U.S. patent application number 11/870249 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-12 for automated system for facilitating management of casino game table player rating information.
This patent application is currently assigned to IGT. Invention is credited to Nevin A. Burrill, Roger William Harris, Gavin McPhail, Eduardo Samuel Meza, Timothy W. Moser, Steven M. Pankas.
Application Number | 20090069090 11/870249 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40432451 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090069090 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moser; Timothy W. ; et
al. |
March 12, 2009 |
AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING MANAGEMENT OF CASINO GAME TABLE
PLAYER RATING INFORMATION
Abstract
Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating player
tracking activities at a casino gaming table which includes a
plurality of player stations. One aspect is directed to different
techniques for automating the various manual processes involved in
the rating of a player of a table game. Another aspect is directed
to different embodiments for automatically starting, suspending,
resuming and/or ending player tracking sessions at one or more
table games.
Inventors: |
Moser; Timothy W.; (Las
Vegas, NV) ; Burrill; Nevin A.; (Henderson, NV)
; Harris; Roger William; (Reno, NV) ; Meza;
Eduardo Samuel; (Las Vegas, NV) ; Pankas; Steven
M.; (Henderson, NV) ; McPhail; Gavin; (Las
Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP - IGT;Attn: IGT
P.O. Box 70250
Oakland
CA
94612-0250
US
|
Assignee: |
IGT
Reno
NV
|
Family ID: |
40432451 |
Appl. No.: |
11/870249 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60858046 |
Nov 10, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3239 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming table system comprising: at least one processor; at
least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at
least one other network device in a gaming network; and memory; the
system being operable to: automatically detect a presence of a
first player at a first gaming table; automatically initiate at
least one procedure for closing a player rating session associated
with the first player in response to a determination that a first
set of criteria has been satisfied; and automatically compute or
determine player rating information relating to the first player's
player rating session, wherein the player rating information
includes first player walk amount information relating to an
estimate of wagering tokens belonging to the first player at a time
of closing of the first player's player rating session.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the player rating information
further includes at least one type of information selected from a
group of information consisting of: first player game speed
information relating to an estimated speed of game play by the
first player at the first gaming table, and first player timing
information relating to an estimated amount of time that the first
player spent at the first gaming table.
3. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: automatically
delay closing of the first player rating session in response to a
determination that the first set of criteria has not been
satisfied.
4. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify one or
more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal
space associated with the first player; wherein the first region of
personal space includes at least one region which has not been
allocated for wagering activity.
5. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify one or
more wagering tokens which are within a first region of the first
gaming table; wherein the first region includes at least one region
portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity.
6. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify a
first spatial region associated with the first player, wherein the
first spatial region includes a first region portion corresponding
to a wagering token placement area for use table game wagering, and
includes a second region portion which is not used for table game
wagering; and automatically detect one or more wagering tokens
located within the second region portion.
7. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: automatically
and passively associate the first player with a specific player
station at the first gaming table, the specific player station
being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming
table, the first spatial region including at least one region
portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity; and
automatically identify wagering tokens located within the first
spatial region at the first gaming table.
8. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: automatically
identify, as belonging to the first player, at least one wagering
token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.
9. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify one or
more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal
space associated with the first player; wherein the first region of
personal space is defined to include at least one zone of space
which is not currently visible to an observer.
10. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify a
first region of personal space associated with the first player;
wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include at
least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering
activity; and wherein the first region of personal space is further
defined to include at least one zone of space within a
predetermined distance from the first player.
11. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: automatically
and passively associate the first player with a specific player
station at the first gaming table, the specific player station
being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming
table, the first spatial region including at least one region
portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity identify
a first region of personal space associated with the first player;
wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include
the first spatial region.
12. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: automatically
track, in real time, information relating to a first portion of
wagering tokens belonging to the first player; wherein the first
portion of wagering tokens includes at least one wagering token
located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.
13. The system of claim 1 being further operable to perform at
least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
automatically track amounts wagered by the first player during game
play at the first gaming table; and automatically track winnings
awarded to the first player during game play at the first gaming
table.
14. The system of claim 1 being further operable to perform at
least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
automatically compute or determine player game speed information
relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first
gaming table during a first time interval; automatically compute or
determine player ranking information relating to the first player
using at least a portion of the player rating information;
automatically compute or determine player skill information
relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player
rating information; and automatically compute or determine player
comp value information relating to the first player using at least
a portion of the player rating information.
15. The system of claim 1 being further operable to perform at
least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
automatically track buy-in activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player; automatically track marker-in
activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;
automatically track chips out activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player; and automatically track redemption
activity at the first gaming table relating to the first
player.
16. A gaming table system comprising: at least one processor; at
least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at
least one other network device in a gaming network; and memory; the
system being operable to: automatically detect a presence of a
first player at a first gaming table; automatically perform at
least one operation selected from a group consisting of: tracking
buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first
player; tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player; tracking chips out activity at the
first gaming table relating to the first player; and tracking
redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to the first
player.
17. The system of claim 16 being further operable to perform at
least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
automatically track amounts wagered by the first player during game
play at the first gaming table; and automatically track winnings
awarded to the first player during game play at the first gaming
table.
18. The system of claim 16 being further operable to perform at
least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
automatically compute or determine player game speed information
relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first
gaming table during a first time interval; automatically compute or
determine player ranking information relating to the first player
using at least a portion of the player rating information;
automatically compute or determine player skill information
relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player
rating information; and automatically compute or determine player
comp value information relating to the first player using at least
a portion of the player rating information.
19. A method for facilitating player rating activities at a casino
gaming table, the method comprising: automatically detecting a
presence of a first player at a first gaming table; automatically
initiating at least one procedure for closing a player rating
session associated with the first player in response to a
determination that a first set of criteria has been satisfied; and
automatically computing or determining player rating information
relating to the first player's player rating session, wherein the
player rating information includes first player walk amount
information relating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to
the first player at a time of closing of the first player's player
rating session.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the player rating information
further includes at least one type of information selected from a
group of information consisting of: first player game speed
information relating to an estimated speed of game play by the
first player at the first gaming table, and first player timing
information relating to an estimated amount of time that the first
player spent at the first gaming table.
21. The method of claim 19 further comprising: automatically
delaying closing of the first player rating session in response to
a determination that the first set of criteria has not been
satisfied.
22. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifying one or
more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal
space associated with the first player; and wherein the first
region of personal space includes at least one region which has not
been allocated for wagering activity.
23. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifying one or
more wagering tokens which are within a first region of the first
gaming table; and wherein the first region includes at least one
region portion which has not been allocated for wagering
activity.
24. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifying a first
spatial region associated with the first player, wherein the first
spatial region includes a first region portion corresponding to a
wagering token placement area for use table game wagering, and
includes a second region portion which is not used for table game
wagering; and automatically detecting one or more wagering tokens
located within the second region portion.
25. The method of claim 19 further comprising: automatically and
passively associating the first player with a specific player
station at the first gaming table, the specific player station
being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming
table, the first spatial region including at least one region
portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity; and
automatically identifying wagering tokens located within the first
spatial region at the first gaming table.
26. The method of claim 19 further comprising: automatically
identifying, as belonging to the first player, at least one
wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming
table.
27. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifying one or
more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal
space associated with the first player; wherein the first region of
personal space is defined to include at least one zone of space
which is not currently visible to an observer.
28. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifying a first
region of personal space associated with the first player; wherein
the first region of personal space is defined to include at least
one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering
activity; and wherein the first region of personal space is further
defined to include at least one zone of space within a
predetermined distance from the first player.
29. The method of claim 19 further comprising: automatically and
passively associating the first player with a specific player
station at the first gaming table, the specific player station
being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming
table, the first spatial region including at least one region
portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity
identifying a first region of personal space associated with the
first player; wherein the first region of personal space is defined
to include the first spatial region.
30. The method of claim 19 further comprising: automatically
tracking, in real time, information relating to a first portion of
wagering tokens belonging to the first player; wherein the first
portion of wagering tokens includes at least one wagering token
located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.
31. The method of claim 19 further comprising performing at least
one operation selected from a group consisting of: automatically
tracking amounts wagered by the first player during game play at
the first gaming table; and automatically tracking winnings awarded
to the first player during game play at the first gaming table.
32. The method of claim 19 further comprising at least one
operation selected from a group consisting of: automatically
computing or determining player game speed information relating to
a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gaming table
during a first time interval; automatically computing or
determining player ranking information relating to the first player
using at least a portion of the player rating information;
automatically computing or determining player skill information
relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player
rating information; and automatically computing or determining
player comp value information relating to the first player using at
least a portion of the player rating information.
33. The method of claim 19 further comprising at least one
operation selected from a group consisting of: automatically
tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the
first player; automatically tracking marker-in activity at the
first gaming table relating to the first player; automatically
tracking chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to
the first player; and automatically tracking redemption activity at
the first gaming table relating to the first player.
34. A method for facilitating player rating activities at a casino
gaming table, the method comprising: automatically detecting a
presence of a first player at the first gaming table; and
automatically performing at least one operation selected from a
group consisting of: tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming
table relating to the first player; tracking marker-in activity at
the first gaming table relating to the first player; tracking chips
out activity at the first gaming table relating to the first
player; and tracking redemption activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player.
35. The method of claim 34 further comprising at least one
operation selected from a group consisting of: automatically
tracking amounts wagered by the first player during game play at
the first gaming table; and automatically tracking winnings awarded
to the first player during game play at the first gaming table.
36. The method of claim 34 further comprising at least one
operation selected from a group consisting of: automatically
computing or determining player game speed information relating to
a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gaming table
during a first time interval; automatically computing or
determining player ranking information relating to the first player
using at least a portion of the player rating information;
automatically computing or determining player skill information
relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player
rating information; and automatically computing or determining
player comp value information relating to the first player using at
least a portion of the player rating information.
37. A system for facilitating player rating activities at a casino
gaming table, the method comprising: at least one processor;
memory; means for automatically detecting a presence of a first
player at a first gaming table; means for automatically initiating
at least one procedure for closing a player rating session
associated with the first player in response to a determination
that a first set of criteria has been satisfied; means for
automatically computing or determining player rating information
relating to the first player's player rating session, wherein the
player rating information includes first player walk amount
information relating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to
the first player at a time of closing of the first player's player
rating session; means for automatically tracking buy-in activity at
the first gaming table relating to the first player; means for
automatically tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player; means for automatically tracking
chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to the first
player; means for automatically tracking redemption activity at the
first gaming table relating to the first player; and means for
automatically identifying, as belonging to the first player, at
least one wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the
first gaming table.
38-64. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/858,046
(Attorney Docket No. IGT1P430P/P-1256PROV), naming Moser, et al. as
inventors, and filed Nov. 10, 2006, the entirety of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate
to player tracking services and player rating services implemented
in table game environments.
[0003] In general, casino operators have an interest in collecting
the information relating to their patrons (e.g., players).
Conventionally, such information may include player tracking data
relating to individual player activities and/or other
characteristics. As an incentive to get players to elect to have
their game play activities tracked, casino operators typically
offer players membership in player tracking programs which provide
various rewards to the players.
[0004] Typically, player tracking programs provide rewards to
players which are commensurate with each player's level of
patronage (e.g., to the player's playing frequency and/or total
amount of game plays at a given casino). Player tracking rewards
may include free meals, free lodging and/or free entertainment.
These rewards may help to sustain a game player's interest in
additional game play during a visit to a gaming establishment and
may entice a player to visit a gaming establishment to partake in
various gaming activities.
[0005] In general, player tracking programs may be applied to any
game of chance offered at a gaming establishment. In particular,
player tracking programs are very popular with players of
mechanical slot gaming machines and video slot gaming machines. In
a gaming machine, a player tracking program is implemented using a
player tracking unit installed in the gaming machine and in
communication with a remote player tracking server.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Various embodiments may be directed to methods, systems
and/or computer program products for facilitating player rating
activities at a casino gaming table. At least one embodiment may
include functionality for: automatically detecting a presence of a
first player at a first gaming table; automatically initiating at
least one procedure for closing a player rating session associated
with the first player in response to a determination that a first
set of criteria has been satisfied; and automatically computing or
determining player rating information relating to the first
player's player rating session, wherein the player rating
information includes first player walk amount information relating
to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to the first player at
a time of closing of the first player's player rating session. In
at least one embodiment, the player rating information may include
one or more of the following (or combinations thereof): first
player game speed information relating to an estimated speed of
game play by the first player at the first gaming table, and/or
first player timing information relating to an estimated amount of
time that the first player spent at the first gaming table.
[0007] At least one embodiment may include functionality for
identifying one or more wagering tokens which are within a first
region of the first gaming table, wherein the first region includes
at least one region portion which has not been allocated for
wagering activity.
[0008] At least one embodiment may include functionality for
identifying a first spatial region associated with the first
player, wherein the first spatial region includes a first region
portion corresponding to a wagering token placement area for use
table game wagering, and includes a second region portion which is
not used for table game wagering; and automatically detecting one
or more wagering tokens located within the second region
portion.
[0009] At least one embodiment may include functionality for
automatically tracking (e.g., in real time and/or non-real time)
information relating to a first portion of wagering tokens
belonging to the first player, wherein the first portion of
wagering tokens includes at least one wagering token located at a
non-wagering area of the first gaming table.
[0010] At least one embodiment may include functionality for
automatically tracking amounts wagered by the first player during
game play at the first gaming table; and/or automatically tracking
winnings awarded to the first player during game play at the first
gaming table.
[0011] At least one embodiment may include functionality for:
automatically computing or determining player game speed
information relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at
the first gaming table during a first time interval; automatically
computing or determining player ranking information relating to the
first player using at least a portion of the player rating
information; automatically computing or determining player skill
information relating to the first player using at least a portion
of the player rating information; and/or automatically computing or
determining player comp value information relating to the first
player using at least a portion of the player rating
information.
[0012] At least one embodiment may include functionality for:
automatically tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player; automatically tracking marker-in
activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;
automatically tracking chips out activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player; and automatically tracking redemption
activity at the first gaming table relating to the first
player.
[0013] At least one embodiment may include functionality for:
tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the
first player; tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table
relating to the first player; tracking chips out activity at the
first gaming table relating to the first player; and/or tracking
redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to the first
player.
[0014] Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or
computer program products for facilitating player rating activities
at a casino gaming table. At least one embodiment may include
functionality for: automatically detecting a presence of a first
player at the gaming table; determining a first set of criteria
relating to initiation of a player rating session for the first
player; automatically determining whether the first set of criteria
has been satisfied; delaying initiation of the player rating
session for the first player in response to a determination that
the first set of criteria has not been satisfied; and automatically
initiating the player rating session for the first player in
response to a determination that the first set of criteria has been
satisfied.
[0015] Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or
computer program products for facilitating player rating activities
at a casino gaming table. At least one embodiment may include
functionality for: automatically detecting a presence of a first
player at the gaming table; initiating a player rating session for
the first player; determining a first set of criteria relating to
suspension of the player rating session for the first player;
automatically determining whether the first set of criteria has
been satisfied; and automatically suspending the player rating
session for the first player in response to a determination that
the first set of criteria has been satisfied. Additionally, at
least one embodiment may include functionality for: determining a
second set of criteria relating to resumption of the suspended
player rating session for the first player; automatically
determining whether the second set of criteria has been satisfied;
and automatically resuming the suspended player rating session for
the first player in response to a determination that the second set
of criteria has been satisfied.
[0016] Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or
computer program products for facilitating player rating activities
at a casino gaming table. At least one embodiment may include
functionality for: automatically detecting a presence of a first
player at the gaming table; initiating a player rating session for
the first player; determining a first set of criteria relating to
ending of the player rating session for the first player;
automatically determining whether the first set of criteria has
been satisfied; and automatically ending the player rating session
for the first player in response to a determination that the first
set of criteria has been satisfied.
[0017] Additional objects, features and advantages of the various
aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the
following description of its preferred embodiments, which
description should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows an example of a gaming table system 100 in
accordance with a specific embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows an example of a gaming table system 200 in
accordance with a different embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows an example of a specific embodiment of an
intelligent gaming table system 300.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary
intelligent gaming table system 400 in accordance with a specific
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 5A shows a flow diagram of a Gaming table Player
Tracking Session Management Procedure in accordance with a specific
embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 5B shows a flow diagram of a Gaming Table Player Rating
Session Management Procedure in accordance with a specific
embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of the components of a
smart card 650 that may be used in the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 shows a simplified block diagram of various
components which may be used for implementing a personal player
device (PPD) in accordance with the specific embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of an intelligent
gaming table system 800 in accordance with a specific
embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating components of a
gaming system 900 which may be used for implementing various
aspects of example embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] One or more different inventions may be described in the
present application. Further, for one or more of the invention(s)
described herein, numerous embodiments may be described in this
patent application, and are presented for illustrative purposes
only. The described embodiments are not intended to be limiting in
any sense. One or more of the invention(s) may be widely applicable
to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the
disclosure. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice one or more of the
invention(s), and it is to be understood that other embodiments may
be utilized and that structural, logical, software, electrical and
other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
one or more of the invention(s). Accordingly, those skilled in the
art will recognize that the one or more of the invention(s) may be
practiced with various modifications and alterations. Particular
features of one or more of the invention(s) may be described with
reference to one or more particular embodiments or figures that
form a part of the present disclosure, and in which are shown, by
way of illustration, specific embodiments of one or more of the
invention(s). It should be understood, however, that such features
are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments
or figures with reference to which they are described. The present
disclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments of
one or more of the invention(s) nor a listing of features of one or
more of the invention(s) that must be present in all
embodiments.
[0029] Headings of sections provided in this patent application and
the title of this patent application are for convenience only, and
are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.
