U.S. patent application number 16/207723 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-06 for management system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Angel Playing Cards Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yasushi Shigeta.
Application Number | 20190172312 16/207723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64606723 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-06 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190172312 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shigeta; Yasushi |
June 6, 2019 |
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Abstract
A management system includes a card distributing device
configured to determine a win/loss result of a game using chips on
a game table, a dealer chip determining device that specifies type
and the number of chips held in a chip tray, a measuring device
that measures position, type, and the number of chips on the game
table, and a management control device that has a function of
transmitting a signal or performing display on a display device
depending on a comparison result between a collection amount and an
increase amount and a comparison result between a payment amount
and a decrease amount, and changes the signal or an output content
of the display depending on a content of inconsistency when the
inconsistency is determined in the comparison results.
Inventors: |
Shigeta; Yasushi; (Shiga,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Angel Playing Cards Co., Ltd. |
Shiga |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
64606723 |
Appl. No.: |
16/207723 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3225 20130101;
G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/3241 20130101; G07F 17/3234
20130101; G07F 17/322 20130101; G07F 17/3248 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20060101
G07F017/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 5, 2017 |
JP |
2017-233190 |
Claims
1. A management system to manage a game that uses chips,
comprising: chips that are individually identifiable; a game table
for playing a game using the chips; a win/loss determining device
configured to determine and/or display a win/loss result of the
game; a chip tray configured to hold one or more of the chips used
by a dealer associated with the game table; a dealer chip
determining device configured to specify types and the numbers of
chips held in the chip tray; a measuring device configured to
measure positions, types, and the numbers of chips on the game
table; and a management control device that has a function of
grasping the positions, the types, and the numbers of chips on the
game table and calculating a balance of a casino side on the game
table using the win/loss result obtained from the win/loss
determining device, wherein the management control device has a
function of comparing a collection amount of chips to be collected
from the game table by the casino side in the game based on
information obtained from the measuring device, the dealer chip
determining device, and the win/loss determining device with an
increase amount of chips in the chip tray after the dealer collects
the chips in the chip tray, and wherein comparing a payment amount
of chips to be paid by the casino side in the game with a decrease
amount of chips in the chip tray after the dealer takes out and
pays the chips from the chip tray, and transmitting a signal or
performing display on a display device depending on a comparison
result between the collection amount and the increase amount and a
comparison result between the payment amount and the decrease
amount, and changes the signal or an output content of the display
depending on a content of inconsistency when the inconsistency is
determined in the comparison results.
2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the
management control device has a function of outputting a signal for
stopping the game of the game table or a signal for continuing the
game of the game table without stopping the game of the game table
when the inconsistency is determined in the comparison result
between the collection amount and the increase amount or the
comparison result between the payment amount and the decrease
amount.
3. The management system according to claim 2, wherein the
management control device has a function of outputting a signal for
stopping the game of the game table when the inconsistency is
continuous even though the inconsistency is a small amount of
inconsistency when an amount of inconsistency is divided by a
predetermined amount.
4. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the
management control device has a function of causing the display
device displaying the inconsistency to perform display specifying a
player position or a game participant that is a cause of the
inconsistency.
5. A management system that manages a game using chips, comprising:
a game table for playing a game using the chips; a game determining
unit for determining a game result; a bet determining unit for
determining a bet target and a bet amount of a player; a
liquidation determining unit for determining an actual liquidation
amount of chips delivered between a dealer and the player; and a
control unit for, when there is a difference between a calculated
liquidation amount and the actual liquidation amount, performing a
first control operation when a predetermined condition is not
satisfied and for performing a second control operation different
from the first control operation when the predetermined condition
is satisfied, the calculated liquidation amount being calculated
from the game result and the bet target and the bet amount.
6. The management system according to claim 5, wherein the
predetermined condition is a condition relating to the
difference.
7. The management system according to claim 6, wherein the
predetermined condition is that the difference in a one-time game
is larger than a first threshold value.
8. The management system according to claim 6, wherein the
predetermined condition is that a total sum of the differences in
recent predetermined-time games is larger than a second threshold
value.
9. The management system according to claim 6, wherein the
predetermined condition is that the difference is continuously
equal to or larger than a third threshold value in recent
predetermined-time games.
10. The management system according to claim 5, wherein the
predetermined condition is that the bet amount is equal to or
larger than a fourth threshold value.
11. The management system according to claim 5, the control unit
further for performing a third control operation different from the
first control and the second control when there is no difference
between the calculated liquidation amount and the actual
liquidation amount.
12. The management system according to claim 5, further comprising
a display panel, wherein the first control operation and the second
control operation are performed on the display panel.
13. The management system according to claim 12, wherein the
control unit is configured to display different contents on the
display panel in the first control operation and the second control
operation.
14. The management system according to claim 5, further comprising
a lighting device, wherein the control unit performs the first
control operation and the second control operation on the lighting
device.
15. The management system according to claim 14, wherein the
control unit turns on the lighting device with different colors in
the first control operation and the second control operation.
16. The management system according to claim 5, further comprising
a card distributing device for distributing cards used in the game
to the game table, wherein the control unit performs the first
control operation and the second control operation on the card
distributing device.
17. The management system according to claim 16, wherein the
control unit performs a control to prohibit distribution of the
card from the card distributing device as the second control
operation.
18. The management system according to claim 5, wherein the control
unit changes the predetermined condition based on an input from a
user.
19. The management system according to claim 5, further comprising
a storage device, wherein the control unit is configured to record
the difference at the storage device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to JP Application
2017-233190 filed with Dec. 5, 2017; the entire contents of which
are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a management system that
manages a game using chips in a game house.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0003] In a game house such as a casino, an attempt to prevent
various fraudulent acts has been conducted. The game house includes
a monitoring camera for monitoring the fraudulent acts, and has
prevented fraud by determining fraud of a game or fraud due to
collection or redemption of chips that does not accord with a
win/loss result from an image obtained from the monitoring
camera.
[0004] Meanwhile, it has been proposed to grasp an amount of chips
by attaching radio integrated chip (IC) (radio frequency
identification (RFID)) tags to the respective chips in order to
grasp the number or a total amount of bet chips.
[0005] In a card game monitoring system described in WO 2015/107902
A, it is determined whether chips put on a game table have been
collected or paid depending on a win/loss result by image analysis
for the movement of the chips to monitor fraudulent acts.
[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel
management system that manages liquidation of chips in a game using
the chips.
[0007] A management system according one aspect of the present
embodiment is a management system that manages a game using chips,
and includes chips that are individually identifiable; a game table
for playing a game using the chips; a win/loss determining device
that determines and displays a win/loss result of the game on the
game table; a chip tray that holds chips used by a dealer on the
game table; a dealer chip determining device that specifies types
and the numbers of chips held in the chip tray; a measuring device
that measures positions, types, and the numbers of chips on the
game table; and a management control device that has a function of
grasping the positions, the types, and the numbers of chips on the
game table and calculating a balance of a casino side on the game
table using the win/loss result obtained from the win/loss
determining device, wherein the management control device has a
function of comparing a collection amount of chips to be collected
from the game table by the casino side in the game on the basis of
information obtained from the measuring device, the dealer chip
determining device, and the win/loss determining device with an
increase amount of chips in the chip tray after the dealer collects
the chips, comparing a payment amount of chips to be paid by the
casino side in the game with a decrease amount of chips in the chip
tray after the dealer takes out and pays the chips from the chip
tray, and transmitting a signal or performing display on a display
device depending on a comparison result between the collection
amount and the increase amount and a comparison result between the
payment amount and the decrease amount, and changes the signal or
an output content of the display depending on a content of
inconsistency when the inconsistency is determined in the
comparison results.
[0008] The management control device may have a function of
outputting a signal for stopping the game of the game table or a
signal for continuing the game of the game table without stopping
the game of the game table when the inconsistency is determined in
the comparison result between the collection amount and the
increase amount or the comparison result between the payment amount
and the decrease amount.
[0009] The management control device may have a function of
outputting a signal for stopping the game of the game table when
the inconsistency is continuous even though the inconsistency is a
small amount of inconsistency when an amount of inconsistency is
divided by a predetermined amount.
[0010] The management control device may have a function of causing
the display device displaying the inconsistency to perform display
specifying a player position or a game participant that is a cause
of the inconsistency.
[0011] A management system according another aspect of the present
embodiment is a management system that manages a game using chips,
and includes a game table for playing a game using the chips; a
game determining unit that determines a game result; a bet
determining unit that determines a bet target and a bet amount of a
player; a liquidation determining unit that determines an actual
liquidation amount of chips delivered between a dealer and the
player; and a control unit that performs a first control when a
predetermined condition is not satisfied and performs a second
control different from the first control when the predetermined
condition is satisfied, in the case where there is a difference
between a calculated liquidation amount and the actual liquidation
amount, the calculated liquidation amount being calculated from the
game result and the bet target and the bet amount, and the actual
liquidation amount being determined by the liquidation determining
unit.
[0012] The predetermined condition may be a condition relating to
the difference.
[0013] The predetermined condition may be that the difference in a
one-time game is larger than a first threshold value.
[0014] The predetermined condition may be that a total sum of the
differences in recent predetermined-time games is larger than a
second threshold value.
[0015] The predetermined condition may be that the difference is
continuously equal to or larger than a third threshold value in
recent predetermined-time games.
[0016] The predetermined condition may be that the bet amount is
equal to or larger than a fourth threshold value.
[0017] The control unit may perform a third control different from
the first control and the second control in the case where there is
no difference.
[0018] The management system may further include a display panel,
wherein the control unit may perform the first control and the
second control on the display panel.
[0019] The control unit may display different contents on the
display panel in the first control and the second control.
[0020] The management system may further include a lighting device,
wherein the control unit may perform the first control and the
second control on the lighting device.
[0021] The control unit may turn on the lighting device with
different colors in the first control and the second control.
[0022] The management system may further include a card
distributing device that distributes cards used in the game to the
game table, wherein the control unit may perform the first control
and the second control on the card distributing device.
[0023] The control unit may perform a control to prohibit
distribution of the card from the card distributing device as the
second control.
[0024] The control unit may change the predetermined condition
based on an input from a user.
[0025] The management system may further include a storage device,
wherein the control unit may record the difference in the storage
device.
[0026] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent
from the following detailed description of the exemplary
embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole
fraud detecting system in a game house including a plurality of
gaming tables according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of chips illustrating an
example of another overlapping state of chips perceived according
to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of chips illustrating an
example of another overlapping state of chips perceived according
to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagram of a mark illustrating
contamination of a card perceived according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating the front side of a
marker.
[0032] FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating the back side of a
marker.
[0033] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram simplifying a video of the
state of exchange of bills and chips perceived according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an overview of the whole
management system for table games in a game house according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of conventional chips.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a side-face cross-sectional view of a chip
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 9A is a side view of a chip according to the second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 9B is a side view of a chip according to the second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating another example of a chip
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating another example of a chip
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a state in which chips are
piled according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory photographic diagram
illustrating a state in which different kinds of chips are
piled.
[0043] FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating details of a chip tray
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating another example of a chip
tray according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0045] FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating a relation between a chip
tray having a two-stage structure and a camera device 2 and is a
diagram illustrating a state in which two stages are
overlapped.
[0046] FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating a relation between a chip
tray having a two-stage structure and a camera device 2 and is a
diagram illustrating a state in which two stages are shifted from
each other.
[0047] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an inspection device
inspecting chips according to the second embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole
chip management system according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
[0049] FIG. 17 is a side view of a chip according to the third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0050] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a chip configuring a code
(four kinds) using upper and lower marks C as a pair.
[0051] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating chips in which side IDs
are printed using ink (ink absorbing infrared rays) that is
invisible for visible light.
[0052] FIG. 20A is a plan view of a main part of a chip tray
illustrating a state in which chips according to the third
embodiment are held in a chip tray of a casino table.
[0053] FIG. 20B is a perspective view of a state in which chips are
piled.
[0054] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating another example of a chip
according to the third embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating another example of an
inspection device inspecting chips.
[0056] FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating another example of an
inspection device inspecting chips.
[0057] FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating another example of an
inspection device inspecting chips.
[0058] FIG. 25 is a plan view of a game table according to a fourth
embodiment;
[0059] FIG. 26 is a plan view of a chip tray according to the
fourth embodiment;
[0060] FIG. 27 is a view showing a configuration of a management
system of chips according to the fourth embodiment;
[0061] FIG. 28 is a plan view of a chip tray according to a
modified example of the fourth embodiment;
[0062] FIG. 29 is a plan view of a chip tray according to another
modified example of the fourth embodiment; and
[0063] FIG. 30 is a plan view of a chip tray according to still
another modified example of the fourth embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0064] In game houses such as casinos, while chips are piled to
have a high volume and is placed on a game table, there is a
problem in that a total amount cannot be correctly read by a
reading device for IC tags disposed under the game table, and, when
the sensitivity of the reading device is increased, chips placed at
a different position (winning/losing depends on the position) is
added, and there is a problem in that a total amount of chips at
each position cannot be perceived. In addition, in imaging using a
camera, there is a problem in that a blind area is generated
according to the viewing angle of the camera, or a chip enters a
shadow due to overlapping, and thus, there is a problem in that a
total amount of chips cannot be perceived.
[0065] In addition, according to player's squeeze (a behavior for
seeing a card little by little by bending a card facing the back
side while enjoying the rank of the card or the like) of a card,
which is frequently performed in a Baccarat game, or the like, the
card is bent, and there is a problem in that the rank and the suit
of the card cannot be determined through an analysis of an image
acquired from a camera.
[0066] Furthermore, fraud on a game table has been advanced, and
there is a new problem in that fraud using an advanced betting
method or the like that cannot be found in simple detection of a
large winning amount on a game table or the like cannot be found by
using a camera or tracking a winning amount. In addition, the
prevention of fraud according to a conspiracy of a dealer and a
player is not sufficient according to the conventional
technology.
[0067] In order to solve the various problems described above, a
fraud detecting system according to a first embodiment in a game
house including a plurality of game tables is a fraud detecting
system in a game house including a plurality of game tables and
includes: a game recording device that records a state of progress
of a game performed on each of the game table as a video including
a dealer and a player through a camera; an image analyzing device
that performs an image analysis of the recorded video of the state
of progress of the game; a card distributing device that determines
and displays a result of winning/losing of each game in the game
table; and a control device that detects fraud performed in the
game table by using a result of the image analysis performed by the
image analyzing device and the result of winning/losing determined
by the card distributing device.
[0068] In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the card
distributing device has a structure capable of reading the rank of
each distributed card, and the control device has a structure
capable of determining match/mismatch by combining information of a
rank acquired by the image analyzing device from a video of each
card distributed in the game table and information of a rank of a
card read by the card distributing device.
[0069] In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the image
analyzing device or the control device has an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of
acquiring information of a rank of a card from a card that is
distributed in the game table and is bent by the player or is
contaminated.
[0070] Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device acquires the position, the type, and the number of chips
that is bet by each player through the image analyzing device and
determines whether or not collection of losing chips that is bet by
each player and repayment for the winning chips are appropriately
performed according to the result of winning/losing of the game by
analyzing the video of the state of progress of the game through
the image analyzing device.
[0071] In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the image
analyzing device or the control device has an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of
acquiring information of the type, the number, and the position of
the bet chips also in a state in which a plurality of chips placed
on a game table is in a state in which a part or the whole one is
hidden according to a hidden area of the camera.
[0072] Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of comparing/calculating whether or not the
amount of chips perceived in a dealer's chip tray in the game table
is increased/decreased according to the collection of losing chips
that is bet by each player and a paid amount for winning chips
based on a result of winning/losing of the game after the game ends
and a settlement.
[0073] In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of acquiring the position and the amount of chips
that is bet at each play position of the game table and extracting
an abnormal situation by comparing a winning/losing history and an
acquired amount of chips for each player that are acquired from a
result of winning/losing of each game with statistical data of past
game.
[0074] Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of extracting an abnormal situation by comparing
a state in which the amount of the bet chips at the time of losing
is smaller than the amount of the bet chips at the time of losing
at a play position of a game table with statistical data of past
games.
[0075] In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device has a structure capable of specifying whether the abnormal
situation is extracted through the image analyzing device or an
individual player at a play position at which winning of a
predetermined amount of more is acquired.
[0076] Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device has a warning function for giving a notification of the
presence of a specific player at another game table when the
specified player leaves the seat and arrives at the another game
table.
[0077] In order to solve the various problems described above,
according to the present invention, a fraud detecting system in a
game house including a plurality of game tables includes: a game
recording device that records a state of progress of a game
performed on each of the game table as a video including a dealer
and a player through a camera; a card distributing device that
determines a result of winning/losing of each game in the game
table; an image analyzing device that performs an image analysis of
the recorded video of the state of processing of the game; and a
control device that can detect bills and chips in the game table by
using a result of the image analysis performed by the image
analyzing device, and the image analyzing device or the control
device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of detecting exchange of bills and chips in the
game table in a situation other than in the middle of dealing cards
based on information acquired from the card distributing device or
the dealer, recognizing a total amount of genuine bills verified
using among the bills and capable of recognizing a total amount of
chips also in a state in which a plurality of chips come out onto
the game table as an exchange target is in a state in which a part
or the whole one is hidden due to a blind area of the camera and
comparing a total amount of bills come out from the player onto the
game table and a total amount of chips come out from the dealer
with each other and determining whether or not the both numbers
match.
[0078] In addition, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of comparing/calculating whether or not the
amount of chips perceived in a dealer's chip tray in the game table
is increased/decreased according to a payed amount of chips
corresponding to exchanged bills after a settlement through
exchange of bills and chips.
[0079] Furthermore, in the fraud detecting system, the control
device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of comparing/calculating match/mismatch of an
input amount of bills according to a dealer's input and a total
amount of bills according to a result of the image analysis
performed by the image analyzing device after the settlement
through exchange of bills and chips. In addition, the control
device has an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of comparing/calculating match/mismatch of a
total input amount of bills according to a dealer's input in the
game table for which the dealer is responsible and a total amount
of bills according to a result of the image analysis performed by
the image analyzing device.
[0080] According to a fraud detecting system according to this
embodiment, also when a card is bent according to player's squeeze
of the card that is frequently performed in a Baccarat game or the
like, the rank and the suit of the card can be determined through
an image analysis, and a total amount of chips disposed in the
blind area or overlapping chips can be perceived together with the
position. In addition, fraud at the time of exchange of bills and
chips can be detected as well.
[0081] Hereinafter, an overview of the whole fraud detecting system
in a game house including a plurality of game tables according to a
first embodiment of the present invention will be described in more
detail.
[0082] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the whole
system, the fraud detecting system in a game house including a
plurality of game tables 4 includes: a game recording device 11
that records the state of progress of a game performed in the game
table 4 as a video including players 6 and a dealer 5 through a
plurality of camera devices 2; an image analyzing device 12 that
performs an image analysis of the recorded video of the state of
process of the game; and a card distributing device 3 that
determines and displays a result of winning/losing of each game in
the game table 4. The card distributing device 3 is a so-called
electronic shooter that has already been used by persons skilled in
the art and has rules of a game programmed in advance and has a
structure capable of determining winning/losing of a game by
reading information of distributed cards C. For example, in a
Baccarat game, winning of the baker, winning of a player, or tie
(drawn) is determined basically based on the ranks of two to three
cards, and a determination result (a result of winning/losing) is
displayed in a result display lamp 13.
[0083] The fraud detecting system further includes a control device
14 that compares the rank of actual cards according to a result of
the image analysis performed by the image analyzing device 12 and a
result of winning/losing determined by the card distributing device
3 with each other and detects fraud (mismatch between a sum of
ranks of distributed cards and a result of winning/losing)
performed in the game table 4. The card distributing device 3 has a
structure capable of reading ranks (A, 2 to 10, J, Q, K) and suits
(hearts, spades, or the like) of cards C that are manually
distributed by the dealer 5, and the control device 14 has a
structure capable of determining match/mismatch by collating
information of a rank and suites acquired by the image analyzing
device 12 (using artificial intelligence) from a video (captured by
using the camera device 2) of cards distributed in the game table 4
and information of cards and suits read by the card distributing
device 3 with each other. The image analyzing device 12 and the
control device 14 of the fraud detecting system have a structure
integrally including a computer formed as one body or by a
plurality of configurations, a program, and a memory.
[0084] The image analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 have
an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure
capable of acquiring information of ranks of cards also for cards C
that are distributed in the game table 4 and are bent or
contaminated by the player 6. For a contaminated card C, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, there is a situation in which it is
difficult to determine clubs or spades. Also in such a case, the
suite can be determined by an artificial intelligence-utilizing
computer or control system, an analysis and a determination of an
image using a deep learning (structure) technology. In addition,
also in a case where a card is bent according to a player's squeeze
of a card, which is frequently performed in a Baccarat game or the
like, by using self-learning of examples of many deformations of
images or the like, a suit and a rank of a card before deformation
can be recognized according to an artificial intelligence-utilizing
computer or control system and a deep learning (structure)
technology. The artificial intelligence-utilizing computer or
control system and the deep learning (structure) technology are
known as a person skilled in the art and can be used, and thus,
detailed description thereof will not be presented.
[0085] The control device 14 having an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure can perceive a
position (a player, a banker, or a pair) inside a bet area 8 on
which each player 6 bets chips 120, the type (a value of a
different amount is assigned to chips 120 for each color) and the
number of the bet chips 120 through the camera device 2 and the
image analyzing device 12. Not only there is a case where the chip
120 is vertically arranged to be superimposed but also there is a
case where the chips are superimposed with deviations as
illustrated in FIG. 2A. In such a case, in a case where the camera
device 2 is positioned in the direction of an arrow X illustrated
in FIG. 2A (or the direction of the chip 120 is relatively in a
blind area), as illustrated in FIG. 2B, it is assumed that the chip
120 is not visible (enters a blind area). According to the
artificial intelligence-utilizing computer or control system or the
deep-learning technology, by using a self-learning function or the
like, hidden chip 120 due to a blind area or the like is recognized
(there are case where a part of one unit of chips are hidden or a
case where the whole chips are hidden), and the number and the like
can be correctly perceived.
[0086] In this way, since a position (a player, a banker, or a
pair) inside the bet area 8 on which the chips 12 are bet and the
type (a value of a different amount is assigned to chip 120 for
each color) and the number of the bet chips 120 can be perceived,
the control device 14 determines whether or not collection (denoted
by an arrow L) of the losing chips bet by each player 6 and payment
(120W) for winning chips to a player 6W who has won are properly
performed according to a result of winning/losing of a game in
accordance with a result of winning/losing of the game determined
by the card distributing device 3 in each game by analyzing a video
of the state of process of the game through the image analyzing
device 12. In a case where a determination result acquired through
an analysis using the image analyzing device 12 is different from a
result (for example, a result of reading using an RFID) of reading
using the other means, the intelligent-type control device 14
stores the analysis image and can verify the result later. As a
result of the verification, in the case of an error in the
intelligent-type control device 14, by using the analysis image as
sample data of teacher leaning in the deep-learning technology, the
accuracy of the intelligent-type control device 14 can be
improved.
[0087] The control device 14 can analyze and acquire a total amount
of the chips 120 in the chip tray 17 for the dealer 5 in the game
table 4 by using the image analyzing device 12 and can compare and
calculate whether or not a total amount of the chips 120 inside the
tray 17 for the chips 120 has been increased or decreased according
to the amount of collection of the losing chips 120 bet by each
player 6 and the amount of the payment 120W for winning chips to a
player 6W who has won after the end of the game and the settlement
based on a result of winning/losing of the game. A total amount of
the chips 120 in the chip tray 17 120 may be constantly acquired
using means such as an RFID, and the control device 14 determines
whether or not the increased/decreased amount is correct by
analyzing the video of the state of progress of the game through
the image analyzing device 12.
[0088] For this, the artificial intelligence-type or deep-leaning
structure is also used.
[0089] In this example, since fraud or a mistake is detected based
on a result of winning/losing of a game, information of the type of
bet chip 120, the position (a player, a banker, or a pair) inside
the bet area 8 on which the chips 120 are bet, and the amount of
the chips 120, and an increased/decreased amount of the chips 120
in the chip tray 17 after the end of the collection of losing chips
and the repayment for the won chips 120 without acquiring the
movement of the chips 120 after the end of the game, that is,
whether the bet chips 120 has been moved to the player side or the
dealer side.
[0090] For example, in the case of Baccarat, a result of
winning/losing of a game can be determined based on rules of
Baccarat by reading ranks of cards C delivered in that game by the
card distributing device 3. In addition, a result of winning/losing
of a game can be determined also by imaging an area on the game
table 4 by using the camera device 2, analyzing the image using the
image analyzing device 12, and collating a result of the analysis
with the rules of the game by using the control device 14. In such
a case, a winning/losing result determining device is configured by
the camera device 2, the image analyzing device 12, and the control
device 14. The information of a player of each play position 7, the
type of bet chip 120, the position (a player, a banker, or a pair)
inside the bet area 8 on which the chips 120 is bet, and the amount
of the chips 120 is acquired by imaging the chips 120 placed on the
bet area 8 by using the camera device 2 and analyzing the image for
each play position 7 by using the image analyzing device 12.
[0091] In addition, an increased/decreased amount of chips 120 in
the chip tray 17 before and after the collection of losing chips
120 and the repayment for winning chips 120 can be calculated by
comparing a total amount of the chips 120 disposed inside the chip
tray 17 before the collection of losing chips 120 and the repayment
for won chips 120 with a total amount of the chips 120 disposed
inside the chip tray 17 after the collection of losing chips 120
and the repayment for won chips 120.
[0092] The total amount of the chips 120 disposed inside the chip
tray 17 before the collection of losing chips 120 and the repayment
for won chips 120 and the total amount of the chips 120 disposed
inside the chip tray 17 after the collection of losing chips 120
and the repayment for won chips 120 can be detected by imaging the
chip tray 17 housing the chips 120 using the camera device 2 and
analyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12. In
addition, by embedding an RFID representing the amount inside chips
120 and arranging an RFID reader in the chip tray 17, a total
amount of the chips 120 housed in the chip tray 17 may be
configured to be detected.
[0093] For example, it is assumed that the total amount of the
chips 120 disposed on the chip tray 17 before the start of a game
is Bb, and the total amount of the chips 120 disposed on the chip
tray 17 after the game ends, and the collection of losing chips 120
and the re-payment for winning chips 120 is Ba. In addition, in
this game, a total amount of all the play positions 7 of chips 120
that is bet on the player area is bp, a total amount of all the
play positions 7 of chips 120 that is bet on the banker area is bb,
and a total amount of all the play positions 7 of chips 120 that is
bet on a tie area is bt. For example, in a case where a result of
winning/losing of a game is the winning of the banker,
Ba-Bb=bp-bb+bt needs to be satisfied. Alternatively, the total
amount Ba of the chips 120 of the chip tray 17 after the end of the
game needs to be (Bb+bp-bb+bt). Otherwise, it can be determined
that there is fraud or a mistake in the collection or repayment of
the chips.
[0094] FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating details of a chip tray
according to this embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a diagram
illustrating another example of a chip tray. In the chip tray 17, a
collection chip tray 171 that is used for collecting and
temporarily storing chips 120L that are bet by a losing player 6L
and a repayment chip tray 172 for chips 120W that are used for
storing chips 120L to be re-payed are arranged. The image analyzing
device 12 and the control device 14 acquire the position, the type,
and the number of chips 120L that are bet by the losing player 6L
and calculates an increased amount (an amount of chips 120 to be
present in the collection chip tray 171) of chips 0L in the game.
In addition, the image analyzing device 12 and the control device
14 acquires a real total amount of chips 120 in the chip tray 171
after the collection and compare a total amount with the real total
amount to determine whether or not there is a difference
therebetween.
[0095] In addition, for the repayment of chips 120W for a winning
player 6W, by using chips 120 that is present in the repayment chip
tray 172, a sufficient time can be secured for the image analyzing
device 12 and the control device 14 to acquire a real total amount
of chips 120 in the collection chip tray 171 after collection.
[0096] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the game table 4 includes a
disposal area 41 and/or a disposal slot 42 used for disposing cards
C used in a game. When a game ends, the cards C used in the game
are collected and are put into the disposal area 41 or the disposal
slot 42 on the game table 4.
[0097] The game table 4 further includes a marker 43 representing
winning/losing of a game.
[0098] FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating the front side of a
marker, and FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating the back side of a
marker. In a Baccarat game, two types of a marker 43a representing
the winning of the player and a marker 43b representing the winning
of the banker are used, and, when a result of a game comes out, the
dealer 5 overturns the marker of the winning side out of the player
or the banker. In this way, winning/losing of a game is represented
on the table to be easily understood. The overturned marker is
returned to the original state by the dealer 5 after the collection
and the repayment of chips 120. By returning the marker to the
original state, it also represents a state in which a next game can
be started.
[0099] As above, in this embodiment, the control device 14
calculates the amount of bet chips on the game table 4 and a
balance of chips from a result of winning/losing of a game for each
game and verifies an increased amount of the balance of chips
inside the chip tray 17 after the game. When a difference is
detected in this verification, the control device 14 generates an
alarm or adds recording of an indication thereof in the recording
of a video captured by the camera device 2. A casino operator can
peruse the reason for the difference by checking the video.
[0100] The fraud detecting system according to this embodiment
adds/subtracts an increased/decreased amount of chips in a game
calculated based on the positions, the types, and the numbers of
chips 120 that is bet by all the players 6 in the game and a result
of winning/losing of the game acquired by the winning/losing result
determining device to/from a total amount of chips 120 in the chip
tray 17 before a settlement of each game, compares a total amount
of chips 120 to be present in the chip tray 17 after the settlement
at the time of the end of the game with a real total amount of
chips 120 in the chip tray 17 at the time of end of the game that
is acquired through the image analyzing device 12, and determines
whether or not there is a difference between a total amount and a
real total amount.
[0101] The control device 14 acquires the position, the type, and
the number of chips that is bet by each player through the image
analyzing device 12, acquires a real total amount of chips placed
in the chip tray when all the collections of losing chips bet by
each player end, compares a total amount of chips 120 to be present
in the chip tray 17, which is acquired by adding an increased
amount in the chip tray 17 in the game based on the positions, the
types, and the numbers of chips bet by losing players to a total
amount of chips placed in the chip tray before a settlement of each
game, with a real total amount of chips 120 placed in the chip tray
17, and determines whether or not there is a difference between the
total amount and the real total amount.
[0102] In a case where the control device 14 compares a total
amount of chips 120 to be present in the chip tray 17, which is
acquired by adding an increased amount in the chip tray 17 in the
game based on the positions, the types, and the numbers of chips
120 bet by losing players to a total amount of chips 120 placed in
the chip tray 17 before a settlement of each game, with a real
total amount of the chips 120 placed in the chip tray 17, and
determines that there is no difference between the total amount and
the real total amount, and compares a total amount to be present in
the chip tray 17 after the settlement at the time of end of the
game with a real total amount of chips 120 placed in the chip tray
17 at the time of end of the game acquired through the image
analyzing device 12, and determines that there is a difference
between the total amount and the real total amount, the control
device 14 determines a mistake in the payment and generates a
payment error signal used for giving a notification of the mistake
in the payment.
[0103] In the chip tray 17, the collection chip tray 171 that
collects and temporarily stores chips 120 bet by losing players is
arranged, and the image analyzing device 12 compares a total amount
of chips 120 to be present in the collection chip tray 171, which
is acquired by adding an increased amount of chips 120 in the game
that is calculated based on the positions, the types, and the
numbers of the chips 120L bet by losing players, with a real total
amount of the chips 120 placed in the chip tray 171, and determines
whether or not there is a difference between the total amount and
the real total amount.
[0104] When the control device 14 determines a difference in the
real total amount of the chips 120 acquired from the chip tray 17
for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 not corresponding to the
increased/decreased amount of the chips calculated based on the
amount of chips bet by all the players and a result of
winning/losing of the game, the game recording device 11 assigns an
index or time to the acquired video or can reproduced with a
collection scene or a payment scene of the chips 120 specified such
that the recording of the game in which the difference occurs can
be analyzed by the game recording device 11.
[0105] In this way, the control device 14 acquires a total amount
of chips (chips) placed in the chip tray 17 after a settlement at
the time of end of a game through the image analyzing device 12. In
this case, the determination of "after the settlement" is when one
of "1)" to 4)" described below occurs.
[0106] 1) when repayment for won chips 120 (won chips) ends.
[0107] 2) when cards C used in the game are collected and are
disposed in the disposal area or the disposal slot of the
table.
[0108] 3) when a predetermined button accompanying the
winning/losing result determining device is pressed.
[0109] 4) when the marker 43 representing winning/losing is
returned to the original state.
[0110] In the management system of the table game, the management
control device images the positions, the types, and the numbers of
chips that is placed by game participants in each game when any one
of 1) to 3) described below is detected.
[0111] 1) when the card distributing device detects that a first
card is drawn.
[0112] 2) before and after drawing.
[0113] 3) after the management control device recognizes a dealer's
bet end sign.
[0114] In addition, the control device 14 has an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of
acquiring the position (a position for betting on the player, the
banker, or the fair) and the amount (the types and numbers) of bet
chips at each player position 7 of the game table 4, comparing a
winning/losing history of each player 6 and the amount (won amount)
of acquired chips that can be acquired based on the result of
winning/losing of each game with statistical data of many (big
data) games in the past, and extracting an abnormal situation (set
in the casino).
[0115] Typically, the control device 14 is included which has an
artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure
capable of extracting an occurrence of a won amount of a certain
amount (one million dollars) or more and an abnormal situation in
which, in a play position 7 of a specific game table 4, a state in
which the amount of bet chips is small at the time of losing a
game, and the amount of bet chips is large at the time of winning a
game is continued for several games and is determined as an
abnormal situation based on a comparison with statistical data (big
data or the like) of games in the past.
[0116] In addition, the control device 14 (integrated with the
image analyzing device 12) of the fraud detecting system has a
structure capable of extracting an abnormal situation or specifying
an individual player 6 at the play position 7 at which winning of a
predetermined amount of more is acquired. In such specifying of a
player 6, the image of each face is specified with a profit and an
identify number (an ID or the like) assigned thereto in the image
analyzing device 12. Then, the control device 14 has a warning
function for giving a notification of the presence of a specific
player in another game table when the specified player 6 leaves a
seat and arrives at the another game table. More specifically, a
notice is given to a pit manager managing each game table 4 or each
table staff (or a dealer), wherein further prevention of an
abnormal phenomenon is achieved.
[0117] The control device 14 includes a database recording a
history of exchange of bills K and chips 120, refers to the
database at the interval of a predetermined time or in units of one
day and determines through a comparison whether or not the amount
of chips 120 acquired in the chip tray 17 for the dealer 5 of the
game table 4 has been increased or decreased according to a payed
amount of chips 120 corresponding to exchanged bills K or a total
amount of payment of bills K corresponding to exchanged chips
120.
[0118] In addition, a winning/losing history of each play position
7 and the amount (won amount) of acquired chips may be monitored
without specifying an individual player 6.
[0119] In such a case, while, in a case where each player 6 leaves
the seat, the player 6 cannot be tracked, an abnormal situation
such as a case where, a state in which the amount of bet chips is
small at the time of losing a game at a specific play position 7 of
one game table 4, and the amount of bet chips at the time of
winning a game is large is continued for several games or the like
can be detected. Then, in a case where such a play position 7 is
detected, there is a suspicion that there is fraud or a mistake at
the play position 7. Then, by verifying a video in which the play
position 7 is imaged, a fraud or a mistake can be found.
[0120] More specifically, the camera device 2 is mounted to image
at least chips 120 placed in the bet area 8 of the game table 4.
The image analyzing device 12 analyzes images captured by the
camera device 2 and detects a position among the positions of the
player, the banker, and the tie of the bet area 8 at which chips
are placed for each user position 7 and the amount of the placed
chips. In addition, the card distributing device 3 also functions
as a winning/losing result determining device and determines a
result of winning/losing of a game. The control device 14, based on
the position (the player, the banker, or the tie) inside the bet
area 8 at which the chips 120 are placed and the result of
winning/losing of the game, records monitors) a winning/losing
history for each play position 7 and the amount (an acquired amount
of the chips) of the chips that has been acquired. Here, any one of
the winning/losing history and the acquired amount of the chips may
be recorded. In a case where the winning/losing history/or the
acquired amount of the chips is in an abnormal situation (set in
the casino) when compared with the statistical data of many (big
data) games in the past, the control device 14 specifies this
player position 7 as a play position at which a suspicion of fraud
is present.
[0121] In a case where there is a suspicion of fraud for a specific
player position 7, the fraud detecting system may be configured to
generate an alarm (light, a sound, or a vibration) such that at
least the dealer gets near at the time point. In this way, a game
thereafter is stopped at least at the place or the like, and the
continuation of fraud can be blocked. In addition, information
representing a suspicion of fraud may be added to a video that is
captured and recorded by the camera device 2. Accordingly, by
checking the video, the cause of the suspicion of fraud can be
investigated.
[0122] The fraud detecting system in a game house including a game
table according to this embodiment further has a function of
performing an inspection at the time of exchange of bills and chips
that is frequently performed in the game table 4. In a game house
such as a casino, before a game, a player 6 exchanges bills (cash
or the like) and chips at a predetermined chip clearing house.
However, when all the chips are used, the player 6 can continue the
game by exchanging cash (bills) with chips 120 on the game table (a
Baccarat table or the like) without leaving the seat from the game
table 4. However, here, there is a chance for fraud between the
dealer 5 and the player. The exchange of cash (bills) for chips 120
on a game table (for example, a Baccarat table or the like) needs
to be performed when a game does not advance. In order to determine
winning/losing of a game, the card distributing device 3 can detect
the start of dealing of cards and the end of dealing (a time period
for determining winning/losing). For this reason, the card
distributing device 3 detects a situation other than the
distribution (dealing) of cards, and the control device 14 detects
exchange of bills and chips 120 on the game table 4 in a situation
other than the dealing of cards (illustrated in FIG. 5).
[0123] Being in the middle of the dealing (or any other situation)
of cards can be detected based on information acquired from the
operation of the card distributing device 3 or the dealer 5.
[0124] The control device 14 can recognize the number and the
amount of bills by performing an image analysis of the surfaces of
the bills K. In addition, in the game table 4, it is determined
whether or not bills K to be exchanged for chips 120 are genuine by
detecting genuine marks G of the bills by emitting black light. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the control device 14 has an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure verifying the
genuine marks G through an image analysis, recognizing a total
amount of genuine bills, being capable of recognizing a total
amount of chips even in a state in which a plurality of chips come
out onto the game table as an exchange target is hidden due to a
blind area of the camera device 2, comparing a total amount of the
bills K come out onto the game table 4 from a player with a total
amount of the chips 120 come out from the dealer 5, and being
capable of determining whether or not both the amounts match each
other.
[0125] The control device 14 has an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-leaning structure capable of
determining whether or not a total amount of chips 120 placed in
the chip tray 17 for the dealer 5 of the game table 4 has been
increased/decreased according to a paid amount of chips
corresponding to the exchanged bills after a settlement through
exchange of the bills and the chips. A case may be considered as
well in which the total amount of the chips 120 placed in the chip
tray 17 for the dealer 5 is constantly acquired in advance by using
RFIDs of chips 120 or the like. In addition, the total amount of
the chips 120 housed in the chip tray 17 can be detected by imaging
the chip tray 17 housing the chips 120 by using the camera device 2
and analyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12.
[0126] In addition, the control device 14 detects whether an
increase/decrease in the amount of the chips 120 present inside the
chip tray 17 before and after the exchange of bills and the chips
matches an exchange amount of the chips as a result of an image
analysis on the game table 4. The amount of paid bills may be input
by the dealer 5 to the control device 14 through key input or the
like or may be specified by imaging an area disposed on the game
table 4 in which bills are paid by using the camera device 2 and
analyzing the image using the image analyzing device 12.
[0127] As described above, the control device 14 determines whether
or not a decreased amount of the chips 120 from the chip tray 17
according to the exchange of bills and the chips matches the amount
paid to the dealer 5 from players 6. In addition, the control
device 14 is an intelligence-type control device capable of
determining match/mismatch of an input amount (commonly, according
to key input or the like) of bills input by the dealer 5 and a
calculated amount of bills that is a result of an image analysis
performed by the image analyzing device 12 after the settlement
through the exchange of the bills and the chips through a
comparison and calculation and may have an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure.
[0128] Furthermore, the control device 14 has an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of
determining match/mismatch of a total amount of bills according to
the input of a dealer in the game table 4 for which the dealer is
responsible and a total amount of bills according to a result of an
image analysis using the image analyzing device 12 through a
comparison and calculation.
[0129] The control device 14 determines whether or not the amount
of chips 120 perceived in the chip tray 17 for the dealer 5 of the
game table 4 has increased/decreased according to a paid amount of
chips 120 corresponding to exchanged bills after the exchange of
the bills and the chips 120 or a paid amount of bills corresponding
to the exchanged chips 120 through a comparison.
