Method and apparatus for synchronization of proximate RFID readers in a gaming environment

• US 7,357,299 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Frerking, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US10/963,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/377, 235/380, 235/382, 235/385, 235/487, 340 101- 104, 340/572, 340/3.41
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10039 interrogator driven, i.e. synchronous
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for an improved player tracking in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments include a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers for detecting a response signal from an RFID tag, an RFID tag generating a response signal including identification data in response to an interrogation signal transmitted by one of the plurality of RFID readers, and a location manager controlling transmission by the plurality of RFID readers according to at least one collision-avoidance scheme. The collision-avoidance scheme may include one or more of the following schemes: localized RFID reader managers coordinating electrical operation of the plurality of RFID readers, an active RFID reader transmitting the interrogation signal and a plurality of passive RFID readers listening for the response signal, an RFID reader multiplexed through a plurality of antennas, TDMA, CDMA, and/or quasi-random synchronization for the RFID readers, for example.

Claims

1. An improved player tracking system for a gaming environment, said system comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers positioned with respect to gaming machines in the gaming environment for detecting a response signal from an RFID tag;

an RFID tag generating a response signal including identification data in response to an interrogation signal transmitted by one of said plurality of RFID readers, said RFID tag and identification data identifying a player; and

a location manager controlling transmission by said plurality of RFID readers according to at least one reader collision-avoidance scheme.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one collision-avoidance scheme further includes at least one of:

localized RFID reader managers coordinating electrical operation of said plurality of RFID readers;

an active RFID reader transmitting said interrogation signal and a plurality of passive RFID readers listening for said response signal;

an RFID reader multiplexed through a plurality of antennas;

a time division multiple access (TDMA) synchronization scheme for said plurality of RFID readers;

a carrier detect multiple access (CDMA) synchronization scheme for said plurality of RFID readers; and

a quasi-random synchronization scheme for said plurality of RFID readers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one collision-avoidance scheme further includes active synchronization of RFID readers via at least one of a wire-based protocol and a wireless network protocol.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of RFID readers are positioned with respect to a plurality of gaming machines.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said location manager tracks location of said RFID tag based on information received from at least one of said plurality of RFID readers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said location manager communicates with a plurality of localized RFID reader managers to control said plurality of RFID readers.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a card, badge, or accessory which includes said RFID tag.

8. A method for synchronizing radio frequency identification readers for player tracking located in close proximity in a gaming environment, said method comprising:

coordinating a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers according to a reader synchronization scheme;

transmitting an interrogation signal according to said synchronization scheme; and

receiving a response signal generated in response to said interrogation signal, said response signal including identification information for an RFID tag,

wherein said reader synchronization scheme includes at least one of;

coordinating electrical operation of said plurality of RFID readers using localized RFID reader managers;

transmitting said interrogation signal from an active RFID reader and waiting for said response signal at a plurality of passive RFID readers;

multiplexing an RFID reader with a plurality of antennas;

using time division multiple access (TDMA) to transmit said interrogation signal from one of said plurality of RFID readers;

using carrier detect multiple access (CDMA) to transmit said interrogation signal from one of said plurality of RFID readers; and

using a quasi-random synchronization scheme to transmit said interrogation signal from one of said plurality of RFID readers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said synchronization scheme further includes active synchronization of said plurality of RFID readers via at least one of a wire-based protocol and a wireless network protocol.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising positioning said plurality of RFID readers with respect to a plurality of gaming machines.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising tracking a location of said RFID tag based on said identification information received from at least one of said plurality of RFID readers.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling said plurality of RFID readers using a central location manager.

13. A method for improved tracking in a gaming environment, said method comprising:

positioning a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers in a gaming environment;

coordinating said plurality of RFID readers according to a reader collision-avoidance scheme;

transmitting an interrogation signal according to said reader collision-avoidance scheme;

receiving a response signal generated in response to said interrogation signal, said response signal including identification information for an RFID tag, said RFID tag identifying a player; and

tracking said RFID tag in said gaming environment based on said identification information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said collision-avoidance scheme comprises at least one of:

coordinating electrical operation of said plurality of RFID readers using localized RFID reader managers;

transmitting said interrogation signal from an active RFID reader and waiting for said response signal at a plurality of passive RFID readers;

multiplexing an RFID reader with a plurality of antennas;

using time division multiple access (TDMA) to transmit said interrogation signal;

using carrier detect multiple access (CDMA) to transmit said interrogation signal; and

using a quasi-random synchronization scheme to transmit said interrogation signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said collision-avoidance scheme further includes active synchronization of said plurality of RFID readers via at least one of a wire-based protocol and a wireless network protocol.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning said plurality of RFID readers with respect to a plurality of gaming machines.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising tracking a location of said RFID tag based on said identification information received from at least one of said plurality of RFID readers.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising associating said identification information with a record.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising tracking location and activity of a person using information from said RFID tag and at least one of said plurality of RFID readers.