System and method for controlling the operation of an entertainment unit

Abstract

A system and method for controlling game play at a pay-for-play entertainment system. The entertainment system may include an entertainment unit, a remote activation unit, and at least one game play light source. The remote activation unit may be configured to have the game play light source be in an on condition during purchased game play and in an off condition when purchased game play time or credits have expired. The present invention may also include a game play detection apparatus that may detect game play activity. The detection of game play may be communicated to the remote activation unit to determine if the detected game play activity is associated with purchased game play. If the detected game play activity is unauthorized, i.e. the game play has not been purchased, the remote activation unit may communicate an “on” signal to an auxiliary light and/or speaker.

1 . A pay-for-play entertainment system that controls game play comprising:
 an entertainment unit;   at least one game play light source, the at least one game play light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the entertainment unit; and   a remote activation unit, the remote activation unit including a currency acceptor, the remote activation unit configured to control the illumination of the at least one game play light source, the at least one illumination source being in an on condition after sufficient payment for the purchase of authorized game play activity at the entertainment unit has been received by the currency acceptor, the at least one game play light source being in an off condition for at least a portion of the time after the authorized game play activity has ended.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the entertainment unit is a pool table. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the remote activation unit communicates signals directing the at least one game play light source be in an on or off condition through the use of an X10 protocol. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the remote activation unit includes a central processor unit and a communicator, and the at least one game play light source is operably connected to a receiver, the receiver configured to receive commands from a central processing unit that are transmitted by the communicator. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the entertainment unit is operably connected to a play detection apparatus, the play detection apparatus including at least one sensor and a transmitter, the at least one sensor positioned to detect game play activity, the transmitter configured to communicate a signal corresponding to the detected game play activity to the remote activation unit. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  further including an auxiliary light source, the auxiliary light source being operably connected to the remote activation unit, the remote activation unit turning the illumination of the light of the auxiliary light source on after unauthorized game play activity is detected. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  further including a speaker, the speaker being operably connected to the remote activation unit, the remote activation unit controlling the sound to be emitted from the speaker after unauthorized game play activity is detected. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the remote activation unit includes a display and at least one player interface. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the currency acceptor is a coin acceptor. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the currency acceptor is a bill acceptor. 
   
   
       11 . A pay-for-play entertainment system that controls game play comprising:
 an entertainment unit;   a game play detection apparatus operably connected to the entertainment unit, the play detection apparatus including a sensor and a transmitter, the sensor positioned to detect the presence of game play activity;   at least one game play light source, the at least one game play light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the entertainment unit;   a remote activation unit, the remote activation unit including a currency acceptor and a communicator, the remote activation unit configured to control the illumination of the at least one game play light source, the at least one illumination source being in an on condition after sufficient payment for the purchase of authorized game play activity at the entertainment unit has been received by the currency acceptor, the at least one game play light source being in an off condition for at least a portion of the time after the authorized game play activity has ended; and   an auxiliary light source, the auxiliary light source being operably connected to the remote activation unit, the remote activation unit turning the illumination of the light of the auxiliary light source on after unauthorized game play activity is detected.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the entertainment unit is a pool table. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the remote activation unit communicates signals directing the at least one game play light source to be in an on or off condition through the use of an X10 protocol. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the at least one game play light source is operably connected to a receiver, the receiver configured to receive commands from the remote activation unit indicating that the illumination of the at least one game play light source is to be in an on or off condition. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11  further including a speaker, the speaker being operably connected to the remote activation unit, the remote activation unit controlling the sound to be emitted from the speaker after unauthorized game play activity is detected. 
   
   
       16 . A method for controlling the operation of a pay-for-play entertainment system, the method comprising:
 inserting sufficient payment for authorized game play into a currency acceptor of a remote activation unit;   communicating a first signal to at least one game play light source, the first signal indicating that the illumination of the at least one game play light source is to be in an on condition, the illuminated game play light source providing light to at least a portion of an entertainment unit;   turning the illumination of the game play light source to an on condition;   communicating a second signal to the at least one game play light source, the second signal indicating that the illumination of the at least one game play light source is to be in an off condition; and   turning the illumination of the game play light source to an off condition.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further including the step of recognizing that the authorized game play activity at the entertainment unit has ended. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  including the step of detecting game play activity at the entertainment unit. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  including the step of communicating the detection of game play activity at the entertainment unit to the remote activation unit. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  including the step of determining whether the detected game is unauthorized. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  including the step of communicating an signal to illuminate an auxiliary light source after the detected game play is determined to be unauthorized. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  including the step of emitting sound from a speaker after the detected game play is determined to be unauthorized. 
   
   
       23 . A method for controlling the operation of a pay-for-play pool table, the method comprising:
 inserting payment for authorized game play into a currency acceptor of a remote activation unit;   communicating a first signal to at least one game play light source, the first signal indicating that the illumination of the at least one game play light source is to be in an on condition, the illuminated game play light source providing light to at least a portion of a pool table;   turning the illumination of the game play light source to an on condition;   recognizing that the authorized game play activity at the entertainment unit has ended;   communicating a second signal to the at least one game play light source, the second signal indicating that the illumination of the at least one game play light source is to be in an off condition;   turning the illumination of the game play light source to an off condition;   detecting unauthorized game play activity at the pool table; and   determining whether payment has been received by the remote activation unit for the detected game.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  including the step of communicating the detection of unauthorized game play activity at the entertainment unit to the remote activation unit. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  including the step of communicating a signal to illuminate an auxiliary light source.