[0130] The control device 14 is a control device having an
artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure
capable of acquiring information of the types and the numbers of
the chips 120 even in a state in which a part of or the whole one
unit of chips are hidden when the types and the numbers of the
chips 120 are determined.
[0131] A management system according to a second embodiment relates
to a management system of table games in a game house.
[0132] In a game house such as a casino, there are various attempts
preventing dealer's mistakes in handling chips. A game house
includes monitoring cameras used for monitoring dealer's mistakes
in handling chips, and such mistakes are prevented using a
determination of mistakes and fraud according to collection and
repayment of chips that are different from a result of
winning/losing based on images acquired using the monitoring
cameras and the like.
[0133] Meanwhile, in order to acquire the number and a total amount
of chips, it has been proposed to acquire the amount of the chips
by attaching an IC tag to each chip.
[0134] In a card game monitoring system disclosed in PCT
Application Publication No. PCT/JP2015/000171, it is determined
whether or not chips place on a game table are collected or
re-payed according to a result of winning/losing by performing an
image analysis of movement of the chips, and monitoring of dealer's
mistakes in handling the chips are performed.
[0135] In game houses such as casinos, while chips are piled to
have a high volume and is placed on a game table, there is a
problem in that a total amount cannot be correctly read by a
reading device for IC tags disposed under the game table, and, when
the sensitivity of the reading device is increased, chips placed at
a different position (winning/losing depends on the position) is
added, and there is a problem in that a total amount of chips at
each position cannot be perceived. In addition, conventionally, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, the pattern of chip (chips for gaming) 9 is
complicated, and, when a plurality of chips are piled, there is a
problem in that the number of such a pile cannot be accurately
acquired using a camera.
[0136] Furthermore, fraud on a game table has been advanced, and
there is a new problem in that fraud using an advanced betting
method or the like that cannot be found in simple detection of a
large winning amount on a game table or the like cannot be found by
using a camera.
[0137] In addition, it is necessary for a dealer to collect or
re-paid chips placed on a game table according to a result of
winning/losing. In a case this is to be determined by performing an
image analysis of the chips, since the pattern of the chip (chips
for gaming) is complicated, there is a problem in that it cannot be
determined whether or not a dealer correctly performs re-payment
when chips corresponding to the bet chips is re-payed by using a
currently-existing practical image analyzing technology, and the
prevention of mistakes is not sufficient.
[0138] In order to solve the various problems described above, a
management system of table games according to this embodiment
includes: a card distributing device that determines and displays a
result of winning/losing of each game in a game table; a
measurement device that measures the types and the numbers of chips
place on the game table by using a camera; and a management control
device that specifies and stores the position, the types, and the
numbers of chips placed on the game table by a game participant by
using a result of the measurement performed by the measurement
device in each game. The chip has a configuration in which a
plurality of plastic layers of different colors are stacked, at
least a coloring layer is included in the middle, and a stripe
pattern in a stacking direction is formed on a side face by
employing a multi-layer structure in which white layers or
thin-color layers are stacked on both sides of the coloring layer
disposed in the middle, and the type of the chip can be specified
by using the coloring layer. The management control device has
calculation functions of determining a winner and a loser among
participants in each game by using a result of winning/losing
acquired from the card distributing device and a result of the
measurement of the position, the types, and the numbers of the
chips placed by each game participant and calculating the balance
of the casino side in the game table for each game.
[0139] In addition, in the management system, the management
control device has a structure including a function of determining
the amount of the chips by measuring the number of coloring layers,
the white layers, or the thin-color layers of the chips placed by
each game participant.
[0140] In order to solve the various problems, a chip according to
this embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of plastic
layers of different colors are stacked, at least a coloring layer
is included in the middle, and a stripe pattern in a stacking
direction is formed on a side face by stacking white layers or
thin-color layers on both sides of the coloring layer, and the type
of the chip can be specified by using the coloring layer.
[0141] In addition, in the chip, on the surface of the white layer
or the thin-color layer, a print representing the type of the chip
is formed, transparent layers are disposed in outermost layers, and
each interlayer is thermos-compressed to form a structure of at
least five layers.
[0142] In addition, in the chip, marks using UV ink or ink (carbon
black ink) absorbing infrared rays are arranged on the surfaces of
the white-color layers or the thin-color layers, or embossing
processing is performed for the transparent layer of the outermost
layer, or R processing is performed for the ends of the transparent
layers of the outermost layers, or the coloring layer is formed by
a plurality of layers, and RFIDs may be built in the coloring
layers.
[0143] In order to solve the various problems described above, an
inspection device inspecting chips according to this embodiment
includes: a passage including an inlet and an output through which
the chips can pass in a radial direction; a chip type determining
device that determines a color of the stripe in the staking
direction of the side face by imaging the side face of the chip
passing through the passage; a mark reading device that reads a
mark, which is formed using the UV ink or the ink (carbon black
ink) absorbing infrared rays, arranged on the surface of the
passing chip; a print inspecting device that reads a print
representing the type arranged on the surface of the chip in a
vertical direction with respect to the passage; and a control
device of the whole device. The control device is configured to
inspect whether or not the type of the chip determined by the chip
type determining device matches a content of the print representing
the type acquired by the print inspecting device.
[0144] According to the system of this embodiment, even in a case
where many chips (substitute currency for gaming) are piled up, the
number of the chips can be determined, and a total amount of
relatively overlapping chips can be acquired based on the position
and the color.
[0145] Hereinafter, a management system of table games in a game
house including a game table according to an embodiment of the
present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram that
illustrates an overview of the whole system. The management system
of table games in a game house including a plurality of game tables
4 includes: a measurement device 19 including an image analyzing
device 18 that records a state of process of a game played in the
game table 4 as a video including game participants 6 and a dealer
5 through a plurality of camera devices 2 and performs an image
analysis of the recorded video of the state of process of the game;
and a card distributing device 3 that determines and displays a
result of winning/losing of each game in the game table 4. The card
distributing device 3 is a so-called electronic shooter that has
already been used by persons skilled in the art and has rules of a
game programmed in advance and has a structure capable of
determining winning/losing of a game by reading information of
distributed cards C. For example, in a Baccarat game, winning of
the baker, winning of a player, or tie (drawn) is determined
basically based on the ranks of two to three cards, and a
determination result (a result of winning/losing) is displayed in a
result display lamp 13.
[0146] The management control device 14 reads information (ranks
and suits) of cards C acquired from the card distributing device 3
and determines a result of winning/losing of each game and
determines a winner 6W and a loser 6L among the participants 6 in
each game by using a result of measurement of the position, the
types, and the numbers of chips 120 placed by the game participants
6.
[0147] In addition, the management control device 14 has a
calculation function of calculating a balance (an amount acquired
by subtracting a total amount of chips 120 that is re-paid to a
winner 6W among the participants 6 from a total amount of chips 120
bet by the loser 6L) of the casino side in the game table 1 for
each game.
[0148] The image analyzing device 18, the measurement device 19,
and the management control device 14 of this detection system have
a structure integrally including a computer formed as one body or
by a plurality of configurations, a program, and a memory.
[0149] Next, details of chip used in this detection system will be
described. FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional view of a chip 120
used in this detection system. The chip 120 has a multi-layer
structure in which a plurality of plastic layers having different
colors are stacked, a coloring layer 121 is included at least in
the middle, and white layers 122 or thin-color layers (while not
illustrated in the drawing, the layers may be layers of a color
that is thinner than that of the coloring layer 121) are stacked on
both sides of the coloring layer 121 of the middle.
[0150] In this way, by employing a multi-layer structure in which
the coloring layer 121 is included, and white layers 122 or
thin-color layers (while not illustrated in the drawing, the layers
may be layers of a color that is thinner than that of the coloring
layer 121) are stacked on both sides of the coloring layer 121 of
this middle, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, a stripe pattern is formed
on the side face in the stacking direction, and the type of the
chip 120 can be specified by changing the color (red, green,
yellow, blue, or the like) of the coloring layer 121 for each type
(10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, and the like) of
the chip 120.
[0151] The chip 120 is configured as a structure body including the
coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 or the thin-color layer
at least in the outer appearance to form a stripe pattern in the
axial direction on the side face and has a configuration enabling
the type of the chip 120 to be specified using the coloring layer
121. While FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate different examples, in the
examples, the coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 or the
thin-color layer are formed through injection molding, and
so-called two-color molding is used in which, first, the coloring
layer 121 is molded inside a die for molding (not illustrated in
the drawing), and thereafter, the white layer 122 or the thin-color
layer is molded.
[0152] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, in the chip 120,
prints 123 (100 points or the like) representing the type of the
chip 120 are formed on the surfaces (the upper face and the lower
face) of the white layer 122. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the
transparent layers 124 are disposed in the outermost layers, and
each interlayer is thermos-compressed, and a structure of at least
five layers is formed. Such chip 120 is formed by using a plastic
material having a thin long shape, and layers (the coloring layer
121, the white layer 122, and the transparent layer 124) are
thermo-compressed to form a closely adhering state (a structure of
five layers or the like) in the state of a long length, and
thereafter, holes having a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or
the like are formed therein through press or the like.
[0153] When a hole is formed through the press, die of mold for
punching, and the size of punching are designed, and R processing
(round angle) is performed for the ends of the transparent layer
124 of the outermost layer.
[0154] That is, in order to manufacture the chip 120, first, a
plate-shaped coloring layer 121 formed using plastic and a plate
shaped white layer 122 or a thin-color layer formed using plastic
are stacked, and a stacked structure body configured by a plurality
of plastic layers is formed. Then, drawing patterns are printed on
the upper face and the lower face of this stacked structure body,
and transparent layers 124 are formed thereon. Then, the layers of
the stacked structure body and the transparent layers 124 are
heated and pressed to be heated and welded, whereby a chip original
plate is generated. Then, punching processing is performed for the
chip original plate acquired in this way, whereby a plurality of
chips 120 having a predetermined shape are acquired. When this
punching processing is performed, R processing is performed for
upper and lower angles of the chip 120 using a mold.
[0155] In addition, in the chips 120, face codes using the UV ink
or ink (carbon black ink) absorbing an infrared rays are arranged
on the surface of the white layer 122 (see FIG. 9B). This face
codes represent the authenticity of the chip 120, and, when
ultraviolet rays (or infrared rays) are emitted thereto, a mark is
visible to the eyes, and a combination of the form and the number
of the marks represents the authenticity. FIG. 11 is a perspective
view of a state in which the chips 120 are stacked up, and a face
code M is acquired by combining a long code L and a short code S.
In the outermost layers, while transparent layers (print layers)
124 are thermally compressed or formed as coating layers to cover
the print 123 and the face code, embossing processing is performed
for these transparent layers 124, and the close adherence between
the chips 120 is prevented. In addition, in this embodiment, while
an example has been described in which face codes are printed on
the surfaces of the white layers 122, instead of the face codes or
together with the face codes, one or both of a security mark and an
optically variable device (OVD) may be printed.
[0156] The R processing (R) is performed for the ends of the
transparent layers (print layer) 124 of the outermost layer for
which the print 123 (100 points or the like), and in the punching
process of the chip 120, the surfaces of the white layers 122 are
prevented from being deformed to appear on the side face. In
addition, it is prevented that a sharp end remains in the chip 120
and damages the hands or the other chip 120.
[0157] The coloring layer 121, as illustrated in FIG. 8, may be
formed by a plurality of colored layers (three layers in the case
illustrated in FIG. 8). Since the plurality of colored layers
(three layers in the case illustrated in FIG. 8) are
thermos-compressed, a state in which the three-layer structure can
be visually observed, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is not formed.
However, three layers are illustrated in FIG. 8 for description. In
addition, in a middle layer among the three layers of the coloring
layer 121, a partly hollowed portion B is arranged, and an RFID 125
is built therein.
[0158] In addition, without arranging the hollowed portion B in the
coloring layer 121, the RFID 125 may be built in the chip 120 by
arranging the RFID 125 between the coloring layer 121 having a flat
surface and the white layer 122 having a flat surface and
performing thermos-compressing of the coloring layer 121 and the
white layer 122 as it is. By configuring at least one of the
coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 using a material such as
plastic that can be thermally deformed, out of the coloring layer
121 and the white layer 122 having the RFID 125 interposed
therebetween through thermal compression, a plastic layer is
thermally deformed, and accordingly, the RFID 125 is tightly fixed
between such layers without arranging the hollowed portion B.
[0159] FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory photographic diagram
that illustrates a state in which chips of different types are
piled up. The management control device 14 images chips 120 placed
on the game table 1 by the game participant 6 by using the camera
device 2 and measures each area 8 (whether the bet is on the
banker, the player, the pair, or the tie) in which the chips 120
are placed by using the measurement device 19 including the image
analyzing device 18, and the measurement device 19 (by using
information acquired by the image analyzing device 18) analyzes and
measures the number and the colors of coloring layers 121 (or the
thin-color layers) or white layers 122 of the chips 120 that are
stacked in each area and determines the types and the numbers of
the chips 120. The management control device 14 performs control of
the camera device 2 such that imaging using the camera device 2 is
performed when the first card is drawn from the card distributing
device, before and after the drawing, or after a dealer's sign
representing the end of betting.
[0160] The management control device 14 may be a control device
having an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning
structure. The management control device 14 can perceive the
position 8 (a position betting on a player, a banker, or a pair),
the types (a value of a different amount is assigned to the chips
120 for each color), and the numbers of the chips 120 that is bet
by each participant 6 through the camera device 2 and the image
analyzing device 18. The artificial intelligence-utilizing computer
or control system can perceive the position 8 (a position betting
on a player, a banker, or a pair), the types (a value of a
different amount is assigned to the chips for each color), and the
numbers of the chips 120 by using a self-learning function or the
like in the deep-learning (structure) technology, and thus,
according to a result of winning/losing of a game determined by the
card distributing device 3 in each game, determines whether or not
the collection (denoted using an arrow L) of chips 120 bet by a
losing participant 6L and the re-payment (payment (120W)) for
winning chips 120 for the winning game participant 6W are
appropriately performed according to a result of winning/failure of
the game in each game by analyzing a video of the state of progress
of the game by using the management control device 14 through the
image analyzing device 18.
[0161] In such a case, as illustrated in FIG. 11 (compared to
conventional chips illustrated in FIG. 7), a stacked multi-layer
structure is formed, and a stripe pattern is formed on the side
face in the stacking direction, and accordingly, the measurement
device 19 including the image analyzing device 18 can accurately
perform the measurement of the types and the numbers of chips in an
easy manner. In addition, by using an artificial
intelligence-utilizing computer or control system and a
deep-learning (structure) technology, the analysis and the
determination of the image can be performed more accurately. The
artificial intelligence-utilizing computer or control system and
the deep-learning (structure) technology are known to persons
skilled in the art and can be used, and thus, detailed description
thereof will be abbreviated.
[0162] The management control device 14 can analyze and perceive a
total amount of chips 120 in the chip tray 17 for the dealer 5 of
the game table 4 by using the image analyzing device 18 and can
determine through a comparison and calculation whether or not a
total amount of the chips 120 placed inside the chip tray 17 has
been increased/decreased according to the collection of the losing
chips 120 bet by each game participant 6 and the amount of the
payment 120W for winning chips to the winning game participant 6W
after the game ends and is settled based on the result of
winning/losing of the game. The total amount of the chips 120 in
the chip tray 17 may be constantly acquired by using means such as
RFIDs, and it is determined whether or not the increased/decreased
amount is correct by the management control device 14 by analyzing
a video of the state of progress of the game through the image
analyzing device 18. For these, an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure may be
utilized.
[0163] In addition, the management control device 14 may have an
artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure
capable of acquiring the position (a position for betting on the
player, the banker, or the fair) and the amount (the types and
numbers) of bet chips at each player position 7 of the game table
4, comparing a winning/losing history of each player 6 and the
amount (won amount) of acquired chips that can be acquired based on
the result of winning/losing of each game with statistical data of
many (big data) games in the past, and extracting an abnormal
situation (set in the casino). Typically, the management control
device 14 is included which has an artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure capable of
extracting an occurrence of a won amount of a certain amount (one
million dollars) or more and an abnormal situation in which, in a
play position 7 of a specific game table 4, a state in which the
amount of bet chips is small at the time of losing a game, and the
amount of bet chips is large at the time of winning a game is
continued for several games and is determined as an abnormal
situation based on a comparison with statistical data (big data or
the like) of games in the past.
[0164] The total amount of the chips 120 in the chip tray 17 for
the dealer 5 of the game table 4 is settled for the chips 120 bet
by each participant 6 after each game, and the management control
device 14 has a structure capable of determining through a
comparison and calculation whether or not an increase/decrease in
the chips that corresponds to a settlement is correct after the
settlement.
[0165] In the chip tray 17 used for storing the chips 120 for the
dealer 5 illustrated in FIG. 6, the types and the numbers of the
chips 120 can be determined by analyzing and measuring the numbers
and the colors of the coloring layers 121 or the white layers 122
of the chips 120 stacked in the horizontal direction by using the
measurement device 19 (by using the information acquired by the
image analyzing device 18). The total amount of the chips 120 for
the tray 17 for storing chips is constantly (or at predetermined
time intervals) acquired in this way. As the management control
device 14 has a calculation function of calculating a settlement
amount (calculation of a balance of the casino side in the game
table 4 (an amount acquired by subtracting a total amount of the
chips 120 re-paid to the winner 6W among the participants 6 from a
total amount of the chips 120 bet by the loser 6L) of each game for
each game (see description presented above), the total amount of
the chips 120 of the chip tray 17 is constantly (or at intervals of
a predetermined time) is verified. That is, it is verified whether
or not an increase/decrease in the chips matches a result of an
image analysis performed by the image analyzing device 18 and the
settlement amount of each game performed by the dealer 5.
[0166] FIG. 13A is a diagram that illustrates details of a chip
tray according to this embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a diagram that
illustrates another example of tray for the chip. In the chip tray
17, a collection chip tray 171 that is used for collecting and
temporarily storing chips 120L that are bet by a losing player 6L
and a repayment chip tray 172 120W that are used for storing chips
120L to be re-payed are arranged. The image analyzing device 12 and
the control device 14 acquire the position, the type, and the
number of chips 120L that is bet by the losing player 6L and
calculates an increased amount (an amount of chips 120L to be
present in the collection chip tray 171 120) of chips 120L in the
game. In addition, the image analyzing device 12 and the control
device 14 acquire a real total amount of the chips 120 in the chip
tray 171 after the collection and determine whether or not there is
a difference between the total amount and the real total amount
through a comparison.
[0167] Here, the chip tray 17 that is illustrated above has a
two-stage structure formed by an upper stage chip tray 17a and a
lower stage chip tray 17b. FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams that
illustrate a relation between the chip tray 17 having a two-stage
structure and a camera device 2, FIG. 14A illustrates a state in
which two stages overlap each other, and FIG. 14B illustrates a
state in which two stages are shifted from each other. In the lower
stage of the upper stage chip tray 17a, the lower stage chip tray
17b is present, and the upper stage chip tray 17a and the lower
stage chip tray 17b are connected through a hinge 17c. In a case
where chips 120 placed in the upper stage chip tray 17a 120 is
insufficient, chips 120 are supplemented from the lower stage chip
tray 17b to the upper stage chip tray 17a. On the other hand, in a
case where chips 120 placed in the upper stage chip tray 17a is
excessive, the chips are moved to the lower stage chip tray
17b.
[0168] In order to take in the chips 120 from the lower stage chip
tray 17b, the upper stage chip tray 17a is moved using the hinge
17c to be in a state illustrated in FIG. 14B. In the state
illustrated in FIG. 14A, the upper stage chip tray 17a is imaged by
the camera device 2, and, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the
lower stage chip tray 17b can be imaged using the camera device 2.
In the state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the upper stage chip tray 17a
and the lower stage chip tray 17b can be imaged by the camera
device 2c simultaneously and in a state in which the trays can be
identified from each other. In addition, in the state illustrated
in FIG. 14B, the upper stage chip tray 17a and the lower stage chip
tray 17b may be separately imaged. The camera devices 2 and 2c may
respectively include a visible light camera corresponding to
printed ink of a side ID 126 and an infrared-ray camera or may be
cameras switchable between a plurality of functions of a
visible-light camera corresponding to printed ink and an
infrared-ray camera.
