Automated game monitoring
First Claim
1. A game monitoring system, comprising:
- a first camera configured to capture images of a space over a game surface, the space comprising a volume encompassed by a line of sight for a focal point of the first camera to the game surface, wherein the line of sight is in a range of about forty-five degrees to ninety degrees; and
an image processing engine that retrieves information from the images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for monitoring players in a game, extracting player and game operator data, and processing the data. In one embodiment, the present invention captures the relevant actions and/or the results of relevant actions of one or more players and one or more game operators in game, such as a casino game. The system and methods are flexible in that they do not require special gaming pieces to collect data. Rather, the present invention is calibrated to the particular gaming pieces and environment already in used in the game. The data extracted can be processed and presented to aid in game security, player and game operator progress and history, determine trends, maximize the integrity and draw of casino games, and a wide variety of other areas. The data is generally retrieved through a series of cameras that capture images of game play from different angles.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A game monitoring system, comprising:
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a first camera configured to capture images of a space over a game surface, the space comprising a volume encompassed by a line of sight for a focal point of the first camera to the game surface, wherein the line of sight is in a range of about forty-five degrees to ninety degrees; and
an image processing engine that retrieves information from the images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 27)
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8. A method for monitoring a system, comprising:
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detecting an event associated with a game environment; and
capturing an image of a game environment surface from a first camera in response to detecting the event, the first camera located in a space comprising a volume encompassed by a line of sight for a focal point of the first camera to the game surface, wherein the line of sight is in a range of about forty-five degrees to ninety degrees.
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11. A game monitoring system, comprising:
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a first camera directed towards a game surface at a first angle from the game surface and configured to capture images of the game surface;
one or more supplemental cameras directed towards the game surface at a second angle from the game surface and configured to capture images of the game surface, the first angle and the second angle having a difference of at least forty-five degrees in a vertical plane with respect to the game surface; and
an image processing engine configured to process the images captured of the game surface by said first camera and said one or more supplemental cameras. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring a game, comprising:
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receiving image information associated with a game environment;
processing the image information to derive game information;
determining the occurrence of an event from the game information; and
initiating an action responsive to the event. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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28. A method for recognizing an element of a game, comprising:
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capturing a calibration image of the element;
storing the calibration image of the element;
associating a portion of a game surface with a region of interest in an image of the game surface; and
matching a portion of the region of interest containing the element to the calibration image of the element. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for processing images of a game environment, comprising:
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detecting a center of mass and area of an identified pixel cluster within a region of interest, the region of interest associated with a player in a game;
associating the identified pixel cluster mass and area with a stored pixel cluster mass and area;
processing the region of interest in response to said step of associating. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for processing images of game environment, comprising:
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capturing an image of a game environment;
dividing the image into an array of M×
N regions, each region encompassing a portion of the game environment; and
storing image calibration information for each region. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification