Radio direction finder for gaming chip and/or player tracking

• US 20080231457A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Gadda, Chris, Mattice, Harold E., Stockdale, James, Wilder, Richard, Griswold, Chan
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network. In at least one embodiment, an electronically switched Doppler antenna array may be utilized to detect a first wireless signal from a first signal source. Bearing information may be generated using information from the detected signal. In at least one embodiment, the bearing information may include a first directional bearing to the first signal source. Using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source may be determined. According to specific embodiments, the first signal source may correspond to a wireless communication device such as an RFID-enabled player tracking card or gaming chip. In at least one embodiment, a current location of the wireless communication device may be automatically tracked in real-time as the wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

a first processor;

memory;

at least one interface; and

a first antenna array;

the system being operable to;

detect, at the first antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source;

generate first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source; and

determine, using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first signal source.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled player tracking card;

and

wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first signal source.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled player tracking card, and wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first signal source, the system being further operable to:

automatically track, in real-time, a current location of the player tracking card as the player tracking card is moved through a first region of the casino.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled gaming chip;

and

wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first signal source.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled gaming chip, and wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first signal source, the system being further operable to:

automatically track, in real-time, a current location of the gaming chip as the gaming chip is moved through a first region of the casino.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a mobile wireless communication device;

and

wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first signal source.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first antenna array is configured or designed to function as an electrically switched Doppler antenna system;

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna array includes a first antenna and a second antenna, the system being further operable to:

receive the first wireless signal at the first antenna at a first time T1;

receive the first wireless signal at the second antenna at a second time T2;

detect a change in frequency of the first wireless signal using information relating to the wireless signal received at times T1 and T2; and

determine the first directional bearing to the first signal source using information relating to the change in frequency of the first wireless signal.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second antenna array, the system being operable to:

detect, at the second antenna array, the first wireless signal;

generate second bearing information which includes a second directional bearing to the second signal source; and

determine, using at least a portion of the first and second bearing information, the first location of the first signal source.

11. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

receive the first wireless signal at a first antenna of the antenna array;

determine first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal; and

determine, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source.

12. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

receive the first wireless signal at a first antenna of the antenna array;

determine first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal;

determine, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source;

determine, using at least a portion of the first bearing information and first range data, the first location of the first signal source.

13. A method for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the method comprising:

detecting, at a first Doppler antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device;

generating first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

determining, using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source, wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first wireless communication device; and

automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the Doppler antenna array includes a first antenna and a second antenna, the method further comprising:

receiving the first wireless signal at the first antenna at a first time T1;

receiving the first wireless signal at the second antenna at a second time T2;

detecting a change in frequency of the first wireless signal using information relating to the wireless signal received at times T1 and T2; and

determining the first directional bearing to the first signal source using information relating to the change in frequency of the first wireless signal.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising a second antenna array, the method comprising:

detecting, at the second antenna array, the first wireless signal;

generating second bearing information which includes a second directional bearing to the second signal source; and

determining, using at least a portion of the first and second bearing information, the first location of the first signal source.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving the first wireless signal at a first antenna of the Doppler antenna array;

determining first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal; and

determining, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving the first wireless signal at a first antenna of the Doppler antenna array;

determining first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal;

determining, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source;

determining, using at least a portion of the first bearing information and first range data, the first location of the first signal source.

20. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

a first processor;

memory;

at least one interface; and

a first antenna array;

means for detecting a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device;

means for generating first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

means for determining, using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source, wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first wireless communication device; and

means for automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.