System and method of data handling for table games

• US 6,676,517 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Beavers
• Original Assignee: Anthony Beavers
• Inventors: Beavers, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brocketti, Julie
• Application Number:
  US10/116,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/42, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• 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
• 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A table game system is provided. The table game system includes a position system that generates position data, such as the positions of one or more players and the value of cards, dice, roulette wheels, or other game table positions. A wager system generates wager data, such as the wager placed by each player at each position. A payout system receives the position data and the wager data and generates payout data, such as by using the position data to determine the outcome of the table game and the wager data to determine the payout data based on the outcome of the table game.

Claims

1. A device for obtaining data for use in a table game system comprising:

a handle;

a straight portion extending downwards from the handle, configured for insertion into a game table cash slot; and

a data entry device receiving user-entered data and providing the user-entered data to the game table system wherein the data entry device is disposed on the straight portion, such that a dealer can enter a currency amount after sweeping currency with the device from a position on the table to a position adjacent to the same table cash slot.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a user-readable display coupled to the data entry device and displaying the user-entered data.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a data transfer device coupled to the data entry device, the data transfer device connecting to a game table system data transfer device so as to allow the user-entered data to be transferred to the game table system.

4. A system for obtaining data for use in a table game system comprising:

a handle;

a straight portion extending downwards from the handle, configured for insertion into a game table cash slot; and

a data entry device receiving user-entered data and providing the user-entered data to the game table system wherein the data entry device is disposed on the straight portion, such that a dealer can enter a currency amount after sweeping currency with the device from a position on the table to a position adjacent to the game table cash slot;

a weight sensor system receiving weight data for a location; and

a cheque system receiving the weight data and image data and generating cheque value data.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the weight sensor system comprises two or more weight detection cells, each weight detection cell generating cell weight data.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

an optical sensor generating image data of the location; and

wherein the cheque system further comprises an image data analysis system receiving the image data and generating cheque color data.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the cheque system further comprises a cheque weight system receiving the weight data and generating one or more combinations of cheques.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

an optical sensor generating the image data of the location;

the weight sensor system comprises two or more weight detection cells, each weight detection cell generating cell weight data;

the cheque system further comprises an image data analysis system receiving the image data and generating cheque color data;

an image data analysis system receiving the image data and generating cheque color data;

a cheque weight system receiving the weight data and generating one or more combinations of cheques; and

a verification system receiving the cheque color data and the combinations of cheques, determining which of the combinations of cheques corresponds to the cheque color data, and generating verification request data for an operator to select one of two or more remaining combinations of cheques.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the weight sensor comprises four or more weight detection cells arranged in an array, each weight detection cell generating cell weight data.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein the weight sensor system is disposed underneath an area where a player can deposit cheques in a random arrangement.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein the cheque system further comprises:

an image data analysis system receiving the image data and generating cheque color data;

a cheque weight system receiving the weight data and generating one or more combinations of cheques; and

a verification system receiving the cheque color data and the combinations of cheques, determining which of the combinations of cheques corresponds to the cheque color data; and

generating verification request data for an operator to select one of two or more remaining combinations of cheques.

12. A system for obtaining data for use in a table game system comprising:

a handle;

a straight portion extending downwards from the handle, configured for insertion into a game table cash slot; and

a data entry device receiving user-entered data and providing the user-entered data to the game table system wherein the data entry device is disposed on the straight portion, such that a dealer can enter a currency amount after sweeping currency with the device from a position on the table to a position adjacent to the game table cash slot;

a tray having one or more tubes, wherein each tube is configured for holding a plurality of cheques, each tube having a window slot;

a sensor generating image data of each window slot; and

a cheque system receiving the image data and generating tube value data.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the cheque system further comprises a stack length system receiving the image data and generating stack length data.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the cheque system further comprises a cheque value system receiving cheque value data for each tube and providing the cheque value data to generate the tube value data.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the cheque system further comprises:

a stack length system receiving the image data and generating stack length data;

a cheque value system receiving cheque value data for each tube; and

a tube value system receiving the stack length data and the cheque value data and generating the tube value data.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the window slot comprises a single longitudinal slot extending in a direction parallel to a direction in which a cheque stack length changes.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the sensor comprises a sampling device generating image data of each window slot.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the sampling device generates an array of pixel data, and the cheque system further comprises a stack length system receiving the array of pixel data and generating stack length data by detecting individual cheques.

19. A device for obtaining data for use in a table game system comprising:

a handle;

a straight portion extending downwards from the handle, configured for insertion into a game table cash slot;

a data entry device receiving user-entered data and providing the user-entered data to the game table system;

a data transfer device coupled to the data entry device, the data transfer device connecting to a game table system data transfer device so as to allow the user-entered data to be transferred to the game table system when the device is inserted into the cash slot; and

wherein the data entry device and the user-readable display are disposed on the straight portion, such that a dealer can enter a currency amount after sweeping currency with the device from a position on the table to a position adjacent to the game table cash slot, and can view the currency amount on the user-readable display prior to inserting the device and the currency into the game table cash slot.