Method and apparatus for machine location
First Claim
1. A method for locating a gaming machine on a casino floor comprising:
- transmitting a first signal at a first time from a first transmitter;
transmitting a second signal at a second time from a second transmitter;
transmitting a third signal at a third time from a third transmitter;
receiving the first signal at a fourth time with a receiver;
receiving the second signal at a fifth time with the receiver;
receiving the third signal at a sixth time with the receiver;
calculating the time difference between the first time and the fourth time, the second time and the fifth time, and the third time and the sixth time;
calculating a distance between the receiver and the first transmitter to determine a first distance, a distance between the receiver and the second transmitter to determine a second distance, and a distance between the receiver and the third transmitter to calculate a third distance;
calculating the location of the gaming machine based on an intersection point of at least the first distance, the second distance and the third distance;
generating a graphical map of the casino floor; and
indicating the location of the gaming machine on the graphical map of the casino floor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for tracking and determining a location of a gaming machine or other item within a casino or hotel is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus utilizes a transmitter or emitter to provide a tracking signal that may be tracked by one or more receivers or detectors. It is contemplated that the transmitter or emitter connect to a gaming machine. As the gaming machine is relocated within the casino its location is monitored. The one or more receivers may communicate with a host computer or other data processing system to generate location data regarding the gaming machine in relation to other aspects of the casino. Based on the location information generated by the location monitoring and tracking system, other aspects of machine operation may be controlled and additional features dependant on the machine location information may be enabled.
342 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for locating a gaming machine on a casino floor comprising:
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transmitting a first signal at a first time from a first transmitter;
transmitting a second signal at a second time from a second transmitter;
transmitting a third signal at a third time from a third transmitter;
receiving the first signal at a fourth time with a receiver;
receiving the second signal at a fifth time with the receiver;
receiving the third signal at a sixth time with the receiver;
calculating the time difference between the first time and the fourth time, the second time and the fifth time, and the third time and the sixth time;
calculating a distance between the receiver and the first transmitter to determine a first distance, a distance between the receiver and the second transmitter to determine a second distance, and a distance between the receiver and the third transmitter to calculate a third distance;
calculating the location of the gaming machine based on an intersection point of at least the first distance, the second distance and the third distance;
generating a graphical map of the casino floor; and
indicating the location of the gaming machine on the graphical map of the casino floor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 24)
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4. A method for locating a gaming machine on a casino floor comprising:
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transmitting a first signal at a first time from a transmitter;
transmitting a second signal at a second time from the transmitter;
transmitting a third signal at a third time from the transmitter;
receiving the first signal at a fourth time with a first receiver;
receiving the second signal at a firth time with a second receiver;
receiving the third signal at a sixth time with a third receiver;
calculating a time difference between the first time and the fourth time, the second time and the firth time, and the third time and the sixth time;
calculating a distance between the first receiver and the transmitter to determine a first distance, a distance between the second receiver and the transmitter to determine a second distance, and a distance between the third receiver and the transmitter to calculate a third distance;
calculating the location of the gaming machine based on an intersection point of at least the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance;
generating a graphical map of the casino floor; and
indicating the location of the gaming machine on the graphical map of the casino floor. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 25)
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7. A method for locating a gaming machine on a casino floor comprising:
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receiving one or more signals from a tracking device, the tracking device being located on a gaming machine;
processing the one or more signals from the tracking device to determine location data regarding the gaming machine;
processing the location data in relation to casino floor location information to thereby determine the location of the gaming machine on the casino floor;
generating a graphical map of the casino floor;
indicating the location of the gaming machine on the graphical map of the casino floor; and
configuring operational parameters of the gaming machine based upon the indicated location of the gaming machine on the graphical map of the casino floor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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13. An apparatus for mapping a casino floor layout in a casino, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more emitters located at one or more locations in the casino;
one or more detectors located at one or more locations in the casino, the detectors configured to detect the emitters;
a processor configured to receive and process data regarding the location of one or more of the emitters or one or more of the detectors in order to determine the location of one or more gaming machines on the casino floor layout, the processor also configured to generate a graphical map of the casino floor layout and to indicate the location of the one or more gaming machines on the graphical map; and
a communication channel configured to facilitate communication between the one or more emitters and the processor or the one or more detectors and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26)
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19. A system for tracking a location of one or more gaming machines within a building comprising:
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one or more transmitters associated with one or more gaming machines, the transmitters configured to transmit one or more signals;
one or more receivers located within the building and configured to receive the one or more signals at least one host computer in communication with the one or more receivers; and
a storage medium containing machine readable code configured to execute on the at least one host computer, the machine readable code configured to process data from the one or more receivers to determine the location of the one or more gaming machines on a floor of the building, the machine readable code also configured to generate a graphical map of the floor and indicate the location of the one or more gaming machines on the graphical map of the floor;
the machine readable code also configured to generate control commands for configuring operational parameters of the one or more gaming machines based upon the indicated location of the gaming machines on the graphical map of the floor within the building. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification