U.S. patent application number 10/948962 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for round of play counting in playing card shuffling system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shuffle Master, Inc.. Invention is credited to Grauzer, Attila, Kelly, James V., Schubert, Oliver M..
Application Number | 20050082750 10/948962 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36119360 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050082750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grauzer, Attila ; et
al. |
April 21, 2005 |
Round of play counting in playing card shuffling system
Abstract
A casino table card gaming system comprises: at least one gaming
table; and at least one playing card shuffler on or proximate to
the gaming table. The shuffler provides a status signal associated
with a specific stage of use of the shuffler in a casino table card
game. The status signal is forwarded to a database that uses the
signal as a basis for registering that a round of play of a casino
table card game using playing cards from that shuffler is to be
counted in a record of game usage for at least one of that shuffler
or that casino table.
Inventors: |
Grauzer, Attila; (Las Vegas,
NV) ; Schubert, Oliver M.; (Las Vegas, NV) ;
Kelly, James V.; (Las Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark A. Litman & Associates, P.A.
Suite 205
York Business Center
3209 West 76th St.
Edina
MN
55435
US
|
Assignee: |
Shuffle Master, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36119360 |
Appl. No.: |
10/948962 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10948962 |
Sep 24, 2004 |
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09967500 |
Sep 28, 2001 |
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10948962 |
Sep 24, 2004 |
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10880408 |
Jun 28, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/149R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/18 20130101; A63F
2250/58 20130101; G07F 17/3237 20130101; G07F 17/3234 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/149.00R |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/12 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A casino table card gaming system comprising: at least one
gaming table; at least one playing card shuffler on or proximate to
the gaming table, the shuffler providing a status signal associated
with a specific stage of use of the shuffler in a casino table card
game, and forwarding the status signal to a database that uses the
signal as a basis for registering that a round of play of a casino
table card game using playing cards from that shuffler is to be
counted in a record of game usage for at least one of that shuffler
or that casino table.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein an intelligent data collection
module senses the status signal from the shuffler as data, the
intelligent module acting as a finite state machine capable of date
stamping the data and transmitting the date stamped data to a
database over a network.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the status signal is selected from
among commands given within the shuffler to denote shuffling
activity.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the nature of the commands relates
to events occurring in the shuffler selected from the group
consisting of: start of card feeding, start deal, start shuffle,
end shuffle, end dealing, shuffling complete, platform full,
platform empty, compartment full, compartment empty, shuffler
unloaded, dealer activated signal, and shuffler loaded.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal is transmitted by a
wireless network.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the status signal is an internal
shuffler command relating to starting or completing dealing of a
round of play in a card game.
7. The system of claim 2 wherein the nature of the commands relates
to events occurring in the shuffler selected from the group
consisting of start deal, start shuffle, end shuffle, end deal,
shuffling complete, platform full, platform empty, compartment
full, compartment empty, shuffler unloaded, dealer activated
signal, and shuffler loaded.
8. The system of claim 2 wherein the intelligent data collection
module comprises a chipboard.
9. The system of claim 2 wherein the data collection module does
not store signals or data contained in the signals after date
stamping and forwarding the signals.
10. The system of claim 2 wherein the intelligent data collection
module does not store signals.
11. The system of claim 7 wherein the intelligent data collection
module does not store signals.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein date stamped signals are received
by a central database that organizes data relating to at least one
of the group consisting of: counting of rounds, counting of hands,
rate of rounds and rate of hands for at least one of a table and a
dealer.
13. The system of claim 2 wherein date stamped signals are received
by a central database that organizes data relating to counting of
rounds, hands and a rate of rounds and hands for at least one of a
table and a dealer.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the collected data is transmitted
via an Ethernet.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the network communication method
is selected from the group comprising UDP and TCP.
16. The system of claim 7 The system of claim 1 wherein date
stamped signals are received by a central database that organizes
data relating to counting of rounds and a rate of rounds for at
least one of a table and a dealer.
17. A method of collecting data on a casino gaming table,
comprising the steps of: providing at least one shuffler that
provides a status signal relating to a state that can be related to
a specific round of play in a casino table card game; providing at
least one intelligent controller dedicated to collecting
information from one or more shufflers; the intelligent controller
receiving a status signal from the at least one shuffler; the
intelligent controller date stamping and/or time stamping data
collected from the at least one shuffler; the intelligent
controller broadcasting the date and/or time stamped data over a
network; and recording the broadcasted information in a
database.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the database receives date
stamped signals over a period of time and the data is used by an
external processor to compute a number of rounds played over a
period of time, the time being based upon use of the date stamping
received.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the original signal from the
shuffler contains no indication of date or time thereon.
20. A hardware component on a casino card table that senses signals
from a playing card shuffler that indicates a state of activity in
a shuffling process, wherein the hardware component adds time and
or date stamps information to the signals, and forwards the time
stamped signal to a database, via a network.
21. The component of claim 20 wherein the component is constructed
so that it cannot store time stamped signals after forwarding the
time stamped signals.
22. A method of controlling a live casino table card game;
comprising: sensing wagers by players at least two player locations
and communicating the sensing to a table game control computer in
real time and communicating the sensing to a central control
computer in real time; controlling an automatic card shuffling
device with a microprocessor in the card shuffling device and
communicating information relating to card shuffling to the game
table controller computer in real time and to the central control
computer in real time; electronically measuring betting information
and transmitting information to the central game controller
computer in real time, said electronic measuring including use of
data transmitted to the central game controller computer from the
table game controller computer and the shuffler; wherein
information transmitted from the shuffler includes at least one
datum relating to completion of a shuffling event that occurs only
once during a complete shuffling and card removal sequence.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein an intelligent data collection
module senses the information from the shuffler as data, the
intelligent module acts as a finite state machine by date stamping
the data and transmitting the date stamped data to a database over
a network.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein the shuffler has a data port and
a programmable controller, and wherein data is fed from the card
shuffler via the data port to a programmable controller in the
shuffler, and/or data collected by the programmable controller in
the shuffler is fed outside the card shuffler via the data
port.
25. The method of claim 22 wherein information is provided from
both the shuffler and the table game controller computer to the
central game computer and the central game computer identifies or
records at least one event selected from the group consisting of
Hands dealt per unit time, and Rounds of play/unit time.
26. An automatic card shuffler, comprising: A programmable
controller; A card randomizing mechanism; and A data port; wherein
data relating to a specific single occurrence event that occurs
only once within a single complete randomization or playing card
hand delivery received by the controller is fed outside the card
shuffler via the data port to at least one of a microprocessor, a
central game computer, a table game computer and a G-Mod.
27. The shuffler of claim 26 wherein data received by the
programmable controller is fed into a programmable table game
controller.
28. A security system for a casino table card game comprising: a) a
casino table with i) indicia thereon for the placement of wagers,
ii) a data entry system with an associated computer, and iii)
sensors that can detect the placement of at least one specific
category of wager; b) a shuffling device with a microprocessor
integral to the shuffler for providing information regarding a
specific single occurrence event that occurs only once within a
single complete randomization or playing card hand delivery; c) a
central table gaming computer that receives information from the
shuffler, receives information from the sensors, and receives
information from the data entry system; the associated computer,
the microprocessor and the central table gaming computer
communicating data among each other.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of both U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/967,500 filed Sep. 28, 2001 and U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/880,408, filed Jun. 28, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of casino gaming,
casino table gaming, casino table card gaming, and the tracking and
monitoring at least one parameter of that gaming environment based
upon shuffling events.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0003] To encourage higher gross levels of wagering by players,
casinos often extend complimentary goods and services to players in
exchange for more active wagering. This is conventionally known as
"comping" and the casino operators award players "comps." Comps can
be any redeemable forms of currency and/or currency equivalent
typically issued (for promotional purposes) by casinos to their
players in exchange for active, table game patronage. Such comps
include points, club points, premium points, player club points,
coupons (e.g., free meals, free rooms, free shows, free gifts,
etc.), comp dollars and/or any other form of redeemable coupon,
voucher, cash rebate, goods, service or gift. An essential
component in the comping system for players or the rating system
for players or dealers is information regarding game play. There is
a vast variety of information that can be used in the necessary
analyses performed to generate the ratings, including but not
limited to play rate, number of hands/player, wagering rate,
average or session play time, wagering structure, time/hand played,
and the like. It is necessary that this information is accurate,
and to assure this, it may be desirable or even necessary for there
to be redundant sources of the same information. Certain casinos
offer players slot club cards. Players can insert the club card
into a conventional slot machine and as the player plays the slot
machine, tickets (or other comp credits) may be issued based upon
the gross wagers made during the time the player plays the slot
machine (e.g., one ticket whenever the accumulative wager equals
$100). This is an example of one stand-alone comp awarding approach
wherein the comp determination and the delivery of tickets are made
at the slot machine.