[0169] Next, an inspection device 200 inspecting the chips 120
according to an embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to FIG. 15. The inspection device 200
includes a passage 203 that includes an inlet 201 through which
chips 120 can pass in the radial direction (the direction of an
arrow Y) and an outlet 202. The passage 203 inclines, and the chip
120 passes in the direction of the arrow Y). In the passage 203, a
chip type determining device 204 that images the side face of the
chip 120 and determines the color of a stripe pattern of the side
face in the stacking direction; a mark reading device 205 that
reads a face code as a face code using UV ink or ink (carbon black
ink) absorbing infrared rays arranged on the surface of the passing
chip 120; a print inspecting device 206 that reads the print 123
representing the type arranged on the surface of chip in the
vertical direction with respect to the passage 203; and a control
device 207 for the whole device. The control device 207 is
configured to inspect whether or not the type of the chip
determined by the chip type determining device 204 matches a
content of the print representing the type acquired from the print
inspecting device 206.
[0170] By using this inspection device 200, it can be inspected
whether or not the print 123 of the manufactured chip 120 matches
the type of the chip according to the color of the stripe pattern
of the chip 120 and is correctly printed.
[0171] As above, the chip 120 according to this embodiment has a
stacked structure, in which the coloring layer 121 and the white
layer 122 or thin-color layers having the coloring layer 121
interposed therebetween are stacked, formed by a plurality of
plastic layers and thus, has a side face on which a stride pattern
is formed in the stacking direction. The chip 120 has a
configuration enabling the type of the chip 120 to be specified
using the coloring layer 121 appearing on the side face. In
addition, prints are performed for the upper face and the lower
face of the chips 120. More specifically, prints are performed for
the surface of the white layer 122 of the thin-color layer, and the
transparent layer 124 is included on the upper face thereof. The
coloring layer 121 and the white layer 122 or the thin-color layer
and the print layer 124 are thermos-compressed together to form a
layered structure.
[0172] The white layers 122 or the thin-color layers having the
coloring layer 121 interposed therebetween may be configured to
have different depths in the vertical direction from each
other.
[0173] In addition, in this embodiment, the R processing is
performed for the outer edges of the upper face and the lower face
of the chips 120. Accordingly, it can be prevented that a player's
hand handling the chips 120 hurts, or the chip 120 damages the
other chip 120.
[0174] In addition, in this embodiment, the RFID 125 is tightly
fixed between plastic layers each forming one of the coloring layer
121 and the white layer 122 or the thin-color layer.
[0175] In addition, in this embodiment, on the upper face and/or
the lower face of the chip 120, face codes using UV emission ink,
infrared absorption ink such as ink (carbon black ink) absorbing
infrared rays are arranged. In addition, as a modified example of
this embodiment, one or both of a security mark and an optical
variable device (OVD) may be printed on the surfaces of the chips
120 instead of the face codes or together with the face codes.
[0176] In addition, the chip 120 according to this embodiment has a
structure in which the side ID 126 is attached to the side face,
the RFID 125 is built, and face codes using UV emission ink or
infrared absorption ink are arranged on the upper face or the lower
face (the print layer 124). Then, the information of a side ID 126
and the information of an RFID 125 are associated with each other,
the information of a side ID 126 and information of a face code are
associated with each other, or the information of a side ID 126,
information of an RFID 125, and the information of a face code are
associated with each other.
[0177] In addition, the inspection device 200 according to this
embodiment includes: the measurement device 19 of the type of chip
120 that images the side face of the chip 120 and determines the
color of the stripe pattern of the side face in the stacking
direction; and the mark reading device 205 that reads the print of
the chips. In this way, a relation between the type of chips and
the content of a print can be inspected.
[0178] The management control device 14 according to this
embodiment performs imaging for determining the position, the
types, and the numbers of chips placed by a game participant in
each game when the first card is drawn from the card distributing
device 3, before and after drawing, or after a dealer's sign
representing the end of betting.
[0179] In addition, the chip 120 according to this embodiment is
manufactured as below. First, a stacked structure body including a
plurality of plastic layers is formed by heating and pressing the
coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 or the thin-film
layers. Then, a drawing pattern is printed at least on the upper
face or the lower face of the stacked structure body, whereby a
chip original plate is generated. Then, punching processing is
performed for the chip original plate by using a mold, whereby a
plurality of chips having a predetermined shape are acquired. Here,
at the time of punching processing, R processing is performed for
the outer edges of the upper and lower faces of the chip 120 by
using a mold.
[0180] In addition, in a case where chips 120 having side IDs is to
be manufactured, side IDs are printed on the side faces of the
white layers 122 or the thin-color layers through inkjet printing.
Furthermore, in a case where chip 120 including an RFID is to be
manufactured, an RFID is interposed between the layers of the
stacked structure body, and the layers having the RFID interposed
therebetween are heated and welded when the layers are
thermos-compressed, whereby the periphery of the RFID is tightly
fixed by the plastic layers.
[0181] In addition, the management system of table games according
to this embodiment includes: the card distributing device 13 that
determines and displays a result of winning/losing of each game in
the game table 4; the camera device 2 that images chips 120 placed
on the game table 4; and the management control device 14 that
specifies and stores the position, the types, and the numbers of
chips placed by the game participant 6 on the game table 4 by using
a result of the imaging performed by the camera device 2. The chip
120 is a stacked structure body in which the coloring layer 121 and
the white layers 122 or the thin-color layers are stacked and has a
stripe pattern on the side face in the stacking direction. The
management control device 14 has a calculation function calculating
a balance of the casino side in the game table 4 for each game
based on a result of winning/losing acquired from the card
distributing device 13 and the position, the types, and the numbers
of the chips 120 specified using the imaging result of the camera
device 2.
[0182] The management control device 14 has a function of measuring
the number of the coloring layers 121 or the white layers 122 or
the thin-color layers of chips 120 placed by each game participant
6, determines the types and the numbers of the chips by using the
colors of the coloring layer 121, and determining the amounts of
the chips 120.
[0183] A system according to this embodiment relates to a
management system of chip preventing the use of fake chips in a
game house in a casino or other game facilities using chips.
[0184] Among many live table games played in a casino or a game
facility, there are Baccarat and blackjack. In such games, a
standard deck configured by 52 playing cards is used, and playing
cards are distributed to a game table from a shooter including a
plurality of decks (6 to 9 decks or 10 decks) shuffled in advance,
and a game is played. In a casino or a game facility, chips are
used for such games.
[0185] The use of fake chip should not occur in a casino. In order
to prevent the use of fake chips in a casino, there is a technology
for preventing the use of fake chips by attaching an RFID to chips.
The RFID-attached chips are known and is disclosed in WO
2008/120749 A.
[0186] This embodiment provides a management system of chips
preventing the use of fakes of chips in a casino or a game
facility, and the use and unjust exchange of fake chip in a casino
or a game facility can be prevented. In recent years, the
technologies for manufacturing fake chips evolve, and technologies
advance up to a level of copying an authenticity determination mark
or an RFID almost perfectly. As a result, a mark or an RFID that is
the same as a genuine authenticity determination mark or a genuine
RFID is attached to chip, genuine and fake chip cannot be
discriminated from each other, and there is a problem in that it is
almost impossible to perform an authenticity determination.
[0187] In order to solve the conventional problem described above,
a management system of chip according to this embodiment includes:
chip to which a side ID that can be individually identified is
attached; an ID reading device that reads a side ID attached to the
chip; a storage in which the chip is stored in a cashier of a game
house; a game table chip tray that stores the chip; a chip
determining device that specifies types and numbers of the chips
stored in the game table chip tray and the storage by using the ID
reading device; and a management control device that manages the
IDs associated with the chips in a database. The management control
device has functions of registering the IDs of the chips to be used
in the database in advance, managing the IDs of the chips present
at least in the game table chip tray and the storage in the
database together with presence information by using the database,
specifying the chips in the game table chip tray and the storage at
predetermined timing, searching the database, determining the
following events through the database search 1) an ID not present
in the database is newly present 2) two or more same IDs are
present, and generating an error signal when a situation of 1) or
2) described above is present.
[0188] In addition, the management control device has functions
capable of, when there is a change in the presence of the chips at
least in the game table chip tray and the storage, recording time
or a place at which there is the change in the database in
association with the ID, searching the database, when there is a
situation in which two or more same IDs are present, extracting the
ID and information of time or a place recorded in association with
the ID in the database from the database and storing extracted
information, and specifying time when the chips to which the ID is
attached, which is detected first, enters/exits the game table chip
tray or the storage or a place of the game table chip tray or the
storage in which the chips are stored.
[0189] Furthermore, the management system of chip may further
include: a bet area chip determining device specifying the types
and numbers of the chips bet on a bet area of the game table by
using the ID reading device and may have functions of determining
the following events through a search of the database also for the
ID of the chip present in the bet area of the game table 1) an ID
that has not been present in the database is newly present 2)
presence of two or more same IDs and generating an error signal
when there is a situation of 1) or 2) described above.
[0190] In addition, side IDs are attached to at least three
positions on the side face of the chip. The side IDs are attached
through inkjet printing by using ink that is visible using visible
light. Particularly, a configuration is advantageous in which the
side ID is attached as presence/absence of marks of a plurality of
rows and a plurality of columns. In addition, transparent coating
layers or varnish is disposed on the upper and lower faces of the
chip.
[0191] In order to solve the conventional problems, chip according
to this embodiment forms a stripe pattern on the side face in the
stacking direction by employing a multi-layer structure in which a
plurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked, a
coloring layer is included at least in one layer, white layers or
thin-color layers are stacked on a further outer side than the
coloring layer and has a configuration enabling the type of the
chip to be specified by the coloring layer. In addition, side IDs
are attached to at least three positions on the side faces of the
white layers and the thin-color layers, and the type and the
manufacturing information of chip can be specified by reading the
ID by using the ID reading device, and a configuration in which the
ID can be managed in a database is included. Then, the side ID may
be attached using ink (visible ink) that is visible for visible
light through inkjet printing. The side ID may be attached using
ink (ink absorbing infrared rays, UV ink, or the like) that is not
visible for visible light through inkjet printing. In addition, the
side ID may be printed using at least two or more of ink that is
visible for visible light, ink absorbing infrared rays, and UV
ink.
[0192] In order to solve the conventional problems described above,
chip according to this embodiment has a side ID that can be
individually identified attached thereto, the side ID attached to
the chip is read by an ID reading device, the ID reading device can
read the chip stored in a storage maintained by a cashier of a game
house and a chip tray of a game table, in addition, the types and
the numbers of the chips stored in the chip tray and the storage
are specified by a chip determining device through the ID reading
device, the ID of the chip present in the chip tray of the game
table and the storage is managed in the database together with the
presence information thereof, it is inspected whether at least 1)
an ID that has not been present in the database is newly present
and 2) two or more same IDs are present, and the ID enabling the
occurrence of the situation 1) or 2) described above to be
determined is included.
[0193] Hereinafter, a management system of chip in a game house
including a game table according to an embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference the drawings. FIG. 16 is
a diagram that illustrates an overview of the whole system. The
management system of chip in a game house including a plurality of
game tables 4 (only one game table is illustrated in FIG. 16)
images the state of progress of a game played in the game table 4
including a game participant 6 and a dealer 5 through a plurality
of camera devices 2 and stores and manages the state. Particularly,
the management system of chip specifies the types and the numbers
of chips 120 used in the game table 4 by analyzing image
information acquired by the camera device 2. A side ID 126 is
attached to the side face of the chip 120, and the types and the
numbers of the chips 120 is acquired by determining the side ID 126
and reading the types and the numbers. In addition, in this
specification, a description of "side ID" or "ID" is used not only
in the meaning of an ID as a physical entity attached to the side
face of the chip 120 but also in the meaning of identification
information represented thereby. An ID reading device 53 disposed
inside a management control device 50 connected to the camera
device 2 specifies a side ID 126 by analyzing image information
acquired from the camera device 2. Particularly, the management
control device 50 includes a chip determining device 52 specifying
the types and the numbers of the chips 120 that is in a
horizontally aligned state or in a piled state based on a result of
the reading of the side ID 126 acquired by analyzing the image data
imaged through the camera device 2 therein.
[0194] In addition, the management system according to this
embodiment is configured to image chips 120 disposed on a game
table 4 by using a plurality of camera devices 2b-1 and 2b-2, which
have different heights, arranged at predetermined positions in
addition to the camera device 2 that images the chips 120 and
records an acquired image. The camera device 2b-1 can image chips
120 disposed at a relatively far position on the game table 4, and
the camera device 2b-2 is configured to image chips 120 disposed
relatively close on the game table 4. By performing imaging the two
camera devices 2b-1 and 2b-2, chips 120 disposed at a place that is
in a blind area for one of the camera devices can be imaged as
well.
[0195] In a plurality of cashiers 60 present in a game house, the
chips 120 are exchanged with cash 61 paid by a game participant 6,
and, in each cashier 60, chips 120 are stored in a storage 62
storing the chips 120. In each cashier 60 of a game house, chips
120 brought by a game participant 6 is refunded into cash 61. In
the game table 4, chips 120 are stored in a game table chip tray
17, and a dealer 5 collects chips 120 bet by a game participant 6
who has lost the game from the table 4 in each game, returns the
collected chips 120 to the game table chip tray 17, and then
re-pays the chips 120 to a game participant 6 who has won each
game. All such exchanges between a game participant 6 and a cashier
60 of a game table or a dealer 5 are imaged and recorded by all the
camera devices 2. In the storage 62 or the game table chip tray 17,
when there is exchange of chips 120 with a game participant 6, the
chips 120 stored in the storage 62 or the game table chip tray 17
increases or decreases. The types and the numbers of the chips 120
stored in the game table chip tray 17 and the storage 62 are
monitored at predetermined timing or constantly by the ID reading
device 53 and the chip determining device 52 through the camera
device 2. The management control device 50 stores the side IDs 126
of all the chips 120 assumed to be used in a game house in the
database 51 in advance (the side IDs 126 of all the chips 120
assumed to be used in the game house are registered).
[0196] In addition, also in this embodiment, the chip tray 17, as
illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, may be configured by an upper
chip tray 17a and a lower chip tray 17b of upper/lower two stages.
In such a case, in the state illustrated in FIG. 14A, the upper
chip tray 17a can be imaged by the camera device 2, and, in the
state illustrated in FIG. 14B, the lower chip tray 17b can be
imaged by the camera device 2. In the state illustrated in FIG.
14B, additionally, the upper chip tray 17a and the lower chip tray
17b can be imaged by the camera device 2c simultaneously and also
in an individually-identifiable state. In addition, in the state
illustrated in FIG. 14B, the upper chip tray 17a and the lower chip
tray 17b may be separately imaged. Each of the camera devices 2 and
2c may include a single visible-light camera or a single infrared
ray camera corresponding to ink printed for the side ID 126 or a
camera capable of performing switching among a plurality of
functions of a visible-light camera and an infrared-ray camera
corresponding to the printed ink.
[0197] In this way, in the game house, by using the database 51,
the management control device 50 managing the side IDs 126
associated with chips 120 manages all the side IDs 126 of at least
chips 120 present in the game table chip tray 17 and the storage 62
in the database 51 together with the presence information thereof
(the storage 62, the game table chip tray 17, in the middle of
moving from a backyard (not illustrated in the drawing), held by a
game participant 6, or the like). The management control device 50
specifies all the chips 120 disposed in the game table chip tray 17
and the storage 62 by using the side IDs 126 at predetermined
timing or constantly, searches the database 51, and determines the
following events through the search of the database 51.
[0198] 1) A side ID 126 that has not been present (or not present)
in the database 51 is determined to be newly present.
[0199] 2) Two or more same IDs are determined to be present.
[0200] The management control device 50 has a function of
generating an error signal representing an abnormality and giving a
notification to a management division or a security division 54 of
the game house when the situation of 1) or 2) described above is
present. The management control device 50 specifies all the chips
120 disposed in the game table chip tray 17 and the storage 62 at
predetermined timing or constantly by using the side IDs 126 and
stores all the chips 120 in the database 51 and thus, can determine
that 1) a side ID 126 that has not been present (or not present) in
the database 51 is newly present and 2) two or more same IDs are
present.
[0201] In addition, when there is a change in the presence of the
chips 120 at least in the game table chip tray 17 and the storage
62, the management control device 50 records time or a place (the
storage 62, the game table chip tray 17, or the like) at which the
change is present in the database 51 in association with the side
ID 126 and, as a result of the search of the database 51, when
there is a situation in which two or more same side IDs 126 are
present, extracts the side ID 126 and information of time or a
place recorded in the database 51 in association with the side ID
126 from the database 51 and stores the side ID and the information
that have been extracted, and thus, time at which chip 120 to which
the side ID 126 is attached, which has been detected first (used
first or cashed), enters/exits the game table chip tray 17 or the
storage 13 or a place of the game table chip tray 17 or the storage
13 in which the chips 120 are stored can be specified by using the
database 51. When the time and the place can be specified, a
suspicious person for the use of unjust chips 120 or the like can
be specified from the recorded video of the camera device 2.
[0202] In this management system of chip, the management control
device 50 can specify the types and the numbers of the chips 120
bet on the bet area 8 of the game table 4 by using the ID reading
device 53. The chips 120 of the bet area 8 are imaged by the camera
device 2b that particularly images the bet area 8 and, also for the
side ID 126 of the chip 120 present on the bet area 8 of the game
table 4, determines the following events by searching the database
51.
[0203] 1) A side ID 126 that has not been present in the database
51 is newly present in the bet area 16.
[0204] 2) Two or more same IDs are present.
[0205] The management control device 50 has a function of
generating an error signal when a situation of 1) or 2) described
above is present.
[0206] The management control device 50 of this system, the ID
reading device 53 disposed inside, and the chip determining device
52 specifying the types and the numbers of chips 120 have a
structure integrally including a computer formed as one body or by
a plurality of configurations, a program, and a memory.
[0207] Next, details of chip 120 (so-called substitute currency for
gaming) used in this system will be described. FIG. 17 is a side
view of chip 120 used in this system, the chip 120 is formed by
stacking a plurality of plate-shaped plastic layers having
different colors, forming the plastic layers to be integrated using
a means of thermo-compressing or the like, and then, punching holes
in the shapes of circles and quadrangles. The chip 120 manufactured
in this way has a multi-layer structure in which a coloring layer
121 is included at least in the middle, and white layers 122 or
thin-color layers (may be layers of a color thinner than that of
the coloring layer 121; not illustrated in the drawing) are stacked
on both sides (in FIG. 17, the upper and lower sides) of the
coloring layer 121 disposed in the middle. In this way, by
employing the multi-layer structure in which the coloring layer 121
is included, and the white layers 122 or the thin-color layers (may
be layers of a color thinner than that of the coloring layer 121;
not illustrated in the drawing) are stacked on both sides of the
coloring layer 121 disposed in the middle, as illustrated in FIG.
17, a stripe pattern (in the stacking direction) when seen from the
side face is formed, and, by changing the color (red, green,
yellow, blue, or the like) of the coloring layer 121 for each type
(10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, and the like) of
the chip 120, the type of the chip 120 can be specified.
[0208] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 17, in the chip 120, a
side ID 126 representing the type of chip 120 is applied to the
side faces of the white layers 122.
[0209] In the outermost layers, transparent layers 124 are
arranged, and each interlayer is thermo-compressed to form a
structure of at least five layers. Such chip 120 is formed by using
a plastic material having a thin long shape, and layers (at least
the coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122) are
thermo-compressed to form a closely adhering state (the structure
of five layers or the like) in the state of a long length, and
thereafter, holes having a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or
the like are formed therein through press or the like.
[0210] When a hole is formed through the press, die of mold for
punching, and the size of punching are designed, and R processing
(round angle) is performed for the ends of the transparent layer
124 of the outermost layer.
[0211] The transparent layers 124 may be a coat layer of varnish.
The side ID 126 is attached to at least three positions on the side
face of the chip 120. The side ID 126 is attached through inkjet
printing using ink that is visible for visible light.
[0212] Particularly, in this embodiment, the side ID 126 is
configured to be attached as presence/absence of marks C of a
plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. In the marks C of the
plurality of rows and the plurality of columns, as illustrated in
FIG. 17, upper and lower marks C are paired to configure a code,
and a code of ten digits is formed in the case illustrated in FIG.
17. A configuration in which upper and lower marks C are paired to
configure a code (four types) is illustrated in FIG. 18. A letter
"Y" disposed to the side of marks C is an identification mark used
for identifying upper and lower sides of a mark. A code configured
by marks C is configured to specify a predetermined combination of
marks C. As a result, in the example illustrated in FIG. 18, there
are four types of combination of the marks C of upper and lower two
columns, and, by printing these in ten columns, four to the power
of 10 codes can be configured. Since there are four types of a
10-digit code, 4 to the power of 10 codes are acquired, and
accordingly, the side IDs 126 of chip 120 can be sufficiently
assigned.
