Intelligent Wagering Token and Wagering Token Tracking Techniques

• US 20100093428A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold E., Schneider, Richard J., Moser, Timothy W., Harris, Roger William
• Granted Patent: US 8,608,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for implementing wireless communications among devices in a wager-based gaming environment which may include at least one portable electronic smart card device and/or at least one electronic wagering token. Some aspects relate to periodically engaging in wireless communications between a portable electronic smart card device and a plurality of electronic wagering tokens. Some aspects relate to performing tracking of electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within possession or control of a patron during various events such as, for example: a patron entering an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, a patron exiting an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, a patron initiating start of a gaming session at a gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, a patron being detected as being within a predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the closing of the gaming session, the location of the patron being detected as no longer being within the predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table, etc. Some aspects relate to determining an identity of a patron whose presence is detected at the live casino gaming environment. Some aspects relate to detecting and identifying electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of the patron of the live casino gaming environment during at least one time interval. Some aspects relate to generating, in response to detecting and identifying a presence of a electronic wagering token which is determined to be within possession or control of the patron, token-owner association information which includes information relating to a ownership association between the patron and the electronic wagering token.

Claims

1. A wagering token adapted for use in a betting environment involving placement of wagers during wager-based game play, the wagering token comprising:

an outer body having a center portion, a rim portion, and a specific monetary denomination and amount designated on an outer surface thereof;

a first processor disposed within the outer body;

at least one transceiver including a first transceiver disposed within the outer body;

at least two antennas disposed within the outer body including a first antenna and a second antenna;

a rechargeable, portable power source disposed within the outer body; and

a charging circuit disposed within the outer body and electrically coupled to the rechargeable power source, the charging circuit being operable to recharge the rechargeable power source by distributing power acquired from an external source;

the wagering token being configured or designed as multi-band frequency transceiver device which is operable to transmit and receive wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of an electromagnetic spectrum;

wherein the selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum include frequency bands selected from a group consisting of;

Low Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 30 kHz to 300 kHz, and High Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 3 MHz to 30 MHz.

2. The wagering token of claim 1:

wherein the first antenna is configured as a magnetic energy pickup antenna which is operable to receive wireless signals for use in performing magnetic induction, the magnetic energy pickup antenna being electrically coupled to the charging circuit;

wherein the magnetic energy pickup antenna is further operable to receive distribution of wireless power provided from the external source; and

wherein the second antenna is configured as an EH antenna which is operable receive and transmit wireless signals associated with the selected frequency bands of an electromagnetic spectrum.

3. The wagering token of claim 1 further comprising:

memory disposed within the outer body;

the wagering token being further operable to;

periodically acquire updated signal strength information relating one or more detected wireless signals originating from one or more external devices;

store at least a portion of the updated signal strength information in the memory; and

provide, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the updated signal strength information stored in the memory.

4. The wagering token of claim 1 further comprising:

memory disposed within the outer body;

the wagering token being further operable to;

detect wireless signals originating from one or more external devices;

acquire external device identifier information relating to identities of one or more external devices which have engaged in wireless communication with the wagering token;

store at least a portion of the external device identifier information in the memory; and

provide, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the external device identifier information stored in the memory.

5. The wagering token of claim 1 further comprising:

memory disposed within the outer body;

the wagering token being further operable to;

periodically acquire updated token ownership information relating to an identity of a current owner of the wagering token;

store at least a portion of the updated token ownership information in the memory; and

provide, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the updated token ownership information stored in the memory.

6. The wagering token of claim 1 further comprising:

memory disposed within the outer body;

the wagering token being further operable to;

periodically acquire updated token ownership information relating to an identity of a current owner of the wagering token;

store at least a portion of the updated token ownership information in the memory, wherein the updated token ownership information includes timestamp data representing at least one first time when the updated token ownership information was acquired by the wagering token;

store, in the memory, token ownership history information relating to at least one identity of at least one previous owner of the wagering token, wherein the token ownership information history includes timestamp data representing at least one second time when the previous owner of the wagering token was the owner of the wagering token;

provide, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the updated token ownership information stored in the memory; and

provide, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the token ownership history information stored in the memory.