[0004] A player entitled to comps or attempting to earn comps
identifies himself/herself upon initiation of a gambling session
(i.e., the period during which the player participates actively in
a form of gambling). Typically a player i.d. card is inserted into
a slot to identify the player. The casino then determines the
player's "gross session wager" (i.e., the total currency value put
at stake by the player over the course of the gambling session).
The casino multiplies the gross session wager by the house
advantage (i.e., the percentage of total amount wagered that the
casino can expect to win in accordance with the inherent
statistical probability of a given game type), thus producing a
theoretical expected win (i.e., the product of gross session wager
multiplied by house advantage and usually expressed in units of
currency). The casino then expresses the theoretical expected win
as a currency value and multiplies the theoretical expected win by
an internal percentage known as the comp factor (i.e., the
percentage of theoretical expected win which the casino is willing
to return to players in the form of complimentary goods and/or
services--a typical range is fifteen to forty-five percent of
theoretical expected win), thus producing available comp (i.e., the
product of theoretical expected win multiplied by the comp factor
which may be expressed as units of currency or point equivalents).
The player then requests goods and/or services in exchange for his
or her play at the gaming sessions. The casino determines the value
of the goods and/or services requested and the player's available
comp and provided that the available comp is sufficient, the good
and/or service is delivered. The available comp is adjusted to
reflect the value of the good and/or service delivered.
[0005] In conventional automated game machines such as slot
machines, an accurate determination of available comp
conventionally occurs. The player inserts the club card into a
card-reading device at the gaming machine. The card reader
communicates with a remote game machine management system
(computer) and updates the specific player file in a system
database. The player conducts the gaming session at the gaming
machine and, during the gaming session, the processor updates the
player file with the currency value of each game. The currency
values accrue within individual player files, resulting in either
periodic or real-time, positive adjustments to the gross wager
balance for the player. When a player requests goods and/or
service, the values of gross wager and house advantage (fixed
percentage in slot machines) are inserted into the theoretical
expected win equation. The comp factor (configurable by the casino)
is then applied to the theoretical expected win, thus resulting in
available comp for the player. The system determines the value of
the goods and/or service requested, as well as player's available
comp. Provided that the available comp is sufficient, the good
and/or service is delivered to the player and the available comp
balance is decremented to reflect the value of the good and/or
service delivered. Typical slot management and casino management
systems that operate in the manner described above are
conventionally provided in the gaming industry.
[0006] When attempting to determine available comp for live card
table game players, however, casinos are dependent upon human
assessments of both gross wager and house advantage. As a result,
casinos approximate these variables. The player notifies casino
personnel of his/her presence at the game table and presents a club
card. A casino employee takes the club card and inputs it at a
remote terminal, thereby updating the specific player file in the
table system database. The player conducts the gaming session. A
casino employee, usually a pit person, surveys the player's
wagering activity periodically, making handwritten assessments of
average wager on paper slips or cards. The player concludes the
gaming session and leaves. Once a casino employee notices that a
player has departed, the handwritten assessments of average wager
are summed and divided by the number of manual assessments (e.g.,
$75+$50+$25/3 games=$50 per game). The casino employee updates the
player file with average wager information by inputting it into the
system and closes the pending gaming session for the player. The
resident system establishes a gross wager by multiplying the
observed average wager by session duration and a decisions/hour
constant. To establish a surrogate measure of a player's gross
wager, casinos multiply estimated average wager by both the number
of hours played and a decisions per hour constant. This constant
represents the casino's best guess as to the average number of
decisions made by the average player over the course of an hour.
Expressed mathematically, therefore, this process appears as
follows: Gross Wager ($)=Average Wager ($) X Time X Decisions
Constant. These wagering values accrue within individual player
files, resulting in either periodic or real-time, positive
adjustments to the gross wager balance. When determining a
theoretical expected win, most represent house advantage with
either a "worst case" or a "middle-of-the-road" percentage. In
Blackjack, for example, the house advantage against a player of
exceptional skill (worst case) is approximately 0.5% whereas the
house advantage over a player of poor skill may be as high as 3.0%.
Although some table systems do provide for the manipulation of
house advantage on an individual basis, this manipulation seldom
occurs and house advantage becomes a constant in practice. The
predefined comp factor is then applied to the theoretical expected
win, thus resulting in available comp for the player. The resident
system then determines the value of the good and/or service
requested, as well as the player's available comp. Provided that
the available comp is sufficient, the goods and/or services are
delivered and the available comp balance is adjusted to reflect the
value of the good and/or service delivered.
[0007] A need exists to fully automate the player rating process at
a live card gaming table in a casino to accurately rate the player
automatically and to reduce labor costs. Without question, player
ratings based only on human observations are inaccurate.
Supervisors can easily over-assess or under-assess a particular
player's rating. Furthermore, the labor costs for the supervisors
are expensive.
[0008] Systems are conventionally available to assist operators in
player rating determinations. However, these systems are still
dependent upon subjective assessments of time played, average
wager, and house advantage. A need exists to eliminate the
subjectivity in these assessments. The more factual data that can
be input, the more objectivity is found in the final results.
[0009] Some systems provide automated equipment for tracking a
player's betting activity. Examples of manufacturers who offer such
automated equipment include Precision Resource Corporation product
trademarked PITRAK (U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,912) and Grips Systems Inc.
product trademarked GOLDEN EYE (WO 97/10577). These systems provide
rail-based card reading units in order to allocate accurately the
length of time the player is at the gaming table. However, these
systems are still dependent upon the subjective assessment of
average wager and house advantage. A need exists to completely
automate this feature.
[0010] Traditionally, the master gaming controller has performed
all game functions including the calculation of the game outcome,
coin handling, communications with external devices, lighting
control, operation of the slot reels, etc. for the slot machine. As
the slot machine has evolved, the features offered to players have
become more complex and the potential combinations of gaming
devices available to a gaming machine have increased. For example,
video animations, combined with digital audio have been added to
the basic game play of the spinning reel slot machine. To execute
these complex game features and perform all of the game functions,
a microprocessor with significant computational capabilities is
required. Further, to accommodate all of the gaming devices within
the gaming machine, the motherboard containing the microprocessor
must have the necessary circuitry and wiring needed to communicate
with the all of the devices operated by the master gaming
controller.
[0011] In the past, instead of designing one motherboard that could
accommodate communications with all of the potential gaming
devices, a number of different motherboards were designed, each
accommodating communications with some subset of the available
gaming devices.
[0012] Typically, on a live gaming table, a central gaming machine
computer controls various combinations of devices. The features of
a given device, including card reading, game status detection and
the like are usually controlled by a "master gaming controller" in
communication with the casino table gaming table monitoring
equipment. For example to control payouts during a game, the master
gaming controller might perform many different operations including
electronically comparing player hands with a pre-programmed pay
table of winning combinations and payouts, confirming that a side
wager was made prior to paying out a side bet payout to a player,
instructing a stepper motor on a card delivery system to access
cards within the device, deliver cards to the dealer and then stop
card movement/delivery at a certain position, verify that the
correct number of cards are present in the shuffler, instructing
lights on the table reel to go on and off in various patterns, or
instructing a speaker connected to the table to emit various sound
patterns, for example. For the master gaming controller to perform
these operations, connections from the casino table are wired
directly into some type of electronic board (e.g., a "back plane"
or "mother board") containing the master gaming controller.
[0013] Casino Table Games (such as blackjack, poker, poker variants
such as Let It Ride.RTM. poker, Three Card.TM. poker and
Four-Card.TM. poker, baccarat, Casino War.TM. game, also require
some security control, and more highly automated systems are being
described in the literature and introduced to the marketplace.
There are, for example, numerous U.S. Patents assigned to MindPlay
LLC (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,712,696; 6,688,979; 6,685,568;
6,663,490; 6,652,379; 6,638,161; 6,595,857; 6,579,181; 6,579,180;
6,533,662; 6,530,837; 6,530,836; 6,527,271; 6,520,857; 6,517,436;
6,517,435; and 6,460,848) that describe systems and components of
systems that are used to more fully automate casino table card
games, and especially blackjack. These systems include deck
readers, optical bet sensing devices (e.g., chip sensors and
counters), software to evaluate the games after they are played,
and the like. One feature of the MindPlay system is a central
processor.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,808 (Strisower) describes a device to be
utilized in live casino gaming that will count the number of
"hands" (described as "rounds") of a given card game played per
given period of time. The information is used by a separate
database system within the casino to determine theoretical win/loss
based upon historical and theoretical outcome data related to
probability of winning/losing any given hand and then factoring in
the number of hands (rounds) played. Preferably this device is
polled by a database system to collect this information. In a
preferred embodiment, the device could be utilized with an
automatic tracking and information management system. The automatic
tracking and information management system (ATMS) automatically
determines various player transactions associated with a device in
a gaming establishment. The ATMS includes an automatic tracking and
management unit (ATMU) which transmits and receives information
between all gaming tables in all pit areas and the gaming
establishment database system.
[0015] The ATMU provides for the interactive determination of
various transactions within the pit area. Through the automatic
tracking and management system the manual paper tracking,
activities associated with the pit area are eliminated, thereby
freeing pit personnel for other tasks. The device could also be
generically connected to any tracking and information system
through any standard serial interface.
[0016] Various other U.S. Patents that include automation enhancing
technology for casino table card games include U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,582,301; 6,299,536; 6,165,069; 6,117,012; 6,093,103; 6,039,650;
5,722,893; 5,605,334. As can be seen from these disclosures, the
computing structural and component structures of gaming systems
follows the traditional format of a main processor driving
peripherals, and where one feature demands a significant amount of
computing power, two processors may be added, with one processor
still tending to be the dominant main processor sending commands to
the peripherals. In proposed table systems, peripheral devices
(such as a hand sensor or round counter or bet sensor provides the
signal and sends the signal to the gaming table processor and/or to
a main processor. These signals are sometimes logged in with a time
stamp for noting when it was received and/or logged in. The systems
in other gaming table operations tend to be structured in the same
manner, with systems described as comprising a main computer,
central computer or the like, and various peripherals such as card
readers, chip readers, cameras, lighting elements, shufflers, bet
sensors, movement sensors, motion sensors, jackpot
incrementers/decrementers, game status indicators (e.g., jackpot
registers, blackjack indicators, symbol indicators and the like)
and any other elements of the table game. Examples of such systems
include method, apparatus and articles for verifying card games,
such as playing card distribution as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,638,161; 6,595,857; 6,5,79,181; 6,579,180; 6,533,275; 6,530,837;
6,530,836; 6,527,271; 6,520,857; 6,517,436; 6,517,535; and
6,460,848 (the Soltys' patents). Other gaming table systems that
operate on the basis of a central programmer commanding peripheral
devices (that may or may not have some data collection and
processing capability of their own) include U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,299,536 and 6,039,650 (Hill); U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,546 (Meissner)
which describes touch screens and player entry features at each
player position, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,093,103 and 6,117,012 (McCrea)
which describes card sensing systems at each player location as
well a card reading shoe; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,166 (Lorson)
describing a card control and recognition system and method. U.S.
Pat. No. 6,629,894 (Purton, Dolphin Advanced Technologies, Ltd.)
describes a card inspection device including a first loading area
adapted to receive one or more decks of playing cards.
[0017] The Dolphin device includes a drive roller located adjacent
the loading area and positioned to impinge on a card if a card were
present in the loading area. The loading area has an exit through
which cards are urged, one at a time, by a feed roller. A transport
path extends from the loading area exit to a card accumulation
area. The transport path is further defined by two pairs of
transport rollers, one roller of each pair above the transport path
and one roller of each pair below the transport path. A camera is
located between the two pairs of transport rollers, and a processor
governs the operation of a digital camera and the rollers. A
printer produces a record of the device's operation based on an
output of the processor, and a portion of the transport path is
illuminated by one or more blue LEDs. A printer is also provided as
part of the system driven by a central computer.
[0018] Crown Casinos in Australia has recently provided a device
that assists in counting rounds of play by using a card-sensing
component on a table that responds to the blockage of ambient light
into a hole and the forwarding of the sensed data to a central
computer. The data is logged in as it is received to indicate a
time element associated with each piece of data received.
[0019] Disadvantages of the current casino table game architecture
include at least the following. First, the number of types of
motherboards needed to accommodate all of the potential
combinations of gaming devices has become large. Second, the
computational capability of the motherboard needed to drive all the
devices has become large. Third, when devices are added to augment
the features of the gaming table or when devices are replaced for
maintenance the steps necessary to rewire the device onto the
motherboard and load the appropriate software onto the motherboard
can be time consuming and require significant shutdown time for the
gaming table. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide casino
gaming table architecture and components that are compatible with a
standard communication protocol and/or connection system for
installing or removing devices controlled by a local, central or
other master gaming controller.
[0020] A casino table gaming peripheral (also referred to for
purposes of this disclosure as a "module") that is compatible with
a standard communication protocol and/or connection system may
reduce the number of types and sophistication (expense) of
motherboards that are needed for the casino table gaming machine
and may reduce the amount of maintenance time when any electronic
component is replaced. Further, it would be desirable to have the
casino table gaming peripheral control some of its own functions
rather than having all the functions controlled by the master
gaming controller. This feature reduces the load on the
computational resources of the master gaming controller and reduces
competition for system resources.
[0021] Central control of gaming devices is the typical control
format in the gaming industry. The most important concept is that
all existing peripherals are under the control of a main processor
sends commands to peripherals to perform specific functions.
[0022] The systems in live gaming table systems tend to be
structured in the same manner as the slave master-formats of slot
machine devices, with systems described as comprising a main
computer, central computer or the like, and various peripherals
such as card readers, chip readers, cameras, lighting elements,
shufflers, bet sensors, movement sensors, motion sensors, jackpot
incrementers/decrementers, game status indicators (e.g., jackpot
registers, blackjack indicators, symbol indicators and the like)
and any other elements of the table game.
[0023] As can be seen, even where there is some processing
intelligence distributed around a gaming table, the underlying
operation of the system remains a central command and response
structure, which both requires high component costs and limits the
operation of the system. A gaming system with different control
structure would be desirable if it could reduce costs and add
flexibility to the system and enable ease of component
replacement.
[0024] The LET IT RIDE BONUS.RTM. poker system is one commercial
system that provides live table game security. The system includes
a general purpose game computer (typically shared by multiple
tables), a programmable keypad computer and an intelligent card
shuffler. Each computer component, however, has limited
communication capacity among each other and the intelligence of the
shuffler has been limited. A description of the components and
their operation is provided below as an admission of prior art.
