U.S. patent application number 11/059300 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for casino table gaming system with round counting system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shuffle Master, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael Bacigalupi, Justin G. III Downs, Atilla Grauzer, James V. Kelly, Oliver M. Schubert, Rajesh Kumar Soni.
Application Number | 20060183540 11/059300 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36816322 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060183540 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grauzer; Atilla ; et
al. |
August 17, 2006 |
Casino table gaming system with round counting system
Abstract
A casino table card gaming system in which messages are
communicated from at least two or three distinct sensors without
date stamping to a first intelligent microprocessor component that
at least date stamps the signal and forwards the date stamped
signal to a distal memory component that stores the date stamped
signal. The system may comprise the at least two signals
originating from at least one dealer card sensor and at least one
discard rack sensor. The system with at least three signal sources
may comprise a casino table, at least three distinct sensors that
send an undated signal, and a first intelligent microprocessor
component, wherein the at least three distinct sensors comprise at
least one bet sensor, at least one dealer card sensor, and at least
one card sensor in a discard rack.
Inventors: |
Grauzer; Atilla; (Las Vegas,
NV) ; Schubert; Oliver M.; (Las Vegas, NV) ;
Downs; Justin G. III; (Henderson, NV) ; Kelly; James
V.; (Las Vegas, NV) ; Bacigalupi; Michael;
(Henderson, NV) ; Soni; Rajesh Kumar; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark A. Litman & Associates, P.A.
York Business Center, Suite 205
3209 West 76th St.
Edina
MN
55435
US
|
Assignee: |
Shuffle Master, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36816322 |
Appl. No.: |
11/059300 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3206 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/029 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A casino table card gaming system in which messages are
communicated from at least two distinct sensors located on the
table without date stamping to a first local microprocessor that
date stamps the signal and forwards the date stamped signal to a
distal memory component that stores the date stamped signal, the
system comprising a casino table, at least two distinct sensors
that sends an undated signal, and the first local
microprocessor.
2. The casino table system of claim 1 wherein the signals from at
least two distinct sensors may comprise sequential or simultaneous
signals from at least one combination of sensors selected from the
group consisting of: a) a playing card shuffler sensor and a dealer
card swipe sensor; b) a playing card shuffler sensor, bet present
sensor, a dealer card swipe sensor; and c) at least one bet sensor,
at least one dealer card sensor, and at least one card sensor in a
discard rack.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the dealer card sensor is a light
sensor that senses cards controlled by a dealer.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first local microprocessor
comprises a chipboard.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first local microprocessor
does not store signals or data contained in the signals after date
stamping and forwarding the signals.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein a table game is played at a gaming
table with the system present wherein bets are initially placed and
portions of bets may be withdrawn with players remaining in the
game, and wherein the at least two sensors comprise a playing card
shuffler sensor and a dealer identification sensor.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein a table game is played in which
hands are dealt to all positions on the table, even when players
are not at all positions at the table, and wherein at least three
sensors are present that comprise a playing card shuffler sensor,
bet present sensor and a dealer identification sensor.
8. A casino table card gaming system in which messages are
communicated from at least two distinct sensors without date
stamping to a first intelligent microprocessor that at least date
stamps the signal and forwards the date stamped signal to a distal
memory component that stores the date stamped signal, the system
comprising a casino table, at least two distinct sensors that send
undated signals, and the first intelligent microprocessor, wherein
the at least two distinct sensors comprise at least one dealer card
sensor, and at least one shuffler card sensor.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the dealer card sensor is a light
sensor that senses cards controlled by a dealer.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the first intelligent
microprocessor comprises a local chipboard.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the first intelligent
microprocessor does not store signals or data contained in the
signals after date stamping and forwarding the signals.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the cards controlled by a dealer
comprise a dealer's hand.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein there are at least two sensors
used for sensing the cards of the dealers hand.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one bet sensor is a
plurality of optical sensors.
15. The system of claim 8 and further comprising a dealer i.d.
swipe in communication with the first intelligent
microprocessor.
16. A method of providing data within a casino wagering table
comprising automatically providing an original sequence of signals
from at least three distinct signal originating sources, sending
that sequence of signals without date stamping thereon to a first
intelligent microprocessor component, the first intelligent
microprocessor component date stamping the signal and then
forwarding a date stamped signal to a distal memory component,
wherein the at least three signal sources comprise at least one bet
sensor, at least one dealer card sensor, and a card sensing discard
rack.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the sequence of signals from one
of the three signal sources originates from a single dealer hand
card sensor.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the sequence of signals from one
of the three signal sources originates from at least two dealer
hand card sensors.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein only a single sequence of
signals may be used to indicate conclusion of a round of the card
game.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein there are at least two distinct
sequences of signals that may be used to indicate conclusion of a
round of the card game.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the distal memory component
provides stored signal information to a processor that interprets
received date stamped signals to compute a number of rounds played
over a period of time, the time being based upon use of the date
stamping received.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein the original sequence of signals
contains no indication of date or time thereon.
23. The method of claim 18 wherein the processor determines end of
round events based at least in part upon evaluation of a time
component in date stamped data it receives.
24. The method of claim 16 wherein the original sequence of signals
provided by a discard rack and at least one card sensor is used to
determine an end of round event.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least one card sensor
comprises at least one dealer hand card sensor.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one card sensor
comprises two dealer hand card sensors.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the sequence comprises signals
in sequence indicating that a) a card has been placed in the
discard rack, b) at least a card has been dealt to the dealer's
hand, and c) that all cards have been removed from all sensors for
the dealer hand.
28. A casino table card gaming system in which a message is
communicated from at least two sensors without date stamping to a
first intelligent microprocessor component that date stamps the
signal and forwards the date stamped signal to a distal memory
component that stores the date stamped signal, the system
comprising a casino table, at least two sensors that send undated
signals, and the first intelligent microprocessor component,
wherein the stored signals are used to count rounds of card games
played, and the at least two signals originate from at least one
dealer card sensor and at least one discard rack sensor.