[0030] Devices that are in communication with each other need not
be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly
specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication
with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries.
[0031] A description of an embodiment with several components in
communication with each other does not imply that all such
components are required. To the contrary, a variety of optional
components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible
embodiments of one or more of the invention(s).
[0032] Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or
the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes,
methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate
orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be
described in this patent application does not, in and of itself,
indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order.
The steps of described processes may be performed in any order
practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously
despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously
(e.g., because one step is described after the other step).
Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a
drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of
other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the
illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to one or
more of the invention(s), and does not imply that the illustrated
process is preferred.
[0033] When a single device or article is described, it will be
readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not
they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article.
Similarly, where more than one device or article is described
(whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a
single device/article may be used in place of the more than one
device or article.
[0034] The functionality and/or the features of a device may be
alternatively embodied by one or more other devices that are not
explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus,
other embodiments of one or more of the invention(s) need not
include the device itself.
[0035] FIG. 1 shows an example of a gaming table system 100 in
accordance with a specific embodiment. In the specific example of
FIG. 1, gaming table 10 is illustrated as a blackjack table
embodiment. However, according to different embodiments (not shown)
gaming table 10 may be configured for a variety of different types
of table games such as, for example, blackjack, poker, roulette,
craps, baccarat, and/or other types of casino table games generally
known to one having ordinary skill in the art.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1, gaming table 10 includes seven
player positions 11a-11g. A system for tracking play of players at
the table, as well as providing information pertaining to the
players, may include a media reader 12 located adjacent a dealer
position 13. The media reader may be any type that is capable of
reading or obtaining information from cards, media or other devices
issued by the casino. For example, according to specific
embodiments media reader 12 may include for example, a magnetic
reader for reading magnetic stripes on cards; an electronic card
reader for reading electronic cards and/or for detecting wireless
signals (such as, for example RFID signals); a port for receiving
electronic keys; or any combination thereof.
[0037] In an alternate embodiment (not shown), a separate media
reader may be provided at each of the different player positions at
gaming table 10. Each media reader may be coupled to a central
computer 14 via a communication channel 15, such as, for example,
cables, wires, fiber optics, wireless signals, radio waves, etc.
The central computer may be operable to keep track of various
information relating to the various players' accounts. Such
information may include, for example, player tracking
information.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows an example of a gaming table system 200 in
accordance with a different embodiment. As illustrated in the
embodiment of FIG. 2, gaming table system 200 includes a
conventionally shaped gaming table 21 for play of one or more type
of table games which, for example, may include non-card based table
games and/or card-based table games.
[0039] The gaming table 21 of this type is generally located in a
casino or the like, and typically includes a dealer station 22, and
a plurality of player stations 23-27, surrounding the dealer
station. At the player stations, the players sit or stand during
game play, while at the dealer station, the card dealer almost
always stands. The dealer also deals the cards and takes the
player's bets, on behalf of the casino, from the one more players
who are participating in the table game.
[0040] As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, at least one
interactive display terminal 30 is included at the gaming table 21.
For example, in this particular example a respective display
terminal 30-34 dedicated to each player station 23-27 at gaming
table 21. According to specific embodiments, each of these
interactive display terminals 30-34 may be operable to display
informational content relating to advertising, player tracking
information, news, etc. Additionally, each of these interactive
display terminals 30-34 may be operable to allow players to access
additional bonus games and/or bonus awards at each of their
respective, dedicated player stations.
[0041] In at least one embodiment, the display terminals are
integrated with a backend player tracking system which, for
example, may be operable to manage and store various types of
information including, for example, player tracking
information.
[0042] According to specific embodiments, one or more of the
interactive player display terminals 30-34 can be applied to
deliver a variety of different types of information (e.g.,
advertising, news, player tracking information, bonus games, etc.)
directly to the player at their respective player station 23-27. In
one embodiment, one or more of the interactive player display
terminals 30-34 may be operable to function as a player tracking
terminal. In one embodiment, a display terminal may be operable to
facilitate player access to his or her accounts via entry of
personal identification numbers into a touch screen on the
display.
[0043] In some embodiments, the gaming table system 200 may include
one or more media reader(s) (e.g., 202a-e) capable of reading,
receiving signals, and/or obtaining information from media (e.g.,
player tracking cards) and/or devices such as those issued by the
casino. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a separate media
reader may be provided for each player station at gaming table 22.
In at least one alternate embodiment, gaming table system 200 may
include one or more media reader(s) (e.g., 202a-e), and may not
include player display terminals 30-34. Thus, for example, in one
such alternate embodiment, gaming table 21 may resemble a
traditional live gaming table which includes felt top and not
display terminals. In such an embodiment, media reader(s) (e.g.,
202a-e) may be placed or located in a non-visible location such as,
for example, under the gaming table top, within the body of the
gaming table housing, etc.
[0044] In a specific embodiment, a media reader at gaming table
system 200 may be operable to automatically detect wireless signals
(e.g., 802.11 (WiFi), 802.15 (including Bluetooth.TM.), 802.16
(WiMax), 802.22, Cellular standards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA,
Radio Frequency (e.g., RFID), Infrared, Near Field Magnetics, etc.)
from one or more wireless devices (such as, for example, an
RFID-enabled player tracking card) which, for example, are in the
possession of players at the gaming table. Further, the media
reader may be operable to utilize the detected RFID signals to
determine the identity of individual players associated with each
of the different player tracking cards. The media reader may also
be operable to utilize the detected RFID signals to access
additional information (e.g., player tracking information) from
remote servers (e.g., player tracking server). In at least one
embodiment, the display terminals and/or media readers may be
operated in association with player tracking networks such as those
shown and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,665,961 and 6,319,125, each
of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for
all purposes.
[0045] According to various embodiments, the gaming table system
200 may be used to allow a player at an associated player station
(e.g., rather than the dealer or pit boss) to log in and out at one
of player stations 23-27. In a specific embodiment, the display
terminal associated with a player's station may be operable to
function as the player's own personal player tracking kiosk right
at the gaming table.
[0046] It will be appreciated that conventional techniques for
monitoring player tracking activity at table games typically
involve a number of manually implemented processes. For example,
using conventional player tracking mechanisms, if a player wishes
to initiate a player tracking session at a given table game, the
player (or dealer) is typically required to manually swipe or
insert the player's player tracking card into an appropriate card
reader that the gaming table. Additionally, when the player desires
to end the player tracking session, another manual operation must
typically be performed by the player, dealer and/or other casino
employee to signal to the player tracking system that the player
tracking session has ended. Typically, once a player tracking
session has been initiated for a player at a table game, the floor
supervisor manually tracks the player's wagers and time played at
the table game. Further, it will be appreciated that, historically
speaking, in order to close a rating for given player tracking
session, the player's walk amount information (e.g., the amount
and/or value of chips that the player walked away with) must
typically be manually determined and entered by the floor
supervisor.
[0047] Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is directed
to different embodiments for automating the various manual
processes involved in the rating of a player of a table game.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to different
embodiments for automatically starting, suspending, resuming and/or
ending player tracking sessions at one or more table games.
[0048] For example, according to some conventional embodiments, the
starting of a player tracking session for a particular player at a
table game typically occurs immediately after the player's player
tracking card has been swiped or inserted into the player tracking
card reader that the table game. In other conventional embodiments
a player may present his player tracking card to the dealer or
floor supervisor in order to initiate a player tracking session at
the table game.
[0049] According to one conventional technique, the closing of an
open or active player rating session for a player at a gaming table
may occur as follows. The player (associated with the open player
rating session) gets up and walks away from the gaming table,
taking his/her chips. When the floor supervisor identifies that the
player has walked, the floor supervisor will close the rating on
that player, and estimate how many chips the player walked with.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that this process involves a
manual and somewhat subjective mechanism, currently.
[0050] However, with the introduction of "smart" player tracking
cards (such as, for example, RFID-enabled player tracking cards)
and "smart" gaming table media readers such as those described
herein, it is now possible for gaming table systems to
automatically detect the presence of player tracking cards and to
automatically determine the identities of players at the table game
who are registered members of the casino's player tracking system.
Such automated detection of player tracking cards and/or player
identities at gaming tables introduces additional issues such as,
for example, when to start, suspend and/or end a given player
tracking session at the gaming table.
[0051] Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is directed
to different embodiments for detecting and interpreting various
events in order, for example, to automate the starting, pausing,
and/or ending of player tracking sessions at table games. Another
aspect is directed to different embodiments for automatically
tracking and/or determining a player's wagers and/or time played at
a gaming table.
[0052] According to a specific embodiment, a "smart" player
tracking card (such as, for example, a card with RFID technology
embedded therein) may be used in combination with a media reader at
a table game to uniquely identify a table game player, and/or to
record the time a player starts playing at any position on a table.
In one embodiment, a player occupying a specific seat or player
station position at a gaming table may be automatically and
passively detected without requiring action on the part of a player
or dealer. For example, the player tracking card could be in the
player's wallet when the player sits at a gaming table. Another
embodiment may include a player temporarily placing his/her player
card on a defined area of a table game.
[0053] FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of an intelligent
gaming table system 800 in accordance with a specific embodiment.
As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 8, intelligent gaming
table system 800 includes (e.g., within gaming table housing 810) a
master table controller (MTC) 801, and a plurality of player
station systems (e.g., 812a-e) which, for example, may be connected
to the MTC 801 via at least one switch or hub 808. In at least one
embodiment, master table controller 801 may include at least one
processor or CPU 802, and memory 804. Additionally, as illustrated
in the example of FIG. 8, intelligent gaming table system 800 may
also include one or more interfaces 806 for communicating with
other devices and/or systems in the casino network 820.
[0054] In at least one embodiment, a separate player station system
may be provided at each player station at the gaming table.
According to specific embodiments, each player station system may
include a variety of different electronic components, devices,
and/or systems for providing various types of functionality. For
example, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8, player station
system 812c may comprise a variety of different electronic
components, devices, and/or systems including, but not limited to:
a media detector/reader 832, a player tracking manager 834, a wager
and/or gaming chip tracking system 836, etc. According to a
specific embodiment, media detector/reader 832, player tracking
manager 834, and/or wager/gaming chip tracking system 836 may each
be operable to communicate with each other and/or other devices of
the gaming network.
[0055] Although not specifically illustrated in FIG. 8, each of the
different player station systems 812a-e may include components,
devices and/or systems similar to that of player station system
812c.
[0056] According to one embodiment, media detector/reader 832 may
be operable to read, receive signals, and/or obtain information
from various types of media (e.g., player tracking cards) and/or
other devices such as those issued by the casino. For example,
media detector/reader 832 may be operable to automatically detect
wireless signals (e.g., 802.11 (WiFi), 802.15 (including
Bluetooth.TM.), 802.16 (WiMax), 802.22, Cellular standards such as
CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency (e.g., RFID), Infrared, Near
Field Magnetics, etc.) from one or more wireless devices (such as,
for example, an RFID-enabled player tracking card) which, for
example, are in the possession of players at the gaming table. The
media detector/reader may also be operable to utilize the detected
wireless signals to determine the identity of individual players
associated with each of the different player tracking cards. The
media detector/reader may also be operable to utilize the detected
wireless signals to access additional information (e.g., player
tracking information) from remote servers (e.g., player tracking
server).
[0057] According to a specific embodiment, the media
detector/reader may also be operable to determine the position or
location of one or more players at the gaming table, and/or able to
identify a specific player station which is occupied by a
particular player at the gaming table.
[0058] In a specific embodiment, for example, where each player
station at the gaming table includes a respective media
detector/reader, each media detector/reader (e.g., 832) may be
operable to detect media, devices and/or signals which are
associated only with a player occupying that particular player
station (e.g., player station 812c). Thus, for example, according
to a specific embodiment, the media detector/reader associated with
player station 812c may be operable to detect and read an
RFID-enabled card held by a player occupying player station 812c,
but may not be able to detect and/or read RFID-enabled cards held
by players occupying player stations 812a, 812b, 812d, and/or 812e.
Similarly, the media detector/reader associated with player station
812b may be operable to detect and read an RFID-enabled card held
by a player occupying player station 812b, but may not be able to
detect and/or read RFID-enabled cards held by players occupying
player station 812a, 812c, 812d, and/or 812e.
[0059] In at least one embodiment, player tracking manager 834 may
be operable to automatically manage various types of information,
events and/or activities associated with one or more player
tracking sessions at the gaming table. According to a specific
embodiment, such information, events and/or activities may include,
for example, but are not limited to: [0060] accessing information
from a player's player tracking card (and/or other media); [0061]
accessing information from a remote servers (such as, for example,
a player tracking server); [0062] determining an identity of a
player at the gaming table; [0063] starting a player tracking
session; [0064] suspending a player tracking session; [0065]
resuming a player tracking session; [0066] ending a player tracking
session; [0067] recording player tracking events, activities and/or
related data; [0068] generating or computing player tracking
information; [0069] determining a player's walk away amount; [0070]
determining theoretical wins; [0071] determining buy-ins; [0072]
determining actual wins; [0073] determining player movement (e.g.,
a player moving from one player station at the gaming table to
another); [0074] determining multiple ratings for a player; [0075]
determining player skill; [0076] determining game speed; [0077]
etc.
[0078] In at least one embodiment, wager/gaming chip tracking
system 836 may be operable to automatically manage various types of
information, events and/or activities associated gaming chips (also
referred to as wagering tokens) and/or wagering activities
conducted at the gaming table. According to a specific embodiment,
such information, events and/or activities may include, for
example, but are not limited to: [0079] tracking player wagering
activities and/or related information; [0080] determining and/or
tracking information relating to player buy-in activities; [0081]
determining and/or tracking information relating to gaming chips
which a player currently has in his or her possession at the gaming
table (e.g., the amount and value of gaming chips within the
player's personal space at the gaming table); [0082] determining
and/or tracking information relating to a player's walk away
amount; [0083] determining fills and/or credits; [0084] determine
betting anomalies (e.g., including pitching and/or capping
activity); [0085] etc.
[0086] As used herein, the terms "gaming chip" and "wagering token"
may be used interchangeably, and, in at least one embodiment, may
refer to a chip, coin, and/or other type of token which may be used
for various types of casino wagering activities, such as, for
example, gaming table wagering.
[0087] In at least one embodiment, intelligent gaming table system
800 may also include components and/or devices for implementing at
least a portion of gaming table functionality described in one or
more of the following patents, each of which is incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety for all purposes: U.S. Pat. No.
5,735,742, entitled "GAMING TABLE TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD"; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,548, entitled "GAMING CHIPS WITH ELECTRONIC
CIRCUITS SCANNED BY ANTENNAS IN GAMING CHIP PLACEMENT AREAS FOR
TRACKING THE MOVEMENT OF GAMING CHIPS WITHIN A CASINO APPARATUS AND
METHOD."
[0088] For example, in one embodiment, intelligent gaming table
system 800 may include a system for tracking movement of gaming
chips and/or for performing other valuable functions. The system
may be fully automated and operable to automatically monitor and
record selected gaming chip transactions at the gaming table. In
one embodiment, the system may employ use of gaming chips having
transponders embedded therein. Such gaming chips may be
electronically identifiable and/or carry electronically
ascertainable information about the gaming chip. The system may
further have ongoing and/or "on-command" capabilities to provide an
instantaneous or real-time inventory of all (or selected) gaming
chips at the gaming table such as, for example, gaming chips in the
possession of a particular player, gaming chips in the possession
of the dealer, gaming chips located within a specified region (or
regions) of the gaming table, etc. The system may also be capable
of reporting the total value of an identified selection of gaming
chips.
[0089] By way of illustration, a specific embodiment of a gaming
table system may include one or more RFID readers (e.g., either
directional, designated, or a combination thereof) which may be
hidden from view of the players. In one embodiment, each player
station or position at the table game may include a respective RFID
reader which includes an antenna to detect the presence of a
player's card and determine a unique identifier for the detected
card. Each RFID reader may be operable to communicate the card
identifier to a player tracking or rating system. According to
specific embodiments, the RFID reader may also be operable to
detect when the player's card is moved or removed from a particular
player station or player position at the gaming table.
[0090] According to specific embodiments, different types of RFID
readers may be utilized such as, for example, directional RFID
readers, designated RFID readers and/or some combination thereof.
For example, in one embodiment, a directional RFID reader could be
used to establish a definable space that can be monitored for
detecting RFID antennas which enter or exit the defined space. For
example, a player carrying an RFID enabled player tracking card
sits at a seat (e.g., player station) at a table game. A
directional RFID reader could detect that player, and associate
him/her to that particular player station. Additionally, in a
specific embodiment where the RFID reader is configured as a
directional RFID reader, a determination of when a player enters
and leaves a seat area may be tracked.
[0091] In at least some embodiments, a designated RFID reader could
be used to define a particular region on the gaming table for a
player to place an RFID enabled smart card. Upon such placement,
the player could be identified and associated to a particular
spot/seat/player station at the gaming table. Additionally, in at
least one embodiment where the RFID reader is configured as a
designated RFID reader, a configurable time out may be tracked, for
example, based on activity or inactivity of a particular
player.
[0092] The tracked information may then be reported or communicated
to a player tracking system. According to a specific embodiment, a
player tracking system may be used to store various information
relating to casino patrons or players. Such information (herein
referred to as player tracking information) may include player
rating information, which, for example, generally refers to
information used by a casino to rate a given player according to
various criteria such as, for example, criteria which may be used
to determine a player's theoretical or comp value to a casino.
[0093] Additionally, in at least one embodiment, a player tracking
session may be used to collect various types of information
relating to a player's preferences, activities, game play,
location, etc. Such information may also include player rating
information generated during one or more player rating sessions.
Thus, in at least one embodiment, a player tracking session may
include the generation and/or tracking of player rating information
for a given player.
[0094] FIG. 5A shows a flow diagram of a Gaming Table Player
Tracking Session Management Procedure in accordance with a specific
embodiment. It will be appreciated that different embodiments of
Gaming Table Player Tracking Session Management Procedures may be
implemented at different types of table games, and may include at
least some features other than or different from those described
with respect to the specific embodiment of FIG. 5A.
[0095] According to specific embodiments, multiple threads of the
Gaming Table Player Tracking Session Management Procedure may be
simultaneously running at a given gaming table. For example, in one
embodiment, a separate instance or thread of the Gaming table
Player Tracking Session Management Procedure may be implemented at
each player station (e.g., 23-27) of a gaming table.
[0096] For purposes of illustration, and example of the Gaming
table Player Tracking Session Management Procedure 500 will now be
explained with reference to gaming table system 200. According to
specific embodiments, one or more gaming tables may include
functionality for detecting the presence of a player at one of the
gaming table's player stations. Such functionality may be
implemented using a variety of different types of technologies such
as, for example: cameras, pressure sensors (e.g., embedded in a
seat, bumper, table top, etc.), motion detectors, image sensors,
signal detectors (e.g., RFID signal detectors), dealer and/or
player input devices, etc.
[0097] For example, in a specific embodiment, Player A may be
carrying his/her RFID-enabled player tracking card in his/her
pocket, and chose to occupy a seat at player station position 25 of
gaming table system 200. Gaming table system 200 may be operable to
automatically and passively detect (502) the presence of Player A,
for example, by detecting an RFID signal transmitted from Player
A's player tracking card. Thus, in at least one implementation,
such player detection may be performed without requiring action on
the part of a player or dealer.
[0098] When the presence of Player A is detected (502) at the
gaming table, a determination may be made (504) as to whether
Player A is a registered member of the casino's player tracking
system. In one embodiment, this may be accomplished, for example,
using information from Player A's player tracking card. As
illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 5A, if it is determined that
Player A is a registered player tracking member, the player's
identity may be determined (506). For example, Player A's player
tracking card may transmit a unique identifier which may be used to
look up the player's identity and/or other information in a
database, such as, for example, a player tracking system
database.
[0099] In other embodiments, the presence of a player may be
automatically and passively detected, for example, using various
types of sensors such as, for example, a motion sensor, a pressure
sensor, etc. In at least some embodiments, there may be no unique
signal or other information to help identify the player's
identity.
[0100] According to various embodiments, if Player A's identity can
not be determined, or if it is determined that Player A is not a
registered member of the casino's player tracking system, an
anonymous player tracking account may be created for Player A, for
example, in order to allow one or more player rating sessions to be
conducted for Player A at the gaming table. In a particular
embodiment, during a player rating session for Player A, various
player rating information may be generated for Player A, and
associated with the anonymous player tracking account. Further, at
one or more occasions, Player A may be given the opportunity to
assign his or her identity to the anonymous player tracking
account, and/or to transfer at least a portion of the generated
player rating information (e.g., from the anonymous account) to a
registered player tracking account.
[0101] In at least one embodiment, the gaming table may be operable
to determine (510) a position of Player A at the gaming table.
Thus, for example, in the present example, gaming table system 200
may be operable to determine that Player A is occupying player
station 25. Such information may be subsequently used, for example,
when performing player tracking operations associated with Player
A.
[0102] According to different embodiments, the gaming table system
may be operable to automatically initiate or start a new player
tracking session for a given player (e.g., Player A) based on the
detection (512) of one or more in events. For example, in one
embodiment, a player tracking session for Player A may be
automatically started in response to detecting the presence of the
player at a given player station at the gaming table. In an
alternate embodiment, a player tracking session for Player A may be
automatically started upon detecting that Player A has placed
his/her first wager (e.g., placed at least one gaming chip) within
the player's assigned wager placement area (e.g., within the gaming
chip placement circle 221c of FIG. 2).
[0103] It will be appreciated that a variety of different events
(and/or some combination thereof) may be used to trigger the start
or opening of a player tracking session for a given player. Such
events may include, for example, but are not limited to, one or
more of the following: [0104] physical proximity of player and/or
player tracking device detected as satisfying predetermined
criteria; [0105] player tracking device detected within specified
zone of player station area; [0106] player tracking device shown or
handed to dealer and/or other casino employee; [0107] appropriate
player input detected (e.g., player pushes button); [0108]
appropriate dealer input detected; [0109] specified time
constraints detected as being satisfied (e.g., begin player
tracking session at next round of play); [0110] gaming chip(s)
placed detected within player's assigned wagering region; [0111]
presence of player detected at player station; [0112] detection of
player's first wager being placed; [0113] player location or
position detected as satisfying predefined criteria; [0114]
appropriate floor supervisor input detected; [0115] player identity
determined (e.g., through the use of directional RFID;
[0116] through placement of player tracking media on a designated
spot at a table game; etc.); [0117] detection of continuous
presence of player tracking media for a predetermined amount of
time; [0118] etc.
[0119] Assuming that the appropriate event or events have been
detected for starting a player tracking session for Player A, a
player tracking session for Player A may then be started (514) or
initiated. During the active player tracking session, player
tracking information relating to Player A may be automatically
tracked and/or generated (516) by one or more components of the
gaming table system. According to a specific embodiment, once the
player tracking session has been started, any wager and/or game
play activities detected as being associated with Player A may be
associated with the current player tracking session. According to
specific embodiments, such player tracking information may include,
but is not limited to, one or more of the following types of
information (and/or some combination thereof): [0120] game play
data; [0121] wager data; [0122] cards dealt/held/discarded; [0123]
timestamp information; [0124] player station position; [0125]
player buy-in data; [0126] side wager data; [0127] player rating
data; [0128] session start time; [0129] session end time; [0130]
cumulative time played; [0131] information relating to gaming chips
(e.g., types, amount, value, etc.) detected as being within the
player's personal player space (e.g., within personal player space
region 250, FIG. 2); [0132] determining theoretical win
information; [0133] determining buy-in information; [0134]
determining actual win information; [0135] determining player
movement information (e.g., a player moving from player station at
a gaming table to another player station at the gaming table);
[0136] determining rating information (e.g., one or more types of
ratings) for a player; [0137] determining player skill information;
[0138] determining game speed information; [0139] other
player-tracking related information generally known to one having
ordinary skill in the art; [0140] etc.
[0141] According to specific embodiments, the gaming table system
may be operable to detect one or more events relating to the
suspension and/or ending of an active player session. For example,
in one embodiment, the gaming table system may periodically check
for events relating to the suspension and/or ending of an active
player session. Alternatively, a separate or asynchronous process
(e.g., an event detection manager/component) may be utilized for
detecting various events such as, for example, those relating to
the starting, suspending, resuming, and/or ending of one or more
player tracking sessions at the gaming table.
[0142] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5A, if an event is
detected (518) for suspending Player A's active player tracking
session, the current or active player tracking session for Player A
may be suspended (e.g., temporarily suspended). In one embodiment,
during a suspended player tracking session, no additional player
tracking information is tracked or generated for that player.
[0143] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
events may be used to trigger the suspension of a player tracking
session for a given player. Such events may include, for example,
but are not limited to, one or more of the following (and/or some
combination thereof): [0144] no detection of player at assigned
player station; [0145] no detection of player's player tracking
device within predetermined range; [0146] player input; [0147]
dealer input; [0148] time based events; [0149] player detected as
not being within predetermined range; [0150] no player activity
with specified time period; [0151] player determined to be out of
gaming chips; [0152] etc.
[0153] For example, if a player inadvertently removes his/her
player tracking device from a designated location of the gaming
table for a brief period of time, and/or for a predetermined number
of rounds, and the player tracking device is subsequently returned
to its former location, the gaming table system may be operable to
merge consecutive periods of activity into the same player tracking
session, including any rounds tracked while the player's player
tracking device was detected as being absent. In one embodiment, if
a player moves to a different player station at the gaming table,
the gaming table system may respond by switching or modifying the
player station identity associated with that player's player
tracking session in order to begin tracking information associated
with the player's player tracking session at the new player
station.
[0154] In at least one embodiment, a suspended player tracking
session may be resumed or ended, depending upon the detection of
one or more appropriate events. For example, as shown in the
example of FIG. 5A, if an event is detected for resuming (522) the
suspended Player A player tracking session, the player tracking
session for Player A may be resumed (526) and/or re-activated,
whereupon player tracking information relating to Player A may be
automatically tracked and/or generated (516) by one or more
components of the gaming table system.
[0155] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
events may be used to trigger the resuming of a player tracking
session for a given player. Such events may include, for example,
but are not limited to, one or more of the following (and/or some
combination thereof): [0156] re-detection of player at assigned
player station; [0157] re-detection of player's player tracking
device within predetermined range; [0158] player input; [0159]
dealer input; [0160] time based events; [0161] player detected as
being within predetermined range; [0162] player game play activity
detected; [0163] player wager activity detected; [0164] etc.
[0165] Alternatively, if an event is detected for ending (524) the
suspended Player A player tracking session, the player tracking
session for Player A may be ended (532) and/or closed. At that
point the player tracking manager (e.g., 834) may have (and/or may
be able to calculate) all desired player wager information such as,
for example, turnover, average wager, theoretical value, comp
value, etc.
[0166] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
events may be used to trigger the ending of a player tracking
session for a given player. Such events may include, for example,
but are not limited to, one or more of the following (and/or some
combination thereof): [0167] no detection of player at assigned
player station; [0168] no detection of player's player tracking
device within predetermined range; [0169] player input; [0170]
dealer input; [0171] time based events; [0172] player detected as
not being within predetermined range; [0173] no player activity
with specified time period; [0174] player determined to be out of
gaming chips; [0175] timeout exceeded; [0176] player detected at
another location in the casino; [0177] player tracking device
detected at another location in the casino; [0178] etc.
[0179] According to a specific embodiment, the closing of the
Player A player tracking session at the gaming table may include
operations relating to the closing of a Player A rating session,
which, in turn, may include determining a current walk amount for
Player A. For example, in one embodiment, the gaming table system
may include one or more components for detecting gaming chips
(e.g., belonging to a particular player) within a predetermined
region or zone at the gaming table which, for example, may be
defined as that player's personal space. For example, as
illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, player station 25 has
associated therewith a personal space region 250.
[0180] In at least one embodiment, each player station at the
gaming table may have associated therewith its own unique personal
player space region. In one embodiment, a wager/gaming chip
tracking system (e.g., 836, FIG. 8) may be operable to
automatically identify and track the number and/or values of gaming
chips which are located within a player's personal space at the
gaming table and/or which are located at other locations at the
gaming table, such as, for example, non-wagering areas of the
gaming table. In at least one embodiment, such functionality allows
the tracking of player gaming chips on the table at all times, and
not just when a wager is made. Additionally, in at least one
embodiment, such functionality allows the tracking of player gaming
chips in non-wagering regions of the gaming table (e.g., such as,
for example, regions other than the specifically designated
wagering areas). For example, it may be used to automatically
determine the amount and/or value of gaming chips which a player
walked with, for example, based on the removal of chips from the
player's personal space. It may also be used to automatically track
player buy-in information, for example, based on the adding of new
chips to the player's personal space and/or other criteria (e.g.,
chips awarded to the player due to a win at the gaming table are
not counted or included). Accordingly, it will be appreciated that
such functionality may help eliminate delays in closing a player
rating session which traditionally have been associated with manual
processes.
Automation of Player Rating Sessions at Gaming Tables
[0181] Various techniques described herein may be used to
automatically determine a player's wagers and time played at a
gaming table. For example, as described herein, different player
tracking mechanisms may be used to detect the presence and/or
location of a player (and/or presence and location of a player's
electronic player tracking card or other wireless device(s)
associate with that player) within the casino. Additionally,
different player tracking mechanisms may also be used to detect the
presence, absence and/or location of a player (and/or presence and
location of a player's electronic player tracking card or other
wireless device(s) associate with that player) at one or more
casino gaming tables. In at least one embodiment, at least a
portion of such player tracking information may be provided to a
player rating system to be used in performing automated player
rating activities associated with the player.
[0182] For example, according to different embodiments, an
automated player rating system may be operable to use at least a
portion of the player tracking information (and/or other desired
information, events and/or criteria as described herein) to
automatically start, stop, pause and/or resume player rating
session(s) associated with a given player.
[0183] In at least one embodiment, various distinctions may be made
between player tracking session information and player rating
session information. For example, in one embodiment, player
tracking session information may include a variety of different
information generally relating to locations and/or activities of
players in different regions of a casino. Such activities may
include gaming and/or non-gaming related player activities. In one
embodiment, for example, a single player rating session may include
generating, monitoring, tracking and/or recording information
relating to a variety of different player gaming (and/or
non-gaming) activities which may occur (e.g., for a given player)
at different gaming stations, gaming tables and/or gaming machines
at the casino. Thus, for example, in one embodiment, a single
player tracking session for a given player may include information
relating to the player's gaming activities at multiple different
gaming tables. In at least one embodiment, such player tracking
session information may include player rating information relating
to the player's gaming activities at the different gaming
tables.
[0184] In at least one embodiment, player tracking information may
be characterized as a subset of player tracking information. For
example, in at least one embodiment, player rating information may
be used to track and/or evaluate a player's skill level, ranking,
and/or comp value to the casino. In at least one embodiment, player
tracking information may include at least a portion of such player
rating information, but may also include other information which
may be used to characterize a player's preferences, habits,
non-gaming activities, interests, etc.
[0185] In one embodiment, player rating information may include a
variety of different information generally relating to a player
gaming activities at a given gaming table, gaming station and/or
gaming machine. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, a separate
player rating session for a given player may be initiated and used
to track player rating information relating to the player's gaming
activities at each different gaming table visited by the player.
Thus, for example, in one embodiment where a player may engage in
gaming activities at three different casino gaming tables, three
different player rating session may be initiated for that player,
wherein each player rating session may be used to track the
player's gaming activities at respective gaming table visited by
the player.
[0186] FIG. 5B shows a flow diagram of a Gaming Table Player Rating
Session Management Procedure in accordance with a specific
embodiment. It will be appreciated that different embodiments of
Gaming table Player Rating Session Management Procedures may be
implemented at different types of table games, and may include at
least some features other than or different from those described
with respect to the specific embodiment of FIG. 5B.
[0187] According to specific embodiments, multiple threads of the
Gaming Table Player Rating Session Management Procedure may be
simultaneously running at a given gaming table. For example, in one
embodiment, a separate instance or thread of the Gaming table
Player Rating Session Management Procedure may be implemented for
each player (or selected players) of a given gaming table.
[0188] For purposes of illustration, and example of the Gaming
Table Player Rating Session Management Procedure 550 will now be
explained with reference to gaming table system 200. According to
specific embodiments, one or more gaming tables may include
functionality for detecting the presence of a player at one of the
gaming table's player stations. Such functionality may be
implemented using a variety of different types of technologies such
as, for example: cameras, pressure sensors (e.g., embedded in a
seat, bumper, table top, etc.), motion detectors, image sensors,
signal detectors (e.g., RFID signal detectors), dealer and/or
player input devices, etc.
[0189] For example, in a specific embodiment, Player A may be
carrying his/her RFID-enabled player tracking card in his/her
pocket, and chose to occupy a seat at player station position 25 of
gaming table system 200. Gaming table system 200 may be operable to
automatically and passively detect the presence of Player A, for
example, by detecting an RFID signal transmitted from Player A's
player tracking card. Thus, in at least one implementation, such
player detection may be performed without requiring action on the
part of a player or dealer.
[0190] In at least one embodiment, the gaming table may be operable
to determine a position of Player A at the gaming table. Thus, for
example, in the present example, gaming table system 200 may be
operable to determine that Player A is occupying player station 25.
Such information may be subsequently used, for example, when
performing player rating operations associated with Player A.
[0191] According to different embodiments, the gaming table system
may be operable to automatically initiate or start a new player
rating session for a given player (e.g., Player A) based on the
detection (562) of one or more in events. For example, in one
embodiment, a player rating session for Player A may be
automatically started in response to detecting the presence of the
player at a given player station at the gaming table. In an
alternate embodiment, a player rating session for Player A may be
automatically started upon detecting that Player A has placed
his/her first wager (e.g., placed at least one gaming chip) within
the player's assigned wager placement area (e.g., within the gaming
chip placement circle 221c of FIG. 2).
[0192] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
conditions, events and/or some combination thereof may be used to
trigger the start or opening of a player rating session for a given
player. Such events may include, for example, but are not limited
to, one or more of the following: [0193] physical proximity of
player and/or player tracking device detected as satisfying
predetermined criteria; [0194] player tracking device detected
within specified zone of player station area; [0195] player
tracking device shown or handed to dealer and/or other casino
employee; [0196] appropriate player input detected (e.g., player
pushes button); [0197] appropriate dealer input detected; [0198]
specified time constraints detected as being satisfied (e.g., begin
player rating session at next round of play); [0199] gaming chip(s)
placed detected within player's assigned wagering region; [0200]
presence of player detected at player station; [0201] detection of
player's first wager being placed; [0202] player location or
position detected as satisfying predefined criteria; [0203]
appropriate floor supervisor input detected; [0204] player identity
determined (e.g., through the use of directional RFID; through
placement of player tracking media on a designated spot at a table
game; etc.); [0205] detection of continuous presence of player
tracking media for a predetermined amount of time; [0206] etc.
[0207] For example, in one embodiment wherein player tracking may
be implemented using an RFID-enabled player tracking card (or
RFID-enabled device), the player rating system may automatically
start a player rating for the player using the time, position
and/or card identifier information associated with the RFID-enabled
player tracking. In one embodiment, the player rating system may
determine the player's identity using the card identifier
information. In another embodiment, the player rating system may
determine the player's identity by requesting desired information
from a player management system. In one embodiment, once the rating
has been started, any (or selected) wager activities performed by
the player may be automatically tracked and associated with that
player's rating.
[0208] Assuming that the appropriate event or events have been
detected (562) for starting a player rating session for a given
player (e.g., Player A), a player rating session for Player A may
then be started or initiated (564). During the active player rating
session, player rating information relating to Player A may be
automatically tracked and/or generated by one or more components of
the gaming table system. According to a specific embodiment, once
the player tracking session has been started, all or selected wager
and/or game play activities detected as being associated with
Player A may be associated with the current player rating session
for Player A. According to specific embodiments, such player rating
information may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the
following types of information (and/or some combination thereof):
[0209] wager data; [0210] timestamp information; [0211] player
station position; [0212] player buy-in data; [0213] side wager
data; [0214] session start time; [0215] session end time; [0216]
information relating to gaming chips (e.g., types, amount, value,
etc.) detected as being within the player's personal player space
(e.g., within personal player space region 250, FIG. 2); [0217]
player movement information (e.g., a player moving from player
station at a gaming table to another player station at the gaming
table); [0218] rating information (e.g., one or more types of
ratings) for a player; [0219] player skill information; [0220] game
speed information; [0221] various types of player-tracking related
information; [0222] amounts wagered; [0223] time played; [0224]
game speed (e.g., wagers/hour); [0225] house advantage; [0226] walk
amount; [0227] actual wins/losses; [0228] theoretical wins/losses;
[0229] net session win/loss; [0230] winnings; [0231] buy-in
activity (e.g., using chips, cash, marker, vouchers, credits,
etc.); [0232] marker in activity; [0233] time spent at gaming
table; [0234] active gaming time spent at gaming table; [0235]
chips out activity; [0236] redemption activity (e.g., pay offs
using credits and/or markers, buying back of credits/markers);
[0237] comp. value information (e.g., a value or rating for a
player which may be used by the casino for awarding various
complimentary products, services, etc. for a given player and/or
for given time period); [0238] player ranking information (e.g.,
bronze, silver, gold); [0239] etc.
[0240] According to specific embodiments, the gaming table system
may be operable to detect (568) one or more events relating to the
suspension and/or ending of an active player rating session. For
example, in one embodiment, the gaming table system may
periodically check for events relating to the suspension and/or
ending of an active player rating session. Alternatively, a
separate or asynchronous process (e.g., an event detection
manager/component) may be utilized for detecting various events
such as, for example, those relating to the starting, suspending,
resuming, and/or ending of one or more player rating sessions at
the gaming table.
[0241] In at least one embodiment, if an event is detected for
suspending Player A's active player rating session, the current or
active player rating session for Player A may be suspended (570)
(e.g., temporarily suspended). In one embodiment, during a
suspended player rating session, no additional player rating
information is logged or tracked for that player.
[0242] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
events may be used to trigger the suspension of a player rating
session for a given player. Such events may include, for example,
but are not limited to, one or more of the following (and/or some
combination thereof): [0243] no detection of player at assigned
player station; [0244] no detection of player's player tracking
device within predetermined range; [0245] player input; [0246]
dealer input; [0247] other casino employee input (e.g., pit boss,
etc.) [0248] time based events; [0249] player detected as not being
within predetermined range; [0250] no player activity with
specified time period; [0251] player determined to be out of gaming
chips; [0252] etc.
[0253] For example, if a player inadvertently removes his/her
player tracking device from a designated location of the gaming
table for a brief period of time, and/or for a predetermined number
of rounds, and the player tracking device is subsequently returned
to its former location, the gaming table system may be operable to
merge consecutive periods of activity into the same player rating
session, including any rounds tracked while the player's player
tracking device was detected as being absent. In one embodiment, if
a player moves to a different player station at the gaming table,
the gaming table system may respond by switching or modifying the
player station identity associated with that player's player rating
session in order to begin tracking information associated with the
player's player rating session at the new player station.
[0254] In at least one embodiment, a suspended player rating
session may be resumed or ended, depending upon the detection of
one or more appropriate events. For example if an event is detected
(572) for resuming the suspended Player A player rating session,
the player rating session for Player A may be resumed (576) and/or
re-activated, whereupon player tracking information relating to
Player A may be automatically tracked and/or generated by one or
more components of the gaming table system.
[0255] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
events may be used to trigger the resuming of a player rating
session for a given player. Such events may include, for example,
but are not limited to, one or more of the following (and/or some
combination thereof): [0256] re-detection of player at assigned
player station; [0257] re-detection of player's player tracking
device within predetermined range; [0258] player input; [0259]
dealer input; [0260] other casino employee input (e.g., pit boss,
etc.) [0261] time based events; [0262] player detected as being
within predetermined range; [0263] player game play activity
detected; [0264] player wager activity detected; [0265] etc.
[0266] Alternatively, if an event is detected for ending (580) the
suspended Player A player rating session, the player rating session
for Player A may be ended (582) and/or automatically closed (584).
At that point the player tracking manager (e.g., 834) may have
(and/or may be able to automatically calculate) all desired player
wager information such as, for example, turnover, average wager,
theoretical value, comp value, etc.
[0267] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
events may be used to trigger the closing of a player rating
session for a given player. Such events may include, for example,
but are not limited to, one or more of the following (and/or some
combination thereof): [0268] no detection of player at assigned
player station; [0269] no detection of player's player tracking
device within predetermined range; [0270] player input; [0271]
dealer input; [0272] other casino employee input (e.g., pit boss,
etc.) [0273] time based events; [0274] player detected as not being
within predetermined range; [0275] no player activity with
specified time period; [0276] player determined to be out of gaming
chips; [0277] timeout exceeded; [0278] player detected at another
location in the casino; [0279] player tracking device detected at
another location in the casino; [0280] etc.
[0281] According to a specific embodiment, the closing of the
Player A player rating session may include determining a current
walk amount for Player A. For example, in one embodiment, the
gaming table system may include one or more components for
detecting gaming chips (e.g., belonging to a particular player)
within a predetermined region or zone at the gaming table which,
for example, may be defined as that player's personal space. For
example, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, player station
25 has associated therewith a personal space region 250. In at
least one embodiment, each player station at the gaming table may
have associated therewith its own unique personal player space
region. In one embodiment, a wager/gaming chip tracking system
(e.g., 836, FIG. 8) may be operable to automatically identify and
track the number and values of gaming chips which are located
within a player's personal space at the gaming table.
[0282] According to various embodiments, different mechanisms may
be used to identify and track the number and values of gaming chips
which are located within a player's personal space at the gaming
table. For example, in at least one embodiment, one or more video
cameras and intelligent image analysis software may be used to
identify and/or track at least a portion gaming chips which are
located within a player's personal space at the gaming table. In
some embodiments where at least a portion of the player's gaming
chips are RFID-enabled gaming chips, tracking of the movements
and/or locations of the gaming chips may be accomplished, for
example, using various types of RFID device tracking mechanisms
such as, for example, RFID device tracking mechanisms well known in
the art, and/or other types of RFID device tracking mechanisms such
as those disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/726,633 (ATTY DKT: IGT1P061.times.4), entitled Radio
Direction Finder for Gaming Chip and/or Player Tracking, by Mattice
et al., filed Mar. 21, 2007, the entirety of which is herein
incorporated by reference for all purposes.
[0283] In at least one embodiment, such gaming chip tracking
functionality allows the tracking of player gaming chips on the
table at all or desired times, and not just when a wager is made.
For example, it may be used to automatically determine the amount
and/or value of gaming chips which a player walked with, for
example, based on the removal of chips from the player's personal
space. It may also be used to automatically track player buy-in
information, for example, based on the adding of new chips to the
player's personal space and/or other criteria (e.g., chips awarded
to the player due to a win at the gaming table are not counted or
included). Accordingly, it will be appreciated that such
functionality may help eliminate delays in closing a player rating
session which traditionally have been associated with manual
processes.
Other Intelligent Gaming Table System Embodiments
[0284] FIG. 3 shows an alternate example of a specific embodiment
of an intelligent gaming table system 300. As illustrated in the
example of FIG. 3, a casino gaming table environment 300 is
displayed which includes intelligent gaming table 301, dealer 303,
and players (e.g., 305, 307). In this particular embodiment, the
intelligent gaming table 301 includes a plurality of electronic
displays (e.g., 312A-G, 310). In one embodiment, the plurality of
electronic displays may be implemented as separate physical
displays which have been mounted into (or onto) the body of a
conventional-type casino gaming table. In an alternate embodiment,
the entire top surface (or selected portions thereof) of the
intelligent gaming table may be implemented as a continuous
display, and the electronic displays (e.g., 312A-G, 310)
implemented as specific display regions within the continuous
display. Other embodiments of the intelligent gaming table of the
present invention may resemble conventional-type casino gaming
tables which do not include any electronic displays.
[0285] According to specific embodiments, the intelligent gaming
table 301 can be of a variety of common constructions. For example,
table 301 may include a table support trestle having legs which
contact an underlying floor to support the intelligent gaming table
thereon. The intelligent gaming table may have a table top and
perimeter pad which extends fully about a semicircular portion of
the table periphery. The straight, back portion of the periphery is
used by the dealer 303 and can be partly or wholly padded as may
vary with the particular table chosen.
[0286] A playing surface is provided upon the upwardly facing
surface of table top upon which participants of the card game play.
A plurality of players (e.g., 305) sit or stand along the
semicircular portion and play a desired card game, such as the
popular casino card game of blackjack. Other card games are
alternatively possible, although the system described herein is
specifically adapted for playing casino blackjack.
[0287] Although not shown in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent
gaming table 301 may also include a gaming chip rack which allows
the dealer to conveniently store gaming chips used by the dealer in
playing the game. A money drop slot may be further included to
allow the dealer to easily deposit paper money bills thereinto when
players purchase gaming chips.
[0288] Table 301 can support a system, or form a part of a system
for playing card games which is constructed according to specific
embodiments of the present invention.
[0289] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent
gaming table may include a table control console 320 for use by the
dealer and/or other casino employees. In one implementation, the
table control console may be used to facilitate and execute game
play operations, table configuration operations, player tracking
operations, maintenance and inspection operations, etc.
[0290] Further, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the
intelligent gaming table may include a which is adapted to display
images that depict the cards and card hands being played along with
additional information used in the play of the card game. For
example, as shown in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gaming
table 301 includes a plurality of electronic displays (e.g.,
312A-G, 310). In one embodiment, the plurality of electronic
displays may be implemented as separate physical displays which
have been mounted into (or onto) the body of a conventional-type
casino gaming table. In an alternate embodiment, the entire top
surface (or selected portions thereof) of the intelligent gaming
table may be implemented as a continuous display, and the
electronic displays (e.g., 312A-G, 310) implemented as specific
display regions within the continuous display. Other embodiments of
the intelligent gaming table of the present invention may resemble
conventional-type casino gaming tables which do not include any
electronic displays.
[0291] According to a specific embodiment, the presentation system
or display units may be supported upon the upper or playing surface
55 of the intelligent gaming table. This allows the system to be
easily installed upon a variety of differing intelligent gaming
tables without extensive modifications being performed.
Alternatively, the presentation system can otherwise be mounted
upon the intelligent gaming table in a manner which allows
participants to view one or more of the displays which form a part
of the presentation system.
[0292] According to a specific embodiment, the presentation system
may be adapted for use by a dealer 303 and multiple players (e.g.
305) who are in attendance and positioned about the intelligent
gaming table.
[0293] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent
gaming table may optionally include one or more speakers 321 which,
for example, may be used to provide various types of audio
information such as, for example: game related information (e.g.,
instructions to players and/or dealer, sound effects, etc.), casino
related announcements, gaming table status information, music,
attracts, promotions, bonus information, communication information
(e.g., for speakerphone or two-way radio communications), etc.
[0294] According to specific embodiments, the intelligent gaming
table may include a plurality of electronic displays (e.g.,
312A-G), herein termed player displays, which are capable of
displaying changeable display images. The player display images are
intended to display graphical representations of playing cards
(e.g., virtual playing cards) and/or other information used in the
play of the card game.
[0295] Additionally, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, the
intelligent gaming table may include one or more common displays
(e.g., Common Display 310) which may present information for the
exclusive use of the dealer and/or other information to be viewed
by the dealer, players, spectators, and/or other persons. Various
types of information which may be displayed at the common display
310 include, for example: dealer cards, ante information, common or
shared player cards, individual player cards, wager information,
etc. In one embodiment, the common display 310 may be used to:
[0296] reveal cards of selected players (when appropriate); [0297]
verify cards dealt to selected players; [0298] display the dealer's
cards; [0299] display game play instructions; [0300] display table
configuration information; [0301] display player tracking related
information; [0302] display player tracking session status
information; [0303] display error messages; [0304] display wagering
information; [0305] indicate which of the players is currently
playing (e.g., show active player); [0306] display active players'
actions (e.g., Hit, Hold, Double Down); [0307] display promotional
information; [0308] identify players waiting for an opening at the
table (e.g., next up); [0309] display community cards; [0310]
display bonus game; [0311] display progressive jackpots; [0312]
display multimedia information from external sources; [0313]
etc.
[0314] Player displays 312 may be arranged adjacent to each player
seating position. For example, player display 312D may be adapted
for use by player 305, and player display 312E may be adapted for
use by player 307.
[0315] In at least one embodiment, the intelligent gaming table
displays may include touchscreen functionality for facilitating
user interaction. For example, the player displays 312 may include
a touchscreen and/or other input mechanisms for allowing the player
to provide input relating to game play, preferences, wagering,
player tracking activity, etc.
[0316] In at least one implementation, the intelligent gaming table
may include one or more sensors (e.g., 311A-G) or other security
mechanisms which, for example, may be used for a variety of
purposes such as, for example, controlling the display of a
player's cards; preventing accidental exposure of player cards;
providing additional security features with respect to information
displayed on the player's display; etc.
[0317] For example, in one embodiment, a pressure sensor may be
provided to the control the display of a player's cards. In this
particular embodiment, a player may be required to apply pressure
on the pressure sensor in order to cause the player's cards to be
display. In one of limitation, a velocity pressure sensor may be
utilized to allow for more of the player's display information to
be displayed in response to an increase in pressure on the pressure
sensor, and to allow for less of the player's display information
to be displayed in response to a decrease in the pressure on the
pressure sensor.
[0318] In a different embodiment, a light sensor may be provided to
the control the display of a player's cards. For example, in one
implementation, the player's cards may be displayed in response to
the light sensor detecting a predefined decrease in the amount of
ambient light detected near the display such as, for example, in
the situation where the player cups his or her hands over their
player display.
[0319] In another embodiment, a heat sensor may be provided to the
control the display of a player's cards. For example, in one
implementation, the player's cards may be displayed in response to
the heat sensor detecting a predefined increase in the amount of
thermal heat detected near the display such as, for example, in the
situation where the player cups his or her hands over their player
display.
[0320] In another embodiment, a scrolling wheel or other mechanism
may be provided to the control the display of a player's cards. For
example, in one implementation, the player's cards may be gradually
displayed in response to the player rotating the scrolling wheel in
a first direction, and may be gradually hidden in response to the
player rotating the scrolling wheel in a second (e.g., opposite)
direction.
[0321] Other security mechanisms for controlling the display of
information on a player's display may include, for example: [0322]
biometric identification devices (e.g., fingerprint reader); [0323]
use of player tracking cards and/or player tracking profile
information; [0324] a "display cards" button; [0325] implementing a
time delay before showing cards after receiving input to display
cards; [0326] limiting viewing angle of player display so that only
the player in front of the display can view the display; [0327]
etc.
[0328] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent
gaming table 301 may include player wagering zones or gaming chip
placement zones (e.g., 302). In one embodiment, each player
wagering zone may include a gaming chip detection component which
may be adapted to automatically detect the presence and/or monetary
amount of gaming chips which have been placed within a player's
wagering zone. In at least one implementation, a player must
position a gaming chip within their respective wagering zone to be
considered a participant in the game being played.
[0329] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method and
apparatus for graphically representing and displaying casino game
play data (e.g., player cards, dealer cards, etc.), player tracking
related information, and/or other desired data on a mobile or
handheld display device.
[0330] In at least one implementation, a respective personal player
device (herein referred to as a PPD, e.g., 450 of FIG. 4) may be
provided to each player at the intelligent gaming table for
facilitating various activities such as, for example: game play
activities, player tracking activities and/or other activities
conducted at the intelligent gaming table or elsewhere.
Associations may be made between PPDs and players (and/or player
positions at the intelligent gaming table) such that each PPD is
uniquely associated with a respective player (and/or player
position) at the intelligent gaming table.
[0331] In one embodiment, the PPD may be implemented as a simple
player tracking card such as, for example, an RFID-enabled player
tracking card such as that illustrated in FIG. 6 of the
drawings.
[0332] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of the components of a
smart card 650 that may be used in the present invention. The RF
enabled smart card may be designed for wired or wireless use with a
gaming machine, gaming peripheral, gaming terminal, gaming table,
and/or use with tracking units situated in non-gaming sections of
the casino. In one embodiment, the smart card 650 may have the same
footprint as a magnetic striped card and may include a wired
input/output interface 651, a wireless input/output interface 652,
a processor 653, memory 655 and a battery 656 incorporated in some
manner on a card substrate 657. The battery 656 is used to supply
power to operate the devices on the smart card 650. In some
embodiments, when it is inserted into a smart card reader of some
type, power may also be supplied to the card by the smart card
reader.