[0025] Keypad Computer & Controls--When a player achieves a
preselected winning bonus hand, the dealer inputs this information
into the keypad controller. The keypad allows the dealer to
start/end a game. The keypad controller receives signals from the
side bet detectors (e.g., sensing that a side bet has been placed)
and transmits the information to the central game computer. The
keypad controls verify security keys. Physical "keys" are inserted
by the dealer into the keypad controller as an extra security
measure prior to paying a large payout. Often, the pit boss carries
the keys and must physically verify the hand and payout before the
key is used. The use of the "key" system allows verification of
selected high-ranking bonus hands (i.e., a royal flush). When a
winning bonus hand is achieved, the dealer inputs the position
number of the winning hand into the keypad. The keypad computer
verifies that an original bonus bet (side bet wager) was registered
to that position. Chip sensors in the table area associated with
the side bet wagers communicate with the keypad only. The keypad
controls currently can communicate over fiber optic or copper
cables to the game computer. The keypad computer can communicate
with other hardware devices (such as a progressive meter, CRS (card
revelation system for display of symbols such as a card to be
matched or indication of a wild card) system, with a random number
generator, a sign or a game computer. During setup, the keypad
computer can be programmed for different games, pay tables, etc.
During setup, the keypad computer is set to select music (on/off)
that may indicate a bonus award. The keypad sends this information
to the game computer, and the game computer controls the audio
system.
[0026] Shuffler--The currently marketed technology permits the
shuffler to communicate only with the keypad controller. The
shuffler tells the keypad in real time how many cumulative hands
have been dealt. Misdeal information is also transmitted from the
shuffler to the keypad. The presence of the shuffler is verified by
sending a signal to the keypad controller. The keypad controller
continually polls for the presence of the shuffler. Once the
presence of the shuffler is confirmed, control of some aspects of
shuffler operation (such as when to deal cards) is taken over by
the keypad controller. The keypad computer tells the shuffler when
it is time to deal another round, and tells the shuffler when all
bets have been placed and when dealing can proceed.
[0027] General Purpose Game Computer--This computer is typically
shared by multiple tables. It receives no information from the
shuffler. It receives on/off line status of game from the keypad
controller. Key code information (to verify a high ranking winning
hand) is verified on the central computer. The central computer
assembles reports of data, including the number of
hands/bets/rounds (or games), game identification (that is, what
game is being played on the shuffler), table identification (that
is, which table is being used), bonus hands won, win/(unit time),
hands/(unit time), and bets/(unit time).
[0028] Each of these areas of security and capabilities at casino
gaming tables have been independently provided, or provided as
grouped features. The failure to appreciate the interrelationship
of some of these individual tasks and the failure to integrate them
into a single piece of table game equipment has weakened the
overall benefit to the casino.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0029] A casino table card gaming system comprises: at least one
gaming table; and at least one playing card shuffler on or
proximate to the gaming table. The shuffler provides a status
signal associated with a specific stage of use of the shuffler in a
casino table card game. The status signal is forwarded either
directly or via a microprocessor or G-Mod to a database. The
database uses the signal as a basis for registering that a round of
play of a casino table card game using playing cards from that
shuffler. The signal is the basis for creating a record count of
rounds and/or hands of games played for at least one of that
shuffler or that casino table. When the data is received by a
microprocessor or G-Mod, the data is first date stamped in
real-time prior to being sent to the database.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a casino table as might be used in a specific
practice within the generic practices described herein.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a system operating according to
one species of the generic process and generic apparatus described
herein.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of distributed architecture
information flow in casino-type gaming machine.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of distributed architecture
information flow in a gaming table environment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] A casino table card gaming system comprises: at least one
gaming table; and at least one playing card shuffler on or
proximate to the gaming table. The shuffler (also referred to as a
card randomizer or card mixer) can perform its primary shuffling
function by a wide variety of different shuffling techniques or
formats, which separate formats are not essential to the practice
of the described technology. Among the various formats of shuffling
are interleaving of separate portions of a single set (e.g., one or
more decks) of playing cards, random insertion of cards from a
first set of cards into separate vertical compartments (as shown in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,154;6,254,096; 6,588,750; and 6,655,684),
random ejection shufflers (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,299,167 and
6,019,368), carousel or fan format shufflers (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,683,085; and 6,267,248) and the like.
[0035] The shuffler of the present invention provides a status
signal associated with a specific stage of use of the shuffler in a
casino table card game. The status signal is forwarded either
directly or via a microprocessor or G-Mod to a database that uses
the signal as a basis for registering that a round of play of a
casino table card game. A signal representing a start of a
shuffling cycle may be counted to create a record of game usage for
at least one of that shuffler or that casino table. The status
signal may be a signal that exists within the shuffler that is a
command (e.g., "start randomization process"), but its transmittal
from the microprocessor or G-Mod to a data receiver is effectively
only a status or state signal to the external receiver, as it
cannot execute the command. Signals transferred from the G-Mod's to
the database are typically only data and are not commands. The
signal sent by the shuffler should be a unique event in the
operation of a cycle of the shuffler, as opposed to a signal
relating to events that are performed more than once during the
entire cycle of randomizing a first set (e.g., one or more decks,
unshuffled, shuffled, new, used, etc.) of playing cards. For
example, the shuffler may provide an internal status signal stating
(in effect, and not necessarily literally) "all cards to be
shuffled have now been inserted." This is a unique, separate and
single event signal that occurs during one complete shuffling of a
set of playing cards. An event such as "rotate rollers," "move one
card," raise elevator," "unload a compartment," or the like, would
not be easily used as a status signal, as the event occurs multiple
times during the randomization cycle of a single set of cards.
Non-limiting examples of the types of unique events from which a
status signal may be selected would be from among commands given
within the shuffler to denote a unique event during shuffling
activity. The nature of the event, signal or command may relate to
events occurring in the shuffler selected from the group consisting
of start card feeder, start deal, start shuffle, end shuffle,
platform full, platform empty, compartment full, compartment empty,
shuffling complete, end dealing, shuffler unloaded, dealer
activated signal, stop dealing hands, all compartments unloaded,
card count verified, deck content verified, and shuffler
loaded.
[0036] The technical disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/967,500, filed on Sep. 28, 2001, and U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/880,408, filed on Jun. 28, 2004 and U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/880,410, filed on Jun. 28, 2004 are
incorporated herein by reference, as are all materials cited in the
specification.
[0037] Round Counting using Shuffler with Central Control of Gaming
Table
[0038] The card table game monitoring and security apparatus of the
present disclosure may comprise at least one or at least two
distinct computers, preferably at least three computers associated
with specific elements and communicating in real time. The systems
of the present disclosure include a main table game controller, a
shuffler with its own intelligence and a keypad with or without its
own intelligence, communicating directly with a main table game
controller and possibly other table game controllers. The table
game controller communicates with a main controller. The main
controller is a general purpose computer and collects data from a
group of game tables and/or groups of games and their tables in
real time. In one form of the invention, the table game controllers
share information and are in direct communication, or communication
through the central controller. Typically, multiple table games of
the same or of a different type are connected to the main
controller. The main controller in the practice of this invention
receives data from each of the table controllers, including player
tracking, betting information, card identification, dealer
information, player information, table location, and on a
progressive system, the shared progressive amount.
[0039] The system and its use may be variously and generally
described as a method of providing information, storing
information, evaluating performance and contributing to the control
of a live casino table card game. The system may comprise a process
including at least some of the steps of sensing wagers by players
at least two player locations and communicating the sensing to a
table game control computer in real time and communicating the
sensing to a central control computer in real time; controlling an
automatic card shuffling device with a microprocessor in the card
shuffling device and communicating information relating to unique
events occurring during card shuffling to the game table controller
computer in real time and to the central control computer in real
time; and electronically measuring betting information and
transmitting information to the central game controller computer in
real time, said electronic measuring including use of data
transmitted to the central game controller computer from the table
game controller computer and the shuffler. Again, the term "unique
event" should be so considered during a single randomization
process for a single set of cards. This process has emphasized the
practice of the technology on a batch shuffling system, that is a
system that shuffles or randomizes a complete set of a first group
of cards, and then that group of randomized cards is used in the
play of usually a single round of play of a casino table card game.