[0213] The chip 120 forms a stripe pattern on the side face in the
stacking direction by employing a multi-layer structure in which a
plurality of plastic layers having different colors are stacked,
the coloring layer 121 is included at least in one layer, the white
layers 122 or the thin-color layers are stacked on a further outer
side than the coloring layer 121 and has a configuration enabling
the type of the chip 120 to be specified using the coloring layer
121. The side IDs 126 are disposed at least three positions
(preferably, six positions) on the side face of the white layer 122
or the thin-color layer, and, in this example, six side IDs are
disposed at a predetermined interval of 60 degrees in the rotation
direction (circumferential direction). The side IDs 126
individually identifiable (different for each one) are attached to
chip 120, and the side IDs 126 are disposed at a predetermined
interval of 60 degrees in the rotation direction (circumferential
direction) such that the side ID is necessarily seen from the
lateral side. The side IDs 126 attached to the chip 120 are read by
the ID reading device 53 described above. The type, the
manufacturing information, and the like of chip 120 can be
specified by reading the side ID 126 by using the ID reading device
53, and a configuration in which the side ID 126 can be managed in
the database 51 is formed. In this embodiment, the side IDs 126 are
attached using ink (visible ink) that is visible for visible light
through inkjet printing. The side IDs 126 may be printed using at
least one or a combination of ink (ink absorbing infrared rays)
that is not visible for visible light and ink (including a side ID
that is very small and is difficult to see) that is visible for at
least visible light. In addition, the side IDs 126 may be printed
by combining a plurality of such ink of a plurality of types. The
ID reading device 53 includes at least a plurality of cameras (that
is, a visible-light camera in a case where ink is visible ink, an
infrared-ray camera in a case where ink is infrared reactive ink,
and an ultraviolet camera in a case where ink is UV ink (UV
radiator and a visible-light camera)) corresponding to the ink used
for printing the side ID 126 or includes a camera capable of
performing switching among a plurality of functions of cameras (a
visible-light camera, an infrared ray camera, and an ultraviolet
ray camera (an UV radiator and a visible-light camera or the like))
corresponding to the ink.
[0214] In the case illustrated in FIG. 19, in chip 120-1, side IDs
126 are printed using ink (ink absorbing infrared rays) that is not
visible for visible light. In chip 120-2, marks C of a plurality of
rows and a plurality of columns are printed using ink that is seen
dark for visible light. In chip 120-3, additionally, marks C are
printed using ink seen dark for visible light also between the side
IDs 126, and the side IDs 126 are configured to dissolve in the
design not to be visually distinguished. In chip 120-4, a start
point and an end point of the side ID 126 are represented by a mark
Cf representing the end. When the chips 120-1 to 120-4 are seen
using an infrared-ray camera, ink absorbing infrared rays absorbs
infrared rays to be seen dark, and the chips 120-1 to 120-4 can be
imaged in a state (represented as the chip 120-5) in which the side
ID 126 can be read. In addition, the upper and lower sides of the
side ID 126 are illustrated using a mark CL representing the upper
and lower sides. A relation between the upper and lower sides of
the mark is as illustrated in FIG. 17. In addition, the side IDs
126 may be printed using a combination of ink that is visible for
visible light and an infrared ray absorption ink.
[0215] The side IDs 126 attached to the chip 120 are read by the ID
reading device 53 described above, and the ID reading device 53 can
read the chip 120 held in the storage 62 of a cashier of a game
house and the game table chip tray 17 of the game table, and
actually, as illustrated in FIG. 20A, when the chips 120 is stacked
horizontally, the side IDs 126 can be read. In addition, the chips
120 stacked in the bet area 8 or the like, as illustrated in FIG.
20B, can be also read.
[0216] Furthermore, in the chip 120, a face code using UV ink or
ink (carbon black ink) absorbing infrared rays is arranged on the
surface (X) of the white layer 122 (see FIG. 9B).
[0217] This face code represents authenticity of chip 120, and,
when ultraviolet rays (or infrared rays) hit the face code, the
face code becomes visible to the eyes and represents authenticity
based on a combination of the forms and a number. While the
transparent layers (print layers) 124 are thermos-compressed or
coated in the outermost layers to cover a print 123 (100 points or
the like) used for specifying a game house and a face code disposed
on the surface, embossing process or varnish processing is
performed for the transparent layers 124, and the chip 120 is
prevented from adhering to each other and is caused to slide well.
In the chip 120, a circular recess 127 is arranged at the center of
each of the upper and lower faces.
[0218] According to the recesses 127, the chip 120 is prevented
from being adhere to each other, and, by increasing the diameter of
the recesses 127, the chip 120 can slide well.
[0219] The R processing (R) is performed for the ends of the
transparent layers (print layers) 124 of the outermost layers for
which a print 123 (100 points or the like) is performed, and, in
the punching process of the chip 100, the surfaces of the white
layers 122 are prevented from being deformed to appear on the side
face. In addition, it is prevented that a sharp end remains in the
chip 100 and damages the hands or the other chip 120. The coloring
layer 121 may be formed by colored one layer or a plurality of
layers. In addition, metal or ceramic used for increasing the
weight may be built in a layer included in the layer of the
coloring layer 121. More specifically, in the material of the layer
included in the layer of the coloring layer 121, for example, metal
powders (for example, a metal oxide of one or a plurality of metal
oxides of zinc oxide and titanium oxide) may be contained. In
addition, a part of the coloring layer 121 is hollowed out, or a
space is arranged between the coloring layer 121 and the white
layer 122, and an RFID may be built therein. In such a case, as the
side ID 126 of the chip 120, a side ID 126 according to a code
using the marks C and a side ID using the RFID are used
together.
[0220] In the chip 120 configured in this way, the types and the
numbers of the chips 120 that is held in the game table chip tray
17 and the storage 62 are specified by the chip determining device
52 through the camera device 2 and the ID reading device 53, and
the side IDs 126 of the chip 120 present on the game table chip
tray 17 and the storage 62 are managed in the database 51 together
with the presence information thereof. In this way, at least, it is
inspected whether 1) a side ID 126 that has not been present in the
database 51 is newly present 2) two or more same side IDs 126 are
present. By determining the occurrences of the situations of 1) and
2) described above by searching for all the side IDs 126, the
inspection is realized.
[0221] As described above, while a game participant 6 can perform
exchange of cash 61 for chips in the cashier 60, exchange of cash
61 for chips 120 can be performed also in the game table 4. The
camera device 2 images bills placed on the game table 4 to exchange
them for chips 120. That is, a plurality of camera devices 2
imaging the chips 120 disposed on the game table 4 are arranged at
different positions to have different heights.
[0222] The management control device 50 specifies the types and the
numbers of chips 120 to be discharged from the chip tray 17 in the
exchange from bills by using a result of imaging of bills using the
camera device 2. The management control device 50 compares real
total amounts of the chips 120 housed in the chip tray 17 before
and after the payment and determines whether or not this difference
corresponds to the specified types and numbers of the chips 120 to
be discharged.
[0223] That is, the management control device 50 determines through
a comparison whether or not a total amount of the chips 120
perceived in the chip tray 17 corresponds to an increase/decrease
according to a paid amount of the chips 120 corresponding to
exchanged bills after the exchange of the bills and the chips 120.
In addition, when collection and re-payment according to a result
of winning/losing of a game are simultaneously performed, the
management control device 50 determines through a comparison
whether or not the total amount corresponds to an amount of the
chips 120 bet by all the players 6 and an increase/decrease in the
chips 120 calculated based on a result of the winning/losing of the
game.
[0224] Here, the management control device 50 is a control device
having an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning
structure capable of acquiring information of the types and the
numbers of the chips 120 even in a state in which a part or whole
one unit of the chips 120 is hidden when the types and the numbers
of the chips 120 are measured and determined.
[0225] As described above, the side IDs 126 are attached to the
white layers 122 or the thin-color layers of the side face of the
chip 120 at least at three or more positions spaced apart in a
rotation direction (circumferential direction). The types and the
manufacturing information of chips 120 can be specified by reading
the side IDs 126 by using the ID reading device 53. The specified
information specified through measurement has a configuration that
can be collated and managed with the database 51.
[0226] The management control device 50 may be a control device
having an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning
structure. The management control device 50 can perceive the
position 8 (a position betting on a player, a banker, or a pair),
the types (a value of a different amount is assigned to the chip
for each color), and the numbers of the chips 120 by using an
artificial intelligence-utilizing type computer or control system,
a deep-learning (structure) technology, a self-learning function,
or the like.
[0227] Hereinafter, a modified example of the chip 120 will be
described. In the modified example, on the side face of the chip
120, a seven-digit number is printed as the side ID 126. In the
example illustrated in FIG. 21, a white layer 122 is disposed in
the middle, and, under the white layer, a coloring layer 121 is
disposed. A number as a mark is printed on the white layer 122
disposed in the middle and configured a side ID 126. When 10 types
of combinations of numbers are printed in seven digits, 10 to the
power of 7 codes can be configured, and accordingly, the side IDs
126 of chip 120 can be sufficiently assigned. In the camera device
2 and an image analysis thereof, there are cases where it is
difficult to determine and read a number, a combination of marks C
described in the previous embodiment is considered to be
advantageous in the image analysis.
[0228] Another inspection device 300 inspecting the chips 120 will
be described with reference to FIG. 22. The inspection device 300
includes: a face code reading device 306 that reads a face code M
formed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays
disposed on the surface of the chip 120; an ID reading device 307
that reads the side ID 126 of the side face; an RFID reading device
308 that reads information of an RFID (not illustrated in the
drawing) of the chip 120; and a control device 207. The control
device 207 is configured to inspect a relation among the
information of the side ID 126 acquired by the ID reading device
307, the information acquired from the face code reading device
306, and the information acquired from the RFID reading device 308.
There is a correct database (not illustrated in the drawing), and
the relation among the information is inspected by comparing a
reading result with the database. This inspection is used for
preventing the occurrence of a defect by detecting a print error in
the face code M and the side ID 126 or for discrimination with a
fake.
[0229] This example (FIG. 22) includes an extrusion device 302 that
supplies chip 120 one at each time to a reading stage 309 by using
an extruder 301 that in moved in the direction of an arrow Z by the
extrusion device 302, and the stacked chips 120 are supplied from
the extrusion device 302 to the reading stage 309. In this way,
previous chip 120 for which the inspection is completed is extruded
and falls in the direction of an arrow X, and the chip 120 that has
fallen in the direction of the arrow X is held on a holding stage
310.
[0230] Further another inspection device 400 that inspects chips
120 will be described with reference to FIG. 23. The inspection
device 400 includes: an RFID reading device 408 that reads
information of an RFID (not illustrated in the drawing) of the chip
120; an ID reading device 307 that reads the side ID 126 of the
side face; and a control device 207 and is configured to inspect a
relation between the information of the side ID 126 acquired by the
ID reading device 307 and the information acquired from the RFID
reading device 408. There is a correct database (not illustrated in
the drawing), and the relation among the information is inspected
by comparing a reading result with the database. This inspection is
used for preventing the occurrence of a defect by detecting a print
error in the face code M and the side ID 126 or for discrimination
with a fake.
[0231] The ID reading device 307 includes a single visible-light
camera or a single infrared-ray camera corresponding to ink used
for print the side ID 126 and is configured to include a camera 409
capable of performing switching among a plurality of functions of a
visible-light camera and an infrared-ray camera corresponding to
the printed ink. The visible-light camera can read the number and
the color of the chip 120, and the infrared-ray camera can read the
side ID 126 of the chip 120.
[0232] Still another inspection device 450 inspecting chips 120
will be described with reference to FIG. 24. A same reference
numeral is assigned to a same component as that of the inspection
device 400 (the description thereof will not be presented). An ID
reading device 307 is configured to include a plurality of
visible-light cameras 304 or infrared-ray cameras 305 corresponding
to ink used for printing the side ID 126. The visible-light camera
304 can read the number and the color of the chip 120, and the
infrared-ray camera 305 can read the side ID 126 of the chip
120.
[0233] A management control device 50 acquires a total amount of
chips (chips) placed in a chip tray 17 after a settlement at the
time of the end of a game through a chip determining device 52. A
determination of "after a settlement" is when any one of the
following 1) to 4) occurs.
[0234] 1) when re-payment for winning chips 120 (winning chips) is
completed.
[0235] 2) when cards C used in this game are collected and are
disposed in a disposal area or a disposal slot of the table.
[0236] 3) when a predetermined button accompanying a card
distributing device 3 functioning as a winning/losing result
determining device is pressed.
[0237] 4) when a marker 43 representing winning/losing is returned
to the original state.
[0238] In addition, in this embodiment, an image analyzing device
18 according to the second embodiment that records a state of
process of a game played in the game table 4 as a video including
game participants 6 and a dealer 5 through a plurality of camera
devices 2 and performs an image analysis of the recorded video of
the state of process of the game to analyze and perceive a total
amount of the chips 120 in the chip tray 17 of a dealer 5 of the
game table 4 and a measurement device 19 that performs an analysis
and measurement by using information acquired by the image
analyzing device 18 and determines the types and the numbers of the
chips 120, and/or a mark reading device 205 that reads a face code
formed using UV emission ink or ink absorbing infrared rays
disposed on the surface of the chips 120 are combined, and an RFID
reading device 308 that reads information of an RFID 125 of the
chip 120 is combined as is necessary, whereby an inspection device
as below including a management control device 50 can be
configured.
[0239] That is, by combining the RFID reading device 308 reading
the information of the RFID 125 of the chip 120 with the
configuration described above, an inspection device including the
ID reading device 53 reading the side ID 126 of the side face and
the management control device 50 can be configured. In this
inspection device, the management control device 50 inspects a
relation between the information of the side ID 126 read by the ID
reading device 53 and the information of the RFID 125 read by the
RFID reading device 308 is inspected.
[0240] In addition, by combining the mark reading device 205 of the
second embodiment that reads a face code formed using UV emission
ink or an infrared-ray absorption ink arranged on the upper face or
the lower face of the chip 120 with the configuration described
above, an inspection device including the ID reading device 53
reading the side ID 126 of the side face and the management control
device 50 can be configured. In this inspection device, the
management control device 50 inspects a relation between the
information of the side ID 126 read by the ID reading device 53 and
the information of the face code read by the mark reading device
205.
[0241] In addition, by combining the mark reading device 205 of the
second embodiment that reads a face code formed using UV emission
ink or an infrared-ray absorption ink arranged on the surface of
the chip 120 and an RFID reading device 308 reading information of
the RFID 125 of the chip 120 with the configuration described
above, an inspection device including the ID reading device 53
reading the side ID 126 of the side face and the management control
device 50 can be configured. In this inspection device, the
management control device 50 inspects a relation among the
information of the side ID 126 read by the ID reading device 53,
the information of the face code read by the mark reading device
205, and the information of the RFID 125 read by the RFID reading
device 308.
[0242] As described above, in this embodiment, in the chip 120,
side IDs 126 used for identifying each individual is attached to
the outer faces of the white layer 122 or the thin-color layer.
[0243] The side IDs 126 are attached to at least three or more
positions spaced apart in a rotation direction (circumferential
direction) of the chip 120.
[0244] In addition, the side IDs 126 are printed using non-visible
ink (for example, infrared-ray absorption ink or UV emission ink)
that is not visible for visible light.
[0245] Furthermore, the side IDs 126 are disposed in a plurality of
rows on the side faces of two layers of the white layers 122 or the
thin-color layers.
[0246] In addition, at least one layer among the plurality of
plastic layers configuring the coloring layer 121 and the white
layers 122 is a layer containing metal powders (for example, a
metal oxide of one or a plurality of metal oxides of zinc oxide and
titanium oxide) used for increasing the weight in the layer.
[0247] In addition, the side IDs 126 may be printed using at least
two or more types of ink among ink that is visible for visible
light, an infrared-ray absorption ink, and UV ink. In such a case,
the ID reading device 53 includes a plurality of cameras
corresponding to each ink used for printing the side IDs 126 or
includes a camera capable of performing switching among a plurality
of imaging functions corresponding to each ink.
[0248] In addition, the chip 120 is manufactured as below. First, a
coloring layer 121 and white layers 122 or thin-color layers having
the coloring layer 121 interposed therebetween are
thermos-compressed, whereby a stacked structure body including a
plurality of plastic layers is formed. Then, drawing patterns are
printed on at least the upper face or the lower face of the stacked
structure body, whereby a chip original plate is generated. Then,
punching processing is performed for the chip original plate by
using a mold, whereby a plurality of chips having a predetermined
shape are acquired. Here, in at least one layer among the plurality
of plastic layers, a layer containing metal powders or a metal
oxide used for increasing the weight is used.
[0249] On side faces of the chip 120 manufactured in this way, side
IDs 126 used for identifying each individual are printed. At this
time, the side IDs 126 may be printed through inkjet printing.
[0250] In addition, an RFID 125 is interposed between the layers of
the stacked structure body, and the layers having the RFID 125
interposed therebetween are heated and welded when the layers are
thermos-compressed, whereby the periphery of the RFID 125 is fixed
to be adhering to the plastic layers.
[0251] In addition, the management system of table games according
to this embodiment includes: a chip tray 17 that is disposed on a
game table 4 and holds chips 120 for each type; a camera device 2
that images the chips 120 held in the chip tray 17; and a
management control device 50 that specifies the types and the
numbers of chips 120 held in the chip tray 17 and measures a total
amount of the chips 120 disposed on the chip tray 17 by using a
result of the imaging performed by the camera device 2.
[0252] The chip 120 is a stacked structure body in which the
coloring layer 121 and the white layers 122 or the thin-color
layers are stacked and has a stripe pattern on the side face in the
stacking direction. The management control device 50 has a function
of measuring the number of the coloring layers 121 or the white
layers 122 or the thin-color layers of the chips placed by each
game participant and determining the types and the amount of the
chips based on the colors of the coloring layers 121.
[0253] The management control device 50 determines whether or not a
real total amount of the chips 120 after the end of a game that is
perceived on the chip tray 17 corresponds to an increase/decrease
amount of the chips 120 calculated based on the amount of the chips
120 bet by all the players 6 and a result of winning/losing of the
game.
[0254] In the management control device 50, the acquisition of the
total amount of the chips 120 in the chip tray 17 after a
settlement at the time of end of a game may be performed at one of:
1) time when re-payment for winning chips 120W for gaming ends; 2)
time when cards used in the game are collected and are disposed in
a disposal area of the table; 3) time when a predetermined button
accompanying a card distributing device 3 functioning as a
winning/losing result determining device is pressed; and 4) time
when a marker representing winning/losing is returned to the
original state.
[0255] The camera device 2 can also image bills place on the game
table 4 for exchange of the chips 120, and the management control
device 50 specifies the types and the numbers of chips 120 disposed
on the chip tray 17 to be decreased according to exchange of the
chips 120 disposed on the chip tray 17 and bills by using a result
of the imaging of the bills and performs a comparison with a real
total amount of the chips 120 disposed on the chip tray 17.
[0256] The management control device 50 determines through a
comparison whether a total amount of chips 120 perceived in the
chip tray 17 corresponds to an increase/decrease according to a
paid amount of chips 120 corresponding to exchanged bills after the
exchange of the bills and chips 120 is performed and an
increase/decrease in chips 120 calculated based on the amount of
chips 120 bet by all the players 6 and a result of winning/losing
of the game.
[0257] The management control device 50 is a control device having
an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structure
capable of acquiring information of the types and the numbers of
chips 120 also in a state in which a part or one unit of the chips
120 is hidden when the types and the numbers of the chips 120 are
measured and determined.
[0258] The side IDs 126 attached to the white layers 122 or the
thin-color layers of the side face of the chip 120 at least at
three or more positions spaced apart in a rotation direction
(circumferential direction), the types and manufacturing
information of chip 120 can be specified by reading the side ID 126
by using the ID reading device 53, and the specified information
specified through measurement has a configuration that can be
collated and managed with the database 51.
[0259] The side IDs 126 may be printed using two or more types of
ink among ink (visible ink) that is visible for visible light,
infrared-ray absorption ink, and UV emission ink. In such a case,
the ID reading device 53 includes a plurality of types of cameras
(a plurality of types of a visible-light camera, an infrared-ray
camera, and an ultraviolet camera (a UV radiator and a
visible-light camera, and the like) corresponding to ink used for
printing the side IDs 126.
[0260] Alternatively, a camera capable of performing switching
among a plurality of imaging functions (a visible-light camera, an
infrared-ray camera, and an ultraviolet camera (a UV radiator and a
visible-light camera, and the like) corresponding to each ink may
be included.
[0261] In addition, a configuration may be employed in which chips
120 disposed on the game table 4 is imaged by using a plurality of
camera devices 2b-1 and 2b-2 that are arranged at predetermined
positions and have different heights.
[0262] In the embodiments described above, while the image
analyzing device 12 and the control device 14 are devices having an
artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure, more
specifically, the image analyzing device 12 and the control device
14 may perform an image analysis and various control processes
described above by using a scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT)
algorithm, a convolutional neural network (CNN), deep learning,
machine learning, or the like. Such technologies are technologies
for recognizing a target included in an image by performing image
recognition for a captured image, and particularly, in recent
years, a target is recognized with high accuracy by using a deep
learning technology having multi-layered neural network.
[0263] In this deep learning technology, generally, in an
intermediate layer between an input layer and an output layer of a
neural network, layers overlap each other over a plurality of
stages, and accordingly, a target is recognized with high
accuracy.
[0264] In these deep learning technologies, particularly, a
convolutional neural network has attracted attention owing to high
performance according to recognition of a target based on
conventional image features.
[0265] In the convolutional neural network, a recognition target
image to which labels are assigned is learned, and main target
included in the recognition target image is recognized. In a case
where a plurality of main targets are present in a learning image,
a designation is made using an area rectangular, and learning is
performed with a label assigned to an image corresponding to the
designated area. In addition, in the convolutional neural network,
a main target in an image and the position of the target can be
determined.
[0266] The convolutional neural network will be further described.
In a target recognition process, by performing an edge extracting
process and the like for a recognition target image, candidate
areas are extracted based on local features, and, after feature
vectors are extracted by inputting the candidate areas to the
convolutional neural network, classification is performed, and a
candidate area having a classified highest certainty factor is
acquired as a result of the recognition.
[0267] Here, the certainty factor is an amount representing a
relative degree of highness of the similarity of a subject of an
image learned together with an image area and a label relative to
the similarity of the other classes.
[0268] In addition, devices having artificial
intelligence-utilizing or deep-learning structures are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 9,361,577, US 2016/171336, US 2015/036920, JP
2016-110232, and the like, the content of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0269] When a game ends, a dealer collects chips bet by players and
pays chips to the players depending on a game result and bet
contents (bet target and bet amount) of the respective players. It
is preferable that the player and the dealer can clearly confirm
whether or not this collection and payment (hereafter, the
collection and the payment are collectively referred to as
"liquidation") has been accurately performed, at that time when the
liquidation is performed.
[0270] In the present embodiment, a system for displaying accuracy
of liquidation at the time of liquidating the chips after an end of
the game is provided.
[0271] A management system of chips according one aspect of the
present embodiment includes chips having unique IDs that are
individually identifiable, a game table for playing a game using
the chips, a win/loss determining device that determines and
displays a win/loss result of the game on the game table, a chip
tray that holds chips used by a dealer on the game table, a dealer
chip determining device that specifies types and the numbers of
chips held in the chip tray using the unique IDs, a measuring
device that measures positions, types, and the numbers of chips on
the game table using a camera, and a management control device that
has a function of grasping the positions, the types, and the
numbers of chips on the game table and calculating a balance of a
casino side on the game table using the win/loss result obtained
from the win/loss determining device, wherein the management
control device has a function of grasping and calculating an amount
of chips on the game table to be collected by the casino side in
the game on the basis of information obtained from the measuring
device, the dealer chip determining device, and the win/loss
determining device, and comparing the amount to be collected with a
collection increase amount of chips collected by the dealer and put
in the chip tray, obtained from the dealer chip determining device,
comparing a payment amount of chips to be paid by the casino side
with a decrease amount of chips put in the chip tray after the
dealer takes out and pays the chips from the chip tray, and
displaying consistency or inconsistency on a display device
depending on a comparison result between the payment amount to be
collected and the collection increase amount and a comparison
result between the amount to be paid and the decrease amount.
[0272] The management control device may have a function of
grasping and calculating an amount of chips to be collected and an
amount of chips to be paid on the game table for each player
position of the game table, comparing a collection amount or a
payment amount with an increase amount or a decrease amount of
chips put in the chip tray for each player position of the game
table, and displaying consistency or inconsistency of the
comparison result by the display device for each player position of
the game table.
[0273] The display device may have a display function for each bet
target of a banker or a player.
[0274] The display device may have a display function for each bet
target of tie or pair.
[0275] The chip tray may be provided with a collecting portion for
temporarily storing the chips collected by the dealer, and the
management control device may have a function of comparing the
amount to be collected with an increase amount due to the
collection of the chips put in the collecting portion after being
collected by the dealer and displaying consistency or inconsistency
on the display device depending on a comparison result.
[0276] The measuring device may further have a function of
measuring types and the numbers of chips held in the chip tray
using a camera, and the management control device may have a
function of comparing the number of chips for which the IDs are
specified by the dealer chip determining device with the number of
chips held in the chip tray measured by the measuring device and
displaying consistency or inconsistency on the display device
depending on a comparison result.
[0277] A management system of chips according another aspect of the
present embodiment includes chips having unique IDs that are
individually identifiable, a game table for playing a game using
the chips, a win/loss determining device that determines and
displays a win/loss result of the game on the game table, a chip
tray that holds chips used by a dealer on the game table, a dealer
chip determining device that specifies types and the numbers of
chips held in the chip tray using the unique IDs, a measuring
device that measures positions, types, and the numbers of chips on
the game table using a camera, and a management control device that
has a function of grasping the positions, the types, and the
numbers of chips on the game table and calculating a balance of a
casino side on the game table using the win/loss result obtained
from the win/loss determining device, wherein the management
control device has a function of grasping and calculating each of
an amount to be collected and an amount to be paid by the casino
side in the game on the basis of information obtained from the
win/loss determining device, the dealer chip determining device,
and the measuring device, comparing the amount to be collected or
the amount to be paid by the casino side with an increase amount or
a decrease amount of chips put in the chip tray, obtained from the
dealer chip determining device after the dealer liquidates the
game, and displaying consistency or inconsistency of each
comparison result at the time of collecting or paying the chips on
a display device.
[0278] The management control device may have a function of
grasping amounts of chips to be collected and paid on the game
table for each player position of the game table, and displaying
consistency or inconsistency of the comparison result by the
display device for each player position of the game table after the
dealer liquidates the game for each player position of the game
table.
[0279] The display device may have a display function for each bet
target of a banker or a player.
[0280] The display device may have a display function for each bet
target of tie or pair.
[0281] The management control device may have a function of
grasping and calculating an amount of chips on the game table to be
collected and an amount of chips on the game table to be paid by
the casino side for each player position of the game table and
displaying a position at which the chips are to be collected or
paid on the display device for each player position of the game
table.
[0282] The chip tray may be provided with a collecting portion for
temporarily storing the chips collected by the dealer, and the
management control device may have a function of comparing the
amount to be collected with an increase amount due to the
collection of the chips put in the chip tray after being collected
by the dealer and displaying consistency or inconsistency on the
display device depending on a comparison result.
[0283] The measuring device may further have a function of
measuring types and the numbers of chips held in the chip tray
using a camera, and the management control device may have a
function of comparing the number of chips for which the IDs are
specified by the dealer chip determining device with the number of
chips held in the chip tray measured by the measuring device and
displaying consistency or inconsistency on the display device
depending on a comparison result.
[0284] The management control device may have a function of
verifying that chips do not exist on the game table as a result of
collecting the chips from the game table by the dealer by measuring
chips to be collected from the game table by the dealer based on a
measurement result obtained from the measuring device.
[0285] The management control device may have a function of
verifying that the chips do not exist on the game table by
measuring the chips to be collected from the game table by the
dealer based on the measurement result obtained from the measuring
device and collecting the chips from the game table by the dealer
according to a predetermined rule.
[0286] The management control device may further have a function of
performing verification by comparing an increase amount due to the
collection of the chips put in the chip tray after being collected
by the dealer, obtained from the dealer chip determining device,
with a result of verifying that the chips do not exist on the game
table as the result of collecting the chips from the game table by
the dealer.
[0287] The management control device may have a function of
specifying a game participant on the game table and associating a
player position of the game table and the game participant at the
time of participating in the game with each other.
[0288] A management system of chips according to still another
aspect of the present invention includes: a chip tray for
accommodating chips of a dealer and a lamp for displaying that an
increase/decrease in the chips in the chip tray after an end of a
game is accurate and/or inaccurate.
[0289] The management system may further include a bet determining
device that determines a target and an amount bet by the player, a
game result determining device that determines a result of the
game, and a dealer chip determining device that determines an
amount of chips held in the chip tray, wherein the lamp may be
turned on or off based on determination results of the bet
determining device, the game result determining device, and the
dealer chip determining device.
[0290] FIG. 25 is a plan view of a game table according to the
present embodiment. FIG. 26 is a plan view of a chip tray according
to the present embodiment. FIG. 27 is a view showing an entire
configuration of a management system of chips including the chip
tray. In FIGS. 25 to 29, the same components as those of the first
to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals,
and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0291] A game table 4 is a table for a baccarat game, and is
provided with a bet area 44 of each of seven players. The bet area
44 of each player includes each area of a player (PLAYER) 441, a
banker (BANKER) 442, a tie (TIE) 443, a player pair (P) 444, and a
banker pair (B) 445. Each player puts a bet amount of chips on a
position corresponding to a target to be bet, thereby making a bet.
The game table 4 is further provided with a player card area 45 for
putting a drawn player card and a banker card area 46 for putting a
drawn banker card.
[0292] In front of a dealer position of the game table 4, a chip
tray 17 for the dealer to accommodate the chips is provided. At
least a part of the chip tray 17 is buried in the game table 4.
[0293] Chips 120 used in the present embodiment have the same
configuration as that of the chips of the first to third
embodiments. That is, the chips 120 have marks, patterns, or colors
that can specify their types (values) from each of surfaces and
side surfaces thereof. In addition, radio frequency identifications
(RFIDs) storing at least information that can specify types of
chips 120 are embedded in the chips 120.
[0294] A camera device 2 is provided above the game table 4, and
photographs the bet area 44. In the game table 4 according to the
present embodiment, seven player positions ("1", "2", "3", "5",
"6", "7", and "8" in FIG. 25) are provided, such that seven players
can participate in a game. The camera device 2 photographs the bet
areas 44 of all the player positions. It is not necessary for one
camera device 2 to photograph the bet areas 44 of all the player
positions, and all the bet areas 44 may be photographed in a shared
manner by a plurality of camera devices 2.
[0295] A management control device 50 has all the functions
described in the first to third embodiments. The management control
device 50 specifies positions (bet targets), types, and the numbers
of chips put in the bet areas based on an image photographed by the
camera device 2. A device including the camera device 2 and the
management control device 50 functions as a measuring device or a
bet determining device for measuring positions, types, and the
numbers of chips on the game table 4, and has the same
configuration and function to those of the system including the
camera device 2 and the image analyzing device 12 according to the
first embodiment.
[0296] A card distributing device 3 also has the same configuration
and function as those of the card distributing device of the first
embodiment. That is, the card distributing device 3 determines a
win/loss result of the game on the game table 4 and displays the
determined win/loss result of the game on a result display lamp. In
addition, the card distributing device 3 transmits the determined
win/loss result of the game to the management control device 50.
The management control device 50 has a function of grasping the
positions, the types, and the numbers of chips on the game table 4
and calculating a balance of a casino side on the game table 4
using the win/loss result obtained from the card distributing
device 3 as the win/loss determining device.
[0297] The management control device 50 grasps an amount of chips
on the game table 4 to be collected and an amount of chips to be
paid by the casino side in the game on the basis of a bet content
determined based on the image obtained from the camera device 2 and
information on the win/loss result obtained from the card
distributing device 3, and compares the amount to be collected and
the amount to be paid with an amount of chips actually increased in
the chip tray 17 due to collection and an amount of chips actually
decreased in the chip tray 17 due to payment, respectively.
[0298] In addition, the management control device 50 reads the
RFIDs of the chips 120 accommodated in the chip tray 17 at
predetermined time intervals, and stores information of the read
RFIDs when a change occurs. The management control device 50
compares types and the numbers of chips at the past point in time
with types and the numbers of chips at the present point in time
based on the stored information, and calculates an
increase/decrease amount of chips 120 in the chip tray 17.
[0299] As shown in FIG. 26, the chip tray 17 includes an
accommodating portion 170 and display lamps 173 to 176. The
accommodating portion 170 includes a plurality of columns, and each
column has a configuration in which chips can be stacked and
accommodated in a thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 27, an
antenna 177 is disposed below the accommodating portion 170.
[0300] The display lamp 173 displays whether or not a balance
between a collected amount and a paid amount is correct. The
display lamp 174 displays whether or not a total amount of the
collected amount is correct and whether or not a total amount of
the paid amount is correct. The display lamp 175 displays whether
or not a collection amount or a payment amount for chips bet on the
pair is correct.
[0301] The display lamps 176 have a total of seven display lamps
corresponding to the seven player positions. In the display lamp
177, in a collection step, display lamps corresponding to players
(players losing the game) from which chips are to be collected are
turned on, and in a payment step, display lamps corresponding to
players (players winning the game) to which chips are to be paid
are turned on. In FIG. 27, only the display lamp 173 is shown as a
representative of the display lamps 173 to 176, and the other
display lamps 174 to 176 are not shown.
[0302] The management control device 50 controls turn-on and
turn-off of the display lamps 173 to 176 in order to display a
result (consistency or inconsistency) of the comparison. The
management system of chips according to the present embodiment
grasps whether or not liquidation of the chips was correctly
performed, in real time, using the display lamps 173 to 176. The
management system of chips according to the present embodiment
grasps whether or not a fraudulent chip is included in the
collected chips, in real time.
[0303] The management control device 50 first specifies players
that are participating in the game on the game table 4, and
associates the players that are participating in the game with
player position numbers ("1", "2", "3", "5", "6", "7", and "8") of
the game table 4. Specifically, the management control device 50
can specify a player of each player position using a face
authentication system or a members card.
[0304] When the game ends, the management control device 50 grasps
chips (winning chips of the casino side) to be collected by the
dealer for each player based on a game result, and turns on the
display lamps 176 corresponding to player positions at which the
chips are to be collected. Therefore, the dealer can grasp at which
player position the chips are to be collected.
[0305] When the game ends, the dealer first collects all the chips
to be collected from bet areas of players losing the game
(collection step), and then pays chips to players winning the game
(payment step). In the collection step, the dealer accommodates the
chips collected from the bet areas of the game table 4 in the
accommodating portion 170 of the chip tray 17 depending on the
display lamps 176. Specifically, the dealer accommodates the
collected chips in any one of two right columns, which are a
collecting portion, in order of the player position numbers.
[0306] The management control device 50 determines that the chips
are collected from the bet area 44 and an amount of collected chips
based on the image obtained from the camera device 2 whenever the
dealer collects chips from the bet area 44 and accommodates the
collected chips in the collecting portion of the accommodating
portion 170, and determines an amount (increase amount) of chips
accommodated in the collecting portion based on a radio wave
received by the antenna 177. The two right columns of fourteen
columns as the accommodating portion 170 are used as the collecting
portion in the present embodiment, but the collecting portion that
accommodates the collected chips may be, for example, the
transverse collection chip tray 171 shown in FIG. 13A or the
collection chip tray 171 provided to be spaced apart from other
columns, as shown in FIG. 13B.
[0307] Here, the management control device 50 calculates the
increase amount by calculating a difference between total amounts
of chips in the accommodating portion 170 before and after the
collection using the RFIDs for each player. As described above, the
management control device 50 reading information on types (values)
of chips from the RFIDs of the chips held in the accommodating
portion 170 to determine an amount of chips held in the
accommodating portion 170 corresponds to a dealer chip determining
device of the present invention.
[0308] The management control device 50 further determines whether
or not an actual collection amount (image collection amount)
determined based on the image obtained from the camera device 2, an
increase amount (RFID collection amount) of chips in the collecting
portion determined based on the radio wave received by the antenna
177, and a collection amount (calculated collection amount)
calculated based on a game result and bet contents of the players
losing the game are consistent with one another.
[0309] When all of the image collection amount, the RFID collection
amount, and the calculated collection amount are consistent with
one another, the management control device 50 turns off the
corresponding display lamp 176. The dealer can confirm that the
collection of the chips from the player has been accurately
completed by confirming the turn-off of the display lamp 176.
[0310] On the other hand, when the image collection amount, the
RFID collection amount, and the calculated collection amount are
inconsistent with one another, the display lamp 176 is in a state
in which it is turned on. Therefore, the dealer can know that the
collection of the chips from the corresponding player has not been
accurately completed or that there was the fraudulent chip in the
collected chips.
[0311] When the collection of the chips as described above is
completed for all the players losing the game, all the display
lamps 176 are turned off. At this point in time, the management
control device 50 again determines a total increase amount in the
collecting portion by the RFIDs, compares the total increase amount
with a total calculated collection amount calculated based on the
game result and bet contents of all the players losing the game,
and turns on the display lamp 174 when the total increase amount
and the total calculated collection amount are consistent with each
other.
[0312] Here, the management control device 50 calculates a total
RFID collection amount by calculating a difference between the
total amount of chips in the accommodating portion 170 calculated
by the RFIDs before the start of the collection step after an end
of the game and the total amount of chips in the accommodating
portion 170 calculated by the RFIDs after completion of the
collection. The dealer can grasp that the collection of the chips
has been accurately completed by confirming that the display lamp
174 is turned on.
[0313] The management control device 50 determines whether or not
all of the image collection amount determined based on the image
obtained from the camera device 2, the RFID collection amount
determined based on the radio wave received by the antenna 177, and
the calculated collection amount calculated based on the game
result and the bet contents of the players losing the game are
consistent with one another in the above description, but the
management control device 50 may also determine only whether or not
the image collection amount and the calculated collection amount
are consistent with each other or may determine only whether or not
the RFID collection amount and the calculated collection amount are
consistent with each other.
[0314] In addition, in the above description, the management
control device 50 again determines the total increase amount by the
RFIDs when it is determined that the collection of the chips has
been completed for all the players losing the game, and turns on
the display lamp 174 when the total increase amount is consistent
with the total calculated collection amount. Instead of this, the
management control device 50 may operate as follows. That is, the
management control device 50 stores the read information of the
RFIDs whenever there is a change in the chips 120 in the chip tray
17 as described above, but at the same time, the management control
device 50 may determine the total increase amount whenever there is
the change in the chips 120 in the chip tray 17, determine whether
or not the total increase amount is consistent with the total
calculated collection amount, and turn on the display lamp 174 at a
point in time in which it is determined that the total increase
amount is consistent with the total calculated collection
amount.
[0315] Next, the dealer pays the chips to the players winning the
game (payment step). When the collection of the chips from all the
players losing the game is completed, the management control device
50 turns on the display lamps 176 corresponding to the players to
which the chips are to be paid. The dealer can confirm the players
to which the chips are to be paid by confirming the display lamps
176. In the payment step, the dealer takes out chips corresponding
to a payment amount from the accommodating portion 170, and puts
the taken-out chips in the bet areas of the corresponding players,
thereby performing payment.
[0316] The management control device 50 determines that the chips
are paid to the bet area 44 and an amount of paid chips based on
the image obtained from the camera device 2 whenever the dealer
takes out chips from the accommodating portion 170 and puts the
taken-out chips on the game table 4, and determines an amount
(decrease amount) of chips taken out from the accommodating portion
170 based on the radio wave received by the antenna 177. Here, the
management control device 50 calculates the decrease amount by
calculating a difference between total amounts of chips in the
accommodating portion 170 before and after the payment, using the
RFIDs, for each player.
[0317] The management control device 50 further determines whether
or not an actual payment amount (image payment amount) determined
based on the image obtained from the camera device 2, a decrease
amount (RFID payment amount) of chips in the accommodating portion
170 determined based on the radio wave received by the antenna 177,
and a payment amount (calculated payment amount) to the players
winning the game, calculated based on a game result and bet
contents are consistent with one another.
[0318] When all of the image payment amount, the RFID payment
amount, and the calculated payment amount are consistent with one
another, the management control device 50 turns off the
corresponding display lamp 176. The dealer can confirm that the
payment of the chips to the player has been accurately completed by
confirming the turn-off of the display lamp 176.
[0319] On the other hand, when all of the image payment amount, the
RFID payment amount, and the calculated payment amount are
inconsistent with one another, the display lamp 176 is in a state
in which it is turned on. Therefore, the dealer can know that the
payment of the chips to the corresponding player has not been
completed.
[0320] When the payment of the chips is completed for all the
players winning the game, all the display lamps 176 are turned off.
