Generating casino floor maps

• US 8,758,102 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Block, Rory L., Greenberg, Jacob C., Hamlin, Vernon W., Lasseter, Laurie E., Sylla, Craig J., Trego, Mark K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SKAARUP, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US12/934,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20110183732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,919 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/42, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

This describes generating casino floor maps. In some embodiments, the casino monitoring system can analyze captured data of casino floor objects. The system can determine metadata related to any of the casino floor objects and generate one or more overlay objects for each of the casino floor objects. The system can create a casino floor map by superimposing the overlay objects over the captured data (e.g., superimpose the overlay objects onto a live video stream). The system can present the floor map on any suitable device. The system can detect a selection of the overlay objects on the casino floor map and present metadata for a casino floor object associated with the selected overlay object. The system can also determine details of people on a casino floor via close-range biometric scans and measurements. The system can use the scans and measurements to assist people in the casino.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors cause the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

capturing an image of a casino floor object;

determining a location of the casino floor object in relation to a casino floor landscape surrounding the casino floor object;

determining, via analysis of the image of the casino floor object, at least one unique visual characteristic of the casino floor object;

generating a virtual graphic representation of the appearance of the casino floor object that depicts a graphical reproduction of the casino floor object with the at least one unique visual characteristic, wherein the generating the virtual graphic representation of the casino floor object depicting the casino floor object includes utilizing a stored image referenced by a player account setting, and wherein the stored image represents a unique visual identifier of a social contact associated with the player account;

generating a casino floor layout map representing the casino floor landscape;

positioning the virtual graphic representation of the appearance of the casino floor object in the casino floor layout map approximating the location of the casino floor object on the casino floor landscape; and

providing the casino floor layout map for presentation.

2. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the operation of generating the virtual graphic representation of the appearance of the casino floor object includes operations comprising,

determining, from the image, an object shape and the at least one unique visual characteristic of the casino floor object,

generating a three-dimensional, geometric skeleton, shaped like a three-dimensional representation of the object shape,

generating one or more virtual graphic textures having a similar appearance to the at least one unique visual characteristic,

applying the one or more virtual graphic textures onto the three-dimensional, geometric, skeleton, and

rendering a three-dimensional virtual graphic representation of the casino floor object that depicts the at least one unique visual characteristic.

3. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

recording a plurality of additional images of the casino floor object over a continuous period of time to capture activities performed by the casino object; and

animating the virtual graphic representation of the casino floor object based on the activities performed by the casino floor object.

4. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

determining metadata related to any one or more of an identity, an operational status, a history, and characteristics of the casino floor object;

generating an overlay object related to the casino floor object for which the metadata is available;

positioning the overlay object in the casino floor layout map in connection with the virtual graphic representation of the appearance of the casino floor object;

detecting a selection of the overlay object on the casino floor map; and

presenting the metadata in connection with the virtual graphic representation of the appearance of the casino floor object.

5. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 4, wherein the operation of generating the overlay object comprises an operation of creating a dynamic, selectable hotspot image that highlights the virtual graphic representation of the appearance of the casino floor object.

6. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 5, wherein the operation of presenting the metadata for the casino floor object comprises displaying the metadata in a pop-up image on the casino floor layout map when the overlay object is selected.

7. A method comprising:

monitoring identifying characteristics of casino patrons on a casino floor;

determining identities, via the identifying characteristics, of one or more of the casino patrons that are linked as social contacts to a wagering game player account;

generating one or more virtual graphic representations that represent an appearance of the one or more of the casino patrons;

generating a casino floor map that represents a scale model of a casino floor;

presenting, via at least one of one or more processors, the one or more virtual graphic representations on coordinates of the casino floor map that correlate to one or more geographic locations of the one or more of the casino patrons on the casino floor; and

presenting, via at least one of the one or more processors, identifiers via the casino floor map that identify the one or more virtual graphic representations as the one or more of the casino patrons that are linked as the social contacts to the wagering game player account.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the monitoring the identifying characteristics comprises monitoring one or more of visible identifying characteristics of the casino patrons, signals generated by devices carried by the casino patrons, facial characteristics of the casino patrons, biometric characteristics of the casino patrons, clothing characteristics of the casino patrons, wagering game behavior of the casino patrons, financial transactions performed by the casino patrons, sounds generated by the casino patrons, heat generated by the casino patrons, and weight measurements of the casino patrons.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising presenting movement of the one or more virtual graphic representations on the casino floor map over a period of time.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining one or more unique identifiers for the one or more of the casino patrons via one or more of the wagering game player account and one or more user accounts associated with the one or more of the casino patrons; and

presenting the one or more unique identifiers in association with the one or more virtual graphic representations.