[0333] The smart card 650 may include an operating system of some
type that is used to run applications on the smart card. In some
embodiments, the operating system for the smart card 650 may be
provided by Microsoft (Redmond, Wash.) or Sun Microsystems of Palo
Alto, Calif. The operating system may be used to manage the
execution of gaming applications on the smart card. The operating
system and gaming applications may incorporated into the processor
653 as firmware, stored in the memory 655 on the smart card or may
be implemented as a combination of firmware in the processor 653
and stored in the memory 655. The processor 653 may be a general
purpose microprocessor or a custom microcontroller incorporating
gaming specific firmware. The memory 655 may be flash memory.
[0334] The wired Input/output interface 651 may be an I/O EEPROM or
the like that allows the smart card 650 to communicate with a smart
card reader and/or other types of media readers. Further, the I/O
interface 651 may include one or more communication protocols that
allow the smart card 650 to communicate directly with gaming
machines, gaming peripherals, gaming terminal, gaming tables and/or
other gaming devices designed to communicate with the smart card.
Some communication protocols may be stored in the memory 655 of the
smart card 650. The communication protocols stored in the memory
655 may be added or deleted from the smart card 650 as needed.
[0335] According to a specific embodiment, the wireless
Input/output or Input interfaces may be provided by a wireless
smart card reader which permits the smart card 650 to communicate
with non-gaming activity player tracking units and/or the gaming
activity player tracking units such as those on a gaming machine,
gaming peripheral, gaming terminal, gaming table, etc. This
wireless I/O interface may include one or more wireless
communication protocols, such as the wireless communication
standard Bluetooth.TM. described above, that allow the smart card
650 to communicate with the corresponding wireless smart card
reader. Some communication protocols may be stored in the memory
655 of the smart card 650, and may be added or deleted from the
smart card 50 as needed.
[0336] In alternate embodiments, the PPD may correspond to a
player's PDA, cell phone, and/or other handheld computing device.
As explained in greater detail below, a PPD may be adapted to
perform a variety of functions such as, for example, one or more of
the following: [0337] allowing a player to select cards for
discard/holding; [0338] allowing a player to perform wagering
activities (e.g., increasing bets, checking bets, performing side
wagering/backbetting activities, etc.); [0339] initiating or
starting a player tracking session; [0340] suspending a player
tracking session; [0341] resuming a player tracking session; [0342]
merging data from one or more player tracking sessions; [0343]
ending a player tracking session; [0344] initiating, suspending or
ending a flat rate play session; [0345] retrieving and/or
displaying player tracking data; [0346] retrieving and/or
displaying player account data; [0347] displaying game play
assistance information; [0348] displaying casino layout
information; [0349] displaying promotional information; [0350]
displaying multimedia information from external sources such as TV
signals; [0351] notify a player of messages; [0352] displaying
player's current location; [0353] etc.
[0354] FIG. 7 shows a simplified block diagram of various
components which may be used for implementing a PPD device in
accordance with the specific embodiment of the present
invention.
[0355] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 7, PPD 700 may include
a variety of components, modules and/or systems for providing
functionality relating to one or more aspects of the present
invention. Other PPD embodiments of the present invention (not
shown) may include different or other components than those
illustrated in FIG. 7. For example, PPD 700 may include one or more
of the following: [0356] At least one processor or CPU (706). In at
least one implementation, the processor(s) 706 may include at least
some functionality similar to processor(s) 410 of FIG. 4. [0357]
Memory 716, which, for example, may include volatile memory (e.g.,
RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, EPROMs,
etc.), unalterable memory, and/or other types of memory. In at
least one implementation, the memory 716 may include at least some
functionality similar to memory 416 of FIG. 4. [0358] Interface(s)
718 which, for example, may include wired interfaces and/or
wireless interfaces. In at least one implementation, the
interface(s) 718 may include functionality similar to interface(s)
406 of FIG. 4. For example, in at least one implementation, the
wireless communication interface(s) may be configured or designed
to communicate with components of the intelligent gaming table
(such as, for example, PPD docking regions), remote servers,
electronic gaming machines, other wireless devices (e.g., PDAs,
other PPDs, cell phones, player tracking transponders, etc.). Such
wireless communication may be implemented using one or more
wireless interfaces/protocols such as, for example, 802.11 (WiFi),
802.15 (including Bluetooth.TM.), 802.16 (WiMax), 802.22, Cellular
standards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency (e.g.,
RFID), Infrared, Near Field Magnetics, etc. [0359] At least one
power source 704. In at least one implementation, the power source
may include at least one mobile power source for allowing the PPD
to operate in a mobile environment. For example, in one
implementation, the battery 704 may be implemented using a
rechargeable, thin-film type battery. Further, in embodiments where
it is desirable for the PPD to be flexible, the battery 704 may be
designed to be flexible. [0360] One or more display(s) 708.
According to various embodiments, such display(s) may be
implemented using, for example, LCD display technology, OLED
display technology, and/or other types of conventional display
technology. In at least one implementation, display(s) 708 may be
adapted to be flexible or bendable. Additionally, in at least one
embodiment the information displayed on display(s) 708 may utilize
e-ink technology (such as that available from E Ink Corporation,
Cambridge, Mass., www.eink.com), or other suitable technology for
reducing the power consumption of information displayed on the
display(s) 708. [0361] One or more user I/O Device(s) such as, for
example, touch keys/buttons 712, scroll wheels, cursors,
touchscreen sensors 710, etc. [0362] One or more status indicators
702. For example, in one implementation, one or more colored status
indicators (such as, for example, LEDs) may be included on the back
portion of a PPD (e.g., the side opposite the display 708), and
adapted to provide various information such as, for example:
communication status; game play status; player tracking session
status; flat rate play session status; bonus status; PPD health
status; PPD operating mode; battery power status; battery charging
status; status of cards being dealt; "ok to pickup PPD" status;
error detection status; team status; out of range status; etc.
[0363] At least one motion detection component 714 for detecting
motion or movement of the PPD and/or for detecting motion,
movement, gestures and/or other input data from user.
[0364] Although not illustrated in FIG. 7, other PPD embodiments of
the present invention may include fewer or additional components,
modules and/or systems such as, for example: [0365] Device
driver(s) which, for example, may include at least some
functionality similar to device driver(s) 242 of FIG. 2. [0366]
Authentication/validation components which, for example, may be
used for authenticating and/or validating local hardware and/or
software components and/or hardware/software components residing at
a remote device. In at least one implementation, the
authentication/validation component(s) may include functionality
similar to authentication/validation component(s) 244 of FIG. 2.
[0367] Geolocation module which, for example, may be configured or
designed to acquire geolocation information from remote sources and
use the acquired geolocation information to determine information
relating to a relative and/or absolute position of the PPD. For
example, in one implementation, the geolocation module may be
adapted to receive GPS signal information for use in determining
the position or location of the PPD. In another implementation, the
geolocation module may be adapted to receive multiple wireless
signals from multiple remote devices (e.g., gaming machines,
servers, wireless access points, etc.) and use the signal
information to compute position/location information relating to
the position or location of the PPD. [0368] User Identification
module. In one implementation, the User Identification module may
be adapted to determine the identity of the current user or owner
of the PPD. For example, in one embodiment, the current user may be
required to perform a log in process at the PPD in order to access
one or more features. Alternatively, the PPD may be adapted to
automatically determine the identity of the current user based upon
one or more external signals such as, for example, an RFID tag or
badge worn by the current user which provides a wireless signal to
the PPD for determining the identity of the current user. In at
least one implementation, various security features may be
incorporated into the PPD to prevent unauthorized users from
accessing confidential or sensitive information. [0369] Information
filtering module(s) which, for example, may be adapted to
automatically and dynamically generate, using one or more filter
parameters, filtered information to be displayed on the PPD
display(s). In one implementation, such filter parameters may be
customizable by the player or PPD user. [0370] Speakers or other
audio output components. [0371] Media presentation modules such as,
for example, components for displaying audio/visual media. [0372]
Etc.
[0373] For example, in one implementation, a PPD may be adapted to
communicate with a remote server to access player account data, for
example, to know how much funds are available to the player for
wagering.
[0374] In at least one implementation, the PPD may also include
other functionality such as that provided by PDAs, cell phones, or
other mobile computing devices. Further, in at least one
implementation, the PPD may be adapted to automatically and/or
dynamically change its functionality depending on various
conditions such as, for example: type of game being played; user
input; current location or position; detection of local electronic
gaming tables/devices; etc.
[0375] In at least one embodiment, a PPD may be implemented using
conventional mobile electronic devices (e.g., PDAs, cell phones,
etc.) which have been specifically adapted to implement at least a
portion of the PPD functionalities described herein.
[0376] In one embodiment, the intelligent gaming table may adapted
to electronically "deal" cards to each of the players at the
intelligent gaming table, and to store information relating to each
player's hand on each player's corresponding PPD. In at least one
implementation, a player is able to view the cards of his or her
hand on a display of that player's PPD.
[0377] According to a specific embodiment, the PPD may also be
adapted to implement at least a portion of the features associated
with other mobile devices such as those described, for example, in
one or more of the following references, each of which being
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes:
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/472,585 (Attorney Docket No.
IGT1P231) entitled "MOBILE DEVICE FOR PROVIDING FILTERED CASINO
INFORMATION BASED ON REAL TIME DATA"; U.S. patent application
Serial No. 30/062,002 (Attorney Docket No. IGT1P341/P-481) for
"GAMING SYSTEM AND GAMING METHOD."
[0378] Returning to the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gaming
table 301 may include a plurality of PPD docking regions (e.g.,
304). In one implementation, a separate PPD docking region is
provided at each player station at the intelligent gaming table.
According to various embodiments, a PPD docking region may include
appropriate hardware and/or software for implementing a variety of
functions or features such as, for example: [0379] performing PPD
detection, authentication, and/or identification; [0380] providing
wired or wireless communication with selected PPDs; [0381]
providing uni-directional or bi-directional communication with
selected PPDs; [0382] providing power and/or battery charging
capabilities to selected PPDs; [0383] reconfiguring PPDs; [0384]
updating PPD software; [0385] downloading new games; [0386] reading
player selections; [0387] generating player tracking related
information; [0388] etc.
[0389] In at least one embodiment, the PPD docking regions may be
part of a casino gaming network which, for example, may include one
or more of: intelligent gaming table systems, electronic gaming
machines, game servers, player tracking servers, casino accounting
servers, and/or other component(s) with which communication may be
desired. The PPD docking regions may also be adapted to provide at
least one communication interface for allowing selected PPDs to
communicate with desired components/systems of the casino gaming
network.
[0390] In at least one embodiment, the PPDs and/or PPD docking
regions may include one or more communication interfaces for
facilitating communication with each other. Such communication
interfaces may have a variety of architectures and utilize a
variety of protocols such as, for example, USB, IEEE-1394
(FireWire.TM.), Ethernet, etc. (e.g., in cases where the
communication link is a wired link), or one or more wireless links
utilizing one or more wireless protocols such as, for example:
802.11 (WiFi), 802.15 (including Bluetooth.TM.), 802.16 (WiMax),
802.22, Cellular standards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio
Frequency (e.g., RFID), Infrared, Near Field Magnetic communication
protocols, etc. The communication links may transmit electrical,
electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams
or analog signals representing various types of information.
[0391] It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, various
combinations of PPDs and player displays may be used. For example,
in some embodiments of the intelligent gaming tables of the present
invention, all playing card related activity may be implemented
using PPDs. In at least some of these embodiments, the player
displays (e.g., 312A-G) may be used to display desired information
to the player (e.g., other than the player's cards) such as, player
tracking information, player tracking session status information;
wagering information, game rules, side wagering
activities/information, other game play activities/information
(e.g., keno, sports book wagering, etc.), etc. In other embodiments
of the intelligent gaming table, the player displays (e.g., 312A-G)
may be omitted.
[0392] In at least one implementation, a dealer at a intelligent
gaming table may have access to multiple PPDs which have not been
yet been activated or registered to a particular player. When a new
player desires to participate in the game being played at the
intelligent gaming table, the dealer may select a PPD for
activation, activate the PPD for game play and/or player tracking
functionality, and hand the activated PPD over to the new
player.
[0393] A variety of different security-related features may be
implemented at the intelligent gaming table in order, for example,
to address various issues such as player cheating, PPD tampering,
unwanted or accidental viewing of player's cards, unauthorized use
of player tracking or account data, etc.
[0394] For example, in at least one implementation, a PPD must
first be activated and/or undergo a registration process before
being allowed to be used for game play at the intelligent gaming
table.
[0395] In one embodiment, a player may possess his or her own PPD
which has been registered for that player's exclusive use. For
example, the PPD may be registered and linked to the player's
player tracking account. In at least one implementation, the player
may carry his PPD with him and use his PPD for game play at any
authorized intelligent gaming table. In one implementation, before
a player-owned PPD is enabled for use at the intelligent gaming
table, a security check may be performed to authenticate and/or
validate the PPD before authorizing it for use at the intelligent
gaming table, in order to help ensure that the PPD has not been
modified or tampered.
[0396] According to different embodiments, a PPD may also be linked
to a specific PPD docking region (e.g., 304) which is associated
with a specific player station (e.g., 350) at the intelligent
gaming table. For example, in one implementation, before game play
begins, a player at player station 350 may be required to place his
or her PPD within that station's PPD docking region 304. In an
alternate embodiment, one or more sensors or components at the
player station may automatically detect the presence of a PPD
within a predetermined range or distance (e.g., within region 350).
For example, if a player with a PPD in her pocket sits down at seat
305 of player station 350, the intelligent gaming table may
automatically detect the presence of the PPD and associate it's
location with player station 350.
[0397] According to a specific embodiment, once the game play
begins, a pairing mechanism may be established between the player's
PPD and PPD docking region 304. In one implementation, such pairing
mechanism may result in the PPD being unable to communicate with
any other PPD docking region at the intelligent gaming table during
the game play (e.g., until the current round of game play has
ended), and may also result in the PPD docking region 304 being
unable to communicate with any other PPD during the game play. Such
pairing mechanisms may help prevent other players (and/or persons
near the intelligent gaming table) from being able to gain access
to unauthorized game play data (such as, for example, cards dealt
to other players at the intelligent gaming table).
[0398] Another security measure which may be implemented relates to
a PPD function control mechanism which may be adapted to prevent a
PPD from performing certain functions and/or from displaying
selected information based on the occurrence of various
conditions.
[0399] For example, in one implementation, the PPD may be adapted
to allow for the display of the player's cards only when the PPD is
within an allowable "PPD display zone" such as, for example, a
predetermined distance (e.g., within 5 feet) from the intelligent
gaming table and/or associated PPD docking region. If the PPD is
moved to a location outside of the allowable display zone, the PPD
display may be cleared and/or disabled. In another embodiment, an
active player tracking session for a player at the gaming table may
be suspended in response to detecting that the player's PPD is not
within a predetermined range from the gaming table and/or
associated PPD docking region.
[0400] According to a specific embodiment, one mechanism for
implementing such security features is via the use of near-field
magnetic communication technology. For example, in one
implementation, at least one communication channel between a PPD
and its associated PPD docking station may be implemented using a
near-field communication protocol which has been adapted to allow a
bi-directional communication between the PPD and the PPD docking
station within a range of up to 5 feet. The PPD may be adapted to
require that this communication channel remain active in order to
continue the active player tracking session for that player (and/or
to perform other specified functions). When the PPD is moved to a
location more than 5 feet from the PPD docking station, the
near-field communication channel will go down, and in response, the
PPD may be adapted implement one or more appropriate responses such
as, for example, suspending or ending the active player tracking
session. When the PPD is moved to a location within 5 feet from the
PPD docking station, the near-field communication channel may be
re-established, and in response, the PPD may be adapted to
implement one or more other appropriate responses such as, for
example, resuming a suspended player tracking session, merging data
from one or more player tracking sessions, initiating a new player
tracking session, etc.
[0401] An example of a near-field communication protocol is the
ECMA-340 "Near Field Communication--Interface and Protocol
(NFCIP-1)", published by ECMA International
(www.ecma-international.org), herein incorporated by reference in
its entirety for all purposes. It will be appreciated that other
types of Near Field Communication protocols may be used including,
for example, near field magnetic communication protocols, near
field RF communication protocols, and/or other wireless protocols
which provide the ability to control with relative precision (e.g.,
on the order of centimeters, inches, feet, meters, etc.) the
allowable radius of communication between at least 4 devices using
such wireless communication protocols.
[0402] It will be appreciated that intelligent gaming table 301 is
but one example from a wide range of intelligent gaming table
designs on which the present invention may be implemented. For
example, not all suitable intelligent gaming tables have electronic
displays or player tracking features. Further, some intelligent
gaming tables may include a single display, while others may
include multiple displays. Other intelligent gaming tables may not
include any displays. As another example, a game may be generated
on a host computer and may be displayed on a remote terminal or a
remote gaming device. The remote gaming device may be connected to
the host computer via a network of some type such as a local area
network, a wide area network, an intranet or the Internet. The
remote gaming device may be a portable gaming device such as but
not limited to a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and a
wireless game player. Images rendered from gaming environments may
be displayed on portable gaming devices that are used to facilitate
game play activities at the intelligent gaming table. Further an
intelligent gaming table or server may include gaming logic for
commanding a remote gaming device to render an image from a virtual
camera in 2-D or 3-D gaming environments stored on the remote
gaming device and to display the rendered image on a display
located on the remote gaming device. Thus, those of skill in the
art will understand that the present invention, as described below,
can be deployed on most any intelligent gaming table now available
or hereafter developed.
[0403] Some preferred intelligent gaming tables of the present
assignee are implemented with special features and/or additional
circuitry that differentiates them from general-purpose computers
(e.g., desktop PC's and laptops). Intelligent gaming tables are
highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in some cases, intelligent
gaming tables may be operable to dispense monetary awards.
Therefore, to satisfy security and regulatory requirements in a
gaming environment, hardware and software architectures may be
implemented in intelligent gaming tables that differ significantly
from those of general-purpose computers. A description of
intelligent gaming tables relative to general-purpose computing
machines and some examples of the additional (or different)
components and features found in intelligent gaming tables are
described below.
[0404] At first glance, one might think that adapting PC
technologies to the gaming industry would be a simple proposition
because both PCs and intelligent gaming tables employ
microprocessors that control a variety of devices. However, because
of such reasons as 1) the regulatory requirements that are placed
upon intelligent gaming tables, 2) the harsh environment in which
intelligent gaming tables operate, 3) security requirements and 4)
fault tolerance requirements, adapting PC technologies to an
intelligent gaming table can be quite difficult. Further,
techniques and methods for solving a problem in the PC industry,
such as device compatibility and connectivity issues, might not be
adequate in the gaming environment. For instance, a fault or a
weakness tolerated in a PC, such as security holes in software or
frequent crashes, may not be tolerated in an intelligent gaming
table because in an intelligent gaming table these faults can lead
to a direct loss of funds from the intelligent gaming table, such
as stolen cash or loss of revenue when the intelligent gaming table
is not operating properly.
[0405] For the purposes of illustration, a few differences between
PC systems and gaming systems will be described. A first difference
between intelligent gaming tables and common PC based computers
systems is that some intelligent gaming tables may be designed to
be state-based systems. In a state-based system, the system stores
and maintains its current state in a non-volatile memory, such
that, in the event of a power failure or other malfunction the
intelligent gaming table will return to its current state when the
power is restored. For instance, if a player was shown an award for
a table game and, before the award could be provided to the player
the power failed, the intelligent gaming table, upon the
restoration of power, would return to the state where the award is
indicated. As anyone who has used a PC, knows, PCs are not state
machines and a majority of data is usually lost when a malfunction
occurs. This requirement affects the software and hardware design
on an intelligent gaming table.
[0406] A second important difference between intelligent gaming
tables and common PC based computer systems is that for regulation
purposes, various software which the intelligent gaming table uses
to generate table game play activities (such as, for example, the
electronic shuffling and dealing of cards) may be designed to be
static and monolithic to prevent cheating by the operator of
intelligent gaming table. For instance, one solution that has been
employed in the gaming industry to prevent cheating and satisfy
regulatory requirements has been to manufacture an intelligent
gaming table that can use a proprietary processor running
instructions to generate the game play activities from an EPROM or
other form of non-volatile memory. The coding instructions on the
EPROM are static (non-changeable) and must be approved by a gaming
regulators in a particular jurisdiction and installed in the
presence of a person representing the gaming jurisdiction. Any
changes to any part of the software required to generate the game
play activities, such as adding a new device driver used by the
master table controller to operate a device during generation of
the game play activities can require a new EPROM to be burnt,
approved by the gaming jurisdiction and reinstalled on the
intelligent gaming table in the presence of a gaming regulator.
Regardless of whether the EPROM solution is used, to gain approval
in most gaming jurisdictions, an intelligent gaming table must
demonstrate sufficient safeguards that prevent an operator or
player of an intelligent gaming table from manipulating hardware
and software in a manner that gives them an unfair and some cases
an illegal advantage. The intelligent gaming table should have a
means to determine if the code it will execute is valid. If the
code is not valid, the intelligent gaming table must have a means
to prevent the code from being executed. The code validation
requirements in the gaming industry affect both hardware and
software designs on intelligent gaming tables.
[0407] A third important difference between intelligent gaming
tables and common PC based computer systems is the number and kinds
of peripheral devices used on an intelligent gaming table are not
as great as on PC based computer systems. Traditionally, in the
gaming industry, intelligent gaming tables have been relatively
simple in the sense that the number of peripheral devices and the
number of functions the intelligent gaming table has been limited.
Further, in operation, the functionality of intelligent gaming
tables were relatively constant once the intelligent gaming table
was deployed, i.e., new peripherals devices and new gaming software
were infrequently added to the intelligent gaming table. This
differs from a PC where users will go out and buy different
combinations of devices and software from different manufacturers
and connect them to a PC to suit their needs depending on a desired
application. Therefore, the types of devices connected to a PC may
vary greatly from user to user depending in their individual
requirements and may vary significantly over time.
[0408] Although the variety of devices available for a PC may be
greater than on an intelligent gaming table, intelligent gaming
tables still have unique device requirements that differ from a PC,
such as device security requirements not usually addressed by PCs.
For instance, monetary devices, such as coin dispensers, bill
validators and ticket printers and computing devices that are used
to govern the input and output of cash to an intelligent gaming
table have security requirements that are not typically addressed
in PCs. Therefore, many PC techniques and methods developed to
facilitate device connectivity and device compatibility do not
address the emphasis placed on security in the gaming industry.
[0409] To address some of the issues described above, a number of
hardware/software components and architectures are utilized in
intelligent gaming tables that are not typically found in general
purpose computing devices, such as PCs. These hardware/software
components and architectures, as described below in more detail,
include but are not limited to watchdog timers, voltage monitoring
systems, state-based software architecture and supporting hardware,
specialized communication interfaces, security monitoring and
trusted memory.
[0410] For example, a watchdog timer may be used in International
Game Technology (IGT) intelligent gaming tables to provide a
software failure detection mechanism. In a normally operating
system, the operating software periodically accesses control
registers in the watchdog timer subsystem to "re-trigger" the
watchdog. Should the operating software fail to access the control
registers within a preset timeframe, the watchdog timer will
timeout and generate a system reset. Typical watchdog timer
circuits include a loadable timeout counter register to allow the
operating software to set the timeout interval within a certain
range of time. A differentiating feature of the some preferred
circuits is that the operating software cannot completely disable
the function of the watchdog timer. In other words, the watchdog
timer always functions from the time power is applied to the
board.
[0411] IGT gaming computer platforms preferably use several power
supply voltages to operate portions of the computer circuitry.
These can be generated in a central power supply or locally on the
computer board. If any of these voltages falls out of the tolerance
limits of the circuitry they power, unpredictable operation of the
computer may result. Though most modem general-purpose computers
include voltage monitoring circuitry, these types of circuits only
report voltage status to the operating software. Out of tolerance
voltages can cause software malfunction, creating a potential
uncontrolled condition in the gaming computer. Intelligent gaming
tables of the present assignee typically have power supplies with
tighter voltage margins than that required by the operating
circuitry. In addition, the voltage monitoring circuitry
implemented in IGT gaming computers typically has two thresholds of
control. The first threshold generates a software event that can be
detected by the operating software and an error condition
generated. This threshold is triggered when a power supply voltage
falls out of the tolerance range of the power supply, but is still
within the operating range of the circuitry. The second threshold
is set when a power supply voltage falls out of the operating
tolerance of the circuitry. In this case, the circuitry generates a
reset, halting operation of the computer.
[0412] One method of operation for IGT slot machine game software
is to use a state machine. Different functions of the game (bet,
play, result, points in the graphical presentation, etc.) may be
defined as a state. When a game moves from one state to another,
critical data regarding the game software is stored in a custom
non-volatile memory subsystem. This is critical to ensure the
player's wager and credits are preserved and to minimize potential
disputes in the event of a malfunction on the gaming machine.
[0413] In general, the gaming machine does not advance from a first
state to a second state until critical information that allows the
first state to be reconstructed has been stored. This feature
allows the game to recover operation to the current state of play
in the event of a malfunction, loss of power, etc that occurred
just prior to the malfunction. In at least one embodiment, the
gaming machine is configured or designed to store such critical
information using atomic transactions.
[0414] Generally, an atomic operation in computer science refers to
a set of operations that can be combined so that they appear to the
rest of the system to be a single operation with only two possible
outcomes: success or failure. As related to data storage, an atomic
transaction may be characterized as series of database operations
which either all occur, or all do not occur. A guarantee of
atomicity prevents updates to the database occurring only
partially, which can result in data corruption.
[0415] In order to ensure the success of atomic transactions
relating to critical information to be stored in the gaming machine
memory before a failure event (e.g., malfunction, loss of power,
etc.), it is preferable that memory be used which includes one or
more of the following criteria: direct memory access capability;
data read/write capability which meets or exceeds minimum
read/write access characteristics (such as, for example, at least
5.08 Mbytes/sec (Read) and/or at least 38.0 Mbytes/sec (Write)).
Devices which meet or exceed the above criteria may be referred to
as "fault-tolerant" memory devices, whereas it is which the above
criteria may be referred to as "fault non-tolerant" memory
devices.
[0416] Typically, battery backed RAM devices may be configured or
designed to function as fault-tolerant devices according to the
above criteria, whereas flash RAM and/or disk drive memory are
typically not configurable to function as fault-tolerant devices
according to the above criteria. Accordingly, battery backed RAM
devices are typically used to preserve gaming machine critical
data, although other types of non-volatile memory devices may be
employed. These memory devices are typically not used in typical
general-purpose computers.
[0417] Thus, in at least one embodiment, the gaming machine is
configured or designed to store critical information in
fault-tolerant memory (e.g., battery backed RAM devices) using
atomic transactions. Further, in at least one embodiment, the
fault-tolerant memory is able to successfully complete all desired
atomic transactions (e.g., relating to the storage of gaming
machine critical information) within a time period of 200
milliseconds (ms) or less. In at least one embodiment, the time
period of 200 ms represents a maximum amount of time for which
sufficient power may be available to the various gaming machine
components after a power outage event has occurred at the gaming
machine.
[0418] As described previously, the gaming machine may not advance
from a first state to a second state until critical information
that allows the first state to be reconstructed has been atomically
stored. This feature allows the game to recover operation to the
current state of play in the event of a malfunction, loss of power,
etc that occurred just prior to the malfunction. After the state of
the gaming machine is restored during the play of a game of chance,
game play may resume and the game may be completed in a manner that
is no different than if the malfunction had not occurred. Thus, for
example, when a malfunction occurs during a game of chance, the
gaming machine may be restored to a state in the game of chance
just prior to when the malfunction occurred. The restored state may
include metering information and graphical information that was
displayed on the gaming machine in the state prior to the
malfunction. For example, when the malfunction occurs during the
play of a card game after the cards have been dealt, the gaming
machine may be restored with the cards that were previously
displayed as part of the card game. As another example, a bonus
game may be triggered during the play of a game of chance where a
player is required to make a number of selections on a video
display screen. When a malfunction has occurred after the player
has made one or more selections, the gaming machine may be restored
to a state that shows the graphical presentation at the just prior
to the malfunction including an indication of selections that have
already been made by the player. In general, the gaming machine may
be restored to any state in a plurality of states that occur in the
game of chance that occurs while the game of chance is played or to
states that occur between the play of a game of chance.
[0419] Game history information regarding previous games played
such as an amount wagered, the outcome of the game and so forth may
also be stored in a non-volatile memory device. The information
stored in the non-volatile memory may be detailed enough to
reconstruct a portion of the graphical presentation that was
previously presented on the intelligent gaming table and the state
of the intelligent gaming table (e.g., credits) at the time the
table game was played. The game history information may be utilized
in the event of a dispute. For example, a player may decide that in
a previous table game that they did not receive credit for an award
that they believed they won. The game history information may be
used to reconstruct the state of the intelligent gaming table
prior, during and/or after the disputed game to demonstrate whether
the player was correct or not in their assertion. Further details
of a state based gaming system, recovery from malfunctions and game
history are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,763, titled "High
Performance Battery Backed RAM Interface", U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,608,
titled "Frame Capture of Actual Game Play," U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/243,104, titled, "Dynamic NV-RAM," and U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/758,828, titled, "Frame Capture of Actual Game Play," each
of which is incorporated by reference and for all purposes.
[0420] Another feature of intelligent gaming tables, such as IGT
gaming computers, is that they often include unique interfaces,
including serial interfaces, to connect to specific subsystems
internal and external to the intelligent gaming table. The serial
devices may have electrical interface requirements that differ from
the "standard" EIA 232 serial interfaces provided by
general-purpose computers. These interfaces may include EIA 485,
EIA 422, Fiber Optic Serial, optically coupled serial interfaces,
current loop style serial interfaces, etc. In addition, to conserve
serial interfaces internally in the intelligent gaming table,
serial devices may be connected in a shared, daisy-chain fashion
where multiple peripheral devices are connected to a single serial
channel.
[0421] The serial interfaces may be used to transmit information
using communication protocols that are unique to the gaming
industry. For example, IGT's Netplex is a proprietary communication
protocol used for serial communication between gaming devices. As
another example, SAS is a communication protocol used to transmit
information, such as metering information, from an intelligent
gaming table to a remote device. Often SAS is used in conjunction
with a player tracking system.
[0422] IGT intelligent gaming tables may alternatively be treated
as peripheral devices to a casino communication controller and
connected in a shared daisy chain fashion to a single serial
interface. In both cases, the peripheral devices are preferably
assigned device addresses. If so, the serial controller circuitry
must implement a method to generate or detect unique device
addresses. General-purpose computer serial ports are not able to do
this.
[0423] Security monitoring circuits detect intrusion into an IGT
intelligent gaming table by monitoring security switches attached
to access doors in the intelligent gaming table cabinet.
Preferably, access violations result in suspension of game play and
can trigger additional security operations to preserve the current
state of game play. These circuits also function when power is off
by use of a battery backup. In power-off operation, these circuits
continue to monitor the access doors of the intelligent gaming
table. When power is restored, the intelligent gaming table can
determine whether any security violations occurred while power was
off, e.g., via software for reading status registers. This can
trigger event log entries and further data authentication
operations by the intelligent gaming table software.
[0424] Trusted memory devices and/or trusted memory sources are
preferably included in an IGT intelligent gaming table computer to
ensure the authenticity of the software that may be stored on less
secure memory subsystems, such as mass storage devices. Trusted
memory devices and controlling circuitry are typically designed to
not allow modification of the code and data stored in the memory
device while the memory device is installed in the intelligent
gaming table. The code and data stored in these devices may include
authentication algorithms, random number generators, authentication
keys, operating system kernels, etc. The purpose of these trusted
memory devices is to provide gaming regulatory authorities a root
trusted authority within the computing environment of the
intelligent gaming table that can be tracked and verified as
original. This may be accomplished via removal of the trusted
memory device from the intelligent gaming table computer and
verification of the secure memory device contents is a separate
third party verification device. Once the trusted memory device is
verified as authentic, and based on the approval of the
verification algorithms included in the trusted device, the
intelligent gaming table is allowed to verify the authenticity of
additional code and data that may be located in the gaming computer
assembly, such as code and data stored on hard disk drives. A few
details related to trusted memory devices that may be used in the
present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,567, filed
Aug. 8, 2001 and titled "Process Verification," and U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/221,314, filed Sep. 6, 2005, each of which
is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all
purposes.
[0425] In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the
trusted memory devices/sources may correspond to memory which
cannot easily be altered (e.g., "unalterable memory") such as, for
example, EPROMS, PROMS, Bios, Extended Bios, and/or other memory
sources which are able to be configured, verified, and/or
authenticated (e.g., for authenticity) in a secure and controlled
manner.
[0426] According to a specific implementation, when a trusted
information source is in communication with a remote device via a
network, the remote device may employ a verification scheme to
verify the identity of the trusted information source. For example,
the trusted information source and the remote device may exchange
information using public and private encryption keys to verify each
other's identities. In another embodiment of the present invention,
the remote device and the trusted information source may engage in
methods using zero knowledge proofs to authenticate each of their
respective identities. Details of zero knowledge proofs that may be
used with the present invention are described in US publication no.
2003/0203756, by Jackson, filed on Apr. 25, 2002 and entitled,
"Authentication in a Secure Computerized Gaming System", which is
incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
[0427] Gaming devices storing trusted information may utilize
apparatus or methods to detect and prevent tampering. For instance,
trusted information stored in a trusted memory device may be
encrypted to prevent its misuse. In addition, the trusted memory
device may be secured behind a locked door. Further, one or more
sensors may be coupled to the memory device to detect tampering
with the memory device and provide some record of the tampering. In
yet another example, the memory device storing trusted information
might be designed to detect tampering attempts and clear or erase
itself when an attempt at tampering has been detected.
[0428] Additional details relating to trusted memory
devices/sources are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/078,966, entitled "SECURED VIRTUAL NETWORK IN A GAMING
ENVIRONMENT", naming Nguyen et al. as inventors, filed on Mar. 10,
2005, herein incorporated in its entirety and for all purposes.
[0429] Mass storage devices used in a general purpose computer
typically allow code and data to be read from and written to the
mass storage device. In an intelligent gaming table environment,
modification of the gaming code stored on a mass storage device is
strictly controlled and would only be allowed under specific
maintenance type events with electronic and physical enablers
required. Though this level of security could be provided by
software, IGT gaming computers that include mass storage devices
preferably include hardware level mass storage data protection
circuitry that operates at the circuit level to monitor attempts to
modify data on the mass storage device and will generate both
software and hardware error triggers should a data modification be
attempted without the proper electronic and physical enablers being
present. Details using a mass storage device that may be used with
the present invention are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.
6,149,522, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
[0430] FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary
intelligent gaming table system 400 in accordance with a specific
embodiment. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 4, intelligent
gaming table system 400 includes at least one processor 410, at
least one interface 406, and memory 416.