7. The wagering token of claim 1 being further operable to:

detect a first event or condition relating to a possible occurrence of a wagering token signal transmission collision; and

automatically initiate, at the wagering token and in response to detection of the first event or condition, at least one first action relating to initiation of a first signal collision avoidance procedure at the wagering token.

8. The wagering token of claim 1 being further operable to:

operate in a first operating mode during a first time interval, wherein the first operating mode corresponds to a non-collision avoidance mode of operation;

engage in first wireless communication with a first external device during the first time interval, wherein the first wireless communication is performed by the wagering token without use of a wireless signal collision avoidance mechanism;

detect a first event or condition relating to a possible occurrence of a wagering token signal transmission collision;

automatically initiate, at the wagering token and in response to detection of the first event or condition, at least one first action relating to initiation of a first signal collision avoidance procedure at the wagering token;

operate in a second operating mode during a second time interval, wherein the second operating mode corresponds to a collision avoidance mode of operation; and

engage in second wireless communication with a second external device during the second time interval, wherein the second wireless communication is performed by the wagering token using a first wireless signal collision avoidance mechanism.

9. The wagering token of claim 1 being further operable to:

provide, during the second time interval, an intentionally delayed answer signal in response to an interrogation signal from an outside RFID source.

10. The wagering token of claim 1 being further operable to:

detect an occurrence of a first event or condition; and

automatically disable or deactivate the wagering token from use in wagering activities and wager-based game play activities in response to detecting the first event or condition.

11. The wagering token of claim 1:

wherein the first antenna is configured as a magnetic energy pickup antenna which is operable to receive wireless signals for use in performing magnetic induction, the magnetic energy pickup antenna being electrically coupled to the charging circuit;

the wagering token being further operable to;

automatically and dynamically electrically decouple the charging circuit from the rechargeable power source in response to detecting a first event or condition;

generate, using the magnetic energy pickup antenna, signal strength information which includes wireless signal voltage data relating to voltage measurements of one or more different wireless signals which are detected by the wagering token; and

determine, using the wireless signal voltage data, received signal strength data corresponding to one or more of the different wireless signals detected by the wagering token.

12. A method of operating a wagering token adapted for use in a betting environment involving placement of wagers during wager-based game play, the wagering token comprising an outer body having a center portion, a rim portion, and a specific monetary denomination and amount designated on an outer surface thereof;

a first processor disposed within the outer body;

at least one transceiver including a first transceiver disposed within the outer body;

at least two antennas disposed within the outer body including a first antenna and a second antenna;

a rechargeable, portable power source disposed within the outer body; and

a charging circuit disposed within the outer body and electrically coupled to the rechargeable power source;

the method comprising;

acquiring, at the wagering token, power from an external source;

recharging the rechargeable power source using the charging circuit and the power acquired from the external source;

operating the wagering token as a multi-band frequency transceiver device;

wherein the operation of the wagering token as a multi-band frequency transceiver device includes transmitting, from the wagering token, wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of an electromagnetic spectrum;

wherein the operation of the wagering token as a multi-band frequency transceiver device further includes receiving, at the wagering token, wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum; and

wherein the selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum include frequency bands selected from a group consisting of;

Low Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 30 kHz to 300 kHz, and High Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 3 MHz to 30 MHz.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first antenna is configured as a magnetic energy pickup antenna, the magnetic energy pickup antenna being electrically coupled to the charging circuit, the method further comprising:

receiving, via the magnetic energy pickup antenna, wireless signals for use in performing magnetic induction;

acquiring, at the wagering token, wireless power provided from the external source; and

distributing the acquired wireless power to at least one internal component of the wagering token.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

periodically acquiring, at the wagering token, updated signal strength information relating one or more detected wireless signals originating from one or more external devices;

storing at least a portion of the updated signal strength information in a local memory of the wagering token; and

providing, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the updated signal strength information stored in the local memory.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

detecting wireless signals originating from one or more external devices;

acquiring external device identifier information relating to identities of one or more external devices which have engaged in wireless communication with the wagering token;

storing at least a portion of the external device identifier information in a local memory of the wagering token; and

providing, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the external device identifier information stored in the local memory.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

periodically acquiring updated token ownership information relating to an identity of a current owner of the wagering token;