For example, a single 52-card poker deck is shuffled and the cards
dealt for play of Let It Ride.RTM. stud poker, Three Card.TM. stud
poker, Four Card.TM. stud poker, Pai Gow poker and variations of
these and other games where a single round of play exhausts the
ability of the deck or first set of playing cards from being used.
It is possible to modify the described system for use with a
continuous shuffler, but this would inherently add some amount of
subjectivity in determining a conclusion of a round of play.
[0040] In one embodiment, when the shuffler loading process begins,
a state signal is sent to the external game controller indicating a
round of play has begun. The signal increments the running count of
rounds by one. The shuffler preferably has a switch operable by the
dealer, which stops the shuffler from dealing out hands when the
desired number of hands has been delivered. If the shuffler has
this feature, another state signal can be sent to the game
controller indicating the number of hands, and the number of rounds
and hands per round can be stored in the database.
[0041] Alternative general descriptions include a method providing
information, storing information, evaluating performance and
contributing to the control of a live casino table card game;
comprising: providing a live gaming table with at least two player
locations and at least one sensor in each player location for
sensing bets; providing a computer controlled automatic card
shuffling device; providing a table game controller; and providing
a central game controller; electronically measuring betting
information, wherein the card shuffling device receives game
related data from and/or transmits data and a status signal to the
table game controller in real time and wherein the table game
controller transmits and/or receives game related information in
real time to and/or from the central game controller.
[0042] Another aspect of the invention includes an automatic card
shuffler, comprising: a programmable controller; a card randomizing
mechanism; and a data port; wherein data and a status signal is fed
from inside the card shuffler via the data port to the central game
computer and/or a back end computer system. The table controller
will allow tracking of at least one of the dealer identification,
the dealer efficiency and/or productivity, table usage/idle time,
table location and identification, dealer errors/cheating, chip
tray accounting, multi-denomination betting tracking, universal
(multiple different games) progressive table games, player
activity, player strategy, player win/loss activity, card counting
activity, player identification (although this can be specifically
performed by the main controller, as may some of the other
activities, even at this stage of development), etc.
[0043] Examples of the types of data that can be captured with this
system include:
[0044] Hands dealt per unit time
[0045] Identification of when a service call should be made
[0046] Automatic service call generation
[0047] Jam detection/recovery and reports of jams/clears in real
time to main controller
[0048] Rounds of play/unit time
[0049] When cards are scanned for rank/suit, the value of the hand
can be automatically ranked and the payout can be displayed,
eliminating dealer errors.
[0050] When cards are scanned for rank/suit and the correct payout
is displayed, reports of dealer error/cheating are generated when
wrong payouts are made.
[0051] The signal from the bet sensors may be input into the
shuffler itself to enable the shuffler to deal only the number of
hands needed to cover the bets, speeding play of the game.
[0052] The signal from the bet sensors can be transmitted directly
to the central controller to collect betting data.
[0053] The table controller will communicate with the player
tracking system, permitting the system to measure player bets
placed, player efficiency (how far the player deviates from
"optimal" strategy), time at the table, frequency of visiting
property, etc.
[0054] The table controller will continually pole the chip tray to
verify that the correct number of chips is in the tray. Count of
chips on the table can also be determined by sensors and included
in the total count. Balances are fed to the central computer in
real-time so that errors in paying are detected immediately.
[0055] Data on the amount of time the table is in use, the time of
day the table is in use, the table identification number, the table
location, the times when the tables are most filled and the times
when the most bets are made may be collected by the table
controller and transmitted to the central controller so that
management can optimize usage of personnel, the arrangement of
equipment and choice of games/equipment. Management can determine
when table should remain open, and when it should be closed.
[0056] Data on a hand pitched game vs. the same game dealt through
an automatic shuffler (at equivalent locations in terms of table
usage/min and max bets, etc.) can be compared to measure
productivity improvements gained through automating a table or
automating the shuffling process.
[0057] Dealer identification number or name may be input into the
table controller at the beginning of a shift. The dealer can be
asked to sign out at the end of shift. Verification of hours
worked, and associating data collected during this period of time
with a particular dealer. Data can be used to detect dealer
cheating, dealer training needs and for implementing dealer
recognition awards and special compensation for rewarding and/or
recognizing exceptionally good dealers that are reflected in higher
holds and longer retention at the table.
[0058] An identification number corresponding to the shuffler can
be inputted into the table controller to track the location of each
shuffler. This i.d. information can also be transmitted to the main
controller directly from the shuffler or into the table computer
and then to the main controller.
[0059] Reports on shuffler swap outs (replacements when performance
of a shuffler is less than optimal) can be generated, to assist
service personnel in servicing the right shufflers, and to improve
the chances that back-up units are in working order.
[0060] The central controller will generate reports such as rounds
of play/shift, the number of players/shift, the average amount of
time spent at the table/player, the handle, player reports that
assist management in determining rating of a player,
analysis/reports to use for player comping, etc.
[0061] The table controller can be programmed so that it will alert
the dealer and pit boss via the central controller that a card
counter is playing on the table. When the system is reading the
rank and value of each card, the table controller will know the
count of each hand. If player bets increase when the shoe is rich
in 10 and Ace value cards, the system will alert the dealer and
management that the player is counting cards.
[0062] Data collected at each table controller can be transmitted
in real time to the central controller, allowing management to
thwart card counting, cheating schemes, dealer mistakes, etc. as
the events occur.
[0063] In FIG. 1 shows a game table system 10 for a game table 20
on which a live card game is played. The system 10 uses a central
controller. The system can be applied to any of the non-limiting
following list of known or conventional table games: Baccarat and
variants such as Grand Baccarat, Mini Baccarat, Midi Baccarat,
Chemin de fer and Puncto Banco; Blackjack and variants such as
Progressive Twenty One, Triple Action Blackjack, Super Seven's
Blackjack, Spanish Twenty One, Vingt et un and Pontoon; Big Wheel,
Big Six and variants, In Between and variants such as Red Dog and
Catch-A-Wave; Poker and variants such as Caribbean Stud.RTM. Poker,
Caribbean Draw.RTM. Poker, Let It Ride.RTM. poker, Tres Card Poker,
Pai Gow Poker, and Wheel and Deal, Three Card Poker, Four Card.TM.
poker. Oklahoma Three Card.TM. stud poker, etc. The form, type, and
variation of the game played on table 20 are immaterial to the
teachings of the present invention and does not limit the teachings
contained herein.
[0064] The game table 10, in one general exemplary embodiment, is
adapted for Let It Ride Bonus.RTM. stud poker and, in FIG. 1, seven
player positions 18a through 18g are shown. At each player position
is a card position 19a through 19g, respectively, and three
individual player betting positions 22a, 22b and 22c. A side bet
(e.g., jackpot or bonus) wagering position 23a through 23g is shown
at each player position. A position for dealers or community cards
21 is shown in front of the dealer's position 20.
[0065] A card shuffling or card randomizing device 32 is provided
on, next to or beneath the upper surface of the table 10. The
shuffling device 32 preferably has its own separate
computer/microprocessor 33 integral with or electronically
associated with the shuffler 32. The table controller 37 controls
the operations of the shuffler in another example of the invention.