29. The method of claim 16 and further comprising a dealer i.d.
swipe in communication with the first intelligent component.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of gaming
systems, particularly gaming systems that have elements of play,
reward, monetary/credit transactions and/or monitoring that are
performed by processing systems, and including casino table card
games.
[0003] 2. Background of the Art
[0004] Wagering games, such as those played in casinos and card
clubs, have traditionally been played with only mechanical
implements such as cards, dice, wheels, balls and the like. One of
the reasons for this is to make the wagering game open for
inspection, including the implements that are used to provide the
chance occurrences upon which the wagers are made.
[0005] The creative minds of players and wagering institutions have
devised ways of manipulating implements or calculating
probabilities of events that have affected the odds in the favor of
the manipulator. Cards have been marked, `sleeved` for timed use,
stacked in a deal, bottom dealt, or otherwise altered in
characteristics or location to enable cheating. Sophisticated
players are able to read decks by counting cards, and have been
able to calculate changes in the probability of success at
different times in the game of blackjack, altering overall odds
more in favor of the player. The use of limited portions of decks,
efficient card shuffling devices, restrictions on players' handling
of cards, and continuous shuffling devices have alleviated some of
the card problems.
[0006] Dice have been weighted or counterfeited to influence the
occurrence of specific values, chips have been switched or amounts
altered on the tables in craps. This has been addressed by the
presence of many persons in the pit crew that supervise elements of
the game and the close surveillance of activities on the table by
proximal personnel at the table or distal personnel watching
cameras or tapes of activities.
[0007] Processing equipment and computers have become an
increasingly important part of the gaming industry, but the
introduction of the technology has been sporadic, inconsistent, and
often ill designed. In addition, the direction of improvement in
the processing apparatus used in casinos has consistently been
heading in the direction that bigger and more powerful is better,
attempting to mimic the home computer market. The original gaming
machine processors introduced into the market were hardwired,
unique designs that performed all command functions from a central
controlling processor or actually performed within a single
computer that sent signals to all mechanical operating
elements.
[0008] Traditional gaming devices are based around a main processor
unit (which may include a random number generator), an accounting
function operatively coupled to the main processor or embedded in
the main processor, and more recently a processor or EPROM having
stored therein the important gaming functions. In addition, these
gaming devices include gaming displays, coin acceptors, player
identity recognition, bill validation functions, ticket-in-ticket
out controls and the like operatively coupled to the main
processor. These casino table gaming devices and systems have been
relatively simple and limited in scope, usually consisting of a few
executing programs utilizing straight forward interrupt schemes and
detection loops for asynchronous events for simple evaluation.
There have been a simple external program validation devices that
can be coupled to the EPROM or main processor (through a line
connection or port) for providing effective regulatory validation
of critical gaming functions to preclude unauthorized tampering or
modification of the system through software. In addition, an
external device validation process for suspicious results or
disputes may be validated by simply reading the stored data that
has been generated from the table gaming systems and associated
with the main processor.
[0009] Today's trend in gaming devices is towards automation and an
increasing utilization of LINUX or personal computer based gaming
platforms. Personal computer based platforms are being employed by
designers to make use of real time operating systems which allow
for multi-threaded/multi-tasking processes and the use of many "off
the shelf" device drivers.
[0010] There are a wide variety of associated devices that can be
connected to or serve as part of a gaming machine such as a casino
table gaming system. These devices provide gaming features that
define or augment the game(s) played on the gaming machine. Some
examples of these devices are player location or player order
indicators, lights, ticket printers, card readers, speakers, bill
validators, coin acceptors, display panels, key pads, and button
pads. Many of these devices are built into the table or into
associated components carried on the table. Often, a number of
devices are grouped together in a separate box that is placed on
top of the gaming table.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,190 (Weiss) describes a gaming device
security system which includes two processing areas linked together
and communicating critical gaming functions via a security protocol
wherein each transmitted gaming function includes a specific
encrypted signature to be decoded and validated before being
processed by either processing area. The two processing areas
include a first processing area having a dynamic RAM and an open
architecture design which is expandable without interfering or
accessing critical gaming functions and a second "secure"
processing area having a non-alterable memory for the storage of
critical gaming functions therein.
[0012] Casino Table Games (such as blackjack, poker, varietal poker
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.
These systems may include card recognition devices, bet sensing
devices (e.g., chip sensors and counters), player and dealer
identification systems, software to evaluate the games as and after
they are played, biometrics for identification and analysis, and
the like.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,808 (Strisower) describes a device to be
utilized in casino gaming that will count the number of "hands"
(read "rounds") of a given card game played per given period of
time. The information is used by a 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. 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.
[0014] 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 an apparatus 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.
[0015] 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 disclosure, 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 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.
[0016] Examples of such systems include method, apparatus and
article 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 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 a progressive jackpot system including
card sensing systems at each player location as well a card reading
shoes; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,166 (Lorson) describing a card
control and recognition system and method.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,894 (Purton) describes a card inspection
device including a first loading area adapted to receive one or
more decks of playing cards. A drive roller is 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] Applicants have found that there are potential issues
involved in the method of date stamping provided for and taught by
these references and as known to be used in the art. 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.
[0019] A concept of operative control among processing units should
be appreciated to appreciate the performance of the present
technology. It is believed that existing systems perform by a
single main processor sending commands to peripherals to perform
specific functions, and that date stamping is usually done at the
point of receipt of the data by a gaming processor, especially the
main processor. For purposes of discussion, the initial main
emphasis of the description will be directed towards the
performance of casino table card games with a live dealer, but the
system is equally applicable to the use of a fully automated (live
dealer-less) gaming apparatus. This emphasis is not intended to
narrow the scope of the invention, but is rather intended to
simplify the description.
[0020] In a standard casino table card game, different events are
sensed (usually visually by a live dealer and/or combinations of
video cameras and personnel who review images from the video
cameras and the system provides information from these
observations. Where there is automated review of information
(provided by manual or automatic input), a central processor
evaluates this information and commands another element to perform
a procedure or initiates a sequential event, including an analytic
review of data or providing an alarm or message/report relating to
analysis of the data or in response to identification of meaningful
data.
