Table monitoring identification system, wager tagging and felt coordinate mapping

• US 7,719,424 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Steil, Rolland N.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/009,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/10.1, 340/825.22, 340/5.82, 340/10.32, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 235/375, 235/376, 235/378, 463/25, 463/29, 273/274
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/06 Card games appurtenances
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

A table monitoring system and method for monitoring a table games. In one embodiment, the system comprises an RFID system and a processing engine. The system may include a camera, and image controller, or both. The system creates RFID data and image data in response to table events and its processing engine cross-references this data with time stamps to monitor table events such as wagers, payouts, or other occurrences. The data is associated with a tag which represents a table event. Table events are tracked during play. In one embodiment, the RFID data and image data is mapped to a coordinate grid. With the coordinate mapping and by cross-referencing this data, the system can distinguish individual table events occurring within the detection zone of a single RFID antenna such as distinguishing wagers placed on multiple bet locations within the detection zone of a single antenna.

Claims

1. A table monitoring system for monitoring one or more table games comprising:

a camera configured to create a table image and image data;

a RFID system configured to create RFID data;

a processing engine configured to execute machine readable code;

a memory configured to store machine readable code, the machine readable code configured to;

process the image data and the RFID data to create one or more tags wherein at least one tag represents a table event and has associated therewith the image data and the RFID data;

process the at least one tag against one or more control parameters which correspond to a table game

generate and output an alert.

2. The table monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a table identification on or in a table on which the table game is played, wherein the camera, REID system, or both detect the table identification to select control parameters.

3. The table monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alert is provided to a dealer or casino personal via a computer display.

4. The table monitoring system of claim 3 wherein the machine readable code further comprises a coordinate grid mapping module having one or more grid coordinates assigned to one or more relevant locations, wherein the machine readable code is configured to map the image data and the RFID data to the coordinate grid and assign the image data and the RFID data to at least one of the one or more tags based on the coordinate mapping.

5. The table monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a biometric interface configured to create player identification data, wherein the machine readable code is configured to associate the player identification data with at least one of the relevant locations of the coordinate grid.

6. The table monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising one or more peripherals in communication with the processing engine, the one or more peripherals having an identification code associated therewith, wherein the processing engine is configured to assign table events related to the one or more peripherals to at least one of the one or more tags.

7. A table monitoring system for monitoring one or more table games comprising:

a table having a felt, the felt having at least one felt identification;

one or more control parameters associated with the at least one felt identification;

a RFID system configured to create RFID data in response to one or more table events, the RFID system having one or more RFID antennas and a detection zone for each RFID antenna; and

a processing engine configured to execute machine readable code;

a memory in communication with the processing engine, the memory configured to store control parameters and with machine readable code configured to;

process RFID data;

establish a coordinate grid having one or more grid coordinates associated with one or more relevant table locations;

map the processed RFID data to at least one of the one or more grid coordinates and to create one or more tags, wherein the RFID data is associated with at least one of the one or more tags based on the coordinate mapping.

8. The table monitoring system of claim 7 further comprising:

a camera configured to create a plurality of table images; and

an image controller configured to create image data by analyzing the plurality of table images and identifying relevant locations of the one or more table games and the table events of the one or more table games;

wherein the machine readable code is further configured to map the RFID data and the image data to at least one of the one or more grid coordinates and to create the one or more tags, the RFID data and the image data being associated with at least one of the one or more tags based on the coordinate mapping.

9. The table monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of independent bet locations within the detection zone, wherein the image controller is configured to identify one or more table events occurring in any of the independent bet locations and wherein the machine readable code is further configured to distinguish the one or more table events occurring in any of the bet locations by cross-referencing the image data and the RFID data.

10. The table monitoring system of claim 8 wherein the machine readable code is configured to associate the image data and the RFID data created during play of the one or more table games to at least one of the one or more tags and the machine readable code is further configured to generate an alert if the tag violates a control parameter.

11. The table monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the machine readable code is configured to assign the RFID data and the image data to at least one of the one or more tags based on a time at which one or more table events occurred.

12. The table monitoring system of claim 7 further comprising a memory configured to store database of the RFID data, the image data, or both.

13. A method of electronically monitoring a table game comprising:

creating RFID data in response to one or more table events detected by one or ore RFJD antennas, each of the RFID antennas having a detection zone;

creating image data by analyzing a plurality of table images;

mapping the RFID data, the image data, or both to a coordinate grid;

cross-referencing the RFID data and the image data;

creating one or more tags, wherein at least one tag represents at least one of the one or more table events and has the RFID data, the image data, or both associated herewith.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising associating additional RFID data, additional image data, or both with at least one of the one or more tags already created by the processing engine as the table game is played.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the RFID data, image data, or both is associated with at least one of the one or more tags based on the coordinate mapping, time, or both.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising identifying one or more players and associating at least one relevant location on the coordinate grid to an identified player.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving at least one felt identification associated with a felt on which the table game is played; and

associating data with the one or more tags according to one or more control parameters, wherein the control parameters correspond to the at least one felt identification.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising distinguishing each of the one or more table events occurring within the detection zone by cross-referencing the RFID data and the image data.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising discontinuing tracking of at least one of the one or more tags when an item with which the tag is associated leaves the table.