Gaming chip and system for use therewith

• US 9,514,597 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pavilion Payments Gaming Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Payments Gaming Services, Inc. (Global Payments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US12/511,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,687 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/42, 463/16, 463/20, 463/29, 273/138.1, 273/148.R, 273/139, 705/35
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A computer-implemented interactive system and methods allowing for the tracking, management, and reporting of casino smart chips are provided. In an illustrative implementation a casino smart chip environment comprises a casino smart chip management engine, and instruction set comprising at least one instruction to instruct the casino smart chip engine to process data representative of the activation, tracking, monitoring, and/or reporting of one or more casino smart chips. In the illustrative implementation, the one or more casino smart chips can comprise one or more operative components comprising any of a communications component (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) component), a display component, a monetary value store, and a unique identifier store. Operatively, the exemplary casino smart chip engine can track, store, and report data representative of the authentication, commissioning, draw down, decommissioning, and use of the smart casino chip in casino and non-casino activities.

Claims

1. A system for managing casino smart chips comprising:

a casino smart chip management engine operable to receive data representative of a casino smart chip;

an instruction set comprising at least one instruction to instruct the casino smart chip management engine to process casino smart chip data to generate casino smart chip management data representative of the casino smart chip'"'"'s activity in a selected environment, wherein the instruction set comprises at least one instruction to authenticate the casino smart chip by associating a unique chip identifier stored on the casino smart chip in a casino smart chip tracking data store, at least one instruction to assign the casino smart chip to an assigned casino patron, at least one instruction to designate a monetary value for the casino smart chip, and at least one instruction to change the designated monetary value for the casino smart chip based on the casino smart chip'"'"'s activity by the assigned casino patron in the selected environment; and

a plurality of casino smart chip receptacles distributed within the selected environment, wherein each casino smart chip receptacle is (i) cooperative with a corresponding casino game in the selected environment and (ii) operable to read data stored on the casino smart chip representative of the casino smart chip'"'"'s unique chip identifier, wherein, after a casino smart chip receptacle reads the data stored on the casino smart chip for a gaming session at the corresponding casino game, the system automatically decommissions the casino smart chip.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more data stores operable to store data comprising casino smart chip tracking data, reporting data, demographic data, and data representative of participating users that deploy one or more casino smart chips in a casino and/or non-casino environment.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the casino smart chip management engine is operable to process received casino smart chip data to generate management data comprising casino smart chip track data, reporting data, demographic data, and data representative of participating users that deploy one or more casino smart chips in a casino and/or non-casino environment.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the casino smart chip management engine comprises a computing application operable on a computing environment.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein each casino smart chip receptacle is operable to physically receive the casino smart chip and read the data stored on the casino smart chip representative of the casino smart chip'"'"'s unique chip identifier.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein each casino smart chip receptacle comprises a display operable to provide data representative of the casino smart chip comprising monetary value, reward value, location data, and origin of source data.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more cooperating computing environments operable to cooperate with the casino smart chip management engine to communicate, retrieve, and process data representative of the casino smart chip'"'"'s activity and/or characteristics.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more computing environments comprise a casino operator computing environment.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more computing environments are operable to display data representative of the casino smart chip data comprising casino smart chip tracking data, reporting data, demographic data, and data representative of participating users that deploy one or more casino smart chips in a casino and/or non-casino environment for navigation, modification, subsequent processing, and/or storage in one or more cooperating data stores.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the casino smart chip has no inherent, minimum, nonzero monetary value; and

the casino smart chip can be designated with any of a plurality of different monetary values including zero and two or more different non-zero values.

11. The invention of claim 1, wherein each casino smart chip receptacle comprises an RFID reader configured to communicate with an RFID transceiver in the casino smart chip to read the data stored on the casino smart chip.

12. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

a casino smart chip receptacle is configured to cooperate with a gaming session at a gaming table; and

after the casino smart chip receptacle reads the data stored on the casino smart chip, the system (i) cashes out the casino smart chip based on a monetary value assigned to the casino smart chip and (ii) automatically decommissions the casino smart chip.

13. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

a casino smart chip receptacle is configured to cooperate with a gaming session at a non-gaming-table machine; and

after the casino smart chip receptacle reads the data stored on the casino smart chip, the system (i) tracks winnings/losses for the casino smart chip during the gaming session and (ii) upon conclusion of the gaming session, automatically decommissions the casino smart chip.

14. The invention of claim 13, wherein, upon the conclusion of the gaming session, the system dispenses a new casino smart chip having an associated, new monetary value resulting from the winnings/losses during the gaming session.

15. A computer-based system for a casino smart chip (CSC) having a unique CSC identifier, the system comprising:

a CSC database operable to store CSC data associated with the casino smart chip;

a computer-implemented CSC manager operable to (i) designate a CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip, (ii) assign the casino smart chip to an assigned casino patron, and (iii) store the unique CSC identifier, data representing the assigned casino patron, and the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip in the CSC database, such that the system tracks activity of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron; and

a plurality of CSC receptacles distributed within the selected environment, wherein each CSC receptacle is (i) cooperative with a corresponding casino game in the selected environment and (ii) operable to read data stored on the casino smart chip representative of the casino smart chip'"'"'s unique chip identifier, wherein, after a CSC receptacle reads the data stored on the casino smart chip for a gaming session at the corresponding casino game, the system automatically decommissions the casino smart chip.

16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the CSC manager is operable to store, in the CSC database, demographic data for the assigned casino patron using the casino smart chip.

17. The invention of claim 15, wherein the CSC manager is operable to selectively activate and de-activate the casino smart chip, such that, when the casino smart chip is de-activated, the CSC manager sets the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip to be zero.

18. The invention of claim 17, wherein, after the CSC manager has de-activated the casino smart chip for the assigned casino patron, the CSC manager is operable to re-activate the de-activated casino smart chip for subsequent use by another casino patron.

19. The invention of claim 15, wherein the CSC manager is operable to:

(1) receive data corresponding to CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron; and

(2) modify the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip stored in the CSC database based on the CSC use by the assigned casino patron.

20. The invention of claim 19, wherein the CSC use by the assigned casino patron is for non-gaming activity.

21. The invention of claim 19, wherein the CSC manager is operable to (i) track the CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron in the CSC database and (ii) generate reports about the CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron.

22. The invention of claim 15, wherein each CSC receptacle is operable to determine and transmit the unique CSC identifier to the CSC manager, wherein:

the CSC manager is operable to (i) retrieve the designated CSC monetary value from the CSC database based on the unique CSC identifier received from a CSC receptacle and (ii) transmit the designated CSC monetary value to the CSC receptacle to authorize CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron.

23. The invention of claim 22, wherein the CSC receptacle is part of a slot machine, a video poker game, or a gaming table.

24. The invention of claim 23, wherein the CSC manager is operable to process the CSC data differently when the CSC receptacle is part of a gaming table than when the CSC receptacle is part of a slot machine or a video poker machine.

25. The invention of claim 22, wherein the CSC receptacle comprises an electronic display component operable to display the designated CSC monetary value received from the CSC manager.

26. The invention of claim 22, wherein the CSC receptacle comprises a RFID reader operable to interrogate an RFID transceiver in the casino smart chip for the unique CSC identifier of the casino smart chip.

27. The invention of claim 22, wherein the CSC receptacle is operable to transmit the designated CSC monetary value received from the CSC manager to the casino smart chip for storage of the designated CSC monetary value in CSC computer memory in the casino smart chip.

28. The invention of claim 22, wherein the CSC manager is operable to transmit to the CSC receptacle instructions to cash out the casino smart chip for the designated CSC monetary value.

29. The invention of claim 28, wherein, after the casino smart chip has been cashed out, the CSC manager is operable to de-activate the casino smart chip by updating the designated CSC monetary value stored in the CSC database to be zero.

30. The invention of claim 22, wherein the CSC manager is operable to:

(1) track winnings and/or losings by the assigned casino patron associated with the casino smart chip to determine an updated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip;

(2) de-activate the casino smart chip by setting the corresponding designated CSC monetary value in the CSC database to be zero;

(3) activate a different casino smart chip by designating the different casino smart chip to have the updated CSC monetary value in the CSC database; and

(4) instruct the CSC receptacle to dispense the different casino smart chip to the assigned casino patron.