A card delivery shoe 35 is shown, from which shuffled cards,
randomized cards, randomized hands or shuffled hands (not shown)
are provided to the dealer to distribute. A sensor 36 is shown
within the card delivery shoe 35, although it may be positioned
elsewhere within the card shuffler, as is well known in the art. A
sensor or sensors (not shown) may also be positioned on the table
10 so that cards are read and a unique status signal are provided
to one of the computers (33, 37 and 39, or as later identified) to
provide information for analysis. The game computer 37 or game
controller is shown as associated with a key pad system 20. The key
pad system contains a key pad 74 (supported by attaching element 34
to the table) for entering data, various rows of buttons 72 and 78
for inputting data, and player position indicator buttons 76 for
assigning data input to specific player positions (although other
identification systems for individual player positions are within
the choice of the ordinarily skilled artisan). The side bet
wagering positions 23a through 23g are provided with sensing or
counting devices B at the side bet wagering sites 23a through 23g.
In another form of the invention, the base game bet sensors 22a,
22b, 22c are also equipped with electronic bet sensors and/or
counting systems.
[0066] The side bet detection device B (as well as the devices
located at positions 22a, 22b and 22c) may be any sensing system
such as, but not limited to a proximity detector, magnetic card
reader, photo-optic or acoustic detector, RF responsive
indicator/sensor, optical scanner, weight sensing device or the
multiple security system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,002. The
card reader 36 is shown to be located in the shuffling device 32 of
FIG. 1 on the game table 10, but could also be located on the
surface of the table 10 or any suitable location including in the
shoe element 35 of the shuffler 32, inside the shuffling device 32
when cards are moved one-at-a-time within the shuffler, or in any
other strategic location near the gaming table 10.
[0067] Any commercially available card reader, especially those
adapted for the gaming industry, could be utilized under the
teachings of the present invention to read player data, available
credit and any other information carried on player tracking cards.
Each card reader may form part of an array of card readers that are
responsible for the collection of programmed data present on a
card-based magnetic strip or in reading the images or other data on
the cards. The present technology is not limited to magnetic or bar
code card readers and it is to be expressly understood that the
card utilized could be a smart card and that the device could write
data into a smart card. Furthermore, any equivalent device could be
utilized under the present invention which at least reads player
identification data from a data medium carried by the player.
[0068] The game table computer 37 serves as an intelligent
processor and communications hub for the game table 10. The game
table computer 37 contains software and coordinates all
recognition, display, mathematical, diagnostic and communication
routines and functions associated with the transfer of data between
itself and the other table-based and distal components as will be
explained in the following. The table-based computer 37 may also
interface with computer-based systems (e.g., 33 and 39) remote from
the game table 10, and in one example of the invention, also
communicates with other table-based computers on the property, or
between properties via a network connection.
[0069] FIG. 1 also shows a dealer's keypad 74 at dealer location
14, which serves as a communication device between the dealer and
the system 10 of the present invention. It enables the dealer to
enter commands and/or selections of commands from predefined menus.
Also at the dealer location 14 may include a dealer visual
interface (not shown, may be located on the table 10 or on the
shuffler 32) that displays game information, chip tray inventories,
personnel identification, casino chip values, and wager values
summed by player position 18a through 18g. In addition, component
status and/or miscellaneous messages from the computers 33, 37 and
39 and/or remote computer-based systems can be displayed.
[0070] In the practice of the present technology, commercial
components and subcomponents may be used to build the architecture
of the system. For example, in use and operation, the invention may
include processor boards, intelligent boards, unintelligent boards,
a main board, microprocessors, a graphics system processor, an
audio processor, the boards and components including memory in the
form of ROM, RAM, flash memory, EPROM, NVRAM and/or EEPROM
(electrically erasable programmable read only memory). The central
gaming control computer or the table game controller computer may
include a system event controller, the random number generator, a
win decoder/pay table, status indicators, a communications handler,
encryption system for signals, hardware and peripherals (e.g.,
lights, displays, buttons, coin acceptors, key switches, doors
switches, change systems, credit validators, play reporting
systems, currency validators, hopper controls, diverters, lamps,
auxiliary outputs, printers, handles, magnetic strip readers,
optical scanners, credit card scanners, joy stick, touchpad, light
wand, signal system, and other active or interactive controls).
Software may be provided with any operating system, either
proprietary, public, open key or closed key such as the many
variations of Windows.RTM. operating systems, Mac operating systems
(e.g., MAC OS), LINUX, UNIX, and the like.
[0071] In one example of the invention, the shuffler 32 is a single
or double deck batch shuffler. A "batch" shuffler for purposes of
this disclosure is a card randomization device that randomizes all
cards in a set of cards used to play a game at the conclusion of
each round of play. For example, a single-deck hand-forming
shuffler would be a desirable choice for providing cards for the
game of Let it Ride.RTM. stud poker. The structure and function of
this type of shuffler is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No.
09/060,627, filed Apr. 15, 1009, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,154, the
content which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present
application. Another batch shuffler that could be used to practice
the present invention is a single or double deck batch shuffler
that delivers a randomized set of cards for hand-dealing, such as
the shuffler disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/967,502,
filed Sep. 28, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,981.
[0072] The particular signal that causes a state change when a new
round is identified is typically the same signal that causes the
card feeder to begin feeding cards. Other signals may be used, such
as the signal which causes the cards to unload, followed by a
signal causing cards to reload, with a maximum defined time
interval there between.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 2, an example of one signal that represents
a shuffling cycle is a shuffler state signal that is transmitted
when the card feeder begins operation, i.e.--the cards are placed
in the card infeed tray and the shuffler commences feeding either
automatically or in response to a dealer input. The beginning of
the shuffling cycle 100 commences when a unique event such as the
activation of the card feed rollers 102 begins. In response to
cards being fed, the microprocessor generates a signal unique to
the commencement of card feeding. The shuffler broadcasts this
signal either directly to an external computer with an associated
data storage system, or to a host computer.
[0074] Use of a Shuffler as a Round Counting/Hand Counting Data
Acquisition Module
[0075] In the examples of the invention described above, a central
controller coordinates the activities of the table monitoring
system. In another example of the invention, the intelligence is
decentralized, and only data (as opposed to commands) travels from
the shuffler to an external computer. Similarly, no commands are
received from a central computer to the shuffler, except
initialization and set up commands, and the like.
[0076] The displays used on the various components may be in the
form of monitors (i.e., CRT displays), plasma screens, light
emitting diode (LED) panels, semiconductor displays, liquid crystal
displays, and the like.
[0077] Multiple intelligent data collection modules (consisting of
at least one data collection device and an associated G-Mod) act as
finite state machines. Each G-Mod or microprocessor and associated
memory is communicatively interconnected with a sensing device to
collect data, date stamp the data and send it to a central data
repository via a direct line (as in the case of the use of a
microprocessor) or via a network (when a G-Mod is used). The
processing unit, referred to in this application as a "G-Mod" in
one example of the invention is a microprocessor with associated
memory that is capable of being programmed, and is capable of
broadcasting data over a network (wired or wireless). In another
form, the G-Mod is a hard wired as a FPGA (field programmable gated
array). The G-Mod/data acquisition unit performs data acquisition;
date stamps and sends sensed data via a direct line or network such
as an Ethernet to an external computer that contains a database. In
contrast to systems that provide an exclusive main computer to
command all or most individual sensors and peripherals, in the
presently described technology, the G-Mods detect activity in the
sensors and peripherals. The G-Mods date stamp and broadcast the
information over an Ethernet to a central database. One preferred
mode of communication is UDP but others such as TCP and TCP/IP are
alternate communication protocols. In a preferred form of the
invention, the G-Mods broadcast information over a network but do
not issue commands to other G-Mods to perform operations. Less
powerful techniques (as compared to typical main processor systems
used in gaming apparatus) may be distributed to monitor each
peripheral. The use of these separate intelligences for each
peripheral eliminates the need to reprogram old modules as new
modules are added, and allows the manufacturer to offer customized
hardware and software packages capable of collecting only the
information that the casino operator wants to collect.