[0431] In one implementation, processor 410 and master table
controller 412 are included in a logic device 413 enclosed in a
logic device housing. The processor 410 may include any
conventional processor or logic device configured to execute
software allowing various configuration and reconfiguration tasks
such as, for example: a) communicating with a remote source via
communication interface 406, such as a server that stores
authentication information or games; b) converting signals read by
an interface to a format corresponding to that used by software or
memory in the intelligent gaming table; c) accessing memory to
configure or reconfigure game parameters in the memory according to
indicia read from the device; d) communicating with interfaces,
various peripheral devices 422 and/or I/O devices; e) operating
peripheral devices 422 such as, for example, card readers, paper
ticket readers, etc.; f) operating various I/O devices such as, for
example, displays 435, input devices 430; etc. For instance, the
processor 410 may send messages including game play information to
the displays 435 to inform players of cards dealt, wagering
information, and/or other desired information.
[0432] Peripheral devices 422 may include several device interfaces
such as, for example: transponders 454, wire/wireless power supply
devices, PPD docking components, player tracking devices, card
readers, bill validator/paper ticket readers, etc. Such devices may
each comprise resources for handling and processing configuration
indicia such as a microcontroller that converts voltage levels for
one or more scanning devices to signals provided to processor 410.
In one embodiment, application software for interfacing with
peripheral devices 422 may store instructions (such as, for
example, how to read indicia from a portable device) in a memory
device such as, for example, non-volatile memory, hard drive or a
flash memory.
[0433] In at least one implementation, the intelligent gaming table
may include card readers such as used with credit cards, or other
identification code reading devices to allow or require player
identification in connection with play of the card game and
associated recording of game action. Such a user identification
interface can be implemented in the form of a variety of magnetic
card readers commercially available for reading a user-specific
identification information. The user-specific information can be
provided on specially constructed magnetic cards issued by a
casino, or magnetically coded credit cards or debit cards
frequently used with national credit organizations such as VISA,
MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, or banks and other institutions.
[0434] The intelligent gaming table may include other types of
participant identification mechanisms which may use a fingerprint
image, eye blood vessel image reader, or other suitable biological
information to confirm identity of the user. Still further it is
possible to provide such participant identification information by
having the dealer manually code in the information in response to
the player indicating his or her code name or real name. Such
additional identification could also be used to confirm credit use
of a smart card, transponder, and/or player's PPD.
[0435] The intelligent gaming table system 400 also includes memory
416 which may include, for example, volatile memory (e.g., RAM
409), non-volatile memory 419 (e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory,
EPROMs, etc.), unalterable memory (e.g., EPROMs 408), etc. The
memory may be configured or designed to store, for example: 1)
configuration software 414 such as all the parameters and settings
for a game playable on the intelligent gaming table; 2)
associations 418 between configuration indicia read from a device
with one or more parameters and settings; 3) communication
protocols allowing the processor 410 to communicate with peripheral
devices 422 and I/O devices 411; 4) a secondary memory storage
device 415 such as a non-volatile memory device, configured to
store gaming software related information (the gaming software
related information and memory may be used to store various audio
files and games not currently being used and invoked in a
configuration or reconfiguration); 5) communication transport
protocols (such as, for example, TCP/IP, USB, Firewire, IEEE1394,
Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x (IEEE 802.11 standards), hiperlan/2,
HomeRF, etc.) for allowing the intelligent gaming table to
communicate with local and non-local devices using such protocols;
etc. In one implementation, the master table controller 412
communicates using a serial communication protocol. A few examples
of serial communication protocols that may be used to communicate
with the master table controller include but are not limited to
USB, RS-232 and Netplex (a proprietary protocol developed by IGT,
Reno, Nev.).
[0436] A plurality of device drivers 442 may be stored in memory
416. Example of different types of device drivers may include
device drivers for intelligent gaming table components, device
drivers for peripheral components 422, etc. Typically, the device
drivers 442 utilize a communication protocol of some type that
enables communication with a particular physical device. The device
driver abstracts the hardware implementation of a device. For
example, a device drive may be written for each type of card reader
that may be potentially connected to the intelligent gaming table.
Examples of communication protocols used to implement the device
drivers include Netplex, USB, Serial, Ethernet 475, Firewire, I/O
debouncer, direct memory map, serial, PCI, parallel, RF,
Bluetooth.TM., near-field communications (e.g., using near-field
magnetics), 802.11 (WiFi), etc. Netplex is a proprietary IGT
standard while the others are open standards. According to a
specific embodiment, when one type of a particular device is
exchanged for another type of the particular device, a new device
driver may be loaded from the memory 416 by the processor 410 to
allow communication with the device. For instance, one type of card
reader in intelligent gaming table system 400 may be replaced with
a second type of card reader where device drivers for both card
readers are stored in the memory 416.
[0437] In some embodiments, the software units stored in the memory
416 may be upgraded as needed. For instance, when the memory 416 is
a hard drive, new games, game options, various new parameters, new
settings for existing parameters, new settings for new parameters,
device drivers, and new communication protocols may be uploaded to
the memory from the master table controller 412 or from some other
external device. As another example, when the memory 416 includes a
CD/DVD drive including a CD/DVD designed or configured to store
game options, parameters, and settings, the software stored in the
memory may be upgraded by replacing a first CD/DVD with a second
CD/DVD. In yet another example, when the memory 416 uses one or
more flash memory 419 or EPROM 408 units designed or configured to
store games, game options, parameters, settings, the software
stored in the flash and/or EPROM memory units may be upgraded by
replacing one or more memory units with new memory units which
include the upgraded software. In another embodiment, one or more
of the memory devices, such as the hard-drive, may be employed in a
game software download process from a remote software server.
[0438] In some embodiments, the intelligent gaming table system 400
may also include various authentication and/or validation
components 444 which may be used for authenticating/validating
specified intelligent gaming table components such as, for example,
hardware components, software components, firmware components,
information stored in the intelligent gaming table memory 416, etc.
Examples of various authentication and/or validation components are
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,047, entitled, "ELECTRONIC GAMING
APPARATUS HAVING AUTHENTICATION DATA SETS," incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety for all purposes.
[0439] Peripheral devices 422 may also include other
devices/component(s) such as, for example: sensors 460, cameras
462, control consoles 420, transponders 454, wireless communication
component(s) 456, wireless power component(s) 458, PPD docking
component(s) 452, wager/gaming chip tracking component(s) 470,
player tracking management component(s) 472, game state tracking
component(s) 474, etc.
[0440] Sensors 460 may include, for example, optical sensors,
pressure sensors, RF sensors, Infrared sensors, image sensors,
thermal sensors, biometric sensors, etc. As mentioned previously,
such sensors may be used for a variety of functions such as, for
example: detecting the presence and/or monetary amount of gaming
chips which have been placed within a player's wagering zone;
detecting (e.g., in real time) the presence and/or monetary amount
of gaming chips which are within the player's personal space;
detecting the presence and/or identity of PPDs placed within a
player's PPD docking region, etc.
[0441] In one implementation, at least a portion of the sensors 460
and/or input devices 430 may be implemented in the form of touch
keys selected from a wide variety of commercially available touch
keys used to provide electrical control signals. Alternatively,
some of the touch keys may be implemented in another form which are
touch sensors such as those provided by a touchscreen display. For
example, in at least one implementation, the intelligent gaming
table player displays and/or PPD displays may include input
functionality for allowing players to provide their game play
decisions/instructions (and/or other input) to the dealer using the
touch keys and/or other player control sensors/buttons.
Additionally, such input functionality may also be used for
allowing players to provide input to other devices in the casino
gaming network (such as, for example, player tracking systems, side
wagering systems, etc.)
[0442] Wireless communication components 456 may include one or
more communication interfaces having different architectures and
utilizing a variety of protocols such as, for example, 802.11
(WiFi), 802.15 (including Bluetooth.TM.), 802.16 (WiMax), 802.22,
Cellular standards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency
(e.g., RFID), Infrared, Near Field Magnetic communication
protocols, etc. The communication links may transmit electrical,
electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams
or analog signals representing various types of information.
[0443] Wireless power components 458 may include, for example,
components or devices which are operable for providing wireless
power to other devices. For example, in one implementation, the
wireless power components 458 may include a magnetic induction
system which is adapted to provide wireless power to one or more
PPDs at the intelligent gaming table. In one implementation, a PPD
docking region may include a wireless power component which is able
to recharge a PPD placed within the PPD docking region without
requiring metal-to-metal contact.
[0444] According to a specific embodiment, Table Control Console
420 may be used to facilitate and execute game play operations,
table configuration operations, player tracking operations,
maintenance and inspection operations, etc. In one implementation,
the Table Control Console 420 may include at least one display for
displaying desired information, such as, for example, programming
options which are available in setting up the system and
customizing operational parameters to the desired settings for a
particular casino or cardroom in which the system is being used.
The Table Control Console 420 may also include a key operated
switch which is used to control basic operation of the system and
for placing the unit into a programming mode. The key operated
switch can provide two levels of access authorization which
restricts access by dealers to programming, or additional security
requirements can be provided in the software which restricts
programming changes to management personnel. Programming may be
input in several different modes.
[0445] For example, in a specific embodiment where the intelligent
gaming table is configured as a blackjack gaming table, programming
can be provided using a touch screen display with varying options
presented thereon and the programming personnel can set various
operational and rules parameters, such as, for example: the shuffle
mode, number of decks of cards used in the virtual card stack,
options with regard to the portion of the stack which is used
before the stack is cut, limits on the amounts which can be bet at
a particular table, whether splits are accepted for play and to
what degree, options concerning doubling down plays, whether the
dealer hits or stands on soft 37, and other rules can be made
variable dependent upon the particular form of the system
programming used in the system, depending on the type of card game
being played. Control keys may also be used in some forms of the
invention to allow various menu options to be displayed and
programming options to be selected using the control keys. Still
further it is possible to attach an auxiliary keyboard (not shown)
to the Table Control Console through a keyboard connection port.
The auxiliary keyboard can then be used to more easily program the
system, or be used in maintenance, diagnostic functions, etc.
[0446] According to specific embodiments, the Table Control Console
420 may also include a plurality of dealer operational controls
provided in the form of dealer control sensors which, for example,
may be implemented via electrical touch keys. The dealer control
sensors may be used by the dealer to indicate that desired control
functions should take place or further proceed. For example,
different sensors may be used to implement a player's decision to:
split his two similar cards and play them as two separate or split
hands; double down; stand on the cards already dealt or assigned to
that player; etc. Other sensors may be used to: [0447] command
shuffling and dealing of a new hands to the participants; [0448]
collect a player's cards; [0449] show a player's cards; [0450]
verify PPD data (e.g., verify that a PPD is displaying the correct
cards to the player without revealing the cards in the player's
hand); [0451] deal new cards to selected players; authenticate a
player's PPD; [0452] activate a PPD; [0453] replace a player's PPD
with an alternate PPD; [0454] call security; [0455] request
cocktail service; [0456] recall previous game play data; [0457]
control display of multimedia content; [0458] enable/disable PPDs;
[0459] read player selections; [0460] start a player tracking
session; [0461] suspend a player tracking session; [0462] resume a
player tracking session; [0463] merge two or more player tracking
sessions; [0464] end and/or close a player tracking session; [0465]
etc.
[0466] It will be appreciated that other functions may be
attributed to other keys or input sensors of various types. For
example, in one implementation, at least a portion of the Table
Control Console touch keys can be assigned to implement additional
functions, such as in changeable soft key assignments during the
programming or setup of the system.
[0467] According to specific embodiments, the wager/gaming chip
tracking component 470 may be adapted to automatically detect the
presence and/or monetary amount of gaming chips which are located
within a player's wagering zone (e.g., 302) and/or which are
located with the player's personal space at the gaming table (such
as, for example, the region defined by region 350 of FIG. 3). In
one implementation, each wager/gaming chip tracking component 470
includes one or more gaming chip sensors which are immediately
below or otherwise adjacent to a respective player station at the
gaming table. The gaming chip sensors may be selected from several
different types of sensors.
[0468] One suitable type of sensor is a weigh cell which senses the
presence of a gaming chip thereon so that the master table
controller knows at the start of a hand, that a player is
participating in the next hand being played. A variety of weigh
cells can be used. Another suitable type of sensor includes optical
sensors. Such optical sensors can be photosensitive detectors which
use changes in the sensed level of light striking the detectors.
For example, in one implementation, the wagering sensor may use
ambient light which beams from area lighting of the casino or other
room in which it is placed. When a typical gaming chip is placed in
a player's wagering zone (e.g., 302), the amount of light striking
the detector located beneath the zone is measurably diminished by
the opaque gaming chip. The detector conveys a suitable electrical
signal which indicates that a gaming chip has been placed within
the wagering zone 302. A variety of other alternative detectors can
also be used. A further type of preferred gaming chip sensor is one
which can detect coding included on or in the gaming chips to
ascertain the value of the gaming chip or chips being placed by the
players into the player wagering zones. A preferred form of this
type of sensor or detector is used to detect an integrated circuit
based radio frequency identification (RFID) unit which is included
in or on the gaming chips. Such sensors are sometimes referred to
as radio frequency identification detection or read-write
stations.
[0469] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other
memory types, including various computer readable media, may be
used for storing and executing program instructions pertaining to
the operation of the present invention. Because such information
and program instructions may be employed to implement the
systems/methods described herein, the present invention relates to
machine-readable media that include program instructions, state
information, etc. for performing various operations described
herein. Examples of machine-readable media include, but are not
limited to, magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and
magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROM disks; magneto-optical
media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices that are
specially configured to store and perform program instructions,
such as read-only memory devices (ROM) and random access memory
(RAM). The invention may also be embodied in a carrier wave
traveling over an appropriate medium such as airwaves, optical
lines, electric lines, etc. Examples of program instructions
include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and
files including higher level code that may be executed by the
computer using an interpreter.
[0470] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
game states may be used to characterize the state of current and/or
past events which are occurring (or have occurred) at a selected
gaming table. For example, in one embodiment, at any given time in
a game, a valid current game state may be used to characterize the
state of game play (and/or other related events, such as, for
example, mode of operation of the gaming table, etc.) at that
particular time. In at least one embodiment, multiple different
states may be used to characterize different states or events which
occur at the gaming table at any given time. In one embodiment,
when faced with ambiguity of game state, a single state embodiment
forces a decision such that one valid current game state is chosen.
In a multiple state embodiment, multiple possible game states may
exist simultaneously at any given time in a game, and at the end of
the game or at any point in the middle of the game, the gaming
table may analyze the different game states and select one of them
based on certain criteria. Thus, for example, when faced with
ambiguity of game state, the multiple state embodiment(s) allow all
potential game states to exist and move forward, thus deferring the
decision of choosing one game state to a later point in the game.
The multiple game state embodiment(s) may also be more effective in
handling ambiguous data or game state scenarios.
[0471] According to specific embodiments, a variety of different
entities may be used (e.g., either singly or in combination) to
track the progress of game states which occur at a given gaming
table. Examples of such entities may include, but are not limited
to, one or more of the following (or combination thereof): master
table controller, local game tracking component(s), remote game
tracking component(s), etc. Examples of various game tracking
components may include, but are not limited to: automated sensors,
manually operated sensors, video cameras, intelligent playing card
shoes, RFID readers/writers, RFID tagged chips, etc.
[0472] According to a specific embodiment, local game tracking
components at the gaming table may be operable to automatically
monitor game play activities at the gaming table, and/or to
automatically identify key events which may trigger a transition of
game state from one state to another as a game progresses. For
example, in the case of Blackjack, a key event may include one or
more events which indicate a change in the state of a game such as,
for example: a new card being added to a card hand, the split of a
card hand, a card hand being moved, a new card provided from a
shoe, removal or disappearance of a card by occlusion, etc.
[0473] Depending upon the type of game being played at the gaming
table, examples of other possible key events may include, but are
not limited to, one or more of the following (or combination
thereof): [0474] start of a new hand/round; [0475] end of a current
hand/round; [0476] start of a roulette wheel spin; [0477] game
start event; [0478] game end event; [0479] initial wager period
start; [0480] initial wager period end; [0481] initial deal period
start; [0482] initial deal period end; [0483] player card
draw/decision period start; [0484] player card draw/decision period
end; [0485] subsequent wager period start; [0486] subsequent wager
period end; [0487] rake period start; [0488] rake period end;
[0489] payout period start; [0490] payout period end; [0491] start
of card burning period; [0492] end of card burning period; [0493]
etc.
[0494] Additional details relating to various aspects of gaming
table activity monitoring and/or other aspects of casino gaming
technology are described in at least some of the following
references:
[0495] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20060252554A1, entitled
GAMING OBJECT POSITION ANALYSIS AND TRACKING, filed Mar. 21, 2006,
by Gururajan, et al., herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety for all purposes;
[0496] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20050272501A1, entitled
AUTOMATED GAME MONITORING, filed Feb. 8, 2005, by Tran, et al.,
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes;
[0497] U.S. Patent/Publication Number U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,204B2,
entitled MULTIPLE CAMERA CONTROL SYSTEM, filed Sep. 26, 2001, by
Hildreth, et al., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety
for all purposes;
[0498] U.S. Patent/Publication Number U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,917A,
entitled VIDEO IMAGE BASED CONTROL SYSTEM, filed May 9, 1991, by
MacDougall, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for
all purposes;
[0499] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20060252521A1, entitled
TABLE GAME TRACKING, filed Mar. 21, 2006, by Gururajan, et al.,
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes;
[0500] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US2004876620A, entitled
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A CARD DISPENSING SYSTEM, filed Jun. 28,
2004, by Gururajan, herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety for all purposes;
[0501] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US2004876620A, entitled
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A CARD DISPENSING SYSTEM, filed Jun. 28,
2004, by Gururajan, herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety for all purposes;
[0502] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20050026680A1, entitled
SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRACKING A TABLE
GAME, filed Jun. 28, 2004, by Gururajan, herein incorporated by
reference in its entirety for all purposes;
[0503] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20020034978A1, entitled
ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, filed Oct. 9, 2001, by Legge, et al.,
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes;
and
[0504] U.S. application Ser. No. 11/595,798, filed on Nov. 10, 2006
(Attorney docket. No. IGT1P337/P-1121A), naming Little, et al. as
inventors, and titled, "REMOTE CONTENT MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE
SHARING ON A GAMING MACHINE AND METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING SAME," which
is incorporated herein by reference and for all purposes.
