Radio direction finder for gaming chip and/or player tracking

• US 7,701,344 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Gadda, Chris, Mattice, Harold E., Stockdale, James, Wilder, Richard, Griswold, Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/726,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 273/237, 273/288, 273/309, 463/13, 463/25, 463/29, 463/47, 235/375, 235/385, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network. In at least one embodiment, an electronically switched Doppler antenna array may be utilized to detect a first wireless signal from a first signal source. Bearing information may be generated using information from the detected signal. In at least one embodiment, the bearing information may include a first directional bearing to the first signal source. Using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source may be determined. According to specific embodiments, the first signal source may correspond to a wireless communication device such as an RFID-enabled player tracking card or gaming chip. In at least one embodiment, a current location of the wireless communication device may be automatically tracked in real-time as the wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

a first processor;

memory;

at least one interface; and

a first antenna array including a first antenna and a second antenna;

the system being operable to;

detect, at the first antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source, wherein the detecting comprises receiving the first wireless signal at the first antenna at a first time T1 and receiving the first wireless signal at the second antenna at a second time T2;

detect a change in frequency of the first wireless signal using information relating to the wireless signal received at times T1 and T2;

generate, using information relating to the change in frequency of the first wireless signal, first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source; and

determine, using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled player tracking card.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled player tracking card, the system being further operable to:

automatically track, in real-time, a current location of the player tracking card as the player tracking card is moved through a first region of the casino.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled gaming chip.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled gaming chip, the system being further operable to:

automatically track, in real-time, a current location of the gaming chip as the gaming chip is moved through a first region of the casino.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal source corresponds to a mobile wireless communication device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first antenna array is configured or designed to function as an electrically switched Doppler antenna system.

8. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

determine first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal;

determine, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source; and

determine, using at least a portion of the first bearing information and first range data, the first location of the first signal source.

37. The system of claim 1 wherein T1 is substantially equal to T2.

9. A method for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the method comprising:

detecting, at a first Doppler antenna array including a first antenna and a second antenna, a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device, wherein detecting the first wireless signal from the first signal source comprises receiving the first wireless signal at the first antenna at a first time T1 and receiving the first wireless signal at the second antenna at a second time T2;

detecting a change in frequency of the first wireless signal using information relating to the wireless signal received at times T1 and T2;

generating, using information relating to the change in frequency of the first wireless signal, first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

determining, using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source; and

automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.

38. The method of claim 9 wherein T1 is substantially equal to T2.

12. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

means for detecting, at a first antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device;

means for generating first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

means for detecting, at a second antenna array, the first wireless signal from the first signal source;

means for generating second bearing information which includes a second directional bearing to the first signal source;

means for determining, using at least a portion of the first and second bearing information, a first location of the first signal source, wherein the first location corresponds to a current, real-time location of the first wireless communication device; and

means for automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.

15. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

a first processor;

memory;

at least one interface;

a first antenna array; and

a second antenna array;

the system being operable to;

detect, at the first antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source;

generate first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

detect, at the second antenna array, the first wireless signal from the first signal source;

generate second bearing information which includes a second directional bearing to the first signal source; and

determine, using at least a portion of the first and second bearing information, the first location of the first signal source.

16. The system of claim 15, the system being further operable to:

automatically track, in real-time, the signal source as the signal source is moved through a first region of the casino.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled player tracking card.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled gaming chip.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first signal source corresponds to a mobile wireless communication device.

20. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

a first processor;

memory;

at least one interface; and

a first antenna array including a first antenna;

the system being operable to;

receive, at the first antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source;

determine first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal;

determine, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source;

generate first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source; and

determine, using at least a portion of the first bearing information and first range data, a first location of the first signal source.

21. The system of claim 20, the system being further operable to:

automatically track, in real-time, the signal source as the signal source is moved through a first region of the casino.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled player tracking card.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the first signal source corresponds to a RFID-enabled gaming chip.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the first signal source corresponds to a mobile wireless communication device.

25. A method for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the method comprising:

detecting, at a first Doppler antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device;

generating first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

detecting, at a second Doppler antenna array, the first wireless signal from the first signal source;

generating second bearing information which includes a second directional bearing to the first signal source;

determining, using at least a portion of the first and second bearing information, a first location of the first signal source; and

automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.

28. A method for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first antenna of a first Doppler antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device;

determining first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal;

determining, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source;

generating first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

determining, using at least a portion of the first bearing information and first range data, a first location of the first signal source; and

automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.

31. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

a first processor;

memory;

at least one interface; and

a first antenna array;

a second antenna array;

means for detecting a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device, wherein the detecting comprises receiving the first wireless signal at a first antenna array at a first time T1 and receiving the first wireless signal at a second antenna array at a second time T2;

means for detecting a change in frequency of the first wireless signal using information relating to the wireless signal received at times T1 and T2;

means for generating, using information relating to the change in frequency of the first wireless signal, first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

means for determining, using at least a portion of the first bearing information, a first location of the first signal source; and

means for automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.

39. The system of claim 31 wherein T1 is substantially equal to T2.

34. A system for facilitating tracking locations of players and/or wireless communication devices in a casino network, the system comprising:

a first processor;

memory;

at least one interface;

a first antenna array; and

a second antenna array;

means for receiving, at the first antenna array, a first wireless signal from a first signal source, the first signal source corresponding to a first mobile wireless communication device;

means for determining first received signal strength data relating to the received first signal;

means for determining, using the first received signal strength data, first range data relating to a first estimated range or distance to the first signal source;

means for generating first bearing information which includes a first directional bearing to the first signal source;

means for determining, using at least a portion of the first bearing information and first range data, a first location of the first signal source; and

means for automatically tracking, in real-time, a current location of the first wireless communication device as the first wireless communication device is moved through a first region of the casino.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled player tracking card.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the first wireless communication device corresponds to an RFID-enabled gaming chip.