Security zones for casino gaming

• US 20060187029A1
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomas, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for monitoring a location of a casino game for use in a gaming establishment wherein at least some of the components of the game include an attached radio frequency-responsive element, such as an RFID tag. In one example, RFID readers are located in stationary positions in gaming establishment to monitor a population of secure zones.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

interrogating radio frequency-responsive elements associated with one or more components of a casino game with a stationary reader located in a gaming establishment;

receiving a signal from the interrogated radio frequency-responsive elements with the stationary reader; and

recording location information about the components based on the received signals relative to a secure zone of the gaming establishment.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

creating expected population data for the secure zone;

comparing the location information from the received signals to the expected population data; and

generating results of the comparison.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises issuing a security notification when the location information deviates from the expected population data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency-responsive elements are passive elements.

5. A method comprising:

locating a radio frequency identification reader at a stationary location within a gaming establishment to define a secure zone;

establishing an inventory list of radio frequency-responsive elements expected to be located within the secure zone;

reading radio frequency-responsive elements physically located within the secure zone;

comparing the read radio frequency-responsive elements physically located within the secure zone with the inventory list; and

issuing a security notice based upon the comparison.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the secure zone is located proximate to an exit location of the gaming establishment to secure a perimeter of the gaming establishment.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the radio frequency-responsive elements include an antenna and an integrated circuit, the radio frequency-responsive element having information storage and transmission capabilities adapted to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequency-responsive element.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the information stored in the radio frequency-responsive element is related to identification of a component of a casino game.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the radio frequency-responsive element is physically attached to the component.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the radio frequency-responsive elements are passive elements.

11. A gaming establishment comprising:

a casino game including a plurality of components wherein at least one of the components includes a radio frequency-responsive element including an antenna and an integrated circuit, the radio frequency-responsive element having information storage and transmission capabilities adapted to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequency-responsive element, wherein the information stored in each of the radio frequency-responsive elements is related to the attached component;

at least one reader located to define a secure zone and to interrogate the radio frequency-responsive elements attached to the components of the casino game and obtain the information from the radio frequency-responsive elements; and

a processor in communication with the at least one reader, wherein the processor maintains a population list of radio frequency-responsive elements expected to be located within the secure zone, the processor further compares the information obtained from the reader with the population list to determine security breaches.

12. The gaming establishment of claim 11 wherein the at least one reader comprises a plurality of readers located within the gaming establishment to define the secure zone.

13. The gaming establishment of claim 11 wherein the radio frequency-responsive elements are passive elements.

14. A system for monitoring casino games comprising:

at least one reader located to monitor a secure zone and interrogate radio frequency-responsive elements located within the secure zone; and

a processor in communication with the at least one reader, wherein the processor maintains a population list of radio frequency-responsive elements expected to be located within the secure zone, the processor further compares the information obtained from the reader with the population list to determine security breaches.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least one reader comprises a plurality of readers located within the gaming establishment to define the secure zone.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of readers has a monitoring area, and wherein the monitoring areas of the plurality of readers are located to provide the secure zone.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the radio frequency-responsive elements are passive elements.