Information transfer and use, particularly with respect to objects such as gambling chips

• US 4,814,589 A
• Filed: 04/18/1986
• Issued: 03/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CIAS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leonard Storch
• Inventors: Storch, Leonard, van Haagen, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAFTON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/853,745
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 235/454, 235/462, 235/463, 235/464, 235/487, 235/494, 235/456, 178/113, 211/49.1, 250/566, 250/570, 356/383, 377/3, 377/6, 377/7, 377/8, 340/323 R
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/14 Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in operation G06F11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1452 detecting bar code edges
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1473 error correction
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/10 Testing the rim, e.g. the milling of the rim
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

Coding systems utilizing machine-readable coding are disclosed. The coding systems are extremely simple to use and preferred embodiments of the machine-readable coding require no external reference or reference code or starting point or orientation for reading or decoding. The number of usable codes for any given number of code elements (bits or digits) is maximized, or, conversely, a minimum number of code elements is required for a given application, thus allowing each code element to be of maximum size for a given coding area. Also, methods and apparatus for encoding objects, and for reading, decoding, processing and using the information obtained from such encoded objects are disclosed. The coding may be applied to objects such as casino chips, currency, automated production line components, consumer products, household items, zip coded objects, etc. The coding system and systems using the coding can be mployed for enabling positive real-time detection of counterfeits (rather than mere counterfeit deterrence, cash monitoring, information gathering, object identification, etc., at minimum cost with maximum reliability and real-time speed. Preferred embodiments of systems concern round casino chips and paper money. Signals and data may be encoded independently of physical objects while obviating the need for any reference or synchronization in the coding.

Claims

1. A system which associates information with objects comprising:

a plurality of said objects each having a plurality of code elements which are machine-readable from a same side thereof, said plurality of code elements associated with each of said objects being adjacently disposed and defining given information for respective objects and repeating at least part of said given information;

means for machine reading from said same side of a respective object a number of said plurality of code elements which at least defines said given information and for providing signals related to said code elements read by said means for reading; and

means for processing said signals provided by said means for reading to obtain said given information from said respective object.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said plurality of objects has the same number of code elements defining said given information.

4. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said code elements are defined by machine-readable binary levels.

5. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said objects has no specific machine-readable starting point associated therewith for interpreting said given information.

6. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said objects has associated therewith a plurality of machine-readable starting points for interpreting said given information.

13. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least two of said objects have code elements defining different information.

14. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said objects has code elements defining given information which uniquely identifies the respective object.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein said processing means includes means for processing information obtained from said objects to detect if the same information has been obtained from two or more objects.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein said processing means includes means for processing information obtained from said objects to detect if the information obtained from any object is different from all said given information which uniquely identifies all of said objects.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein said processing means includes means for processing information obtained from said objects to detect if the information obtained from any object is the same as selectable given information which uniquely identifies a selected object.

18. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said objects each have code elements defining information related to a monetary value.

2. A system which associates information with generally disc-like objects comprising:

a plurality of said generally disc-like objects each having at least one peripheral surface, a plurality of code elements associated with each of said plurality of objects which are machine-readable from a same respective peripheral surface of a respective object, said plurality of code elements which are machine readable from said same respective peripheral surface of a respective object defining given information for the respective object and repeating at least part of said given information;

means for machine reading from said at least one peripheral surface of a respective object a number of said plurality of code elements which at least defines said given information and for providing signals related to said code elements read by said means for reading; and

means for processing said signals provided by said means for reading to obtain said given information from a respective object.

7. The system according to claim 2 wherein said code elements have a peripheral extent extending along the periphery of the respective object and an axial extent extending transversely to said peripheral extent, the peripheral extents of said code elements being substantially the same.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said code elements are juxtaposed and extend substantially about the periphery of the respective object.

9. The system according to claim 7 wherein said code elements are uniformly arranged extending along the periphery of the respective object.

10. The system according to claim 2 wherein said code elements have a peripheral extent extending along the periphery of the respective object and an axial extent extending transversely to said peripheral extent, the axial extents of said code elements being substantially the same.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the peripheral extent of each of said code elements extends substantially completely about the periphery of the respective object.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein said code elements are uniformly arranged extending along the periphery of the respective object.

19. The system according to claim 2 wherein said reading means includes a rack for holding stacks of said objects and means for reading said code elements from the periphery of the objects in said rack.

20. A method which associates information with objects, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of said objects each having a plurality of code elements machine readable from a same side thereof, said plurality of code elements associated with each of said objects being adjacently disposed and defining given information for respective objects and repeating at least part of said given information;

machine reading from said same side of a respective object a number of said plurality of code elements which at least defines said given information;

providing signals related to code elements which are machine read from said respective object; and

processing said signals provided from said machine reading of code elements from said respective object to obtain said given information from said respective object.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein said code elements are defined by machine-readable binary levels.

23. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein no machine-readable starting point is associated with a respective object for interpreting said given information.

24. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein a plurality of machine-readable starting points are associated with a respective object for interpreting said given information.

25. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the step of providing a plurality of objects includes providing at least two of said objects with code elements defining different information.

26. The method according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the step of providing a plurality of objects includes providing each of said objects with code elements defining given information which uniquely identifies the respective object.

27. The method according to claim 26 including processing information obtained from said objects by said processing step to detect if the same information has been obtained from two or more objects.

28. The method according to claim 26 including processing information obtained from said objects by said processing step to detect if the information obtained from any object is different from all said given information which uniquely identifies all of said objects.

29. The method according to claim 26 including processing information obtained from said objects by said processing step to detect if the information obtained from any object is the same as selectable given information which uniquely identifies a selected object.

21. A method which associates information with generally disc-like objects comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of said generally disc-like objects each having at least one peripheral surface and a plurality of code elements machine readable from a same respective peripheral surface of a respective object, said plurality of code elements which are machine readable from said same respective surface of a respective object defining given information for respective objects and repeating at least part of said given information;

machine reading from said at least one peripheral surface of a respective object a number of said plurality of code elements which at least defines said given information;

providing signals related to code elements which are machine read from said respective object; and

processing said signals provided from said machine reading of code elements from said respective object to obtain said given information from said respective object.

30. The method according to claim 21 wherein said code elements have a peripheral extent extending along the periphery of the respective object and an axial extent extending transversely to said peripheral extent, the peripheral extents of said code elements being substantially the same.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said code elements are applied extending substantially completely about the periphery of the respective object.

32. The method according to claim 21 wherein said code elements have a peripheral extent extending along the periphery of the respective object and an axial extent extending transversely to said peripheral extent, the axial extents of said code elements being substantially the same.

33. The method according to claim 21 wherein the peripheral extent of each of said code elements extends substantially completely about the periphery of the respective object.

34. A plurality of objects each having associated therewith machine-readable code elements which define given information associated with respective objects, said machine-readable code elements associated with respective objects extending in a substantially closed loop, there being no specific machine-readable starting point associated with a respective object to interpret said code elements associated with that object for obtaining said given information therefrom.

36. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein said code elements in said loop are of generally equal size and are generally uniformly arranged in said loop.

37. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein said objects are gambling chips, coins, tokens, medallions and the like.

38. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein said code elements are defined by machine-readable binary levels.

39. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein the number of code elements in said loop defines said given information and repeats at least part of said given information.

40. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein each of said objects has the same number of code elements.

41. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein said objects each include a generally flat portion and said code elements are disposed so as to be machine-readable from said flat portion.

42. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein said objects are disc-like or include a disc-like portion having a peripheral edge, and said code elements are disposed so as to be machine-readable from said peripheral edge.

43. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein each of said objects has code elements associated therewith defining unique given information.

44. The objects according to claim 43 wherein said unique given information is randomly selected.

45. The objects according to claim 43 wherein said code elements are defined by machine-readable binary levels.

46. The objects according to claim 34 or 35 wherein at least two of said objects have code elements defining different information.

35. A plurality of objects each having associated therewith machine-readable code elements which define given information associated with respective objects, said machine-readable code elements associated with respective objects being adjacently disposed and extending in a substantially closed loop, there being more than one machine-readable starting point associated with a respective object to interpret said code elements associated with that object for obtaining said given information therefrom.

47. A plurality of objects each having associated therewith machine-readable code elements defining given information associated with respective objects, said code elements associated with respective objects extending along at least one line, there being no specific machine-readable starting point associated with a respective object to interpret said code elements associated with that object for obtaining said given information therefrom.

49. The objects according to claim 47 or 48 wherein said code elements are defined by machine-readable binary levels.

50. The objects according to claim 47 or 48 wherein the number of code elements in said at least one line defines said given information and repeats at least part of said given information.

51. The objects according to claim 47 or 48 wherein at least two of said objects have code elements defining different information.

52. The objects according to claim 47 or 48 wherein each of said objects has code elements defining information uniquely identifying the respective object.

53. The objects according to claim 47 or 48 wherein said code elements are of generally equal size and are generally uniformly arranged along said at least one line.

54. The objects according to claim 47 or 48 wherein said code elements are machine-readable along at least one generally straight line.

56. The objects according to claim 47 or 48 wherein each of said plurality of objects has the same number of code elements defining said given information.

