Security camera interface

• US 7,525,570 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Moser, Tim, Price, Derrick, Kiely, Daryn
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/622,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19671 Addition of non-video data, i.e. metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

A method and system for providing automated video surveillance, recordation and storage of security events is disclosed. One or more computer-controlled cameras are used to view and record security-related events in response to a determination that a security-related event has occurred or is occurring at a particular location. This is accomplished by providing a network comprising at least one computer-controllable camera, one or more security servers, one or more security-related event input alarms or triggers, and at least one storage medium for storing video clips and other associated security-related event data. Video clips of security-related events can then be captured, recorded, and automatically associated with one or more data identifiers characterizing the security-related events. Video clips are stored on a digital database in an organized fashion, such that a particular clip may be readily recalled by way of one or more data identifiers that have been associated with that clip.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling a camera to capture security-related events that occur in or around a gaming environment that includes a plurality of wager-based gaming machines, the method comprising:

polling a plurality of wager-based gaming machines in automated and electronic fashion from a remote location;

determining whether a security-related event has occurred or is occurring at one or more locations involving one of said plurality of wager-based gaming machines based upon said polling of said plurality of wager-based gaming machines;

automatically activating a camera in response to a positive determination that a security-related event has occurred or is occurring at a particular location involving one of said plurality of wager-based gaming machines in order to capture video information at said particular location;

capturing a digital video clip of said security-related event;

storing data characterizing the security-related event in a database; and

automatically associating said digital video clip with one or more data identifiers characterizing said security-related event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said camera is located in a gaming machine at or near where said security-related event took place.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said camera is located in a position above multiple gaming machines in the gaming environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining which of a plurality of available cameras should capture video information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically directing and focusing said camera to capture video information at said particular location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the data stored within said database is organized by security-related events.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more data identifiers comprise at least one or more items selected from the group consisting of:

the type or types of security-related event, a time of the security-related event, a date of the security-related event, a location of the security-related event, the camera or cameras capturing video information of the security-related event, data card insertion information, meter information, manual operator information, and one or more arbitrary identifiers that can be cross-referenced or catalogued.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said security-related event comprises an event selected from the group consisting of:

inegular use of a smart card, electronic funds transfers in excess of a threshold amount, credit requests or use in excess of a threshold amount, a gaming machine slot door open, a gaming machine drop door open, a gaming machine fill door open, a gaming machine panel open, a loss of network communication to a gaming machine, inegular gaming machine to network communications, and an irregular or frequent plurality of jackpot hits from one gaming machine or a group of gaming machines.

9. A method of controlling operation of a surveillance camera in response to a security-related event that involves one or more wager-based gaming machines, the method comprising:

(a) determining whether a security-related event that involves one or more wager-based gaming machines has occurred or is occurring at a particular location in a gaming environment, said step of determining including polling a plurality of wager-based gaming machines in automated and electronic fashion from a remote location;

(b) determining which of a plurality of cameras can capture video information at said particular location;

(c) automatically directing and focusing at least one camera to capture video information at said particular location;

(d) capturing a video clip of said security-related event; and

(e) automatically associating said video clip with one or more data identifiers characterizing said security-related event.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(f) automatically activating one or more cameras in order to capture video information at said particular location.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(f) storing data characterizing the security-related event in a database.

12. A security system adapted for use in a gaming environment, comprising:

a remote security server that facilitates an automated process of controlling one or more security cameras to capture security-related events within a gaming environment;

a plurality of wager-based gaming machines in communication with said remote server and adapted to administer wager-based games thereupon, wherein each of said wager-based gaming machines responds to a polling signal sent from said remote server regarding potential security related events at the respective wager-based gaming machine;

a plurality of security cameras in communication with said remote server and adapted to capture digital video clips of security related events at one or more of said plurality of wager-based gaming machines; and

a database in communication with said remote server, wherein said database stores said digital video clips and data characterizing said digital video clips therein,

wherein said remote server is adapted to send polling signals to said plurality of wager-based gaming machines, determine whether a security-related event has occured or is occurring at one or more of said plurality of wager-based gaming machines based upon the responses or lack thereof to said polling signals, activate one or more of said plurality of security cameras in response to a positive determination that a security-related event has occurred or is occuning at one of said plurality of wager-based gaming machines in order to capture video information, and store a digital video clip of said security-related event on said database.

13. The security system of claim 12, wherein said remote server is further adapted to store data characterizing the security-related event in a database, and to associate said digital video clip with one or more data identifiers characterizing said security-related event.

14. The security system of claim 12, wherein said security-related event comprises an event selected from the group consisting of:

irregular use of a smart card, electronic funds transfers in excess of a threshold amount, credit requests or use in excess of a threshold amount, a gaming machine slot door open, a gaming machine drop door open, a gaming machine fill door open, a gaming machine panel open, a loss of network communication to a gaming machine, inegular gaming machine to network communications, and an irregular or frequent plurality of jackpot hits from one gaming machine or a group of gaming machines.