REAL-TIME PLAYER TRACKING
First Claim
1. An image analyzing system, comprising:
- a camera system comprising a plurality of cameras for obtaining patron data regarding people in or near a commercial establishment, the plurality of cameras configured for communication with other devices via a network; and
a server, comprising;
at least one network interface configured for communication with the network; and
a logic system configured to do the following;
acquire patron data regarding a patron from at least one of the cameras via the network interface;
categorize the patron with reference to the acquired patron data; and
determine, according to the categorization, whether to populate a customer loyalty database with at least some of the patron data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some implementations of the invention provide methods, devices and systems for acquiring patron data in real time. A plurality of networked cameras may be used to acquire information regarding casino patrons. The cameras may include “smart cameras” having an integrated machine vision system. The real-time information may be used to populate one or more databases of a player loyalty program. Patron information may also be used to determine trends associated with patron demographics, with levels of a player loyalty program, etc. Some implementations of the invention involve monitoring patron event data and determining when predetermined events of interest occur. When a defined event occurs, patron data relating to the associated patron may be monitored, analyzed and used to populate one or more player loyalty databases. In some implementations, patron data acquired prior to the time of the defined event may also be analyzed and used.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. An image analyzing system, comprising:
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a camera system comprising a plurality of cameras for obtaining patron data regarding people in or near a commercial establishment, the plurality of cameras configured for communication with other devices via a network; and a server, comprising; at least one network interface configured for communication with the network; and a logic system configured to do the following; acquire patron data regarding a patron from at least one of the cameras via the network interface; categorize the patron with reference to the acquired patron data; and determine, according to the categorization, whether to populate a customer loyalty database with at least some of the patron data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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receiving real-time patron event data for patrons of a wager gaming establishment; comparing the real-time patron event data with a set of defined events; determining when a patron event of the real-time patron event data matches a defined event; and causing real-time patron event data to be stored in a database of a player loyalty system of the wager gaming establishment, the real-time patron event data relating to a selected patron whose event matched a defined event. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of processing image data, comprising:
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acquiring image data of people in or near a commercial establishment; analyzing the image data according to a first rule set; determining whether a person is a member of a customer loyalty program; and analyzing the image data according to a second rule set when it is determined that the person is a member of the customer loyalty program. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus, comprising:
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an interface system; a memory having a data structure stored therein, the data structure indicating a set of defined events; a logic system configured to do the following; receive real-time patron event data via the interface system; compare the real-time patron event data with the set of defined events; determine when a patron event of the real-time patron event data matches a defined event; and cause real-time patron event data to be stored in a database of a customer loyalty system, the real-time patron event data relating to a selected patron whose event matched a defined event. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system for processing image data, comprising:
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means for acquiring image data of people in or near a commercial establishment; means for analyzing the image data according to a first rule set; means for determining whether a person is a member of a customer loyalty program; and means for analyzing the image data according to a second rule set when it is determined that the person is a member of the customer loyalty program. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of analyzing images, comprising:
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acquiring patron data regarding a patron from at least one of a plurality of cameras in a commercial establishment; categorizing the patron with reference to the acquired patron data; and determining, according to the categorization, whether to populate a customer loyalty database with at least some of the patron data.
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48. An apparatus for analyzing images, comprising:
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means for acquiring patron data regarding a patron from at least one of a plurality of cameras in a commercial establishment; means for categorizing the patron with reference to the acquired patron data; and means for determining, according to the categorization, whether to populate a customer loyalty database with at least some of the patron data.
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49. An image analyzing system, comprising:
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a plurality of cameras for obtaining patron data regarding people in or near a commercial establishment, the cameras configured for communication with other devices via a network; and a server, comprising; at least one network interface configured for communication with the network; and a logic system configured to do the following; acquire patron data regarding a patron from at least one of the cameras via the network interface; categorize the person with reference to the acquired patron data; and determine whether to provide a benefit to the person according to a categorization. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method, comprising:
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acquiring patron data from at least one of a plurality of cameras; categorizing a patron of a business with reference to the acquired patron data; and determining whether to provide a benefit to the patron according to a categorization. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A system for processing image data, comprising:
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a camera system configured for acquiring image data of people in or near a business; a logic system configured to perform the following tasks; analyze the image data according to a first rule set; determine whether a person is a member of a customer loyalty program; and analyzing the image data according to a second rule set when it is determined that the person is a member of the customer loyalty program. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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Specification