storing at least a portion of the updated token ownership information in a local memory of the wagering token; and

providing, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the updated token ownership information stored in the local memory.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

periodically acquiring updated token ownership information relating to an identity of a current owner of the wagering token;

storing at least a portion of the updated token ownership information in a local memory of the wagering token, wherein the updated token ownership information includes timestamp data representing at least one first time when the updated token ownership information was acquired by the wagering token;

storing, in the local memory, token ownership history information relating to at least one identity of at least one previous owner of the wagering token, wherein the token ownership information history includes timestamp data representing at least one second time when the previous owner of the wagering token was the owner of the wagering token;

providing, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the updated token ownership information stored in the local memory; and

providing, to at least one external device, wireless access to a first selected portion of the token ownership history information stored in the local memory.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

detecting a first event or condition relating to a possible occurrence of a wagering token signal transmission collision; and

automatically initiating, at the wagering token and in response to detection of the first event or condition, at least one first action relating to initiation of a first signal collision avoidance procedure at the wagering token.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

operating in a first operating mode during a first time interval, wherein the first operating mode corresponds to a non-collision avoidance mode of operation;

engaging in first wireless communication with a first external device during the first time interval, wherein the first wireless communication is performed by the wagering token without use of a wireless signal collision avoidance mechanism;

detecting a first event or condition relating to a possible occurrence of a wagering token signal transmission collision;

automatically initiating, at the wagering token and in response to detection of the first event or condition, at least one first action relating to initiation of a first signal collision avoidance procedure at the wagering token;

operating in a second operating mode during a second time interval, wherein the second operating mode corresponds to a collision avoidance mode of operation; and

engaging in second wireless communication with a second external device during the second time interval, wherein the second wireless communication is performed by the wagering token using a first wireless signal collision avoidance mechanism.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing, during the second time interval, an intentionally delayed answer signal in response to an interrogation signal from an outside RFID source.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

detecting an occurrence of a first event or condition; and

automatically disabling or deactivating the wagering token from use in wagering activities and wager-based game play activities in response to detecting the first event or condition.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the first antenna is configured as a magnetic energy pickup antenna, the magnetic energy pickup antenna being electrically coupled to the charging circuit, the method further comprising:

automatically and dynamically electrically decoupling the charging circuit from the rechargeable power source in response to detecting a first event or condition;

generating, using the magnetic energy pickup antenna, signal strength information which includes wireless signal voltage data relating to voltage measurements of one or more different wireless signals which are detected by the wagering token; and

determining, using the wireless signal voltage data, received signal strength data corresponding to one or more of the different wireless signals detected by the wagering token.

23. A system comprising:

a first wagering token adapted for use in a betting environment involving placement of wagers during wager-based game play, the a first wagering token comprising an outer body having a center portion, a rim portion, and a specific monetary denomination and amount designated on an outer surface thereof;

means for acquiring, at the first wagering token, power from an external source;

means for recharging the rechargeable power source using the charging circuit and the power acquired from the external source;

means for operating the first wagering token as a multi-band frequency transceiver device, wherein the means for operating the first wagering token as a multi-band frequency transceiver device includes means for transmitting, from the first wagering token, wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of an electromagnetic spectrum, and includes means for receiving, at the first wagering token, wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum include frequency bands selected from a group consisting of;

Low Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 30 kHz to 300 kHz, and High Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 3 MHz to 30 MHz;

means for operating in a first operating mode during a first time interval, wherein the first operating mode corresponds to a non-collision avoidance mode of operation;

means for engaging in first wireless communication with a first external device during the first time interval, wherein the first wireless communication is performed by the first wagering token without use of a wireless signal collision avoidance mechanism;

means for detecting a first event or condition relating to a possible occurrence of a wagering token signal transmission collision;

means for automatically initiating, at the first wagering token and in response to detection of the first event or condition, at least one first action relating to initiation of a first signal collision avoidance procedure at the first wagering token;

means for operating in a second operating mode during a second time interval, wherein the second operating mode corresponds to a collision avoidance mode of operation; and

means for engaging in second wireless communication with a second external device during the second time interval, wherein the second wireless communication is performed by the first wagering token using a first wireless signal collision avoidance mechanism.