11. An apparatus comprising:

means for monitoring identifying characteristics of casino patrons on a casino floor;

means for determining identities, via the identifying characteristics, of one or more of the casino patrons that are linked as social contacts to a wagering game player account;

means for generating one or more virtual graphic representations that represent an appearance of the one or more of the casino patrons;

means for generating a casino floor map that represents a scale model of a casino floor;

means for presenting the one or more virtual graphic representations on coordinates of the casino floor map that correlate to one or more geographic locations of the one or more of the casino patrons on the casino floor; and

means for presenting identifiers via the casino floor map that identify the one or more virtual graphic representations as the one or more of the casino patrons that are linked as the social contacts to the wagering game player account.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for monitoring the identifying characteristics comprises means for monitoring one or more of visible identifying characteristics of the casino patrons, signals generated by devices carried by the casino patrons, facial characteristics of the casino patrons, biometric characteristics of the casino patrons, clothing characteristics of the casino patrons, wagering game behavior of the casino patrons, financial transactions performed by the casino patrons, sounds generated by the casino patrons, heat generated by the casino patrons, and weight measurements of the casino patrons.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for presenting movement of the one or more virtual graphic representations on the casino floor map over a period of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

means for determining one or more unique identifiers for the one or more of the casino patrons via one or more of the wagering game player account and one or more user accounts associated with the one or more of the casino patrons; and

means for presenting the one or more unique identifiers in association with the one or more virtual graphic representations.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more machine readable storage devices configured to store instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations to

detect, from recorded video of wagering game machines on a casino floor, recorded perceptible characteristics possessed by the wagering game machines,

generate a computerized casino floor layout,

present virtual graphic representations of the wagering game machines on coordinates of the computerized casino floor layout that correspond to locations of the wagering game machines on the casino floor,

determine, based on analysis of the recorded perceptible characteristics, one or more gaming repair needs of one or more of the wagering game machines,

present indicators on the computerized casino floor layout that indicate the one or more gaming repair needs of the one or more of the wagering game machines,

present repair options associated with the indicators,

detect selection of one or more of the repair options via user input, and

in response to selection of the one or more of the repair options, fix one or more problems for the one or more of the wagering game machines according to the one or more gaming repair needs.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more machine readable storage devices are configured to store instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations to:

generate one or more hotspot images that highlight recorded wagering game machines for which gaming configuration metadata is available; and

superimpose the one or more hotspots on the computerized casino floor layout over one or more of the virtual graphic representations of the wagering game machines.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more machine readable storage devices are configured to store instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations to:

generate three-dimensional, virtual graphic objects that are similar in shape and appearance to the wagering game machines; and

control rendering, texturing, positioning, actions, and appearances of the three-dimensional, virtual graphic objects on the computerized casino floor layout.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more machine readable storage devices are further configured to store instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations to:

detect user preferences regarding how the computerized casino floor layout is presented; and

present the computerized casino floor layout according to the user preferences.

19. A method comprising:

detecting, from recorded video of wagering game machines on a casino floor, recorded perceptible characteristics possessed by the wagering game machines;

generating a computerized casino floor layout;

presenting virtual graphic representations of the wagering game machines on coordinates of the computerized casino floor layout that correspond to locations of the wagering game machines on the casino floor,

determining, based on analysis of the recorded perceptible characteristics, one or more gaming repair needs of one or more of the wagering game machines;

presenting indicators on the computerized casino floor layout that indicate the one or more gaming repair needs of the one or more of the wagering game machines;

presenting repair options associated with the indicators;

detecting, via at least one of one or more processors, selection of one or more of the repair options via user input; and

after the detecting the selection of the one or more of the repair options, fixing, via at least one of the one or more processors, one or more problems for the one or more of the wagering game machines according to the one or more gaming repair needs.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

generating one or more hotspot images that highlight recorded wagering game machines for which gaming configuration metadata is available; and

superimposing the one or more hotspots on the computerized casino floor layout over one or more of the virtual graphic representations of the wagering game machines.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

generating three-dimensional, virtual graphic objects that are similar in shape and appearance to the wagering game machines; and

controlling rendering, texturing, positioning, actions, and appearances of the three-dimensional, virtual graphic objects on the computerized casino floor layout.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

detecting user preferences regarding how the computerized casino floor layout is presented; and

presenting the computerized casino floor layout according to the user preferences.

23. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors cause the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

detecting, from recorded video of wagering game machines on a casino floor, recorded perceptible characteristics possessed by the wagering game machines;

generating a computerized casino floor layout;

presenting virtual graphic representations of the wagering game machines on coordinates of the computerized casino floor layout that correspond to locations of the wagering game machines on the casino floor;

determining, based on analysis of the recorded perceptible characteristics, one or more gaming repair needs of one or more of the wagering game machines;

presenting indicators on the computerized casino floor layout that indicate the one or more gaming repair needs of the one or more of the wagering game machines;

presenting repair options associated with the indicators;

detecting selection of one or more of the repair options via user input; and

after the detecting the selection of the one or more of the repair options, fixing one or more problems for the one or more of the wagering game machines according to the one or more gaming repair needs.

24. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 23, said operations further comprising:

generating one or more hotspot images that highlight recorded wagering game machines for which gaming configuration metadata is available; and

superimposing the one or more hotspots on the computerized casino floor layout over one or more of the virtual graphic representations of the wagering game machines.

25. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 23, said operations further comprising:

generating three-dimensional, virtual graphic objects that are similar in shape and appearance to the wagering game machines; and

controlling rendering, texturing, positioning, actions, and appearances of the three-dimensional, virtual graphic objects on the computerized casino floor layout.

26. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 23, said operations further comprising:

detecting user preferences regarding how the computerized casino floor layout is presented; and

presenting the computerized casino floor layout according to the user preferences.