device, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 7 is an illustrative method of playing a virtual game with playing cards, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 8 is an illustrative method of playing a virtual game with playing cards, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 9 is an illustrative virtual reality image of a human card player playing with virtual visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards, as viewed on a virtual reality or augmented reality viewing device, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 10 is an illustrative virtual reality image of a human card player playing with virtual visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards, as viewed on a virtual reality or augmented reality viewing device, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 11 is an illustrative virtual reality image of a human card player playing with virtual visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards, as viewed on a virtual reality or augmented reality viewing device, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 12 is an illustrative virtual reality image of a human card player playing with virtual visual representations of the card identities of the physical playing cards, as viewed on a virtual reality or augmented reality viewing device, in accordance with an example embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 13 is an illustrati