48. A plurality of objects each having associated therewith machine-readable code elements which define given information associated with respective objects, those code elements which define said given information being machine readable from a same side of a respective object along at least one line, there being more than one machine-readable starting point associated with said same side of a respective object to interpret those code elements associated with that object which define said given information for obtaining said given information from that object.

55. The objects according to claim 48 wherein there are two of said machine-readable starting points.

57. A plurality of objects each having associated therewith machine-readable code elements which define given information associated with respective objects, said code elements associated with respective objects extending along at least two non-parallel lines, there being more than one specific machine-readable starting point associated with a respective object to interpret said code elements associated with that object for obtaining said given information therefrom.

59. The objects according to claim 57 or 58 wherein said code elements are defined by machine-readable binary levels.

60. The objects according to claim 57 or 58 wherein the number of code elements extending along said lines defines said given information and repeats at least part of said given information.

61. The objects according to claim 57 or 58 wherein at least two of said objects have code elements defining different information.

62. The objects according to claim 57 or 58 wherein each of said objects has code elements defining information uniquely identifying the respective object.

63. The objects according to claim 57 or 58 wherein each of said plurality of objects has the same number of code elements defining said given information.

58. A plurality of objects each having associated therewith machine-readable code elements which define given information associated with a same side of respective objects, those code elements associated with respective objects extending along at least two lines, there being at least two machine-readable starting points associated with a respective object to interpret those code elements associated with that object for obtaining said given information therefrom.

64. A system for individually identifying a consumer article in a set of similar consumer articles of the type typically sold in retail stores such as supermarkets, drug stores, hardware stores and the like, each article in said set having unique information associated therewith comprised of machine-readable code elements coded according to a detectable series, the system comprising:

means at more than one location for machine-reading code elements from an article and providing information related to the machine-read code elements;

means coupled to receive said information related to said code elements machine-read from said article for storing that information; and

means for detecting when information related to code elements machine read from an article is the same as information related to code elements previously machine read from a similar article.

69. The system according to claim 64, 65, 66, 67 or 68 wherein there is no specific machine-readable starting point associated with a respective object or article, as the case may be, for interpreting said code elements to obtain said information.

70. The system according to claim 64, 65, 66, 67 or 68 wherein each of said objects or articles, as the case may be, has a plurality of machine-readable starting points associated therewith for interpreting said code elements to obtain said information.

71. The system according to claim 64, 65, 66, 67 or 68 wherein said code elements associated with a respective object are repeated in whole or in part in one or more locations on each of said objects or articles, as the case may be, thereby repeating said given information in whole or in part in said one or more locations.

72. The system according to claim 64, 65, 66, 67 or 68 wherein each of said objects or articles, as the case may be, has associated therewith the same number of code elements.

73. The system according to claim 64, 66 or 68 including means for storing selected information corresponding to information on at least one object or article, as the case may be, and means for detecting when information read from any object or article, as the case may be, is the same as stored selected information.

65. A system for individually identifying a consumer article in a set of similar consumer articles of the type typically sold in retail stores such as supermarkets, drug stores, hardware stores and the like, each article in said set having unique information associated therewith comprised of machine-readable code elements coded according to a detectable series, the system comprising:

means at more than one location for machine-reading code elements from an article and providing information related to the machine-read code elements;

means coupled to receive said information related to said code elements machine-read from said article for storing that information; and

means for storing selected information corresponding to unique information associated with at least one article and means for detecting when information related to code elements machine-read from any similar article is the same as stored selected information.

66. A system for individually identifying objects of currency, each object having unique information comprised of machine readable code elements coded according to a detectable series, the system comprising:

means at more than one location for machine-reading code elements from an object and providing information related to the machine-read code elements;

means coupled to receive said information related to said code elements machine-read from said object for storing that information; and

means for detecting when information related to code elements machine-read from an object is the same as stored information previously machine read from an object.

67. A system for individually identifying objects of currency, each object having unique information comprised of machine-readable code elements coded according to a detectable series, the system comprising:

means at more than one location for machine-reading code elements from an object and providing information related to the machine-read code elements;

means coupled to receive said information related to said code elements machine-read from said object for storing that information; and

means for storing selected information corresponding to unique information associated with at least one object and means for detecting when information related to code elements machine-read from any object is the same as stored selected information.

68. A system for identifying an unauthorized object from a set of authorized objects, each authorized object of said set having unique machine-readable randomly-selected authorized information associated therewith, the system comprising:

means for storing unique randomly-selected authorized information;

means for machine-reading information from an object;

means coupled to receive said information read from said object for at least temporarily storing that information; and

means for automatically detecting when information read from any object is different from stored randomly-selected authorized information, whereby an unauthorized object is identified.

74. The system according to claim 68 wherein said information is defined by a plurality of machine-readable code elements.

75. The system according to claim 74 wherein said code elements are defined by machine-readable binary levels.

76. The system according to claim 68 including means for automatically detecting when information read from an object is the same as information previously read from any object of said set.

77. A plurality of objects, each being encoded with machine-readable adjacently-disposed code elements which represent given information, said code elements being associated with a predetermined area of a respective object, said code elements including two end code elements and at least one code element between said end code elements extending along a same line, at least said at least one code element representing said given information, said given information being obtainable from machine reading said end code elements and said at least one code element from said same line, said code elements being uniformly arranged along said same line and having substantially equal extents extending along said same line, said given information being coded in binary arithmetic and said code elements being represented by one of two machine-readable contrasting properties selected to represent said given information in binary arithmetic, each two adjacent of said code elements sharing a common boundary, without space therebetween, said predetermined area of a respective object representing a first of said two contrasting properties of said code elements, a second of said contrasting properties being imparted in or on said predetermined area to create said code elements, said two end code elements always being of the same contrasting property.

78. The objects according to claim 77 wherein the contrasting property of a respective code element uniformly defines that code element.

79. The objects according to claim 77 wherein groups of X elements of said code elements represent a binary code, such as ASCII where X is a minimum of 7.

80. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said code elements are repeated in whole or in part on respective objects to repeat said given information in whole or in part.

81. The objects according to claim 77 wherein selected patterns of said code elements are not encoded on said objects.

82. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said two end code elements define at least in part two starting points for interpreting said given information obtained from reading said code elements.

83. The objects according to claim 77 wherein the total number of said code elements on each of said objects representing said given information is the same.

84. The objects according to claim 77 wherein the total length of said coded information may vary and the width of a code element is substantially equal to said length divided by said number N.

85. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said code elements extend in two or more generally parallel layers in said predetermined area.

86. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said code elements have an extent extending along said line and a transverse extent extending transversely thereto, said transverse extents of said code elements being substantially equal to each other.

87. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said predetermined area is larger than the area occupied by said code elements.

88. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said objects each have code elements representing given information related to a monetary value.

89. The objects according to claim 77 wherein at least two of said objects have code elements representing different given information.

90. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said objects each have code elements representing unique given information.

91. The objects according to claim 90 wherein each of said objects has code elements representing random unique given information in an effort to limit counterfeits.

92. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said objects each include two predetermined areas arranged in an opposing relationship, each said area having code elements relating to said given information.

93. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said objects each have a plurality of predetermined areas, each predetermined area having code elements relating to said given information.

94. The objects according to claim 93 wherein said code elements in at least two predetermined areas of the same object represent information representing different orientations of said same object.

95. The objects according to claim 93 wherein said objects have a plurality of sides, two or more of which include a said predetermined area having code elements relating to said given information.

96. The objects according to claim 77 wherein said objects have two or more of said predetermined areas each having code elements representing different given information.

97. The objects according to claim 77 wherein either of said end elements defines at least in part a starting point for interpreting information obtained from machine reading said code elements to obtain said given information.

98. The objects according to claim 90 and including means for comparing information relating to code elements read from an object with information relating to code elements previously read from an object and detecting when such information is the same.

99. The objects according to claim 90 and including means for comparing information relating to code elements read from an object with stored selectable information and detecting when such information is the same.

100. An object, having two or more distinguishable sets of machine-readable information comprised of code elements machine-readable from one side of said object, each set of information indicating a particular orientation of said side of said object.

101. Apparatus for automatically determining the total number of essentially physically-identical, generally disc-like objects in a stack, comprising means for supporting a plurality of said objects in a face to face relationship in the form of a stack, means for providing a first signal related to a physical property of said stack, said physical property being cumulative of a like physical property of each of said objects in said stack, and means for processing said first signal and information related to said like physical property of said objects and providing a second signal related to the total number of said objects in said stack.

102. A management system for automatically determining counts of essentially physically-identical, generally disc-like objects from each of a plurality of locations and making information relating to said counts available for management purposes, the objects for which counts are desired being arranged at the respective locations in respective stacks, the system comprising first means at each of said locations for generating count signals indicating counts of objects and second means disposed at a different location than at least one of said locations for receiving count signals from each of said first means, said first means at each of said locations comprising:

means for supporting a plurality of said objects in a face to face relationship in the form of at least one stack;

means for providing a first signal related to a physical property of said stack, said physical property being cumulative of a like physical property of each of said objects in said stack;

means for processing said first signal and information related to said like physical property of said objects and providing a said count signal related to the total number of said objects in said stack; and

means for forwarding said count signal to said second means;

said second means making information relating to said count signals available for management purposes.