[0078] Casino table card games can be provided with a wide variety
of sensors. One such sensor is an optical position sensor for
detection signal initiated by a dealer to indicate approximate
beginner or final completion of a round of play of a casino table
card game. The dealer's round count sensor is located at the dealer
position. The dealer covers the sensor with the cards at the
conclusion of a round of play, for example. The sensor is read by
the distributed intelligence table subcomponent (a G-Mod) that has
a time/dating capability. The signal is time/date stamped (referred
to herein as "Date Stamping" or "date stamping" for simplicity. The
date stamped data is then transmitted generally through a
communication line to an external computer that contains database
management software and a database interface. The number of rounds
stored in the database then increments by one round. This
cumulative value is typically stored in the database but can also
reside in memory associated with the G-Mod or microprocessor. The
data in the database can then be accessed by programs used to
analyze the data, if needed. The database interface allows casino
management to extract the data in a usable form. The collected data
retains its date stamping at least through storage, analysis, data
entry or other treatment of the data after transmission away from
the table, and the date stamping is typically provided by the
separate intelligence, although in some cases may or may not be
provided by the sensor itself.
[0079] FIG. 3 shows a casino card gaming table 200. The table 200
has a surface 204 with seven player positions 206 (three positions
labeled 206) 208, 210, 212 and 214 thereon. A round sensor 216 may
be provided for the dealer cards 218. The sensor 216 is connected
by a communication system (preferably a wire system, but RF or
other wireless systems could be used) to a finite state machine 222
(a G-Mod) for the table 200. The finite state machine 222 is on a
communication line 224 to a data collector (not shown). The G-MOD
may also perform as a microprocessor that performs the specific
task of date stamping upon receiving any status signal, forwarding
the date stamped status signal directly to a database as previously
described.
[0080] The table 200 also includes an automatic card shuffler 226
with its own associated internal processor 227. The processor 227
is in communication with an associated G-Mod 228. G-Mod 228
transmits data through data line 230, 224 or both, either directly
to a central database or via a network connection to a central
database.
[0081] In one form of the invention, when the shuffler 226 is
activated, the change in state is sensed by the G-Mod. The G-Mod
time/date stamps the data and transmits the "round" increment
information to a data repository. When the shuffler is capable of
delivering only the number of hands of cards needed for a round of
play (i.e. when there are only three players present at the table),
a signal corresponding to the number of hands delivered is also
sensed by the G-Mod. The G-Mod 228 senses the value and sends this
data to the database. The database then increments the cumulative
number of rounds by 1 and the cumulative number of hands by 3. It
may also have the capability of identifying the particular round as
having three players. In one example of the invention, the total
cumulative number of rounds counted is stored in the G-Mod memory
and is used as a comparison value to detect errors in counting.
[0082] In the event of a card jam or other interruption on
operation, and after the shuffler has broadcast a state signal
indicative of a new round, the shuffler can be programmed to detect
a fault and broadcast another signal that represents a failed
attempt at a round, causing the round count in the database to
decrement by 1. Similarly, the hand count, if it is being recorded
is similarly decremented.
[0083] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of data transmission in the
system of FIG. 1. The components of a casino table gaming apparatus
might include a coin acceptor, bill validator, a drop box capable
of sensing the input of currency, ticket in/ticket out
sensing/reading, lighting, video displays, card reading sensors,
chip counters, security sensing, dealer input controls, player
input controls, dealer identification card scanning, player
tracking, round counting, hand counting, shuffle counting and the
like. In the present technology described herein, a round counting
system is also described, wherein the number of rounds of plays are
determined (one round at a time) by a determination of when a
dealer's play has been completed, as by complete removal of cards
from the dealer's position. The sensor at the dealer station is
active 300. When there is no activity, ambient light is sensed 302.
After a round of play, the dealer collects all cards and places the
stack on the sensor, blocking 304 the ambient light. A signal
representing blocked light is sent 306 to a central computer (now
shown), a microprocessor 308 or a G-Mod (not shown) and the data is
time stamped and transmitted 310 to the database where it is
retained 312.
[0084] In the practice of the described technology, communication
to a data collection system with at least some peripherals may be
performed by general broadcast communication of game status (which
may also be referred to as generated information or data) over a
table-specific network, from more than one distributed intelligence
source within the system, each of which is associated with at least
one peripheral. Each distributed intelligence (a local processor)
sends its own the game status communication over the network, but
does not respond to game status information of other G-Mods. Each
local processor (hereinafter G-Mod)) is capable of sending date
stamped information to a database where the information is stored
and can be accessed by the same computer that holds the database or
by another external computer. This is a significant element in the
practice of the invention, as that information may be generally
sent (essentially at the same time as a single, generally dispersed
signal) over a network from multiple distributed intelligences.
[0085] In one form of the invention, the state of each G-Mod is
broadcast over a network that contains all of the sensors and
G-Mods associated with one gaming table. As the state of each G-Mod
changes, the signals being broadcasted to all of the G-Mods is
changed, and each G-Mod independently transmits information to the
central data collection point.
[0086] One conceptual way of visualizing or understanding a method
of implementing an intelligence system for the operation of a
gaming system according to the present invention is as decomposing
the tasks of previous constrained (central processor commanded)
systems into orthogonal or unrelated sensing events running on
independent processors. The term "orthogonal" for purposes of this
disclosure means no commonality in function. The provision of
orthogonal or independent intelligence functionality and individual
performance capability allows the various system components to
operate independently, and timely transfer the date stamped data to
a database for further processing. Such a system functions more
efficiently because there is no central processor prioritizing the
execution of functions.
[0087] As noted above, there are many different elements of the
gaming system that can be considered as peripherals or data
acquisition devices. Some more important examples of table-game
related peripherals include: bet presence, bet recognition, bet
separation, shuffling, hand counting, round counting, card
identification, card tracking, player tracking and employee
tracking. Other components might include (in addition to those
described above) random number generation, I/O detection and
response, audio signals, video signals, currency handling, coin
acceptors, bill acceptors, paperless transactions, ticket-in and
ticket-out crediting, security systems, player accounting
functions, door locks, signal lighting (change/assistance), player
input (e.g., button controls, joy sticks, touch screens, etc.) and
any other functions that my be provided on the gaming
apparatus.
[0088] The units (which may be elsewhere referred to herein as
gaming modules or G-Mods) are operated substantially independently
of each other, although some interdependencies could exist. In the
event of interdependencies, they are not subject to the classic
control model but operate by finite state machine changes that are
broadcast and then react with intelligence. For purposes of this
disclosure, the term "finite state machine" (or a FSM) is a
theoretical device used to describe the evolution of an object's
condition based on its current state (or condition) and outside
influences. The present state of an object, its history, and the
forces acting upon it can be analyzed to determine the future state
of an object. Each state then may have a "behavior" associated with
it. An FSM is a very efficient way to model sequencing circuits.
Ultimately the table game control system is nothing more than a
complex sequencing unit, branched as appropriate for the game
functions. All finite state machines can be implemented as
hardware, software running on a processor or combinations of the
two.
[0089] By assigning specific data collection controls to local
architecture, the design of the system places system tasks into
lower computing power manageable units. The manageable units (e.g.,
the peripherals) can then be each handled (or small groups handled)
by dedicated controller modules. Some design care should be taken
to combine control of peripherals under a single intelligence to
assure that such accumulating demands for processing power are not
being required as to merely reconstruct a main processor in a
different physical location with the system. The intelligence
requirement for such an assistance function is so low that its
addition to almost any other function would be barely noticed. In
the distributed intelligence structure, the G-Mods or individual
intelligences have enough intelligence on board to handle the
details of how the G-Mod itself handles the details of operation of
the peripheral device.