31. The invention of claim 15, wherein:

the CSC manager is operable to store, in the CSC database, demographic data for the assigned casino patron using the casino smart chip;

the CSC manager is operable to selectively activate and de-activate the casino smart chip, such that, when the casino smart chip is de-activated, the CSC manager sets the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip to be zero;

after the CSC manager has de-activated the casino smart chip for the assigned casino patron, the CSC manager is operable to re-activate the de-activated casino smart chip for subsequent use by another casino patron;

the CSC manager is operable to;

(1) receive data corresponding to CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron; and

(2) modify the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip stored in the CSC database based on the CSC use by the assigned casino patron;

the CSC manager is operable to track the CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron in the CSC database;

the CSC manager is operable to generate reports about the CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron; and

each CSC receptacle is operable to determine and transmit the unique CSC identifier to the CSC manager, wherein;

the CSC manager is operable to (i) retrieve the designated CSC monetary value from the CSC database based on the unique CSC identifier received from a CSC receptacle and (ii) transmit the designated CSC monetary value to the CSC receptacle to authorize CSC use of the casino smart chip by the assigned casino patron;

the CSC receptacle is part of a slot machine, a video poker game, or a gaming table;

the CSC manager is operable to process the CSC data differently when the CSC receptacle is part of a gaming table than when the CSC receptacle is part of a slot machine or a video poker machine;

the CSC receptacle comprises an electronic display component operable to display the designated CSC monetary value received from the CSC manager;

the CSC receptacle comprises a RFID reader operable to interrogate an RFID transceiver in the casino smart chip for the unique CSC identifier of the casino smart chip;

the CSC receptacle is operable to transmit the designated CSC monetary value received from the CSC manager to the casino smart chip for storage of the designated CSC monetary value in CSC computer memory in the casino smart chip;

the CSC manager is operable to transmit to the CSC receptacle instructions to cash out the casino smart chip for the designated CSC monetary value;

after the casino smart chip has been cashed out, the CSC manager is operable to de-activate the casino smart chip by updating the designated CSC monetary value stored in the CSC database to be zero; and

the CSC manager is operable to;

(1) track winnings and/or losings by the assigned casino patron associated with the casino smart chip to determine an updated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip;

(2) de-activate the casino smart chip by setting the corresponding designated CSC monetary value in the CSC database to be zero;

(3) activate a different casino smart chip by designating the different casino smart chip to have the updated CSC monetary value in the CSC database; and

(4) instruct the CSC receptacle to dispense the different casino smart chip to the assigned casino patron.

32. The invention of claim 15, wherein the casino smart chip comprises:

a unique CSC identifier that the CSC manager stores in the CSC database along with a CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip that is designated by the CSC manager; and

memory operable to store the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip, wherein;

the casino smart chip has no inherent, minimum, nonzero monetary value; and

the casino smart chip can be designated with any of a plurality of different monetary values including zero and two or more different non-zero values.

33. The invention of claim 32, wherein the casino smart chip comprises an RFID transceiver operable to (i) store the unique CSC identifier for the casino smart chip and (ii) transmit the unique CSC identifier to an RFID reader of the system.

34. The invention of claim 32, wherein the casino smart chip further comprises a receiver operable to receive the designated CSC monetary value from the CSC manager.

35. The invention of claim 32, wherein the casino smart chip comprises an electronic display component operable to display the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip.

36. The invention of claim 32, wherein the casino smart chip comprises:

an RFID transceiver operable to (i) store the unique CSC identifier for the casino smart chip and (ii) transmit the unique CSC identifier to an RFID reader of the system;

a receiver operable to receive the designated CSC monetary value from the CSC manager; and

an electronic display component operable to display the designated CSC monetary value for the casino smart chip.

37. The invention of claim 15, wherein:

the casino smart chip has no inherent, minimum, nonzero monetary value; and

the casino smart chip can be designated with any of a plurality of different monetary values including zero and two or more different non-zero values.

38. The invention of claim 15, wherein:

a CSC receptacle is configured to cooperate with a gaming session at a gaming table; and

after the CSC receptacle reads the data stored on the casino smart chip, the system (i) cashes out the casino smart chip based on a monetary value assigned to the casino smart chip and (ii) automatically decommissions the casino smart chip.

39. The invention of claim 15, wherein:

a CSC receptacle is configured to cooperate with a gaming session at a non-gaming-table machine; and

after the CSC receptacle reads the data stored on the casino smart chip, the system (i) tracks winnings/losses for the casino smart chip during the gaming session and (ii) upon conclusion of the gaming session, automatically decommissions the casino smart chip.

40. The invention of claim 39, wherein, upon the conclusion of the gaming session, the system dispenses a new casino smart chip having an associated, new monetary value resulting from the winnings/losses during the gaming session.