[0021] Signals are sent from the main processor to the table game
control system and the game play (which may in more automated
systems be driven by a random number generator) to perform the
tasks necessary to effect a play event. This could be as little as
indicating to a dealer that the game is ready for dealing. The
cards or the random number generator provides the results to or
within the main processor (or a more local game table controller or
pit game controller) and the main processor or other processor
identifies the cards or other symbols to be provided in the play of
the game (or which symbols have been dealt, by reading values,
suits, ranks, etc. of cards dealt) and determines the existence of
the status of the wager (win, lose or draw). In the event that the
processor is used to determine whether a winning event has
occurred, the processor then signals the credit display to indicate
the total amount of credits won and commands the system to display
or otherwise identify any winning alerts and the like. As can be
seen from this analysis, the individual peripherals send signals to
the main processor and the main processor provides specific
commands to the various peripherals that specific functions are to
be performed. There are a couple of concepts that are of interest
to consider in this performance. First, a fairly sophisticated and
powerful processor is needed to control all of the peripherals,
such as a PC grade processor. Second, the processor must order
events to send out separate signals to each of the peripherals,
slowing down game performance. Any slow down in receipt of data may
affect the value and treatment of data, including round counting
functions.
[0022] The units or subcomponents on the gaming table or within the
table gaming system can be operated substantially independently of
each other, although some interdependencies may exist. In most
systems substantially all performance of the peripheries is done
only at the command of the gaming control processor or central
computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] A complete modular system for measuring the efficiency of a
table game pit is provided. Casino table card games are provided
with modular elements, for example sensors for detection of an
indicator initiated by a dealer to indicate approximate or final
completion or beginning of a round of play of a casino table card
game. The signal is read by a table subcomponent and eventually a
time/dating stamp is provided. The signal is time/date stamped
(referred to herein as "Date Stamping" or "date stamping." The date
stamped signal is then transmitted from the table (including from a
subcomponent, if that is how date stamping is provided) to a
processor (e.g., gaming table processor or pit processor or main
casino processor and/or central processor for multiple casinos,
directly or through middleware). The data, in at least one
location, 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 may or may
not be provided by the sensor itself. The system also allows for
the date stamping or other status information to be sent to a data
bank or repository of information (e.g., security bank or security
room) for storage of the information, without necessarily any
game-play related function. The data may be processed in real time
at this bank or repository, or may me reviewed and analyzed at a
later time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of casino table card game
arrangement with sensor, intermediate date stamping component and
subsequent information flow in a casino table card gaming
apparatus.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of data transmission in the system
of FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an alternative schematic of an Intelligent
Table System (ITS) table efficiency module.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows the positioning of dealer card sensors on a
game table.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a second alternative schematic of an
Intelligent Table System (ITS) table efficiency module.
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a third alternative schematic of an Intelligent
Table System (ITS) table efficiency module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The present invention is an arrangement of at least one of
sensing component, a dealer i.d. module and at least one form of
local intelligence capable of date stamping data collected from the
at least one sensing device and dealer i.d. module.
[0031] The specific sensing components may be varied, depending
upon the requirements of specific games. For example, in games that
utilize a card shuffler capable of delivering a predetermined
number of hands of cards, the number of hands played per unit time
and rounds played per unit time can be correlated with a particular
dealer using a local form of intelligence. The local intelligence
serves several functions. First, the local intelligence collects
and date stamps data from the sensing components and the dealer
i.d. module. The local intelligence is also equipped to send data
to a data repository via a network connection.
[0032] Examples of other suitable sensing components include bet
present sensors, card present sensors and discard rack sensors.
[0033] The bet present sensors may be used as part of a data
monitoring system for a shoe game such as blackjack or to identify
"live" hands in a card game that delivers all hands to the table
regardless of players present, such as in Pai Gow Poker.
[0034] In some instances, round counting and/or hand counting
information is collected along with dealer identification
information so that data relating to the productivity of a table
can later be correlated with the identity of the dealer.
[0035] By using the various hand and/or round counting data
collection methods outlined below and dealer i.d. methods, the
overall productivity of a live game pit can be measured and
attributed to pit employees.
[0036] Numerous examples of such data collection systems are
provided below.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a casino card gaming table 2. The Table 2 has a
surface 4 with seven player positions 6 (three positions labeled
6a, 6b and 6c), 8 10, 12 and 14 thereon. A first hand sensor 16 is
provided for the dealer cards 18. The first hand sensor 16 is
connected by a communication system (preferably a wired system, but
RF or other wireless systems could be used) to a rabbit 22 for the
table 2. The rabbit 22 is on a communication line 24 to a data
collector (not shown). For purposes of this disclosure, a Rabbit is
an intelligent assembly including a microprocessor, memory and
network communication capability. The Rabbit date stamps data
collected from the sensor and forwards the data to a data
repository.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of data transmission in the system
of FIG. 1. In a first step sensors 301 are active. Then ambient or
directed light 302 is sensed. The dealer's cards block light
transmission 304 to sensors. Then the sensors send a signal of
light blockage 306 (may be time sensitive). The signal is then
received by the rabbit and time stamped 308. Then the time-stamped
signal is sent to the data repository or main computer or game
computer 310. Then the data is retained with date-stamped-analysis
of rounds per time determined 312.
[0039] Round counting is one service or data component that can be
important to a table. For example, round completion is 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).
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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 gaming intelligence (e.g., game table computer, pit computer,
main or central computer so that the receiving intelligence
interprets the signals (light sensed/light not sensed and the
accompanying time stamping) to determine if a round should be
counted.
[0044] For example, when a dealer card sensor is used to count
rounds, before the dealer's hand is dealt, the signal being sent by
the sensor is that light is being received. When the dealer's hand
has been dealt or during the process of dealing the dealer's hand
one-card-at-a-time, the dealer places the dealer's cards over the
aperture. A signal or state is then sent that light is not being
received. If the lack of light signal is of too short a duration
(e.g., 1-2 seconds), the receiving intelligence, based on the time
stamp for a light admission signal changing to a light blocking
signal and back again, will be programmed to interpret this as a
non-round event, such as a dealer leaning on the table or a player
throwing away cards, or some article being misplaced over the
light-sensing system. Similarly, if the light blocking event is too
long (10-15 minutes), the intelligence will be programmed to
interpret this as a non-round event, such as an inactive table with
cards spread over the table and the sensor. The upstream processor
receiving the time stamped signal will be programmed to interpret
the data on this basis. The processor can poll the signal stamping
component on a regular basis or wait for a signal or state change
information to be received before it acts. By having the date
stamping on the original signals at the table before being sent to
any computer that analyzes or tabulates or permanently stores the
information, a good level of quality information is maintained.