103. Apparatus for determining the total number of generally disc-like objects in a stack without counting individual objects comprising a rack including at least one channel-like receptacle having a plurality of discrete locations for receiving and holding a plurality of said objects in a face-to-face stacked relationship, means for detecting the presence of objects in said at least one channel-like receptacle including means disposed at each of said discrete locations in said at least one receptacle for detecting the presence of an object therein, and means responsive to said presence detecting means for providing, without counting each object whose presence is detected by said presence detecting means disposed at each of said discrete locations, a signal related to the total number of said objects present in said at least one receptacle.

104. A rack for holding and obtaining information from objects such as gambling chips in more than one orientation thereof, said objects having opposed faces and a peripheral portion extending between said faces, said objects including information defined by a plurality of code elements which are machine readable from said objects, said rack comprising:

a base;

structure in said base for receiving a plurality of said objects extending in a juxtaposed face-to-face relationship in more than one orientation of individual objects about an axis extending generally perpendicular to said faces of said objects;

means for machine reading said code elements from said objects in said face to face relationship in said more than one orientation of individual objects to obtain said information from each of said objects in said rack; and

means coupled to said reading means for making said information relating to said objects available externally of said rack.

105. The rack according to claim 104 wherein said reading means is stationary relative to said rack.

106. The rack according to claim 104 wherein said object receiving structure includes structure for receiving said objects in predefined, locations.

107. The rack according to claim 105 wherein said reading means comprises a plurality of discrete reading elements for each of said locations and means for selectively addressing said reading elements.

108. The rack according to claim 105 wherein said reading means comprises a plurality of reading elements arranged in a matrix and means for selectively addressing said reading elements.

109. The rack according to claim 106 wherein said means for making information available includes means for receiving external signals, said rack including means coupled to said means for making information available for selectively identifying each predefined location in response to signals received by said means for making information available.

110. The rack according to claim 104 wherein said code elements of said objects are repeated at least in part and said reading means reads a number of said code elements from respective objects in said rack to obtain said information.

111. Apparatus for machine reading binary levels encoded on objects which are adjacently disposed without spaces therebetween so that adjacent binary levels share a common boundary, the apparatus being adapted to read the binary levels without regard to the relative orientation of the reading means and the boundaries, the apparatus comprising:

means for providing a number of signals from the binary levels at least equal to the number of binary levels, each of the signals being related to the binary level encoded on a different discrete portion of the object;

means for comparing the signals either to a reference or to each other and in response thereto detecting any of the signals that relates to a boundary between different adjacent binary levels; and

means for processing said signals between different adjacent binary levels to reference the location of said boundary to a boundary between two adjacent like binary levels.

112. Apparatus for machine reading binary levels encoded on objects which are adjacently disposed without spaces therebetween so that adjacent binary levels share a common boundary, the apparatus being adapted to read the binary levels without regard to the relative orientation of the reading means and the boundaries, the apparatus comprising:

means for providing a number of signals from the binary levels at least equal to the number of binary levels, each of the signals being related to the binary level encoded on a different discrete portion of the object;

means for comparing at least some of the signals either to a reference or to each other and in response thereto detecting whether any of the signals relate to a boundary between different adjacent binary levels;

means for repeating the signals and providing at least one biased reading; and

means for processing the signals to reference the location of the boundary and provide a number of binary signals which are at least equal to the number of binary levels, which binary signals have binary levels related to the binary levels encoded on the object.

113. A system for identifying objects having machine readable coded information according to a code having a plurality of adjacently disposed code elements, there being no specific machine-readable starting point defined for the code, the system comprising:

means for machine reading coded information from a number of consecutive code elements corresponding to at least the number of code elements in the code; and

means coupled to receive the information read by the reading means for decoding same to identify the objects.

114. The system according to claim 113 wherein said decoding means decodes the coded information read by the reading means to yield the same information regardless of the direction in which the coded information is interpreted.

115. A system for managing gambling chips and the like, said chips having machine-readable coded information comprised of a plurality of code elements, the system comprising chip racks disposed in a plurality of locations, means disposed at said locations for machine reading said code elements from each of a plurality of chips disposed in a respective chip rack to obtain coded information from said chips, means for associating read coded information and monetary values, means for processing monetary values of chips whose coded information has been read by the reading means, and means for storing the processed monetary values.

116. The system according to claim 115 wherein said reading means, said processing means and said storing means cooperate to store said monetary values in real time.

117. The system according to claim 115 wherein at least part of said processing means is located remotely from at least one of said locations, said system including means for transmitting information from said at least one of said locations to said at least part of said processing means which is remotely located.

