SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF READING GAMING CHIPS AND OTHER STACKED ITEMS

• US 20110227703A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital Table Systems LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Dominic M. Kotab
• Inventors: Kotab, Dominic M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,508,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products associated with wirelessly (e.g., RF) readable gaming chips are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining an identifier from a gaming chip, wherein the identifier is obtained from the gaming chip at least in part by wireless communication with the gaming chip;

determining whether the identifier is invalid; and

outputting an indication that the identifier is invalid.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifier is unique to the gaming chip.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifier or portion thereof is unique to a casino.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the identifier is valid includes comparing the received identifier to a set of valid identifiers.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the identifier is invalid includes comparing the received identifier to identifiers of other gaming chips present in a physical location.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising outputting an alert if it is determined that the identifier is invalid.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining a general vicinity of the gaming chip.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in the vicinity of the antenna.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips while the gaming chips are stacked.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is performed individually for each of a plurality of gaming chips at a player location of a table.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is performed when the gaming chip is near a doorway.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is performed when the gaming chip is near a cage area.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication includes an interrogation signal sent from an antenna of a handheld reader.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining a value of the gaming chip.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifier is changeable.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the identifier is invalid includes deciding that the identifier cannot be determined to be valid.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the gaming chip comprises:

a body;

a circuit; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of the RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein an RF carrier wave must pass through an antenna of the at least one other gaming chip to reach the gaming chip.

19. A system, comprising:

a processor and/or hardware configured for;

obtaining an identifier from a gaming chip, wherein the identifier is obtained from the gaming chip at least in part by wireless communication with the gaming chip;

determining whether the identifier is invalid; and

outputting an indication that the identifier is invalid.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising a reader or antenna for wirelessly communicating with the gaming chip and obtaining the identifier therefrom.

21. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the identifier is unique to the gaming chip.

22. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the identifier or portion thereof is unique to a casino.

23. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the determination of whether the identifier is valid includes comparing the received identifier to a set of valid identifiers.

24. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein determining whether the identifier is invalid includes comparing the received identifier to identifiers of other gaming chips present in a physical location.

25. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising outputting an alert if it is determined that the identifier is invalid.

26. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising determining a general vicinity of the gaming chip.

27. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in the vicinity of the antenna.

28. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the operations performed by the processor and/or hardware are successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips in a stack of the gaming chips.

29. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the method is performed individually for each of a plurality of gaming chips at a player location of a table.

30. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the method is performed when the gaming chip is near a doorway.

31. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the method is performed when the gaming chip is near a cage area.

32. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the wireless communication includes an interrogation signal sent from an antenna of a handheld reader.

33. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising determining a value of the gaming chip.

34. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the identifier is changeable.

35. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein determining whether the identifier is invalid includes deciding that the identifier cannot be determined to be valid.

36. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein determining whether the identifier is invalid includes deciding that the identifier cannot be determined to be valid.

37. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the gaming chip comprises:

a body;

a circuit; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of the RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna.

38. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein an RF carrier wave must pass through an antenna of the at least one other gaming chip to reach the gaming chip.

39. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code thereon, the computer code comprising;

computer code for obtaining an identifier from a gaming chip;

computer code for determining whether the identifier is invalid; and

computer code for outputting an indication that the identifier is invalid.

40. A method, comprising:

obtaining an identifier from a gaming chip, wherein the identifier is obtained from the gaming chip at least in part by wireless communication with the gaming chip;

determining a source of the gaming chip based on the identifier; and

outputting an indication of the source to at least one of a user, a computer, and an application.

41. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the source of the gaming chip is determined to be a casino.

42. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein at least a portion of the identifier identifies the casino, wherein another portion of the identifier is unique to the gaming chip.

43. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the identifier includes a portion that identifies the source and another portion that is unique to the gaming chip.

44. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein determining the source of the gaming chip includes comparing the received identifier or portion thereof to a set of data corresponding to potential sources of the gaming chip.

45. A method as recited in claim 40, further comprising determining a value of the gaming chip.

46. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the method is successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips while the gaming chips are stacked.

47. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the gaming chip comprises:

a body;

a circuit; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of the RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna.

48. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in the vicinity of the antenna.

49. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein an RF carrier wave must pass through an antenna of the at least one other gaming chip to reach the gaming chip.

50. A system, comprising:

a processor and/or hardware configured for;

obtaining an identifier from a gaming chip, wherein the identifier is obtained from the gaming chip at least in part by wireless communication with the gaming chip;

determining a source of the gaming chip based on the identifier; and

outputting an indication of the source to at least one of a user, a computer, and an application.

51. A system as recited in claim 50, further comprising a reader or antenna for wirelessly communicating with the gaming chip and obtaining the identifier therefrom.

52. A system as recited in claim 50, wherein the source of the gaming chip is determined to be a casino.

53. A system as recited in claim 52, wherein at least a portion of the identifier identifies the casino, wherein another portion of the identifier is unique to the gaming chip.

54. A system as recited in claim 50, wherein the identifier includes a portion that identifies the source and another portion that is unique to the gaming chip.

55. A system as recited in claim 50, wherein determining the source of the gaming chip includes comparing the received identifier or portion thereof to a set of data corresponding to potential sources of the gaming chip.

56. A system as recited in claim 50, further comprising determining a value of the gaming chip.

57. A system as recited in claim 50, wherein the method is successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips while the gaming chips are stacked.

58. A system as recited in claim 50, wherein the gaming chip comprises:

a body;

a circuit; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of the RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna.

59. A system as recited in claim 50, wherein the gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in the vicinity of the antenna.

60. A system as recited in claim 50, wherein an RF carrier wave must pass through an antenna of the at least one other gaming chip to reach the gaming chip.

61. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code thereon, the computer code comprising;

computer code for obtaining an identifier from a gaming chip, wherein the identifier is obtained from the gaming chip at least in part by wireless communication with the gaming chip;

computer code for determining a source of the gaming chip based on the identifier; and

computer code for outputting an indication of the source to at least one of a user, a computer, and an application.