[0505] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/040,239, entitled, "GAME
DEVELOPMENT ARCHITECTURE THAT DECOUPLES THE GAME LOGIC FROM THE
GRAPHICS LOGIC," published on Apr. 24, 2003 as U.S. Patent
Publication No. 20030078103, which is incorporated herein by
reference and for all purposes;
[0506] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/425,998 (Attorney Docket
No. IGT1P238/P-1049), entitled "PROGRESSIVE TABLE GAME BONUSING
SYSTEMS AND METHODS," by Nguyen et al, which is incorporated herein
by reference and for all purposes; and
[0507] U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20060287068A1, entitled
PROBLEM GAMBLING DETECTION IN TABLETOP GAMES, filed Jun. 6, 2006,
by Walker, et al., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety
for all purposes.
Other System Embodiments
[0508] FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating components of a
gaming system 900 which may be used for implementing various
aspects of example embodiments. In FIG. 9, the components of a
gaming system 900 for providing game software licensing and
downloads are described functionally. The described functions may
be instantiated in hardware, firmware and/or software and executed
on a suitable device. In the system 900, there may be many
instances of the same function, such as multiple game play
interfaces 911. Nevertheless, in FIG. 9, only one instance of each
function is shown. The functions of the components may be combined.
For example, a single device may comprise the game play interface
911 and include trusted memory devices or sources 909.
[0509] The gaming system 900 may receive inputs from different
groups/entities and output various services and or information to
these groups/entities. For example, game players 925 primarily
input cash or indicia of credit into the system, make game
selections that trigger software downloads, and receive
entertainment in exchange for their inputs. Game software content
providers provide game software for the system and may receive
compensation for the content they provide based on licensing
agreements with the gaming machine operators. Gaming machine
operators select game software for distribution, distribute the
game software on the gaming devices in the system 900, receive
revenue for the use of their software and compensate the gaming
machine operators. The gaming regulators 930 may provide rules and
regulations that must be applied to the gaming system and may
receive reports and other information confirming that rules are
being obeyed.
[0510] In the following paragraphs, details of each component and
some of the interactions between the components are described with
respect to FIG. 9. The game software license host 901 may be a
server connected to a number of remote gaming devices that provides
licensing services to the remote gaming devices. For example, in
other embodiments, the license host 901 may 1) receive token
requests for tokens used to activate software executed on the
remote gaming devices, 2) send tokens to the remote gaming devices,
3) track token usage and 4) grant and/or renew software licenses
for software executed on the remote gaming devices. The token usage
may be used in utility based licensing schemes, such as a
pay-per-use scheme.
[0511] In another embodiment, a game usage-tracking host 915 may
track the usage of game software on a plurality of devices in
communication with the host. The game usage-tracking host 915 may
be in communication with a plurality of game play hosts and gaming
machines. From the game play hosts and gaming machines, the game
usage tracking host 915 may receive updates of an amount that each
game available for play on the devices has been played and on
amount that has been wagered per game. This information may be
stored in a database and used for billing according to methods
described in a utility based licensing agreement.
[0512] The game software host 902 may provide game software
downloads, such as downloads of game software or game firmware, to
various devious in the game system 900. For example, when the
software to generate the game is not available on the game play
interface 911, the game software host 902 may download software to
generate a selected game of chance played on the game play
interface. Further, the game software host 902 may download new
game content to a plurality of gaming machines via a request from a
gaming machine operator.
[0513] In one embodiment, the game software host 902 may also be a
game software configuration-tracking host 913. The function of the
game software configuration-tracking host is to keep records of
software configurations and/or hardware configurations for a
plurality of devices in communication with the host (e.g.,
denominations, number of paylines, paytables, max/min bets).
Details of a game software host and a game software configuration
host that may be used with example embodiments are described in
co-pending U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,077, by Rowe, entitled, "Gaming
Terminal Data Repository and Information System," filed Dec. 21,
2000, which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all
purposes.
[0514] A game play host device 903 may be a host server connected
to a plurality of remote clients that generates games of chance
that are displayed on a plurality of remote game play interfaces
911. For example, the game play host device 903 may be a server
that provides central determination for a bingo game play played on
a plurality of connected game play interfaces 911. As another
example, the game play host device 903 may generate games of
chance, such as slot games or video card games, for display on a
remote client. A game player using the remote client may be able to
select from a number of games that are provided on the client by
the host device 903. The game play host device 903 may receive game
software management services, such as receiving downloads of new
game software, from the game software host 902 and may receive game
software licensing services, such as the granting or renewing of
software licenses for software executed on the device 903, from the
game license host 901.
[0515] In particular embodiments, the game play interfaces or other
gaming devices in the gaming system 900 may be portable devices,
such as electronic tokens, cell phones, smart cards, tablet PC's
and PDA's. The portable devices may support wireless communications
and thus, may be referred to as wireless mobile devices. The
network hardware architecture 916 may be enabled to support
communications between wireless mobile devices and other gaming
devices in gaming system. In one embodiment, the wireless mobile
devices may be used to play games of chance.
[0516] The gaming system 900 may use a number of trusted
information sources. Trusted information sources 904 may be
devices, such as servers, that provide information used to
authenticate/activate other pieces of information. CRC values used
to authenticate software, license tokens used to allow the use of
software or product activation codes used to activate to software
are examples of trusted information that might be provided from a
trusted information source 904. Trusted information sources may be
a memory device, such as an EPROM, that includes trusted
information used to authenticate other information. For example, a
game play interface 911 may store a private encryption key in a
trusted memory device that is used in a private key-public key
encryption scheme to authenticate information from another gaming
device.
[0517] When a trusted information source 904 is in communication
with a remote device via a network, the remote device will employ a
verification scheme to verify the identity of the trusted
information source. For example, the trusted information source and
the remote device may exchange information using public and private
encryption keys to verify each other's identities. In another
example of an embodiment, the remote device and the trusted
information source may engage in methods using zero knowledge
proofs to authenticate each of their respective identities. Details
of zero knowledge proofs that may be used with example embodiments
are described in US publication no. 2003/0203756, by Jackson, filed
on Apr. 25, 2002 and entitled, "Authentication in a Secure
Computerized Gaming System, which is incorporated herein in its
entirety and for all purposes.
[0518] Gaming devices storing trusted information might utilize
apparatus or methods to detect and prevent tampering. For instance,
trusted information stored in a trusted memory device may be
encrypted to prevent its misuse. In addition, the trusted memory
device may be secured behind a locked door. Further, one or more
sensors may be coupled to the memory device to detect tampering
with the memory device and provide some record of the tampering. In
yet another example, the memory device storing trusted information
might be designed to detect tampering attempts and clear or erase
itself when an attempt at tampering has been detected.
[0519] The gaming system 900 of example embodiments may include
devices 906 that provide authorization to download software from a
first device to a second device and devices 907 that provide
activation codes or information that allow downloaded software to
be activated. The devices, 906 and 907, may be remote servers and
may also be trusted information sources. One example of a method of
providing product activation codes that may be used with example
embodiments is describes in previously incorporated U.S. Pat. No.
6,264,561.
[0520] A device 906 that monitors a plurality of gaming devices to
determine adherence of the devices to gaming jurisdictional rules
908 may be included in the system 900. In one embodiment, a gaming
jurisdictional rule server may scan software and the configurations
of the software on a number of gaming devices in communication with
the gaming rule server to determine whether the software on the
gaming devices is valid for use in the gaming jurisdiction where
the gaming device is located. For example, the gaming rule server
may request a digital signature, such as CRC's, of particular
software components and compare them with an approved digital
signature value stored on the gaming jurisdictional rule
server.
[0521] Further, the gaming jurisdictional rule server may scan the
remote gaming device to determine whether the software is
configured in a manner that is acceptable to the gaming
jurisdiction where the gaming device is located. For example, a
maximum bet limit may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and
the rule enforcement server may scan a gaming device to determine
its current software configuration and its location and then
compare the configuration on the gaming device with approved
parameters for its location.
[0522] A gaming jurisdiction may include rules that describe how
game software may be downloaded and licensed. The gaming
jurisdictional rule server may scan download transaction records
and licensing records on a gaming device to determine whether the
download and licensing was carried out in a manner that is
acceptable to the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming device is
located. In general, the game jurisdictional rule server may be
utilized to confirm compliance to any gaming rules passed by a
gaming jurisdiction when the information needed to determine rule
compliance is remotely accessible to the server.
[0523] Game software, firmware or hardware residing a particular
gaming device may also be used to check for compliance with local
gaming jurisdictional rules. In one embodiment, when a gaming
device is installed in a particular gaming jurisdiction, a software
program including jurisdiction rule information may be downloaded
to a secure memory location on a gaming machine or the jurisdiction
rule information may be downloaded as data and utilized by a
program on the gaming machine. The software program and/or
jurisdiction rule information may used to check the gaming device
software and software configurations for compliance with local
gaming jurisdictional rules. In another embodiment, the software
program for ensuring compliance and jurisdictional information may
be installed in the gaming machine prior to its shipping, such as
at the factory where the gaming machine is manufactured.
[0524] The gaming devices in game system 900 may utilize trusted
software and/or trusted firmware. Trusted firmware/software is
trusted in the sense that is used with the assumption that it has
not been tampered with. For instance, trusted software/firmware may
be used to authenticate other game software or processes executing
on a gaming device. As an example, trusted encryption programs and
authentication programs may be stored on an EPROM on the gaming
machine or encoded into a specialized encryption chip. As another
example, trusted game software, i.e., game software approved for
use on gaming devices by a local gaming jurisdiction may be
required on gaming devices on the gaming machine.
[0525] In example embodiments, the devices may be connected by a
network 916 with different types of hardware using different
hardware architectures. Game software can be quite large and
frequent downloads can place a significant burden on a network,
which may slow information transfer speeds on the network. For
game-on-demand services that require frequent downloads of game
software in a network, efficient downloading is essential for the
service to viable. Thus, in example embodiments, network efficient
devices 910 may be used to actively monitor and maintain network
efficiency. For instance, software locators may be used to locate
nearby locations of game software for peer-to-peer transfers of
game software. In another example, network traffic may be monitored
and downloads may be actively rerouted to maintain network
efficiency.
[0526] One or more devices in example embodiments may provide game
software and game licensing related auditing, billing and
reconciliation reports to server 912. For example, a software
licensing billing server may generate a bill for a gaming device
operator based upon a usage of games over a time period on the
gaming devices owned by the operator. In another example, a
software auditing server may provide reports on game software
downloads to various gaming devices in the gaming system 900 and
current configurations of the game software on these gaming
devices.
[0527] At particular time intervals, the software auditing server
912 may also request software configurations from a number of
gaming devices in the gaming system. The server may then reconcile
the software configuration on each gaming device. In one
embodiment, the software auditing server 912 may store a record of
software configurations on each gaming device at particular times
and a record of software download transactions that have occurred
on the device. By applying each of the recorded game software
download transactions since a selected time to the software
configuration recorded at the selected time, a software
configuration is obtained. The software auditing server may compare
the software configuration derived from applying these transactions
on a gaming device with a current software configuration obtained
from the gaming device. After the comparison, the software-auditing
server may generate a reconciliation report that confirms that the
download transaction records are consistent with the current
software configuration on the device. The report may also identify
any inconsistencies. In another embodiment, both the gaming device
and the software auditing server may store a record of the download
transactions that have occurred on the gaming device and the
software auditing server may reconcile these records.
[0528] There are many possible interactions between the components
described with respect to FIG. 9. Many of the interactions are
coupled. For example, methods used for game licensing may affect
methods used for game downloading and vice versa. For the purposes
of explanation, details of a few possible interactions between the
components of the system 900 relating to software licensing and
software downloads have been described. The descriptions are
selected to illustrate particular interactions in the game system
900. These descriptions are provided for the purposes of
explanation only and are not intended to limit the scope of example
embodiments described herein.
[0529] Techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will
sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, it
should be noted that particular embodiments include multiple
iterations of a technique or multiple instantiations of a mechanism
unless noted otherwise.
[0530] Various embodiments may be directed to methods, systems
and/or computer program products for facilitating player tracking
activities at a casino gaming table which includes a plurality of
player stations. At least one embodiment may include functionality
for: automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the
gaming table; determining a first set of criteria relating to
initiation of a player tracking session for the first player;
automatically determining whether the first set of criteria has
been satisfied; delaying initiation of the player tracking session
for the first player in response to a determination that the first
set of criteria has not been satisfied; and automatically
initiating the player tracking session for the first player in
response to a determination that the first set of criteria has been
satisfied.
[0531] Some embodiments may further include functionality for
tracking, in response to initiating the player tracking session for
the first player, player rating information associated with
activities performed by the first player at the gaming table.
[0532] Some embodiments may further include functionality for
automatically and passively determining an identity of the first
player; and automatically and passively associating the first
player with a selected player station at the gaming table.
[0533] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of a presence of the player's
player tracking device within a predetermined region of space.
[0534] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of a presence of at least one
gaming chip within a wagering zone associated with the player.
[0535] Some embodiments may further include functionality for
automatically associating the first player with a selected player
station at the gaming table, wherein the first set of criteria
specifies a first event relating to detection of a presence of at
least one gaming chip within a wagering zone associated with the
selected player station.
[0536] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of input from the first player to
initiate a player tracking session for the first player.
[0537] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of a presence of the player's
player tracking device as being located within a predetermined
region of space; and/or the first set of criteria specifies a
second event relating to detection of a presence of at least one
gaming chip within a specified gaming chip placement area.
[0538] Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or
computer program products for facilitating player tracking
activities at a casino gaming table which includes a plurality of
player stations. At least one embodiment may include functionality
for: automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the
gaming table; initiating a player tracking session for the first
player; determining a first set of criteria relating to suspension
of the player tracking session for the first player; automatically
determining whether the first set of criteria has been satisfied;
and automatically suspending the player tracking session for the
first player in response to a determination that the first set of
criteria has been satisfied.
[0539] Some embodiments may further include functionality for
delaying suspension of the player tracking session for the first
player in response to a determination that the first set of
criteria has not been satisfied.
[0540] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of an absence of the first player
at the gaming table.
[0541] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of the player's player tracking
device as not being within a predetermined region of space.
[0542] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of detection of input from the
first player to suspend the player tracking session.
[0543] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of no wagering activity being
conducted by the first player within a predetermined time
interval.
[0544] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of an absence of at least one
gaming chip within a specified gaming chip placement area of the
gaming table.
[0545] Some embodiments may further include functionality for:
determining a second set of criteria relating to resumption of the
suspended player tracking session for the first player;
automatically determining whether the second set of criteria has
been satisfied; and automatically resuming the suspended player
tracking session for the first player in response to a
determination that the second set of criteria has been
satisfied.
[0546] Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or
computer program products for facilitating player tracking
activities at a casino gaming table which includes a plurality of
player stations. At least one embodiment may include functionality
for: automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the
gaming table; initiating a player tracking session for the first
player; determining a first set of criteria relating to ending of
the player tracking session for the first player; automatically
determining whether the first set of criteria has been satisfied;
and automatically ending the player tracking session for the first
player in response to a determination that the first set of
criteria has been satisfied.
[0547] Some embodiments may further include functionality for
delaying ending of the player tracking session for the first player
in response to a determination that the first set of criteria has
not been satisfied.
[0548] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of an absence of the first player
at the gaming table.
[0549] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of the player's player tracking
device as not being within a predetermined region of space.
[0550] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of detection of input from the
first player to end the player tracking session.
[0551] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of no wagering activity being
conducted by the first player within a predetermined time
interval.
[0552] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of an absence of at least one
gaming chip within a specified gaming chip placement area of the
gaming table.
[0553] In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a
first event relating to detection of an occurrence of a timeout
event relating to the first player's player tracking session.
[0554] Some embodiments may further include functionality for
automatically closing the player tracking session in response to
the ending of the player tracking session, wherein the closing of
the player tracking session includes automatically estimating an
amount of gaming chips currently in possession of the first
player.
[0555] Some embodiments may further include functionality for
automatically closing the player tracking session in response to
the ending of the player tracking session, wherein the closing of
the player tracking session includes automatically estimating an
amount of gaming chips in possession of the first player as of a
time when the player tracking session was ended.
[0556] This application incorporates by reference for all purposes
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/214,936 (Attorney Docket No.
IGT1P061X1/P-573CIP), entitled "FLEXIBLE LOYALTY POINTS PROGRAMS"
by Kaminkow et al., filed on Aug. 6, 2002.
[0557] This application incorporates by reference for all purposes
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/927,742 (Attorney Docket No.
IGT1P061/P-573) entitled "FLEXIBLE LOYALTY POINTS PROGRAMS," filed
Aug. 10, 2001.
[0558] This application incorporates by reference for all purposes
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/170,278 (Attorney Docket No.
IGT1P082/P-713), entitled "PLAYER TRACKING ASSEMBLY FOR COMPLETE
PATRON TRACKING FOR BOTH GAMING AND NON-GAMING CASINO ACTIVITY" by
Timothy Moser, filed on Jun. 12, 2002.
[0559] This application incorporates by reference for all purposes
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/515,184, (Attorney Docket No.
IGT1P266A/P-1085A), by Nguyen et al., entitled "INTELLIGENT CASINO
GAMING TABLE AND SYSTEMS THEREOF", filed on Sep. 1, 2006.
[0560] Although several preferred embodiments of this invention
have been described in detail herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to these precise embodiments, and that various changes
and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of spirit of the invention as
defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *
References