At this point in time, the management control device 50 again
determines a total decrease amount in the accommodating portion 170
by the RFIDs, compares the total decrease amount with a total
calculated payment amount calculated based on the game result and
the bet contents, and turns on the display lamp 174 when the total
decrease amount and the total calculated payment amount are
consistent with each other.
[0321] Here, the management control device 50 calculates a total
RFID payment amount by calculating a difference between the total
amount of chips in the accommodating portion 170 calculated by the
RFIDs before the start of the payment step after completion of the
collection and the total amount of chips in the accommodating
portion 170 calculated by the RFIDs after completion of the
payment. The dealer can grasp that the payment of the chips has
been accurately completed by confirming that the display lamp 174
is turned on.
[0322] The management control device 50 determines whether or not
all of the image payment amount determined based on the image
obtained from the camera device 2, the RFID payment amount
determined based on the radio wave received by the antenna 177, and
the calculated payment amount calculated based on the game result
and the bet contents of the players winning the game are consistent
with one another in the above description, but the management
control device 50 may also determine only whether or not the image
payment amount and the calculated payment amount are consistent
with each other or may determine only whether or not the RFID
payment amount and the calculated payment amount are consistent
with each other.
[0323] In addition, in the above description, the management
control device 50 again determines the total decrease amount by the
RFIDs when it is determined that the payment of the chips has been
completed for all the players winning the game, and turns on the
display lamp 174 when the total decrease amount is consistent with
the total calculated payment amount. Instead of this, the
management control device 50 may operate as follows. That is, the
management control device 50 stores the read information of the
RFIDs whenever there is a change in the chips 120 in the chip tray
17 as described above, but at the same time, the management control
device 50 may determine the total decrease amount whenever there is
the change in the chips 120 in the chip tray 17, determine whether
or not the total decrease amount is consistent with the total
calculated payment amount, and turn on the display lamp 174 at a
point in time in which it is determined that the total decrease
amount is consistent with the total calculated payment amount.
[0324] When the liquidation (collection and payment) of the chips
is completed as described above, the management control device 50
determines whether or not the total increase/decrease amount of
chips in the accommodating portion 170 due to the liquidation is
correct. In detail, the management control device 50 calculates a
total increase/decrease amount (total RFID increase/decrease
amount) due to the liquidation by calculating a difference between
the total amount of chips in the accommodating portion 170
calculated by the RFIDs before the start of the liquidation after
the end of the game and the total amount of chips in the
accommodating portion 170 calculated by the RFIDs after an end of
the liquidation.
[0325] Meanwhile, the management control device 50 calculates a
total increase/decrease amount (total calculated increase/decrease
amount) of the dealer due to the liquidation of the game based on
the game result and the bet contents. The calculated
increase/decrease amount can be calculated by subtracting the total
calculated payment amount from the calculated collection amount.
The management control device 50 compares the total RFID
increase/decrease amount with the total calculated
increase/decrease amount, and turns on the display lamp 174 when
the total RFID increase/decrease amount and the total calculated
increase/decrease amount are consistent with each other. The dealer
can confirm that the liquidation of the chips in the game has been
accurately completed and can start the next game, by confirming
that the display lamp 174 is turned on.
[0326] Next, the display lamp 175 will be described. The display
lamp 175 functions as a pair lamp. In the baccarat game, the player
can also make a bet on "pair" in addition to "player", "banker",
and "tie". The "pair" is to make a bet on the fact that ranks of
first distributed two cards are consistent with each other.
Specifically, the "pair" includes "player pair" making a bet on
consistency between ranks of two player cards and "bank pair"
making a bet on consistency between ranks of two banker cards.
[0327] When any one of the players makes a bet on the pair and two
ranks are consistent with each other (the pair is established), a
predetermined multiple (for example, 11 times) of a bet amount is
paid to a player making a bet on the pair regardless of a game
result ("player", "banker", or "tie"). When the pair is not
established, all the chips bet on the pair are collected. When the
pair is not established at a point in time in which first four
cards (two player cards and two banker cards) are drawn, chips bet
on the pair at that point in time are collected.
[0328] When a bet is made on the pair, the management control
device 50 calculates a total calculated collection amount (when the
pair is not established) or a total calculated payment amount (when
the pair is established) at the point in time in which the four
cards are drawn, and compares the total calculated collection
amount or the total calculated payment amount with a total
increase/decrease amount of chips in the accommodating portion 170
calculated using the RFIDs before and after liquidation of the
pair. It is to be noted that the management control device 50 can
recognize whether or not chips are bet on the pair and an amount of
bet chips, based on the image obtained from the camera device
2.
[0329] The management control device 50 turns on the display lamp
175 when the total calculated collection amount or the total
calculated payment amount is consistent with the total
increase/decrease amount of chips in the accommodating portion 170.
The dealer can confirm that the liquidation of the pair has been
accurately completed by confirming the turn-on of the display lamp
175.
[0330] Instead of the above, the management control device 50 may
also turn on the display lamp 175 when the chips are bet on the
pair. A timing in which the display lamp 175 is turned on may be a
timing in which the bet is closed or a timing in which four cards
are drawn. In this case, the dealer can recognize that it is
necessary to perform the liquidation of the pair by confirming that
the display lamp 175 is turned on.
[0331] In addition, in this case, the management control device 50
turns off the display lamp 175 when the total calculated collection
amount or the total calculated payment amount is consistent with
the total increase/decrease amount of chips in the accommodating
portion 170. The dealer can confirm that the liquidation of the
pair has been accurately completed by confirming the turn-off of
the display lamp 175.
[0332] In the baccarat game, there are a case where the game ends
by the draw of four cards (two player cards and two banker cards)
depending on ranks of distributed cards and a case where a fifth
card or the following sixth card is drawn. In the case where the
game ends by the draw of the four cards, as soon as the liquidation
of the pair ends, the general liquidation described above is
performed. In the case where the fifth card or a following card is
drawn, the liquidation of the pair is performed after a fourth card
is drawn, the fifth card (or the following sixth card) is drawn
when the liquidation of the pair is completed, and the general
liquidation described above is performed when the game ends.
[0333] The display lamps 176 of the players losing the game from
which the chips are to be collected are turned on and are turned
off in order of the players from which the collection is completed
in the collection step and the display lamps 176 of the players
winning the game to which the chips are to be paid are turned on
and are turned off in order of the players to which the payment is
completed in the payment step in the abovementioned embodiment, but
all the display lamps 176 may also be turned on with colors
distinguished between the players winning the game and the players
losing the game at a point in time in which the game ends.
[0334] For example, the display lamps 176 corresponding to the
players losing the game may be turned on with a red color, and the
display lamps 176 corresponding to the players winning the game may
be turned on with a green color. In this case, it can be confirmed
that the collection of the chips from all the players losing the
game has been accurately completed by confirming that all the red
display lamps 176 are turned off, and it can be confirmed that the
payment of the chips to all the players winning the game has been
accurately completed by confirming that all the green display lamps
176 are turned off.
[0335] FIG. 28 is a plan view of a chip tray according to a
modified example. In a chip tray 17 of FIG. 28, the same components
as those of the chip tray 17 of FIG. 26 are denoted by the same
reference numerals, and a description thereof will be appropriately
omitted. In the chip tray 17 according to the present modified
example, display lamps 1761 to 1765 for each bet target
(specifically, a display lamp 1761 displaying "player", a display
lamp 1762 displaying "banker", a display lamp 1763 displaying
"tie", a display lamp 1764 displaying "player pair", and a display
lamp 1765 displaying "banker pair") and a display lamp 178
displaying that liquidation has been accurately completed are
provided for each player position.
[0336] The display lamps 1761 to 1765 are turned on corresponding
to bet targets (positions at which chips are put) of players,
respectively, and turned off when liquidation is completed. The
display lamp 178 is turned on when liquidation is accurately
completed for each player.
[0337] The chip tray 17 according to the present modified example
further includes display lamps 1741 to 1745 displaying that the
liquidation has been accurately completed for each of the bet
targets ("player", "banker", "tie", "player pair", and "banker
pair"). Depending on a win/loss result of the game, any one of the
"player", the "banker", and the "tie" becomes payment and the
others become collection. In addition, when the player pair is
established, the "player pair" becomes payment, and when the player
pair is not established, the "player pair" becomes collection.
Similarly, when the banker pair is established, the "banker pair"
becomes payment, and when the banker pair is not established, the
"banker pair" becomes collection. The display lamps 1741 to 1745
are turned on when liquidation (collection or payment) for each of
the "player", the "banker", the "tie", the "player pair", and the
"banker pair" is accurately completed.
[0338] FIG. 29 is a plan view of a chip tray 17 according to
another modified example. As in the example of FIG. 29, only a
display lamp 173 displaying whether or not a balance between a
collected amount and a paid amount is correct may be provided in
the chip tray 17.
[0339] FIG. 30 is a plan view of a chip tray 17 according to still
another modified example. As shown in FIG. 30, only a display lamp
173 displaying whether or not a balance between a collected amount
and a paid amount is correct and a display lamp 174 displaying
whether or not a total amount of the collected amount is correct
and whether or not a total amount of the paid amount is correct may
be provided in the chip tray 17.
[0340] The management control device 50 determines an amount of
chips accommodated in the chip tray 17 by wirelessly reading the
RFIDs using the RFIDs embedded in the chips and the antenna 177
embedded below the chip tray 17 in the abovementioned embodiment
and the modified examples thereof, but an amount of chips
accommodated in the chip tray 17 may also be determined by
providing a camera device photographing chips accommodated in the
chip tray 17 and performing image recognition on an image obtained
from the camera device. In this case, the RFIDs may not be embedded
in the chips.
[0341] In addition, an example in which a plurality of display
lamps including the display lamp 173 are configured as physically
realized lamps has been described in the abovementioned embodiment,
but these lamps may be configured as images on a display device
such as a liquid crystal panel.
[0342] In addition, in the abovementioned embodiment, the
information on the types and the numbers of chips 120 accommodated
in the chip tray 17 is determined by reading the RFIDs embedded in
the chips 120. Instead of or in addition to this, the information
on the types and the numbers of chips 120 accommodated in the chip
tray 17 may be determined by providing a camera device
photographing the chips 120 accommodated in the chip tray 17 and
performing image recognition in the management control device 50.
In this case, the camera device photographing the chips 120
accommodated in the chip tray 17 may be used as the camera device 2
described above or may be provided as a dedicated camera
device.
[0343] In addition, when the image recognition is performed on the
image obtained from the camera device in addition to the reading of
the RFIDs, verification of the chips 120 may be performed by
comparing the number of chips 120 obtained by the reading of the
RFIDs with the number of chips determined by the image recognition.
When the RFIDs are damaged in the chip tray 17 or a chip
(fraudulent chip) that does not have the RFID is accommodated in
the chip tray 17, the number of chips determined by the image
recognition becomes larger than the number of chips determined by
the reading of the RFID. Therefore, when such inconsistency occurs,
the management control device 50 turns on the display lamp, such
that the dealer can grasp that the fraudulent chip is included in
the chip tray 17 through the display lamp.
[0344] In particular, by performing the reading of the RFIDs and
the image recognition at predetermined time intervals to perform
the comparison whenever the information is updated, when the
inconsistency between the number of chips determined by the reading
of the RFIDs and the number of chips determined by the image
recognition occurs, it is seen that the inconsistency is due to
chips 120 recently added to the chip tray 17, such that it is also
possible to specify a player who had the fraudulent chip.
[0345] In addition, the management control device 50 may verify
that chips do not exist on the game table as a result of collecting
the corresponding chips from the game table by the dealer. In this
case, specifically, the management control device 50 verifies that
chips 120 corresponding to a calculated collection amount do not
exist on the game table 4 based on the image obtained from the
camera device 2 by determining on which bet target which type of
and how many chips are bet based on the image obtained from the
camera device 2 and further determining an amount (calculated
collection amount) to be collected according to a game rule based
on a game result in the card distributing device 3.
[0346] Further, the management control device 50 may verify that
the collection has been accurately performed by comparing an amount
(image collection amount) of chips that do not exist on the game
table 4 with an amount of chips added to the chip tray 17 based on
the image obtained from the camera device 2. In this case, the
management control device 50 turns on the display lamp when the
image collection amount and the amount of chips added to the chip
tray 17 are inconsistent with each other as a result of the
comparison.
[0347] In addition, the management control device 50 may verify
that chips exist on the game table as a result of paying the
corresponding chips to the game table by the dealer. In this case,
specifically, the management control device 50 verifies that chips
120 corresponding to a calculated payment amount are added onto the
game table 4 based on the image obtained from the camera device 2
by determining on which bet target which type of and how many chips
are bet based on the image obtained from the camera device 2 and
further determining an amount (calculated payment amount) to be
paid according to a game rule based on a game result in the card
distributing device 3.
[0348] Further, the management control device 50 may verify that
the payment has been accurately performed by comparing an amount
(image payment amount) of chips added onto the game table 4 with an
amount of chips taken out from the chip tray 17 based on the image
obtained from the camera device 2. In this case, the management
control device 50 turns on the display lamp when the image payment
amount and the amount of chips taken out from the chip tray 17 are
inconsistent with each other as a result of the comparison.
[0349] As described above, the dealer basically collects the chips
120 bet by the players losing the game in order of player position
numbers. The management control device 50 determines whether or not
the dealer takes the chips in order according to this rule (in
order of the player position numbers), and further determines
whether or not an amount of chips that are sequentially collected
is correct. In this case, the management control device 50
determines how far chips have been collected (up to which player
position number chips have been collected), in addition to
individual player positions and all player positions, and
determines whether or not the chips 120 collected from the game
table 4 have been certainly added to the chip tray 17 in each step
depending on the determination. For example, when chips 120 of
three places are collected, the management control device 50
determines whether or not the chips 120 of the three places have
been certainly accommodated in the chip tray 17.
[0350] As described above, according to the present embodiment and
the modified examples thereof, the display lamp 173 and the like
for displaying that the increase/decrease in the chips in the chip
tray 17 after the end of the game is accurate and/or inaccurate is
provided, and it is thus possible to confirm whether or not the
liquidation has been accurately performed, in real time at the time
of performing the liquidation.
[0351] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described hereinabove, the abovementioned embodiments can be
modified by those skilled in the art within the scope of the
present invention, and devices according to the present embodiment
may be appropriately modified as necessary in a game to which they
are applied.
[0352] The present embodiment relates to a management system that
manages a game played using chips in a game house.
[0353] The present embodiment corresponds to an application of the
fourth embodiment, and the configuration of the management system
described in the fourth embodiment can be adopted. In addition, as
described above, since the first to third embodiments can be
applied to the management system according to the fourth
embodiment, the first to third embodiments can also be applied to
in the present embodiment.
[0354] In the fourth embodiment, when the increase/decrease amount
of chips in the chip tray 17 after the end of the game is
inconsistent with an ideal increase/decrease amount calculated by
calculation, it is possible to inform the dealer that the
increase/decrease amount of chips in the chip tray 17 after the end
of the game is inconsistent with the ideal increase/decrease amount
by turning on the display lamp provided in the chip tray 17. When
the dealer recognizes that the inconsistency exists through the
display lamp, the dealer can interrupt the game and find a cause of
fraud, thereby correcting the fraud or taking an action so that the
fraud does not continue.
[0355] However, in the case where an amount of inconsistency is
small, when the dealer interrupts the game whenever such a small
amount of inconsistency occurs, a decrease amount of sales of a
casino side due to the interruption of the game becomes larger than
loss of the casino side due to the fraud that can be prevented by
the interruption of the game.
[0356] Therefore, in the present embodiment, when an actual
increase amount, decrease amount, or increase/decrease amount
(actual liquidation amount) of chips in liquidation after the end
of the game and a calculated increase amount, decrease amount, or
increase/decrease amount (calculated liquidation amount) are
inconsistent with each other, it is determined whether or not a
loss amount due to the inconsistency is large, and it is possible
to interrupt the game and take an action such as finding of the
cause when the loss amount is large.
[0357] In the management system according to the present
embodiment, the first to third configurations are adopted in the
management system including the game table and the chips, and the
configuration according to the fourth embodiment is adopted in the
chip tray.
[0358] A repeated detailed description of each component is
avoided, but components necessary for the management system
according to the present embodiment are summarized as follows. The
management system is configured as the fraud detection system
according to the first embodiment, and includes chips, a game table
4, a card distributing device 3 as a win/loss determining device or
a game determining unit, a measuring device 19, a chip tray 17, and
a management control device 50. The management control device 50
functions as a dealer chip determining device.
[0359] The chips can be the chips described in the second or third
embodiment, and can be individually identified by colors or marks
of surfaces and side surfaces thereof or RFIDs embedded therein. On
the game table 4, a game using the chips is played. On the game
table 4, bet targets are divided depending on positions, and
players put the chips in the corresponding division to bet the
chips. The card distributing device 3 grasps which rank and suit of
cards have been distributed to the game table 4 by reading contents
of discharged cards, and determines a win/loss result of the game
by applying information of the distributed cards to a game rule.
The win/loss determining device or the game determining unit may be
configured to include a camera device 2 that photographs cards on
the game table 4 and an image analyzing device 12 that analyzes an
image obtained from the camera device 2 to determine win/loss of
the game.
[0360] The chip tray 17 is a tray for a dealer to hold the chips
used on the game table 4, and is installed in the vicinity of a
dealer position on the game table 4. In the present embodiment, a
tray provided with various display lamps is used as the chip tray
17. The measuring device 19 is configured to include a camera
device 2 that photographs the chips on the game table 4 and an
image analyzing device 12 that specifies positions, types, and the
numbers of chips on the game table 4 by analyzing the image
obtained by the camera device 2. It is possible to determine on
which bet target on the game table 4 how many chips are bet, by the
measuring device 19, and the measuring device 19 becomes a bet
determining unit.
[0361] The dealer chip determining device is configured to include
a camera device 2 that photographs the chips accommodated in the
chip tray 17 and an image analyzing device 12 that specifies types
and the numbers of chips accommodated in the chip tray 17 by
analyzing the image obtained from the camera device 2. In the
management system, an actual liquidation amount of chips delivered
between the dealer and the player is determined using the measuring
device 19 or the dealer chip determining unit to constitute a
liquidation determining unit. The management control device 50
performs the following controls based on information obtained from
the measuring device, the dealer chip determining device, and the
win/loss determining device or based on information obtained from
the game determining unit, the bet determining unit, and the
liquidation determining unit.
[0362] In the present embodiment, the management control device 50
determines whether or not the actual liquidation amount of chips is
consistent with the calculated liquidation amount when the game
ends and controls display lamps 173 to 176 and the like, depending
on a determination result as in the fourth embodiment, but performs
a first control by continuously transmitting signals to the display
lamps 173 to 176 and the like, without stopping the game when the
following conditions are not satisfied and performs a second
control by transmitting signals for stopping the game to the
display lamps 173 to 176 and the like, when the following
conditions are satisfied, in the case where it is determined that
the actual liquidation amount and the calculated liquidation amount
are inconsistent with each other.
[0363] The conditions are as follows: (1) A difference (degree of
inconsistency) between an actual liquidation amount and a
calculated liquidation amount in a one-time game is larger than a
first threshold value (for example, 500 dollars); (2) The total sum
of differences (degrees of inconsistency) between actual
liquidation amounts and calculated liquidation amounts in recent
predetermined-time (for example, five-time) games is larger than a
second threshold value (for example, 500 dollars); and (3) A
difference (degree of inconsistency) between an actual liquidation
amount and a calculated liquidation amount is continuously equal to
or larger than a third threshold value (for example, 50 dollars) in
recent predetermined-time (for example, three-time) games.
[0364] When there is a difference between the actual liquidation
amount and the calculated liquidation amount, the management
control device 50 performs the second control on the display lamps
173 to 176 and the like, in the case where any one of the above
conditions (1) to (3) is satisfied, and performs the first control
in other cases.
[0365] It is possible to determine an amount (image collection
amount) collected from the game table and an amount (image payment
amount) paid to the game table as the actual liquidation amount
based on the image obtained from the camera device 2 (The image
collection amount and the image payment amount are collectively
referred to as an "image liquidation amount".), and it is possible
to determine an amount (RFID collection amount) collected in a
collecting portion of the chip tray 17 and an amount (RFID payment
amount) paid from an accommodating portion 170 of the chip tray 17
as the actual liquidation amount based on a radio wave received by
an antenna 177 (The RFID collection amount and the RFID payment
amount are collectively referred to as an "RFID liquidation
amount".).
[0366] That is, the management control device 50 may compare the
image liquidation amount with the calculated liquidation amount,
compare the RFID liquidation amount with the calculated liquidation
amount, or compare each of the image liquidation amount and the
RFID liquidation amount with the calculated liquidation amount in
order to compare the actual liquidation amount with the calculated
liquidation amount.
