Self-contained dice shaker system

• US 8,622,391 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark C., Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, DOLORES R
• Application Number:
  US13/733,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20130122983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 273/145.CA
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0406 Dice-throwing devices, e.g. dice cups

Abstract

The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a self-contained dice shaker assembly. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of one or more dice and a sensor assembly in communication with the container interior. The sensor assembly may be configured to monitor, in accordance with one or more predetermined parameters, the shake quality of the dice in the container during a shaking event. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include an identification assembly operable to identify the outcome of a respective outcome face of each die associated with the outcome of a shaking event.

Claims

1. A method of operating a self-contained dice shaker assembly, the dice shaker assembly including one or more dice, the method comprising:

detecting, using one or more electronic sensors of the self-contained dice shaker assembly, motion associated with the dice;

determining, using one or more electronic processors of the self-contained dice shaker assembly, whether the detected motion satisfies one or more predetermined motion parameters; and

transmitting, a communication device of the self-contained dice shaker assembly, information related to the detected motion to an external device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, using the one or more electronic sensors, a value associated with the dice.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting, the communication device, information related to the identified value to the external device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the detected motion satisfies one or more predetermined motion parameters comprises determining, using the one or more electronic processors, a shake quality of the one or more dice during a shaking event.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting information related to the detected motion to the external device comprises transmitting, using the communication device, an indication of the shake quality to the external device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dice shaker assembly comprises a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of the one or more dice, wherein the dice shaker assembly comprises a cover member cooperating with the container device to selectively cover the opening thereof in a closed condition, wherein the dice shaker assembly comprises a cover sensor, and wherein the method further comprises detecting, using the cover sensor, whether the cover member is properly positioned over the opening of the container device in the closed condition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, using an identification assembly of the dice shaker assembly, an outcome of the shaking event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the detected motion satisfies one or more predetermined motion parameters comprises determining, using the one or more electronic processors, whether a cover member of the dice shaking assembly is in a closed condition and the dice shaker assembly is inverted at least a threshold amount of times.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the detected motion satisfies one or more predetermined motion parameters comprises determining, using the one or more electronic processors, whether a cover member of the dice shaking assembly is in a closed condition and the dice shaker assembly is exposed to at least a threshold number of changes in direction with a minimum amount of force.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the detected motion satisfies one or more predetermined motion parameters comprises determining, using the one or more electronic processors, whether the dice shaker assembly is lifted from a table and the one or more dice contact a cover member of the dice shaker assembly at least a threshold number of times.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the detected motion satisfies one or more predetermined motion parameters comprises determining, using the one or more electronic processors, whether the dice shaker assembly is accelerated by at least a minimum amount of force for at least a threshold amount of time.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication to a user of the dice shaker assembly of whether the detected motion has satisfied the one or more predetermined motion parameters.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting information related to the detected motion to an external device comprises transmitting, using the communication device, information related to the detected motion to a gaming table.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting information related to the detected motion to an external device comprises transmitting, using the communication device, information related to the detected motion to a remote monitoring device configured to monitor and log shake quality information based on the transmitted information.

15. A method of operating a self-contained dice shaker assembly, the dice shaker assembly including one or more dice, the method comprising:

detecting, using one or more electronic sensors of the self-contained dice shaker assembly, motion associated with the dice;

monitoring, using one or more electronic processors of the self-contained dice shaker assembly, a shake quality during a shaking event by determining whether the detected motion satisfies one or more predetermined motion parameters; and

transmitting, using a communication device of the self-contained dice shaker assembly, information related to the shake quality to an external device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

identifying, using the one or more electronic sensors, a shake quality value associated with the shaking event; and

transmitting, using the communication device, the shake quality value to the external device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the dice shaker assembly comprises a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of the one or more dice, wherein the dice shaker assembly comprises a cover member cooperating with the container device to selectively cover the opening thereof in a closed condition, wherein the dice shaker assembly comprises a cover sensor, and wherein the method further comprises detecting, using the cover sensor, whether the cover member is properly positioned over the opening of the container device in the closed condition.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining, using an identification assembly of the dice shaker assembly, an outcome of the shaking event.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing an indication to a user of the dice shaker assembly of whether the detected motion has satisfied the one or more predetermined motion parameters.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting information related to the shake quality to an external device comprises transmitting, using the communication device, information related to the shake quality to a remote monitoring device configured to monitor and log shake quality information based on the transmitted information.