[0045] There are numerous formats and protocols that may be
followed with regard to the hand counting procedure executed by the
dealer. The protocols may depend, at least in part, upon the
specific modules, components and sensors provided, as well as the
game that is played. A description of certain preferred protocols
for blackjack and Let-It-Ride.RTM. poker are in order.
[0046] In blackjack, the dealer position may be provided with, by
way of a non-limiting example, one or two card presence sensors. In
the format with two card sensors, as shown in FIG. 1, a first card
sensor 18 is used to hold the first dealer card, to maintain a
signal that a round is being dealt. The second dealer card is dealt
to the dealer and placed over the second sensor 16, blocking both
sensors 18, 16 and indicating a round of cards has been dealt. The
first card is moved to the second sensor 16, indicating an active
round of play is in progress. A discard rack sensor 27 is provided.
By burning a first card, and placing the card in the discard rack
26 over sensor 27, the sensor is blocked, activating the system.
According to the play of blackjack, the dealer exposes the
undisclosed card, deals the hand to conclusion, resolves wagers,
and collects cards (usually in order) from around the table. The
hand completion signal may be one or more combinations of signals
created by this game play. For example, the combination of signals
of the first and second dealer sensors 18, 16 being unblocked would
effect a combined sequence indicating a round of play is complete.
These signal state changes would variously indicate that a) at
least one card has been dealt to a dealer, initiating a round, b)
the dealer has at least two cards and the game is proceeding (and
preferably by intentionally covering both sensors, indicating that
the dealer hand is being completed), and c) that the hand is
complete and wagers resolved and cards collected. The round count
conclusion signal could be reinforced or could require an
additional signal such as, after c), providing a signal that cards
have been delivered to a discard card receiving tray or stack. This
would be provided by an additional sensor or sensors in the discard
rack or tray (not shown), and would have to follow step c), as
discards from bust hands could occur after a) and before c), so the
indication of discards or a specific number of discard events alone
would be insufficient to indicate the end of a round. This protocol
is amenable to ordinary card handling by a dealer and therefore
would not require significant training. A stop or partial (e.g.,
one right angle) support or guide for the cards to position them
with respect to the sensor might be desirable. For example, the
dealer would place the first card in the support, sending the first
signal. The second dealer card would be placed over the first card,
and while the two cards are present in the support, one of the
cards may be slid from the stack of two cards and the face of the
card revealed, without removing the other card from the sensor,
maintaining the signal that player cards are present. The dealer
ordinarily spreads the first two dealer cards out when displaying
the dealer cards and executing the play of the dealer cards. This
would make the placement of the second card onto a specific sensing
area (e.g., with or without a second support or guide to position
the second card over the second sensor) consistent with normal
dealer handling of cards. Similarly the removal of the final dealer
hand would clear both dealer card sensors.
[0047] There may also be some time requirements associated with the
sensors to assure that only intended events are indicated. For
example, a card might have to remain over a sensor for a full
predetermined time period (e.g., 2 second, 5 seconds, 10 seconds,
etc.) for the signal to be sent, and the sensor might have to have
a similar required time period of sensing the absence of a card(s)
to send a "no dealer card present" signal. This time period may be
of a similar time frame as the card presence time frame, but does
not have to be the same time. This signal time dependency may tend
to be more important, as the dealer may be likely to remove both
cards while disclosing one card face, or the dealer may have a
habit of bouncing cards into position, which could cause cards to
cover and uncover the sensor for insignificant time periods.
[0048] In another embodiment useful for blackjack, a single card
sensor is present. For example, the first dealer card signal would
again be a good starting point for a signal sequence to indicate
round initiation, but all dealer card presence or absence signals
would have to originate from the single sensor, and a more
complicated card handling protocol might be required. For example,
the protocol might include the following: a) the dealer places a
first card over the single sensor and provides a first recognized
signal (e.g., equivalent to dealer cards are present, indicating at
least a beginning to a potential round counting event); b) a first
clearing event where the dealer removes both initial dealer cards
from over the sensor to reveal one of the dealer cards, then
reinserts the cards over the sensor (comprising a "no dealer card
present" signal followed by a "dealer card present" signal); and c)
at least a second "no dealer card present" signal (performed after
all players have concluded their Hit/Stay activity and the dealer
removes the two initial dealer cards to complete the dealer hand
Hit/Stay activity. This series of signals may also have a
confirmation signal from a discard rack or tray as indicated above.
To indicate a blackjack (particularly where there is an
confirmation of blackjack before players exercise their Hit/Stay
options), the dealer receives a signal that a blackjack is present
(e.g., a visual signal or an automated read signal), the dealer
removes the cards to inspect them and display the blackjack to the
table, and reinserts the cards over the sensor (a signal similar to
what occurs when the dealer exercises the Hit/Stay event). The
dealer would then resolve wagers, remove the dealer cards and sweep
the player cards in order. This last step would again be part of a
signal sequence that would be indistinguishable from the signal
sequence when there is no blackjack. A confirmation signal may
again be used or not.
[0049] In the play of a game such as Let It Ride.RTM. poker or
other games, distinct protocols would again have to be prepared.
Again, in this exemplary analysis, the table may be provided with
one or two dealer sensors. In this game, there is no dealer hand,
as such, but rather, community cards are handled by the dealer. The
dealer provides three cards to each player and then deals 2-3
community cards to a dealer controlled position. The dealer removes
one card if three are dealt, leaving two community cards face down.
Play involves the dealer revealing community cards one-at-a-time.
The signal protocol could involve any of the following sequences.