118. A system for managing stacks of gambling chips and the like, comprising a plurality of stacks of chips disposed in a plurality of locations, means for automatically generating information relating to the total number of chips in chip stacks at each of said locations without counting individual chips in a respective stack, and means disposed remotely from at least one of the locations for receiving said information and making information relating to the chips available for management purposes.

119. The system according to claim 118 including means disposed at the location of said receiving means for storing said information relating to the total number of chips.

120. A system for managing gambling chips and the like, each chip or groups of similar chips having unique machine-readable information defined by a plurality of machine-readable code elements, the system comprising at least two means for machine reading the code elements from the chips, at least one reading means being disposed at each of at least two locations, means for correlating code elements read by a reading means with that reading means and thereby correlating the information related to code elements that are read with the location at which the code elements were read, means for associating the monetary value of chips with information obtained from reading code elements from the chips, means for storing the monetary value and correlated location information and said obtained information, means for inputting correlated location information and monetary information into the storing means for storage with said obtained information with which such correlated location and monetary information is associated, and means for providing from information read from the storage means selected correlated information.

121. A system for identifying gambling chips and the like including detecting the use of counterfeits, each chip having machine-readable coded information, the system comprising means for reading coded information from the chips, means coupled to receive the coded information read by the reading means for decoding information encoded on the chips, means for storing information corresponding to identifying data, means for comparing the information decoded by the decoding means with the coded information stored in the storing means for identifying chips which do not have coded information corresponding to information stored in the storing means.

123. The system according to claim 121 or 122 wherein all of said means cooperate to detect the use of counterfeit chips in real time.

122. A system for identifying gambling chips and the like including detecting the use of counterfeits, each chip having machine-readable coded information, the system comprising means for reading coded information from the chips, means coupled to receive the coded information read by the reading means for decoding information encoded on the chips, means for storing information corresponding to identifying data, means for comparing the information decoded by the decoding means with the coded information stored in the storing means, and means for identifying two or more chips having the same identifying information.

124. A method for managing gambling chips and the like comprising the steps of encoding the chips with information defined by a plurality of machine-readable code elements, machine reading the code elements from the chips to obtain said information, storing identifying information corresponding to information encoded on the chips, obtaining other information including at least one of the times at which said information was obtained by reading code elements from respective chips and the respective locations at which said information was obtained, and storing said time and location information in association with said information obtained from reading code elements from the respective chips so that such correlated information is accessible.

125. A method of encoding objects with machine readable coded information according to a code having a plurality of code elements, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of unique sets of information, each set having a number of elements corresponding to the number of code elements;

(b) processing the elements of the unique sets of information to provide unique shifted sets of information having said number of code elements, the elements in the unique shifted sets of information being shifted as compared to the elements in corresponding unique sets of information and there being fewer unique shifted sets of information than unique sets of information;

(c) associating information to be encoded with each of a corresponding plurality of unique shifted sets of information; and

(d) applying one of the plurality of unique shifted sets of information associated with information to be encoded as said coded information in a machine readable form to each of the plurality of objects one or more times.

126. The method according to claim 125 wherein the unique shifted set of machine-readable information applied one or more times to the object does not define a specific machine-readable starting point for said information.

127. The method according to claim 125 wherein the unique shifted set of machine-readable information applied one or more times to the object defines a plurality of machine-readable starting points for said information.

128. The method according to claim 125 wherein the unique shifted set of information applied one or more times to the object is applied with the elements thereof extending in a closed loop.

129. The method according to claim 125 wherein the unique shifted set of information applied one or more times to an object is applied with the elements thereof extending in a line.

130. A method of decoding the information encoded on an object in accordance with claim 125, comprising the steps of:

(a) machine reading a number of code elements on the object corresponding to at least the number of elements of the code and arranging the elements read into a set of information corresponding to that information applied to the object; and

(b) identifying the unique information with the information obtained in the preceding step.

131. A method of decoding the information encoded on an object in accordance with claim 125, comprising the steps of:

(a) machine reading a number of elements on the object corresponding to at least the number of elements in the code and storing the elements read in an order relative to each other that corresponds to the order of elements present on the object to provide a set of ordered information;

(b) processing the elements of the set of ordered information obtained in the preceding step to obtain the unique shifted set of information applied to the object; and

(c) identifying the coded information with the information obtained in the preceding step.

132. The method according to claim 125 wherein the unique sets of information are provided as unique sets of binary information each having a starting point which are processed in a predetermined manner to obtain unique sets of shifted binary information which are applied to the objects in a machine readable form without defining a machine-readable starting point for said information.

