System, apparatus and method for automatically tracking a table game
First Claim
1. A system for collecting data for game events in a gaming region of a gaming table, the system comprising:
- a first imager configured for recording a series of overhead images to include a gaming object located on a playing surface in the gaming region, the first imager configured to be focused on the playing surface;
a positioning module configured for coupling to the first imager to receive the overhead images, the positioning module for recognising the gaming object in a selected image of the overhead images and for assigning a position indicator having at least one characteristic point to the recognized gaming object;
the position indicator defined in a coordinate system coupled to the gaming table for locating the recognized gaming object on the playing surface; and
an identity module configured for coupling to the positioning module and for assigning an identity to the recognized gaming object, the identity and the position indicator being the current gaming profile of the recognized gaming object;
wherein the current gaming profile of the recognized gaming object is subsequently used to determine the game event.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system automatically monitors playing of a game and gathers data in real time. An overhead imaging system automatically images the game table and provides an overhead view of the game table and/or the dealer'"'"'s chip tray. A lateral imaging system images the gaming area, especially the wagering regions, to provide a lateral view of the chips on the table. An automatic card shoe system dispenses cards and automatically images at least one card immediately prior to its withdrawal from the shoe. A positioning module processes images from the overhead imaging system to automatically track the position of gaming objects such as for example playing cards, chips, currency bills on the gaming table. An identity module processes images from the overhead imaging system to automatically track the identity of gaming objects on the gaming table. A chip identity module processes overhead images of the chip tray and lateral images of the gaming region to automatically determine, the identity and position of gaming chips. A card-shoe software associated with the automatic card shoe system processes signals from the automatic card shoe system to automatically identify the game related value of at least one card immediately prior to its withdrawal from the shoe by a dealer.
425 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A system for collecting data for game events in a gaming region of a gaming table, the system comprising:
-
a first imager configured for recording a series of overhead images to include a gaming object located on a playing surface in the gaming region, the first imager configured to be focused on the playing surface;
a positioning module configured for coupling to the first imager to receive the overhead images, the positioning module for recognising the gaming object in a selected image of the overhead images and for assigning a position indicator having at least one characteristic point to the recognized gaming object;
the position indicator defined in a coordinate system coupled to the gaming table for locating the recognized gaming object on the playing surface; and
an identity module configured for coupling to the positioning module and for assigning an identity to the recognized gaming object, the identity and the position indicator being the current gaming profile of the recognized gaming object;
wherein the current gaming profile of the recognized gaming object is subsequently used to determine the game event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
24. A method for collecting data for game events in a gaming region of a gaming table, the method comprising the steps of:
-
recording a series of overhead images to include a gaming object located on a playing surface in the gaming region;
recognizing the gaming object in a selected image of the overhead images;
assigning a position indicator having at least one characteristic point to the recognized gaming object, the position indicator defined in a coordinate system coupled to the gaming table for locating the recognized gaming object on the playing surface; and
assigning an identity to the recognized gaming object, the identity and the position indicator being the current gaming profile of the recognized gaming object;
wherein the current gaming profile of the recognized gaming object is subsequently used to determine the game event.
-
-
25. A method for collecting data of gaming chips in a gaming region of a gaming table, the method comprising the steps of:
-
recording a lateral image to include a chip stack, the lateral image being a lateral view of the gaming region; and
assigning a value for each of the gaming chips present in the chip stack of the lateral image by comparing a recognized sequence of regions for each of the chips in the selected lateral image to a stored collection of chip profiles, each of the regions determined from the lateral image by a region growing algorithm, the region growing algorithm for determining boundaries of each of the regions in the selected lateral image. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
Specification