Initial sequence step is the dealer positioning the common cards
over one or two sensors (with one card each over a sensor when
there are two sensors). A second signal step in the sequence would
occur when the first community card is revealed. With two sensors,
the first community card could be removed from a first sensor
(causing a "no dealer card present" signal from one sensor), and
the revealed card placed on top of the remaining community card.
Upon time in the game for revelation of the second card, both cards
would be removed and displayed away from the sensors (the signal
now being two signals that neither sensor has a community card
present), or by revealing the cards away from the sensor and then
replacing both cards over the sensors. These steps would provide a
distinct set of protocols that could not be recreated except by
intentional events at the card table, and would provide an
essentially definitive indication of the end of a round. The system
would then recognize that a round had been played and store that
record. The indication of the end of the round could be provided by
software in a storage/processing system, or the effect of the
specific sequence of signals could trigger a specific device (
apart of a round counter module) to send a signal that a round has
been completed.
[0050] A process according to the present disclosure is therefore
inclusive of providing at least one sensor on a casino card gaming
table, requiring a dealer to perform physical positioning events of
cards on the gaming table with respect to the sensors, and when a
specific sequence of physical positioning events of cards on the
gaming table produces a required sequence of signals from the
sensors, the system recognizes completion of a round at the gaming
table. The protocol may involve at least indicating the presence of
initial cards controlled by the dealer (e.g., a dealer's hand or
community cards) in sensed area(s), change of status or location of
the initial cards in sensed area(s), and/or removal of all dealer
controlled cards from sensed area(s).
[0051] Particularly in games where batch shuffling is used, such as
single deck 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. If the shuffler
forms hands of cards, signals representing hands per round and
rounds played could be forwarded to local intelligence, date
stamped and stored remotely.
[0052] Gaming tables for games such as 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 can be equipped with monitoring devices of the
present invention. 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 (or
sensing devices) 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.
[0053] The signals and information, when date stamped, do not have
to be sent directly, indirectly or even eventually to a main game
computer. The term "time stamping" is meant any relatable time
entry, such as just time, all the way to time and date. Time and/or
date stamping can also include other types of identification
information, such as the source of the data, i.e., table 3, bet
sensor 2. The "time" does not even have to be actual local or
standard time of day, but can be time from when machines are turned
on or when shifts begin, or when dealing starts at a table, etc. As
the date stamping of some information, such as the counting of
rounds, number of shuffles per hour, number of rounds per shuffle,
and the like do not have any direct and underlying effect on the
play of individual rounds of the game, the information may be sent
to a data bank or information repository directly from each table
(e.g., on a network directly from tables, through a table computer,
or central networked computer, etc.). The information need not even
be directly sent to a specific repository, but can be placed on a
network as information status (as well as a specific signal or data
package) such that when it is received by the data bank or storage
repository, the recipient memory device will appropriately log-in
and/or store the data or signal that is received from each table.
This information can be analyzed and stored in real time or stored
for later analysis upon command or upon regular intervals.
[0054] A G-Mod is a game module that supports specific functions on
the gaming table or associated peripherals (e.g., shuffler). A
G-Mod is a form of local intelligence at a gamin table. To
understand a G-mod and its function, is desirable to understand the
concept of operative control among processing units. It is believed
that existing systems perform by a single main processor sending
commands to peripherals to perform specific functions, and that
date stamping is usually done at point of receipt of the data by a
gaming processor, especially the main processor. For purposes of
discussion, the initial main emphasis of the description will be
directed towards the performance of casino table card games with a
live dealer, but the system is equally applicable to the use of a
fully automated (live dealer-less) gaming apparatus. This emphasis
is not intended to narrow the scope of the invention, but is rather
intended to simplify the description. A G-Mod is an electronic
hardware element that performs its task independent of direct
control from a main or central game processor. The device may have
sufficient intelligence to read data and make a decision on data,
but its primary task is not to receive and obey commands. For
example, it may receive status signals or status data and determine
whether it is to respond to the signal or data, but is not
commanded by the data. Equally importantly, it is capable of
sending out status data and/or signal data.
[0055] Some of the G-Mods may have more than one function
associated with them, and some may have no game function to them,
but only peripheral function.
[0056] The units or subcomponents on the gaming table or within the
table gaming system can be operated substantially independently of
each other, although some interdependencies may exist. In most
prior art systems substantially all performance of the peripheries
is done only at the command of the gaming control processor or
central computer.
[0057] One such format of use of this information would be for each
table to have a rabbit (or G-Mod) receive the original signal from
the dealer's card sensor or other sensor, preferably date stamp the
signal and broadcast that signal over a direct line or network to
an information repository or data bank. The data bank would
periodically (or immediately) evaluate the data in that signal,
determine the frequency of rounds being played (e.g., rounds per
hour) and enter that formal data into a database. There could be an
immediate or periodic review of the data by software so that
anomalies can be identified and reported appropriately.
[0058] Although the present invention has been described largely in
terms of a single round-counting module that sends date-stamped
information to a central database, other modules also could send
data to the same database.
[0059] For example, a blackjack gaming table that is equipped with
a round counting sensor and G-Mod may also be equipped with a
sensor at the output of the dealing shoe for counting cards
dispensed from the shoe. This information can be used in
combination with the round counting information to deduce the
number of cards dealt in a given round of play. If the number (and
possibly value) of cards coming out of the shoe is counted the
number of players at the table can also be determined for certain
games. If there are bet present sensors (and one or more associated
or non-associated G-Mod(s)) for the bet sensors, the number of
hands played per round of play (e.g., the number of players) can be
determined.
[0060] Each G-Mod is collecting, date stamping and transmitting
data as the data is collected from the table to a central database,
but in one example of the invention, none of the G-Mods on the same
table are in communication with each other except to broadcast
state changes, and the database does not issue commands to the
G-Mods. In effect, each G-Mod is a freestanding local
microprocessor that runs independently of the any other
intelligence.
[0061] A card swipe module could be added to the table system, with
or without an associated G-Mod. This G-Mod could not only transmit
time-stamped data to the data repository, but could also transmit
dealer and/or player I.D. information to the player tracking system
residing in the casino computer system or dealer I.D. to link a
specific dealer to a specific table and to evaluate the specific
dealer.
[0062] 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 its own G-Mod (either internal or external) and would be
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 player positions occupied, number of cards
re-fed into a continuous shuffler per unit of time, number of
promotional cards dispensed per unit of time, bonus awards granted
at a certain time, and the like. This information could be
collected in a central database, data bank or information
repository (e.g., any electronic memory or storage system).
[0063] A bet interface module could also be provided. Known
techniques for measuring wagers include optical and metal detection
type bet present sensors for fixed bets, and camera imaging, radio
frequency/identification technology and the like for measuring the
amount of the bet, as well as the presence of the bet. Outputs from
these measurement devices are fed through a dedicated or shared
G-Mod and the data is date stamped and delivered to the central
data depository. A shared G-Mod for purposes of this disclosure is
a device that receives signals from two or more like or unlike data
acquisition devices. For example, one G-Mod might manage data
acquired from a dealer swipe, multiple card present sensors and a
discard rack sensor, for example.
[0064] Another possible G-Mod could control a card reading camera
located in either the card shuffler, the dealing shoe, the discard
tray or combinations of the above. Information about the specific
cards dealt to each player could be obtained by feeding
date-stamped information about cards dealt and returned. In one
form of the invention, the G-Mod sends date-stamped information to
the database and an algorithm residing in the same computer or
house computer uses this information as well as round counting and
betting information to determine the composition of a hand of
blackjack, for example.
[0065] Another G-Mod might be in communication with an
identification system for tracking the movement of employees in and
out of the pit, or more preferably when the dealers arrive at and
leave the table. This information could be collected and reported
along with rounds of play per hour to determine which dealers deal
the most hands in a given period of time.
[0066] In a roulette application, a sensor and associated G-Mod can
record the number of spins of the wheel in a unit of time, for
example. This information could be associated with the player swipe
card information from another or the same G-Mod by merely comparing
the time stamping of the data to determine how long a particular
player stayed at a table. A sensor or G-Mod may "listen in" to
communication to the reader board on a roulette table, and send
that information to a data bank, so that a distinct sensor is not
needed to read the position of the ball separate from existing
components.
[0067] It is important to note that none of the G-Mods are issuing
commands to other G-Mods (although data or signal transmission from
one G-Mod may pass through the communication network of one or more
other G-Mods, without the signal being a command to any other
G-Mod) on the same gaming table. Also, the data repository does not
issue commands to the G-Mods. The central database merely organizes
the data in a manner that allows for easy access by external or
other associated 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 comping players, promoting pit
personnel, closing and opening tables, determining optimal betting
limits for given periods of time and other important managerial
functions.
[0068] 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. Or the interface
device can allow data to be sent over a network to a remote
database.
[0069] 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 on demand onto a display, written report
or data stream so that the data can be interpreted and used as a
management tool. In one preferred 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. 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. 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.
[0070] 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, while saving valuable resources by only
purchasing the sensing/data analysis packages they need. For
example, one casino might want to reconstruct individual hands,
track betting and associate the information with a particular
player in a high stakes game, while tracking only rounds and the
identification of the dealer/employees on low-stakes games.
[0071] By using a modular approach to 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 in command
communication with one-another, it is not necessary to rewrite any
code as additional modules are added.
Examples of Table Efficiency Packages
A. Blackjack Table Efficiency
[0072] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a system capable of measuring
the efficiency of a live game table, a group of tables or an entire
pit. In the schematic, a complete system 100 is shown. This system
is suitable for monitoring the play of blackjack. The system 100
comprises seven bet sensors 102a-g, physically located at each
player position, a first Dealer Card Sensor I 106, a second Dealer
Card Sensor array II 108, an interface system 104, which interfaces
with the bet sensors 102a-f and the Dealer Card Sensor array 108 to
assist in signal/information transfer. Other sensors, signals,
detectors, output devices (none of which are shown in this
configuration) could pass through this interface 104, but modular
construction promotes the use of reducing information bottlenecking
through single interfaces. The interface 104 is shown transmitting
the signal or data through communication path 110 (which may be
wired or wireless, electrical or optical) to a dedicated local
microprocessor 112 (G-Mod). There may be, as previously indicated,
numerous other signaling or data generating devices in the system
100. In the particular configuration shown in FIG. 3, there is
shown a dealer swipe device 114, Discard Rack Sensor 116, and a
Dealer Card Sensor I 118, each of which communicates with the
dedicated microprocessor 112. In other embodiments, more than one
processor is used to manage the signal generating devices. Usually
the transmission to the dedicated microprocessor may be either
signals or data, but in one embodiment of the technology described
herein, the communication from these components is a signal which
is converted to data by the dedicated microprocessor 112. The data
is time stamped and otherwise enhanced (i.e. by adding information
relating to the signal source) and is sent along communication
stream 122 to a Middleware Receiver 124. This Middleware receiver
124 acts as a temporary repository for the data, where it may be
immediately reviewed, accessed, or tested. Eventually or
immediately, the enhanced data is sent along communication path 126
to an Intelligent Table System database 128 for storage and use. In
another form of the invention, the data is sent directly via a
network connection to a network database 128. This provides only an
exemplary system, and does not attempt to define the only systems
that can perform the tasks in the processes described herein, just
as the following descriptions of components is not intended to
limit the nature of components or their functions, and all specific
components or functions described are non-limiting specific
examples within the generic concepts described.
[0073] Bet sensors are provided to determine the number of active
player positions at the table. The type of sensors are, for
example, proximity detectors, RFID systems, resistive sensors,
field sensors, optical readers, weight sensors, magnetic detectors,
drop boxes or the like, as are known in the art. The Dealer Card
Sensors I and/or II may individually be optical light detectors
(e.g., located in the table), optical imaging systems (e.g.,
digital cameras and imagers), magnetic detectors, mechanical
actuators (e.g., with cards pushing levers or switches), and the
like. The dealer swipe may be a magnetic swipe system, RFID system,
keypad input, biometric system, pit boss input pad, or the like.
The Discard Rack Sensor may be an edge reading sensor, face reading
sensor, bar code reading sensor, optical sensor (detecting only the
presence of at least one card, rather than specific cards or
numbers of cards), weight sensors, and the like.
[0074] In other forms of the invention, additional sensing
equipment could be added to provide more detailed information on
the game. For example, card reading/counting shufflers and/or card
dispensing shoes can be added into the systems.
[0075] All of the various formats available for shuffling cards may
be used. Certain existing models already having signal transmission
capability and others are readily capable of modification to
provide the signals that are needed. For example, shuffling
mechanisms can be used to randomize the cards, either before or
during hand formation or delivery of a pack of shuffled cards. For
example, Random Ejection Shuffler.TM. devices (e.g., as disclosed
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,722,974; 6,551,985; 6,299,167; 6,270,404;
6,165,069; 6,019,368; 5,676,372; and 5,584,483, Sines) could be
used to randomize either all or part of the group of cards (e.g.,
one or more decks) to be shuffled, and then a hand of a
pre-determined numbers of cards could be formed by removing cards
individually or as a group from the randomized all or part of the
group, or by feeding random numbers of cards to a delivery tray.
Other examples of useful formats of shufflers have been described
above, including but not limited to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,275,411
(Breeding), U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,655,684; 6,651,982; 6,651,981;
6,588,751; 6,588,750; 6,567,678; 6,325,373; 6,254,096; 6,149,154;
6,139,014; 6,068,258; and 5,695,189 (Grauzer et al.), and U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,683,085 and 6,267,248 (Johnson). These embodiments include
speeding up shuffling time and hand delivery time by having hands
either simultaneously formed ad shuffled or formed from a smaller
sub-set of randomized/shuffled cards. These techniques eliminate or
reduce the waiting for a complete group of cards to be randomized
before hands are formed and can be modified if necessary to
transmit data and or signals in raw and/or in enhanced form via a
G-Mod to a network database.
[0076] If instead of shufflers, card delivery shoes may be provided
(with cards manually or mechanically shuffled and inserted into the
shoe. These delivery shoes are known in the art or can be readily
modified with signaling devices and/or card readers to provide the
necessary or desired functions. It is possible for signaling
devices and components on the table to be provided for
communication (ultimately) with a computer by providing the
function in a separate component (such as a G-Mod) in network or
other form of communication with the shuffler or other devices.
G-Mods and other formats of architecture are described in copending
U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/880,408; and 10/880,410, both
filed on Jun. 28, 2004, which are incorporated herein by reference.
For example, a gaming table might contain an automatic shuffler,
hand forming device (integrated with or separate from the
shuffler), a Random Number Generator, and/or a plurality of bet
sensors, each communicatively connected to an external
micro-processor or field programmable gated array with network or
system or individual component communication capability.
[0077] The bet sensor interface 104 is provided for polling the
individual optical sensors and dealer card sensor 108 and
transmitting the information to the I/O interface 112. The
components may communicate by standard serial ports. A discard rack
sensor 116 may be a triggering component for activation of the
round count system, especially in most standard formats of casino
play. For example, in blackjack and baccarat, the dealer "burns" a
single card after the deck is prepared for dealing. This burn card
is placed into the discard rack. The state of the sensor changes
resulting in an activation of the remaining sensors. In other
games, excess cards are placed into a discard rack prior to players
being allowed to view their cards. This would then activate the
system, sending a state change signal that a card has been placed
into the discard rack, and other components will interpret that
signal according to their functions, or merely awake from a rest
period of low energy state. Typically an optical or light emitting
sensor in the discard rack would be used as the trigger.
[0078] The dedicated Microprocessor 112 may be any microprocessor
or processor capable of performing the signal retrieving and/or
data conversion functions described herein. An example of a
commercially available microprocessor that is satisfactory is Model
WCR3227-533 from ID Tech, Inc. It may be connected to all of the
sensors and devices of this system, even as a module. It contains
logic to process the state changes of the sensors and devices. The
collected data is time stamped and sent to the Middleware 124
and/or the network database 128.
[0079] The Interface Assembly 104 (e.g., multiple ports), is
plugged into directly or indirectly plugs by the input devices, for
example, using Molex I/O ports and 9 pin serial ports. The I/O
interface assembly may, for example, be mounted underneath the
table and powered by an external power supply (to avoid the need
for replacement of an internal power supply), as with a 12 Volt
external power supply (not shown). An RJ-45 network jack may be
used to send the data from the modules (using TCP/IP protocol) to
the user interface software installed on a server (e.g., via CAT 5
or WIFI connection). The I/O interface assembly contains a
programmable CPU tailored for use with the individual connected
modules and the user interface software. By having a network
connection, the I/O interface assembly can be updated over the
network or by direct interface programming.
[0080] The user interface that displays information may be a thin
client user interface (not shown) as well as a conventional full
access system. An example of the components, needs, operation and
enablement of such as system is described in copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/957,537, filed Oct. 1, 2004, titled THIN
CLIENT USER INTERFACE FOR GAMING SYSTEMS, which application is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The user
interface software, known as the "ITS Server Suite," is a program
that gives the casino the ability to generate reports on demand
from the data collected by the I/O interface assembly (e.g.,
GM1021). The UI is a web-based Microsoft Windows.RTM. system
compatible application that is installed on the casino's server
within its network and maintained by the casino's IT staff. The UI
allows users to log on from their office PC or handheld PDA or any
other network-enabled remote device to access and create standard
and/or customized reports based on the data provided by the
individual modules.
[0081] FIG. 4 shows the positioning of dealer card sensors 108 and
118 on a game table 200 used to play blackjack. The dealer card
sensor I 118 may operate to control the time when the system should
read in information from the bet sensors. The system is activated
when a card is placed in the discard rack 206, blocking sensor 208.