[0090] Although this specific example of the generic concepts
described herein has been described largely in terms round-counting
and hand counting modules that send date-stamped information to a
central database, it is to be understood that multiple modules
could be present in one system to send collected data to a data
repository. In a preferred form of the invention, the data stamped
data is broadcasted over an Ethernet specific to the table game,
and that the data in this format is collected and recorded by the
central data repository.
[0091] Each G-mod is collecting, date stamping and transmitting
data as the data is collected from the table to a central database,
but the G-Mods are not influencing the operation of one another.
The database does not issue commands to the G-Mods, except to
reset, reboot and send and receive configuration information. In
effect, each G-Mod is a freestanding microprocessor that runs
independently of the any other intelligence, except that it
receives limited operational information from the database computer
and state signal information from other G-Mod's.
[0092] A card swipe module could be added to the table system, for
example, with an associated G-Mod. This G-Mod could not only
transmit time-stamped data to the data repository, but could also
transmit player I.D. information to the player tracking system
residing in the casino computer system, and possibly broadcast a
state to the other G-Mod's indicating a player position is
active.
[0093] One or more sensors could sense information transmitted
through an output data port of a shuffler, for example, or a keypad
control used to issue commands to a shuffler. The shuffler would
have it's own G-Mod and is capable of transmitting date stamped
information such as number of cards per hand, number of hands per
hour, number of cards dispensed per unit time, number of cards
re-fed into a continuous shuffler per unit of time, number of
promotional cards dispensed per unit of time, the number of rounds
per unit of time, the gross number of rounds played, etc. At the
same time, another indicator attached to a G-Mod could transmit
date stamped data about bonus awards granted at a certain time, and
the like. This information could be collected in a central
database.
[0094] It is important to note that in a preferred form of the
technology, all of the G-Mod's are in communication with the same
database. Also, the data repository does not issue commands to the
G-Mods, with the possible exception of requesting configuration
data and resetting/rebooting the G-Mods. The central database
merely organizes the data in a manner that allows for easy access
and analysis by external computers or another application program
residing on the same computer as the database. In this respect, the
G-Mod's are self-executing and do not require central intelligence
to perform their individual functions. The data may be analyzed and
used to make decisions about awarding redeemable points and free
rooms to players, etc., scheduling pit labor, promoting pit
personnel, closing and opening tables, determining optimal betting
limits for given periods of time and other important managerial
functions.
[0095] Each G-Mod may be in data communication with an interface
device such as one or more specialized circuit boards to allow the
data from multiple G-Mod's to be fed into a standard port of the
computer that serves as the data repository. Also, multiple sensing
modules may be fed into a single G-Mod if the particular G-Mod has
the capacity to process the extra information.
[0096] A software interface can be provided to directly access data
in the data repository and to manipulate and organize the data so
that it can be outputted onto a display, written report or formed
into a data stream so that the data can be further manipulated. In
one example of a software interface program, the operator can
obtain reports of rounds of play per hour per actual table, per
pit, or per property, as determined by the user.
[0097] The information in the form of a data stream may be further
analyzed. In one example, the data is fed into a host computer or
can be analyzed in the same computer system where the database and
interface resides or on a host computer. For example, the data from
one or more of the round counting module, the shoe sensor, the card
swipe, card reading module, the shuffler data port sensor, and the
bet interfaces can be used to create a report of rounds played per
unit of time, the number of players at the table per unit of time,
the number of hands played at each round, the maximum bet per
player in a given unit of time, the average bet per player in a
unit of time, the number of shuffles per unit of time, the number
of cards removed from and placed into the shuffler in a unit of
time, hand composition and other information considered important
to the casino manager.
[0098] Because all of the G-Mod's work independently, the casino
operator can choose the modules and resulting data that is most
important to them for a given environment, and only purchase those
modules. For example, one casino might want to reconstruct
individual hands, track betting and associate the information with
a particular player on a high stakes table, while tracking only
rounds and the identification of the employees on low-stakes
games.
[0099] By using a modular approach to intelligent data collection,
only the equipment and reports that are wanted can be provided at
the lowest possible cost. Since none of the G-Mod's are issuing
direct commands to one-another, it is not necessary to rewrite any
code when additional modules are added.
[0100] Applicants have discovered that there are potential
inaccuracies in data that is transmitted prior to date/time
stamping. When signals are stamped in by the main computer, this is
merely indicative of when the signal arrived. Also by providing the
stamping function at the receipt site (such as the main processor,
or central gaming location), the information is more easily subject
to manipulation or change by an operator. Also, when there is a
line breakdown (e.g., some casinos may still use telephone line
connections which can be busy or interrupted, or the communication
system to the main computer breaks down), the accuracy of the
stamping is adversely affected. The value of the data decreases in
some necessary transactions and casino oversight if the time data
is inaccurate. A gaming system with different architectural
structure and informational structure would be desirable if it
could reduce these issues.
[0101] As noted earlier, round counting is one service or data
component that can be important to a table. For example, round
completion can be important for evaluating rates of play at tables,
player rate performance, dealer rate performance, and even disputes
over time of completion of hands at different tables or different
casinos where priority might be an issue (as in competitive events
or qualifying events).
[0102] Round counting requires some form of signal generation at a
table that is indicative of approximate completion of a round and
preferably absolute completion of a round. This can be done in a
number of ways for signal generation. For example, video cameras
can be placed to observe the dealer's hand. When the motions of a
dealer or the dealer's cards indicate that the dealer's cards have
been removed from the playing area, a signal is sent "round
completed" or "dealer's hand removed" or some functional
equivalent. A sensor can be placed on the table over which the
dealer's cards are placed. It is preferred that this sensor not be
as movement limiting as the sensor in U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,808,
where cards appear to have to be specifically fitted into at least
a right angle abutment with a card reading ability. Upright
extensions on the card table can interfere with card movement, can
interfere with chip movement, can cause accidental disclosure of
cards, and are generally undesirable. A sensing system with a
relatively flat or slightly indented or slightly raised surface is
more desirable. The system could comprise a transparent or
translucent panel approximately flush with the table surface that
allows light (e.g., ambient light or specially directed wavelengths
of light for which a sensor is particularly sensitive) to pass to a
sensor. The absence of light in the sensor for a predetermined
period of time and/or intervals of time can be the original signals
themselves, which are interpreted by an intermediary intelligence
on the table that has the time sensing capability for evaluating
the signal. The original signals are then time stamped before being
forwarded to the central database and can be analyzed by accessing
the collected data.
[0103] Particularly in games where batch shuffling is used, such as
poker or even single deck blackjack, the signal could also be
originated by cards being placed in a shuffler and a shuffling
process initiated, the shuffler sending a start-shuffling signal to
the date stamping component on the table. The dealer could even
activate or press a button provided on the table, but this would
tend to leave the results under the control of the dealer, which
could be manipulated by the dealer to improve results on dealer
play, or could suffer from forgetfulness.
[0104] The application of this technology to gaming tables follows
similar architecture and application of design and performance.
Gaming tables would include typical casino tables such as those
used for blackjack (Twenty-One), baccarat, roulette, poker, poker
variants (Let It Ride.RTM. poker, Three-Card Poker.RTM. game,
Caribbean Stud.RTM. poker, etc.), craps, and the like. These latter
systems, unless they are completely electronic without any physical
implementation (such as physical playing cards, dice, spinning
wheel, drop ball, etc.) will need sensing and/or reading equipment
(e.g., card reading for suits and/or rank, bet reading sensors,
ball position sensors, dice reading sensors, player card readers,
dealer input sensors, player input systems, and the like. These
would be the peripherals in the table systems. Also, newer
capabilities are enabled such as moisture detection (e.g., for
spilled drinks), smoke detection, infrared ink detection (to avoid
card marking), shuffler operation, dealer shoe operation, discard
rack operation, jackpot meters, side bet detectors, and the
like.
[0105] The description above is to be considered examples of the
invention, and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the
invention.
* * * * *