[0367] When the chip tray 17 shown in FIG. 26 is used as the chip
tray, the management control device 50 controls the display lamp as
follows. It should be noted that the display lamp is one form of a
lighting device and the lighting device is one form of a display
device. The management control device 50 turns on the display lamp
173 with a red color as the second control when the difference
between the actual liquidation amount and the calculated
liquidation amount satisfies any one of the conditions (1) to (3),
turns on the display lamp 173 with a yellow color as the first
control when the difference between the actual liquidation amount
and the calculated liquidation amount does not satisfy any of the
conditions (1) to (3), and turns on the display lamp 173 with a
green color as a third control when there is no difference between
the actual liquidation amount and the calculated liquidation
amount, with respect to a balance between the collected amount and
the paid amount (liquidation amount), that is, a final balance
(that may be minus) obtained by summing up all collections and all
payments.
[0368] Note that the display lamp 173 is configured to include
light emitting diodes (LEDs) of three primary colors, and can
express an arbitrary color. The management control device 50
realizes light emission of colors such as the red color, the yellow
color, and the green color as described above by controlling
emission intensity of each of the LEDs of the three primary colors
in the display lamp 173.
[0369] The management control device 50 turns on the display lamp
174 with a red color as the second control when a difference
between an actual collection amount and a calculated collection
amount or a difference between an actual payment amount and a
calculated payment amount satisfies any one of the conditions (1)
to (3), turns on the display lamp 174 with a yellow color as the
first control when the difference between the actual collection
amount and the calculated collection amount or the difference
between the actual payment amount and the calculated payment amount
does not satisfy any of the conditions (1) to (3), and turns on the
display lamp 174 with a green color as a third control when there
is no difference between the actual collection amount and the
calculated collection amount or difference between the actual
payment amount and the calculated payment amount.
[0370] The display lamps 176 have a total of seven display lamps
corresponding to the seven player positions. The management control
device 50 turns on display lamps 176 corresponding to players
(players losing the game) from which chips are to be collected with
a white color in a collection step, and turns on display lamps 176
corresponding to players (player winning the game) to which chips
are to be paid with a white color in a payment step.
[0371] The management control device 50 determines whether or not a
difference between an actual collection amount and a calculated
collection amount satisfies any one of the conditions (1) to (3) or
whether there is no difference between the actual collection amount
and the calculated collection amount, turns off the corresponding
display lamp 176 in the case where there is no difference, changes
a color of the display lamp 176 from a white color to a red color
as the second control when the difference satisfies any one of the
conditions (1) to (3) in the case where there is a difference, and
changes a color of the display lamp 176 to a yellow color as the
second control when the difference does not satisfy any one of the
conditions (1) to (3) in the case where there is a difference, for
each player in the collection step. Likewise, the management
control device 50 determines whether or not a difference between an
actual payment amount and a calculated payment amount satisfies any
one of the conditions (1) to (3) or whether there is no difference
between the actual payment amount and the calculated payment
amount, turns off the corresponding display lamp 176 in the case
where there is no difference, changes a color of the display lamp
176 from a white color to a red color as the second control when
the difference satisfies any one of the conditions (1) to (3) in
the case where there is a difference, and changes a color of the
display lamp 176 to a yellow color as the second control when the
difference does not satisfy any one of the conditions (1) to (3) in
the case where there is a difference, for each player in the
payment step.
[0372] By the control of the display lamp 176 by the management
control device 50, the dealer can determine whether there is a
small amount of fraud, there is a large amount of fraud, or there
is no fraud, for each player.
[0373] Likewise, with respect to the display lamp 175, the
management control device 50 determines whether a difference
between a collection amount or a payment amount and a calculated
collection amount or a calculated payment amount for chips bet on
"pair" satisfies any one of the conditions (1) to (3) or whether
there is no difference, turns on the display lamp 175 with a green
color as a third control in the case where there is no difference,
turns on the display lamp 175 with a yellow color as the first
control in the case where the difference does not satisfy any of
the conditions (1) to (3), and turns on the display lamp 175 with a
red color as the second control in the case where the difference
satisfies any one of the conditions (1) to (3).
[0374] Even in the case where the chip tray of FIG. 28 or 29 is
adopted as the chip tray 17, various display lamps are turned on
with different colors depending on whether or not there is a
difference and whether or not the difference satisfies the
conditions (1) to (3), as described above. In particular, when the
present embodiment is applied to the chip tray 17 of FIG. 28, a
display that can specify a player position or a player (game
participant) that is a cause of the difference is made.
[0375] By the control by the management control device 50, the
dealer can interrupt the game and investigate the fraud when the
display lamp is turned on with a color corresponding to the second
control (when the difference is large) and can continue the game
while paying attention to the fraud when the display lamp is turned
on with a color corresponding to the first control (when the
difference is small), by confirming the colors of the various
display lamps. Alternatively, the dealer can take an action so as
to solve the difference at that place by performing simple
investigation or confirmation within a range that does not hinder
the progress of the game when the display lamp is turned on with a
color corresponding to the first control. In addition, the present
embodiment is also useful even in the case where accuracy of
recognition of the chips in the image analyzing device 12,
identification of the cards distributed by the card distributing
device 3, detection of the chips by the RFIDs and the like, is low.
That is, when the accuracy of the recognition of the chips in the
image analyzing device 12, the identification of the cards
distributed by the card distributing device 3, the detection of the
chips by the RFIDs and the like, is low, an inaccurate result such
as inconsistency (there is a difference) may be obtained even
though amounts are originally consistent with each other (there is
no difference), but when an amount of inaccurate result is small,
it is possible to ignore the inaccurate result as described above
and proceed with the game.
[0376] The management control device 50 includes a storage device
to record all actual liquidation amounts and calculated liquidation
amounts and also store determination result such as determination
for at which display lamp which color is displayed, that is,
whether there was a difference, whether a signal for stopping the
game has been output due to the difference, and whether a signal
for continuing the game has been output even though there is a
difference. The dealer can grasp the fraud in real time by
confirming the various display lamps provided in the chip tray 17,
as described above, and a casino operator can grasp the fraud later
by confirming data recorded in the storage device.
[0377] The management control device 50 can receive an input
operation of a user (typically, a casino operator), and change
various concrete values of the above conditions based on the input.
That is, various parameters of the above conditions are
variable.
[0378] The conditions (1) to (3) have been set as conditions for
determining whether to perform the first control or the second
control when there is a difference between the actual liquidation
amount and the calculated liquidation amount in the abovementioned
embodiment, but all of these conditions (1) to (3) are conditions
relating to the difference. The management control device 50 may
determine whether to perform the first control or the second
control using other conditions, in addition to these conditions or
instead of these conditions. For example, in the case where there
is a difference between the actual liquidation amount and the
calculated liquidation amount, the second control may be performed
when a bet amount is equal to or larger than a fourth threshold
value, and the first control may be performed when the bet amount
is smaller than the fourth threshold value. In addition, the
management control device 50 may output a signal for stopping the
game by performing the second control when a ratio of an amount of
inconsistency to the bet amount is larger than a predetermined
ratio (predetermined threshold value) and continuously output a
signal without stopping the game by performing the first control
when the ratio of the amount of inconsistency to the bet amount is
equal to or smaller than the predetermined ratio (predetermined
threshold value), in the case where there is a difference between
the actual liquidation amount and the calculated liquidation
amount.
[0379] The lighting device (display lamp) is used as the display
device and the management control device 50 performs a control to
select the color with which the lighting device is turned on as the
first to third controls in the abovementioned embodiment, but a
control target of the first to third controls is not limited
thereto. For example, in the case where a display panel including a
two-dimensional array such as a liquid crystal panel is provided as
a display device at the chip tray 17 or other places, whether or
not there is a difference and whether or not the difference
satisfies any one of the conditions (1) to (3) when there is a
difference may be displayed as text information or image
information on the display panel. Further, the management control
device 50 may display whether the difference satisfies any one of
the conditions (1) to (3), on the display panel.
[0380] Alternatively, the management control device 50 may control
the card distributing device 3. In this case, the card distributing
device 3 has a stopper restricting the discharge of the card, and
the management control device 50 may operate the stopper at a
timing at which the game ends to prohibit the discharge of the
card, release the stopper as the first control and the third
control to permit the discharge of the card, and operate the
stopper as the second control so as to maintain prohibition of the
discharge of the card. Alternatively, a control target of the
management control device 50 may be an output device that appeals
to other senses of a person (dealer), such as a sound output device
or a vibration output device.
[0381] In addition, the management control device 50 determines
whether to perform the first control or the second control based on
the conditions (1) to (3) relating to the difference in the
abovementioned embodiment, but these conditions (1) to (3) may be
applied only when the casino side suffers a loss. For example, only
when the difference in a one-time game exceeds the first threshold
value but the loss on the casino side occurs due to the difference,
it may be determined that the condition of (1) is satisfied, and
when the difference causes a loss of the player, it may be
determined that the condition is not satisfied.
[0382] In addition, the management system evaluates the difference
between the actual liquidation amount and the calculated
liquidation amount with respect to each of the collection and
payment or with the balance by the collection and the payment in
the abovementioned embodiment, but the management system may
perform a control by evaluating only a difference of any one of the
collection and the payment.
[0383] In addition, the management control device 50 evaluates the
difference between the actual liquidation amount and the calculated
liquidation amount and outputs each of a signal indicating that an
amount of inconsistency is small and a signal indicating that an
amount of inconsistency is large in the abovementioned embodiment,
but the management control device 50 may output a signal indicating
an amount of inconsistency when there is a difference between the
actual liquidation amount and the calculated liquidation amount. In
this case, the display device may receive a signal indicating the
amount of inconsistency and display the amount of inconsistency
(difference amount). The dealer may determine whether to stop or
continue the game by viewing the amount of inconsistency displayed
on the display device.
[0384] In addition, the management control device 50 may transmit a
signal indicating that there is a small amount of inconsistency, a
signal indicating that there is a large amount of inconsistency, a
signal indicating that there is no inconsistency, and/or a signal
indicating an amount of inconsistency to a backyard, when there is
a difference between the actual liquidation amount and the
calculated liquidation amount. In addition, a display device may be
installed in the backyard, and contents of the signal received from
the management control device 50 may be displayed on the display
device.
[0385] In a chip according to one aspect of the present invention,
at least a colored layer and a white layer or a thin color layer
are stacked to configure a stack structure including a plurality of
plastic layers, stripe patterns in a stack direction are formed on
a side surface, a type of chip can be specified by the colored
layer, printed layers indicating a type of chip are provided on
upper and lower surfaces of the stack structure, and the respective
layers are thermo-compression-bonded to each other to form a layer
structure.
[0386] In the chip, side IDs that can be individually identified
may be attached to an outer side surface of the white layer or the
thin color layer.
[0387] In the chip, the side IDs may be attached to at least three
or more places at intervals in a rotation direction on a side
surface of the chip.
[0388] In the chip, the side ID may be printed by ink that is not
viewed by visible ray.
[0389] In the chip, the side ID may be printed by ink absorbing
infrared ray.
[0390] In the chip, the side IDs may be provided in a plurality of
rows on each of outer side surfaces of two layers of the white
layer or the thin color layer.
[0391] In the chip, R processing may be performed on outer corners
of upper and lower surfaces of the printed layer.
[0392] In the chip, at least one layer of the plurality of plastic
layers may be a heavy layer containing metal powders for weight
increase in the layer.
[0393] In the chip, the metal powder for weight increase may be a
metal oxide, and may be one or a plurality of metal oxides of a
zinc oxide and a titanium oxide in particular.
[0394] In the chip, white layers or thin color layers may be
provided on both sides with the colored layer interposed
therebetween, and thicknesses of upper and lower layers of the
white layers or the thin color layers provided with the colored
layer interposed therebetween may be different from each other.
[0395] In the chip, an RFID may be closely adhered and fixed
between plastic layers forming any one of the colored layer, the
white layer, and the thin color layer.
[0396] In the chip, the printed layer may be provided with a face
code by UV emitting ink or ink absorbing infrared ray.
[0397] In the chip, the side ID may be attached to a side surface
and the RFID may be embedded, the printed layer may be provided
with a face code by UV emitting ink or ink absorbing infrared ray,
and information of the side ID attached to the side surface and
information of the RFID may be associated with each other, the
information of the side ID and information of the face code may be
associated with each other, or the information of the side ID, the
information of the RFID, and the information of the face code may
be associated with one another.
[0398] An inspection apparatus according to one aspect of the
present invention is an inspection apparatus that inspects the
chip, and includes an RFID reading device that reads information of
an RFID of the chip, an ID reading device that reads a side ID on a
side surface, and a control device, wherein the control device
inspects association between information of the side ID obtained by
the ID reading device and the information obtained from the RFID
reading device.
[0399] An inspection apparatus according to another aspect of the
present invention is an inspection apparatus that inspects the
chip, and includes a face code reading device that reads a face
code by UV emitting ink provided on a surface of the chip or ink
absorbing infrared ray, an ID reading device that reads a side ID
on a side surface, and a control device, wherein the control device
inspects association between information of the side ID obtained by
the ID reading device and information obtained from the face code
reading device.
[0400] An inspection apparatus according to still another aspect of
the present invention is an inspection apparatus that inspects the
chip, and includes a face code reading device that reads a face
code by UV emitting ink provided on a surface of the chip or ink
absorbing infrared ray, an ID reading device that reads a side ID
on a side surface, an RFID reading device that reads information of
an RFID of the chip, and a control device, wherein the control
device inspects association among information of the side ID
obtained by the ID reading device, information obtained from the
face code reading device, and the information obtained from the
RFID reading device.
[0401] In the inspection apparatus, the side ID may be printed by
at least any one of ink viewed by visible ray and ink absorbing
infrared ray or by a combination thereof, and the ID reading device
may include a single visible ray camera or infrared ray camera or a
plurality of visible ray cameras or infrared ray cameras
corresponding to the printed ink of the side ID or include a camera
that can switch a plurality of functions of a visible ray camera or
an infrared ray camera corresponding to the ink.
[0402] The inspection apparatus may further include a determining
device of a type of chip that determines a color of a stripe
pattern in a stack direction of a side surface of the chip by
photographing the side surface of the chip or a printing inspecting
device that reads printing of a printed layer provided in the chip
to inspect a relationship between the type of chip and a printed
content of the printed layer.
[0403] In a method of manufacturing a chip according to one aspect
of the present invention, at least a colored layer and a white
layer or a thin color layer are stacked to form a stack structure
including a plurality of plastic layers, a printed layer on which
patterns are printed is provided on at least an upper surface or a
lower surface of the stack structure of the plurality of plastic
layers, the respective layers of the stack structure and the
printed layer are heated and compressed to be thermally welded to
each other, thereby creating a chip original plate, the chip
original plate is punched by a mold to obtain a plurality of chips
having a predetermined shape, and R processing is performed on
upper and lower corners of the chips with the mold at the time of
the punching the chip original plate.
[0404] In a method of manufacturing a chip according to another
aspect of the present invention, at least an intermediate color
layer is provided, white layers or thin color layers are stacked on
and beneath the intermediate colored layer to form a stack
structure including a plurality of plastic layers, a layer
containing metal powders or a metal oxide for weight increase in
the layer is used as at least one layer of the plurality of plastic
layers, a printed layer on which patterns are printed is provided
on at least an upper surface or a lower surface of the stack
structure, the respective layers of the stack structure and the
printed layer are heated and compressed to be thermally welded to
each other, thereby creating a chip original plate, and the chip
original plate is punched by a mold to obtain a plurality of chips
having a predetermined shape.
[0405] In the method of manufacturing a chip, a side ID may be
attached by inkjet printing.
[0406] In the method of manufacturing a chip, an RFID may be
interposed between the layers of the stack structure, and the
respective layers between which the RFID is interposed may be
thermally welded to each other at the time of heating and
compressing the respective layers to closely adhere the surrounding
of the RFID to the plastic layer.
[0407] In the method of manufacturing a chip, any one or more of a
face code, a security mark, and an optical variable device (OVD)
may be printed on the printed layer.
[0408] A management system of a table game according to one aspect
of the present invention includes a card distributing device that
determines and displays a win/loss result of each game on a game
table, a camera device that photographs and records chips put on
the game table using a camera, and a management control device that
specifies and stores positions, types, and the numbers of chips put
on the game table by game participants using an image-capturing
result of the camera device in each game, wherein the chip is a
structure having at least a colored layer and a white layer or a
thin color layer in an appearance so as to form stripe patterns in
an axial direction on a side surface thereof and has a
configuration in which a type thereof can be specified by the
colored layer, and the management control device has a calculation
function of calculating a balance of a casino side on the game
table for each game using the win/loss result obtained from the
card distributing device and an image-capturing result of the
positions, the types, and the numbers of chips put by the game
participants.
[0409] In the management system of a table game, the management
control device may have a function of measuring the numbers of
colored layers or white layers or thin color layers of chips put by
the respective game participants and determining types or amounts
of chips depending on colors of the colored layers.
[0410] In the management system of a table game, the management
control device captures an image of the positions, the types, and
the numbers of chips put by the game participants in each game, but
the image-capturing is performed when it is detected that the card
distributing device draws a first card, before or after the card
distributing device draws the first card, or after the management
control device recognizes a betting end sign of a dealer.
[0411] A management system of a table game according to another
aspect of the present invention includes a chip tray that is
provided on a game table and holds chips for each type of chips, a
camera device that captures an image of chips put on the chip tray
using a camera, and a management control device that specifies and
stores types and the numbers of chips on the chip tray using an
image-capturing result of the camera device, wherein the chip is a
structure having at least a colored layer and a white layer or a
thin color layer in an appearance so as to form stripe patterns in
an axial direction on a side surface thereof and has a
configuration in which a type thereof can be specified by the
colored layer, and the management control device can measure a
total amount of chips on the chip tray using an image-capturing
result of the types and the numbers of chips on the chip tray.
[0412] In the management system of a table game, the management
control device may have a function of measuring the numbers of
colored layers or white layers or thin color layers of chips put by
the respective game participants and determining types or amounts
of chips depending on colors of the colored layers.
[0413] In the management system of a table game, the management
control device can determine a difference by which an actual total
amount of chips after an end of the game grasped in the chip tray
of a dealer of the game table does not correspond to an
increase/decrease amount of chips calculated from an amount of
chips bet by all players and a win/loss result of the game.
[0414] In the management system of a table game, a total amount of
chips in the chip tray after liquidation at the end of the game
through the management control device may be obtained: 1) when
redemption for winning chips ends, 2) when cards used in the game
are collected and discarded in a discard area of the table, 3) when
a predetermined button annexed to a win/loss result determining
device is pressed, or 4) when a marker indicating win/loss
returns.
[0415] In the management system of a table game, the camera device
may be capable of capturing an image of paper money for exchanging
the chips, and the management control device may specify types and
the numbers of chips on the chip tray to be reduced by exchange
between the chips on the chip tray and the paper money using an
image-capturing result of the paper money and compare and measure
the specified types and numbers of chips with an actual total
amount of chips on the chip tray.
[0416] In the management system of a table game, the management
control device may compare and determine whether or not a total
amount of chips grasped in the chip tray of the dealer of the game
table corresponds to an increase/decrease depending on a payment
amount of chips corresponding to exchanged bills after exchange
between the bills and the chips is performed and an
increase/decrease of chips calculated from an amount of chips bet
by all players and a win/loss result of the game.
[0417] In the management system of a table game, the management
control device may be an artificial intelligence utilization type
or a deep learning structure capable of obtaining information on
types and the number of chips even in a state in which a part or
the entirety of one chip is hidden by a blind spot of the camera at
the time of measuring and determining the types and the numbers of
chips.
[0418] In the management system of a table game, the chip may have
at least three side IDs attached at intervals in a rotation
direction to the white layer or the thin color layer of the side
surface thereof, a type and manufacturing information of chip may
be specified by reading the side IDs by an ID reading device, and
the measured and specified information may be collated and managed
with a predetermined database.
[0419] In the management system of a table game, the side ID may be
printed by at least any one of ink viewed by visible ray and ink
absorbing infrared ray or by both of them, and the ID reading
device may include a plurality of visible ray cameras or infrared
ray cameras corresponding to the printed ink of the side ID or
include a camera that can switch a plurality of functions of a
visible ray camera or an infrared ray camera corresponding to the
ink.
[0420] In the management system of a table game, the camera device
that photographs and records the chips put on the game table may
photograph the chips by a single camera disposed at a predetermined
position or a plurality of cameras disposed at predetermined
positions and having different heights.
* * * * *