The system reads in the bet present information (by any convenient
format, as indicated previously) from all of the bet sensors 102a-g
when the dealer places a first dealer card on the sensor 118. In a
format where there is only a single dealer card sensor, placement
of a card activates the bet reading functions. The dealer card
sensor II 108, in combination with the dealer card sensor I 118, is
used to detect the beginning and the end of each round. An "array"
of sensors is preferred at the dealer station because it allows for
greater variation in card placement. During game play, the dealer
card sensor array II 108 detects when dealer's cards are being
dealt and when the cards are being collected. The system reads
signals from both the dealer card sensor I 118 and dealer card
sensor array II 108 and increments the "end of a round" when
specific protocols are executed and specific sequences of signals
are provided/received. One format of display of such a protocol
signal sequence is shown in the following table. TABLE-US-00001
State 1 State 2 State 3 State 4 Dealer Card on ON ON OFF OFF Sensor
I Dealer Card OFF ON ON OFF Sensor II
When this specific signal sequence is received by the system (e.g.,
the dedicated processor, the Middleware and/or the ITS database), a
round is counted. The discard rack assembly 206 is shown in a
convenient location.
[0082] Information such as number of bets per unit time per table
position, number of hands played per table position, number of
hands played per number of rounds per unit time, number of rounds
per dealer, number of wagers placed per unit of time per dealer,
the number of hands played per dealer per shift and other useful
efficiency information can be collected. This information can be
used to make decisions important to the efficiency of a pit
operation. For example, a casino can easily determine the games
that get the most play, and the dealers who hold players at the
table the longest.
B. Table Efficiency Package for Pai Gow Poker and Let It Ride.RTM.
Poker
[0083] FIG. 5 shows a second alternative schematic of an
Intelligent Table System (ITS) table efficiency module. This format
has use in play of other casino table card games where there are
different events than those in blackjack, for example in a card
game such as Let It Ride.RTM. poker (as described in at least U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,288,081; 5,417,430; 5,437,462; 5,544,892; 6,019,374;
and 6,273,424) in which players initially place a wager (often in
distinct multiple parts), and then may withdraw portions of the
initial wager while remaining engaged in the play of the game. As
bets are placed and removed on the sensors, there might be many
more signals coming from different positions, so a different
sequence would be useful that does not depend so heavily or at all
upon wagers. In the format of FIG. 5, the signals for providing
information that a round has been played or is being played could
be a combination of at least a sensed event on the shuffler and one
or more bet sensors.
[0084] A sequence could be a dealer swipe to initiate the presence
of the dealer at a table followed by any unique event sensed in the
operation of the shuffler, such as a signal that all cards have
been removed from the shuffler, that a new deck has been placed in
the shuffler, that the dealer has initiated a deal cycle, that the
shuffler indicates a correct count of cards have been delivered to
or from the shuffler (possibly in the absence of a special event
such as a verify deck cycle in which cards would not be dealt and
no hand would be played), or even a button on the shuffler pressed
by a dealer to indicate the beginning or end of a hand.
[0085] The dealer swipe may be a part of the sequence that has to
occur only once for each individual dealer, such that when a first
dealer comes to the table, the swipe will be the first signal in a
sequence, and then each subsequent shuffler signal would be an
individual count-effecting signal. Alternatively, after the dealer
swipe signal, the shuffler would provide two signals from different
sensors to effect a round count. Such separate signals could
comprise initiation of shuffle and delivery of a correct amount of
cards; insertion of a next deck of cards and delivery of an earlier
randomized set of cards; initiation of card delivery to a delivery
tray and completion of delivery of the full set of cards; and the
like. As some if not most specialty games are played with a single
deck of cards for each round, the use of insertion of a deck or
complete delivery of a deck of a specific number of cards is a
useful and singular event to provide a signal in each round. Where
the term "distinct" is used with respect to the sensors or sources
of signals, it is meant that each distinct sensor or source of a
signal originates from a distinct function, rather than a duplicate
of a function. For example, even though there are numerous
individual bet placement sensors, they are not distinct, as they
sense the same event at similar times, the placement of wagers. A
bet sensor, a card senor, a dealer swipe sensor, a shuffler hand
delivered sensor, a shuffler initiate deal sensor, and a shuffler
all cards delivered sensor are distinct, individually and
collectively.
[0086] In the game of Pai Gow Poker, all hands are dealt to the
table positions, regardless of whether or not a wager has been
made. It is therefore desirable to provide bet sensors 400a-g to
identify live hands. This system uses a card shuffler to identify
rounds, but not hands per rounds played. In the Let It Ride.RTM.
system, only the number of hands used are dealt, so the shuffler
can send signals that represent both hand count per round and
rounds played.
C. Three Card Poker.RTM. Table Efficiency System
[0087] FIG. 6 shows a third alternative schematic of an Intelligent
Table System (ITS) table efficiency module. This format might be
particularly useful for a game where all available cards are dealt
in each hand and only player positions with active players receive
cards. An example of one such game is Three Card Poker.RTM.. In
this game, the monitoring components could include combinations of
a dealer swipe, and shuffler sensors and signals (as described
directly above). The dealer swipe may be the single swipe taken
when a dealer joins a table or when a dealer initiates the
shuffler, or at the beginning of each intended round. A sequence of
signals could include the dealer swipe, and then the shuffler
sensors. As there are numerous events that could be signaled from
the shuffler sensor, the particular event indicated by the shuffler
could dictate the position in any sequence for a shuffler signal.
For example, if the sensor initiated shuffler signal represented
the first hand delivered to a delivery tray, this signal would
follow the dealer i.d. signal. Similarly, the use of cards inserted
(which is an event done with the ACE.RTM. shuffler from Shuffle
Master, Inc.) to initiate first card delivery from a previously
randomized deck would be done after the dealer swipe. If the signal
from the shuffler was related to all cards in a single deck removed
for the play of a hand, that signal would follow the dealer i.d.
swipe signal.
[0088] All of the apparatus, devices and methods disclosed and
claimed herein can be made and executed without undue
experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the
apparatus, devices and methods of this invention have been
described in terms of both generic descriptions and preferred
embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
variations may be applied to the apparatus, devices and methods
described herein without departing from the concept and scope of
the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain
elements, components, steps, and sequences that are functionally
related to the preferred embodiments may be substituted for the
elements, components, steps, and sequences described and/or claimed
herein while the same of similar results would be achieved. All
such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those
skilled in the art are deemed to be within the scope and concept of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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