Automated game monitoring
First Claim
1. A method for recognizing a game element in a game environment, comprising:
- (a) capturing an initial calibration image of a game environment background surface associated with an expected location of a gaming piece;
(b) capturing a reference image of a background surface within a game environment;
(c) storing the reference image of the background surface within the game environment;
(d) detecting by the computing device a start of a game within the game environment;
(e) capturing a current image of the background surface within the game environment after the game has started;
(f) detecting by the computing device the presence of a gaming card by comparing the reference image and the current image to identify differences between the reference image and the current image, the differences associated with the presence of the gaming card;
(g) comparing by the computing device a portion of the initial calibration image of the game environment background surface to a corresponding portion of the current image of the game environment background surface, the portion associated with the game environment background surface;
(h) detecting change in pixel intensity values for the for the portion associated with the background surface of the game environment, the current image of the game environment captured of the game environment during a game;
(i) capturing a second calibration image of the background surface with an updated camera setting in response to the illumination detected change in pixel intensity values determined by comparing the reference image of the game environment to the current image of the game environment captured during a game, the detected change in illumination triggering a calibration event which triggered the capturing of the second calibration image, the camera setting updated based on the illumination change;
(j) storing the second calibration image; and
(k) repeating the steps (e) through (j) based on the second calibration image and a second current image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for monitoring players in a game, extracting player and game operator data, and processing the data. In one embodiment, the present invention captures the relevant actions and/or the results of relevant actions of one or more players and one or more game operators in a game, such as a casino game. The system and methods are flexible in that they do not require special gaming pieces to collect data. Rather, the present invention is calibrated to the particular gaming pieces and environment already in use in the game. The data extracted can be processed and presented to aid in game security, player and game operator progress and history, determining trends, maximizing the integrity and draw of casino games, and a wide variety of other areas. The data is generally retrieved through a series of cameras that capture images of game play from different angles.
183 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for recognizing a game element in a game environment, comprising:
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(a) capturing an initial calibration image of a game environment background surface associated with an expected location of a gaming piece; (b) capturing a reference image of a background surface within a game environment; (c) storing the reference image of the background surface within the game environment; (d) detecting by the computing device a start of a game within the game environment; (e) capturing a current image of the background surface within the game environment after the game has started; (f) detecting by the computing device the presence of a gaming card by comparing the reference image and the current image to identify differences between the reference image and the current image, the differences associated with the presence of the gaming card; (g) comparing by the computing device a portion of the initial calibration image of the game environment background surface to a corresponding portion of the current image of the game environment background surface, the portion associated with the game environment background surface; (h) detecting change in pixel intensity values for the for the portion associated with the background surface of the game environment, the current image of the game environment captured of the game environment during a game; (i) capturing a second calibration image of the background surface with an updated camera setting in response to the illumination detected change in pixel intensity values determined by comparing the reference image of the game environment to the current image of the game environment captured during a game, the detected change in illumination triggering a calibration event which triggered the capturing of the second calibration image, the camera setting updated based on the illumination change; (j) storing the second calibration image; and (k) repeating the steps (e) through (j) based on the second calibration image and a second current image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification