Intelligent casino chip system and method for use thereof

• US 6,464,584 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Oliver, Terrance W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/767,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20010016515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16-20, 463/25-27, 463/39-43, 273/270-274, 235/435
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00662 with an electric sensor for playing pieces A63F2009/2444 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/58 Antifraud or preventing misuse
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

An intelligent casino chip system. At least one gaming table is provided with at least one discrete player area. Two classes of intermingled gaming chips are accepted in the discrete betting area. Each gaming chip of the first class has a first transponder containing at least value information. Each gaming chip of the second class has a second transponder containing value and class information. The computer system determines the values from each class of chip and the class information from the second transponder.

Claims

1. A method of differentiating two separate values in intermingled first and second classes of casino chips, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving primary signals from a first transponder embedded in at least one first class casino chip in the intermingled casino chips located on a single wagering area, said primary signals containing at least value information;

receiving secondary signals from a second transponder embedded in at least one second class casino chip in the intermingled casino chips on the single wagering area, said secondary signals containing value and identity information;

determining in a computer system a first value corresponding to the at least one first class casino chip based only on the value information from the received primary signals;

determining in said computer system a second value and class identity corresponding to the at least one second class casino chip based only on the value and identity information from the received secondary signals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second value is a non-denominational value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second value is a denominational value.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the second value and class identity further includes the step of qualifying a player to receive a jackpot.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of funding a bonus pool based on the presence of said second class casino chip.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the second value and class identity further includes the step of identifying said second class casino chip as a progressive wager.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the second value and class identity further includes the step of indicating that a player qualifies for both a live card game and a progressive game.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the received secondary signals also includes player identity, and further including the step of determining in the computer system the identity of the player based on said received secondary signals.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the second value and class identity occurs only during a time period.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer system uses the second value to issue a game signal corresponding to at least one of the following:

incrementing a meter,

funding a bonus pool,

funding a promotion,

triggering a device.

6. A method for differentiating two separate values in intermingled casino chips, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving primary signals from a first transponder embedded in at least one first class casino chip located on a single wagering area, said primary signals containing at least value information;

receiving secondary signals from a second transponder embedded in at least one second class casino chip located on a single wagering area, said secondary signals containing value and identity information;

determining in a computer system a first value corresponding to the at least one first class casino chip based only on the value information from the received primary signals;

determining in said computer system a second value and class identity corresponding to the at least one second class casino chip based only on the value and class identity information from the received secondary signals wherein the step of determining the second value and class identity further includes the step of recognizing use of the second class casino chip only during scheduled promotional events.

12. An intelligent casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers in first and second classes of casino chips, said casino chip system comprising:

at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information;

at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information;

a single game wager area for containing said at least one casino chip of said first class and said at least one casino chip of said second class;

a receiver system located in the vicinity of said single game wager area for receiving said value information from said at least one first transponder, said receiver system determining a first value only from the value information received from said at least one first transponder;

said receiver system further receiving said value and class information from said at least one second transponder, said receiver system determining a second value and identity based only on the value and class information received from said at least one second transponder, thereby differentiating said first and second values when said first and second category casino chips are placed in said single game wager area.

14. The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information identifies said second class casino chip as a progressive wager.

15. The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information identifies a player.

16. The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information identifies a player as qualifying for both a live card game and a progressive game.

17. The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information is denominational.

18. The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information is nondenominational.

13. An intelligent casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate values in casino chips, said casino chip system comprising:

at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information;

at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information;

a single game wager area for containing said at least one casino chip of said first class and said at least one casino chip of said second class;

a receiver system located in the vicinity of said single game wager area for receiving said value information from said at least one first transponder, said receiver system determining a first value only from the value information received from said at least one first transponder;

said receiver system further receiving said value and class information from said at least one second transponder, said receiver system determining a second value and identity based only on the value and class information received from said at least one second transponder, thereby differentiating said first and second category casino chips when placed in said single game wager area wherein the second transponder further comprises;

a memory having a data field;

an encrypted ID carried within said data field for identifying said at least one second class casino chip as being of said second class.

19. A casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers of first and second classes of casino chips, said casino chip system comprising:

at least one gaming table having at least one discrete player area, said at least one discrete player area further having a discrete betting area;

at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information;

at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information;

a primary wager placed in said single, discrete betting area, said primary wager comprised of said at least one casino chip of said first class;

a secondary wager intermingled with said primary wager in said single, discrete betting area, said secondary wager comprised of said at least one second class casino chip;

a system located on said gaming table for receiving first transponder value signals from said first transponder and second transponder value and class signals from said second transponder;

a computer connected to said system, said system delivering said received first transponder value signals and second transponder value and class signals to said computer, said computer determining a primary wager value from said at least one first transponder value signals and a secondary wager value and identity from said at least one second transponder value and class signals, thereby differentiating and valuing said separate wagers when said primary wager and said secondary wager are intermingled.

20. The intelligent casino chip system of claim 19 further comprising:

a plurality of gaming tables; and

an interface at each of said plurality of gaming tables for linking each of said plurality of gaming tables, wherein said value and class information is denominational.