133. The method according to claim 132 wherein unique sets of binary information are generated by a programmed processing apparatus, which also processes the unique sets of binary information and provides therefrom the unique sets of shifted binary information.

134. The method according to claim 131 wherein the unique sets of information are provided as unique sets of binary information each having a starting point which are processed in a predetermined manner to obtain unique sets of shifted binary information which are applied to the objects in a machine readable form without defining a specific machine-readable starting point for said information.

135. A method for encoding objects with sets of coded information having a preselected number of elements, comprising:

generating numbers having said preselected number of elements and a starting point in a predetermined order;

processing each generated number to obtain its respective limiting number which the generated number can represent if its starting point is varied;

comparing each generated number to its respective processed limiting number;

selecting, as a result of this comparison, a number in accord with a consistently applied predetermined relationship, as the valid number; and

applying the valid numbers thus obtained to objects as said sets of coded information in a machine-readable form one or more times.

136. The method according to claim 135 wherein the valid numbers are applied to the objects one or more times without defining a specific machine-readable starting point.

137. The method according to claim 135 wherein the valid numbers are applied to the objects one or more times defining a plurality of machine-readable starting points.

138. The method according to claim 135 wherein said compared numbers are binary and said comparing is performed in a programmed processing apparatus.

139. The method according to claim 138 wherein binary numbers are generated between a first preselected binary number and a last preselected binary number, and the binary numbers are generated in an ascending or descending order between the said preselected binary numbers.

140. The method according to claim 138 wherein only odd numbers are generated.

141. A method of applying to objects machine-readable coded information having a preselected number of elements which when read in opposite directions yield unique two-way readable identifying information, comprising:

generating numbers having said preselected number of elements;

reversing the order of each generated number to obtain the reverse order number;

comparing said two numbers and selecting one as a valid number in accordance with a consistently applied predetermined relationship; and

thereafter applying said selected valid numbers to said objects as said machine-readable coded information.

142. A method of decoding the valid numbers applied in accordance with claim 141 comprising machine reading the coded information from the object in either or both directions and if read in one direction, reversing the order of the read information and consistently comparing the forward and reverse orders thus obtained in accordance with said predetermined relationship to determine which is the unique two-way readable identifying information.

143. The method according to claim 141 wherein the generated numbers, reversed order numbers and valid numbers applied to objects are binary information which are obtained in a programmed processing apparatus.

144. A method of encoding a pair of objects with a pair of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of elements which when read in opposite directions yields one set of unique two-way readable identifying information, comprising:

generating numbers having said preselected number of elements;

reversing the order of each number so generated to obtain the reverse order number thus creating a pair of coded numbers; and

thereafter applying said pair of a generated number and its reverse order number, one number to each object of said pair of objects, as said machine-readable coded numbers which when interpreted in opposite directions yields said one set of unique two-way readable identifying information.

145. A method of encoding an object on two areas thereof with a pair of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of elements which when read in opposite directions yields one set of unique two-way readable identifying information, comprising:

generating numbers having said preselected number of elements;

reversing the order of each number so generated to obtain the reverse order number thus creating a pair of coded numbers; and

thereafter applying said pair of a generated number and its reverse order number, one number to each preselected area of said object as said machine-readable coded numbers which when interpreted in opposite directions yields said one set of unique two-way readable identifying information.

146. A pair of objects encoded with a pair of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of elements which when interpreted in opposite directions yields one set of unique two-way readable identifying information.

147. An object encoded on two areas thereof with a pair of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of elements which when interpreted in opposite directions yields one set of unique two-way readable identifying information.

148. A method of encoding a group of objects with a corresponding group of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of code elements which when read using any of the code elements as a reference for reading yields one set of unique identifying information, comprising:

generating numbers having said preselected number of elements;

processing each number to obtain numbers corresponding thereto when different elements are used as a reference thus creating said group of coded numbers; and

thereafter applying said group of coded numbers, one number to each object of said group of objects, as said machine-readable coded numbers which when interpreted yields said one set of unique identifying information.

149. A method of encoding an object on preselected areas thereof with a group of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of code elements which when interpreted using any of the code elements as a reference yields one set of unique identifying information, comprising:

generating numbers having said preselected number of elements;

processing each number to obtain numbers corresponding thereto when different elements are used as a reference thus creating said group of coded numbers; and

thereafter applying said group of coded numbers to said object, one number to each preselected area of said object as said machine-readable coded numbers which when interpreted yields said one set of unique identifying information.

150. A group of objects encoded with a corresponding group of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of code elements which when interpreted using any of the code elements as a reference yields one set of unique identifying information.

151. An object having encoded on preselected areas thereof a group of machine-readable coded numbers having a preselected number of code elements which when interpreted using any of the code elements as a reference yields one set of unique identifying information.

152. A method of applying to objects unique shifted sets of coded information having a preselected number of coded elements, comprising:

augmenting numbers having said preselected number of elements in a predetermined way;

replicating portions of said augmented numbers;

discarding any overflows; and

applying to objects in a machine readable form the resulting numbers as said sets of coded information having said preselected number of elements.

154. The method according to claim 152 or 153 wherein the augmented numbers, the replicated portions thereof and the resulting numbers are binary numbers which are obtained in a programmed processing apparatus.

153. A method of encoding a signal with unique shifted sets of coded information having a preselected number of code elements, comprising:

augmenting numbers having said preselected number of elements in a predetermined way;

replicating portions of said augmented numbers;

discarding any overflows; and

encoding said signal with the resulting numbers as said sets of coded information having said preselected number of elements.

155. Apparatus for generating coded binary information according to a code having a plurality of code elements and applying same in machine readable form to objects, comprising:

programmed processing apparatus including means for generating a plurality of unique sets of binary information, each set having a number of elements corresponding to the number of code elements, and means for processing the elements of the unique sets of binary information to provide unique shifted sets of binary information, the elements in the unique sets of shifted binary information being shifted as compared to the elements in corresponding unique sets of binary information, there being fewer unique shifted sets of binary information than unique sets of binary information; and

means for applying one of the plurality of unique shifted sets of binary information as coded information in a machine-readable form to each of the objects one or more times.

156. The apparatus according to claim 155 wherein the applying means applies the unique shifted sets of binary information one or more times to the respective object without defining a specific machine-readable starting point for said information.

157. The apparatus according to claim 155 wherein the applying means applies unique shifted sets of binary information one or more times to the respective object defining a plurality of machine-readable starting points for said information.

158. Apparatus for generating coded binary information according to a code having a plurality of binary code elements and encoding same in a signal, comprising:

programmed processing apparatus including means for generating a plurality of unique sets of binary information, each set having a number of elements corresponding to the number of code elements, and means for processing the elements of the unique sets of binary information to provide unique shifted sets of binary information, the elements in the unique shifted sets of binary information being shifted as compared to the elements in corresponding unique sets of binary information and there being fewer unique shifted sets of binary information than unique sets of binary information; and

means for encoding one of the plurality of unique shifted sets of binary information as coded binary information in a signal one or more times.

159. The apparatus according to claim 158 wherein the encoding means encodes the signal with the unique shifted set of binary information one or more times without defining a specific reference.

160. The apparatus according to claim 158 wherein the encoding means encodes the signal with the unique shifted set of binary information one or more times defining a plurality of specific references.

161. Apparatus for generating sets of binary coded information having a preselected number of binary elements and applying same in machine-readable form to objects, comprising:

programmed processing apparatus including;

means for generating binary numbers having said preselected number of elements and a reference in a predetermined order;

means for processing each generated number to obtain its respective limiting number which the generated number can represent if its reference is varied;

means for comparing each generated number to its respective processed limiting number;

means for selecting, as a result of this comparison, a number in accord with a consistently applied predetermined relationship, as the valid number;

said apparatus further including means for applying the valid numbers thus obtained to objects as said sets of coded binary information in a machine-readable form one or more times.

162. Coding comprising a plurality of code elements defined by machine readable properties associated with an object, said code elements being obtainable from said properties when said properties are machine read, said plurality of code elements representing given information, said properties being selected so as to represent the binary digits of "0" and "1" and be interchangeable with each other so that at a first time a first of said properties represents binary "1" and a second of said properties represents binary "0", and at a second time after said properties have been interchanged said first property represents binary "0" and said second property represents binary "1", said properties being coded so that when said properties are machine read to provide said plurality of code elements, said plurality of code elements represents said given information at said first time and at said second time regardless of said properties having been interchanged.

164. The coding according to claim 162 or 163, wherein the order of said properties or signal levels, as the case may be, is reversed from said first time to said second time.

163. Coding comprising a plurality of code elements defined by detectable signal levels associated with an electronic apparatus, said code elements being obtainable from said signal levels when said signal levels are detected, said plurality of code elements representing given information, said signal levels being selected so as to represent the binary digits of "0" and "1" and be interchangeable with each other so that at a first time a first of said levels represents binary "1" and a second of said levels represents binary "0", and at a second time after said levels have been interchanged said first level represents binary "0" and said second level represents binary "1", said levels being coded so that when said signal levels are detected to provide said plurality of code elements, said plurality of code elements represents said given information at said first time and at second time regardless of said levels having been interchanged.