PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES FOR OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT OF CASINO, LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

• US 20110105223A1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ameranth, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ameranth, Inc.
• Inventors: KESSMAN, Marc D., MCCAULEY, Sean P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

In various embodiments of this invention, a suite of customized computer software applications, a linked or wireless computer network and accessory components cooperate to enhance and extend customer and employee resource management in the casino/gaming environment.

Claims

1. A method which comprises:

receiving a first signal from a card reader;

identifying a player from the first signal;

registering the player for a game at a table after identifying the player from the first signal;

after registering the player for a game, receiving a second signal from the card reader;

identifying the player from the second signal;

removing the player from the game at the table; and

ascertaining an elapsed time between receiving the first signal and receiving the second signal.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

transmitting the elapsed time to a compensation system.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

calculating an amount of compensation points for the player based on the elapsed time.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

ascertaining whether the player has attempted to register for another game at another table.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

printing, on a ticket, information about the game.

6. A device which includes:

a card reader operable to transmit a signal from read cards;

means for identifying a player from the signal;

means for registering the player for a game at a table after identifying the player from the first signal;

means for removing the player from the game at the table; and

means for ascertaining an elapsed time between receiving the first signal and receiving the second signal.

7. The device of claim 6, and further including:

means for transmitting the elapsed time to a compensation system.

8. The device of claim 6, and further including:

means for calculating an amount of compensation points for the player based on the elapsed time.

9. The device of claim 6, and further including:

means for ascertaining whether the player has attempted to register for another game at another table.

10. The device of claim 6, and further including:

a printer.

11. The device of claim 10, and further including:

means for printing, on a ticket, information about the game.

12. A method which comprises:

ascertaining when a player starts playing a game at a table;

receiving a data entry which indicates a number of chips the player starts a game with;

recording, during the game, at least one wager amount of the player;

ascertaining when the player stops playing a game at a table;

receiving a data entry which indicates a number of chips the player ends a game with;

ascertaining an elapsed time between when the player starts playing and when the player ends playing; and

calculating a player rating based on the elapsed time.

13. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

calculating a difference between the number of chips the player starts a game with, and the number of chips the player ends a game with.

14. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

ascertaining how many wager amounts of the player were recorded during the game.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising:

ascertaining an average wager amount based on the difference.

16. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

ascertaining a set of previous wager amount of the player; and

ascertaining a deviation amount by which at least one of the wager amounts deviates from the remaining wager amounts.

17. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:

sending a message if the deviation amount exceeds a threshold.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the message comprises:

an email message addressed to a predefined user.

19. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

ascertaining a set of previous wager amount of the player; and

ascertaining whether a number of the previous wager amounts is below a predetermined threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, and further comprising:

sending a message if the number of the previous wager amounts is below a predetermined threshold.

21. A method for monitoring a casino poker game comprising:

receiving a first signal containing player identification information;

identifying a player from the first signal;

registering the player for a poker game after identifying the player from the first signal;

after registering the player for a game, receiving a second signal containing player identification information;

identifying the player from the second signal;

removing the player from the game;

ascertaining the total elapsed time between receiving the first signal and receiving the second signal;

transmitting the total elapsed time to a compensation system;

calculating an amount of compensation for the player based on the total elapsed time; and

storing the calculated compensation in a database.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising ascertaining periods of time during which the player is absent from or not participating in the game and subtracting such periods of time from the total elapsed time.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving said first and second signals from a card reader which reads a card containing player identification information.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising storing the player'"'"'s current amount of compensation on the card containing the player'"'"'s identification information.