Intelligent Player Tracking Card and Wagering Token Tracking Techniques

• US 20100093429A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Moser, Timothy W., Harris, Roger William, Mattice, Harold E., Schneider, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for implementing wireless communications among devices in a wager-based gaming environment which may include at least one portable electronic smart card device and/or at least one electronic wagering token. Some aspects relate to periodically engaging in wireless communications between a portable electronic smart card device and a plurality of electronic wagering tokens. Some aspects relate to performing tracking of electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within possession or control of a patron during various events such as, for example: a patron entering an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, a patron exiting an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, a patron initiating start of a gaming session at a gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, a patron being detected as being within a predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the closing of the gaming session, the location of the patron being detected as no longer being within the predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table, etc. Some aspects relate to determining an identity of a patron whose presence is detected at the live casino gaming environment. Some aspects relate to detecting and identifying electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of the patron of the live casino gaming environment during at least one time interval. Some aspects relate to generating, in response to detecting and identifying a presence of a electronic wagering token which is determined to be within possession or control of the patron, token-owner association information which includes information relating to a ownership association between the patron and the electronic wagering token.

Claims

1. A system for use in a wager-based gaming environment, the system comprising:

a first portable electronic smart card device comprising;

a first outer body having a center portion, a rim portion, and a specific monetary denomination and amount designated on an outer surface thereof;

a first processor disposed within the first outer body;

at least one transceiver including a first transceiver disposed within the first outer body;

at least two antennas disposed within the first outer body including a first antenna and a second antenna;

a first rechargeable, portable power source disposed within the first outer body; and

a first charging circuit disposed within the first outer body and electrically coupled to the first rechargeable power source, the first charging circuit being operable to recharge the first rechargeable power source by distributing power acquired from an external source;

the first portable electronic smart card device being configured or designed as multi-band frequency transceiver device which is operable to transmit and receive wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of an electromagnetic spectrum;

wherein the selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum include frequency bands selected from a group consisting of;

Low Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 30 kHz to 300 kHz, and High Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 3 MHz to 30 MHz;

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

periodically initiate wireless communication with at least a portion of the first plurality of electronic wagering tokens.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

periodically scan for a presence of electronic wagering tokens which are located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

periodically scan for a presence of electronic wagering tokens which are located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device;

determine an identity of at least one electronic wagering token which is detected to be within the predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device; and

provide, to an external device, wagering token inventory information, wherein the wagering token inventory information includes information relating to at least one identity of at least one electronic wagering token which was detected as being located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device during a first time interval.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portable electronic smart card device further comprises:

memory disposed within the first outer body;

the first portable electronic smart card device being further operable to;

periodically scan for a presence of electronic wagering tokens which are located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device;

determine an identity of at least one electronic wagering token which is detected to be within the predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device;

generate wagering token inventory information, wherein the wagering token inventory information includes information relating to at least one identity of at least one electronic wagering token which was detected as being located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device during a first time interval; and

store at least a portion of the wagering token inventory information in the memory.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

a first external device which is different from the first plurality of electronic wagering tokens, the first external device being operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

receive data communications from at least one of the first plurality of electronic wagering tokens; and

transmit, using the at least one transceiver, at least a portion of the received data communications to the first external device.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

a first remote device which is different from the first plurality of electronic wagering tokens, the first external device being operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

receive a first data communication from a first electronic wagering token, wherein the first data communication includes signal strength information relating to at least one wireless signal generated by at least one external device which was detected by the first electronic wagering token during a first time interval; and

provide at least a portion of the received signal strength information to the first remote device.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

periodically detect and identify electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of a first person during a first time interval.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

periodically detect and identify electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within a given patron'"'"'s predefined personal space.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

the first portable electronic smart card device being operable to;

transmit instructions to an identified electronic wagering token for causing a first feature or component to be enabled at the electronic wagering token; and

transmit instructions to the identified electronic wagering token for causing the first feature or component to be disabled at the electronic wagering token.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is implemented at a live casino gaming environment which includes at least one authorized gaming region, and at least one non-gaming region, the system further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with at least one remote device at the live casino gaming environment;

the system being operable to;

perform real-time tracking of the first plurality of electronic wagering tokens throughout the live casino gaming environment, including the at least one authorized gaming region and the at least one non-gaming region.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is implemented at a live casino gaming environment which includes at least one authorized gaming region, and at least one non-gaming region, the system further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with at least one remote device at the live casino gaming environment;

the system being operable to;

perform tracking of electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within possession or control of a first patron during at least one event selected from a group consisting of;

an event relating to the first patron entering an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the first patron exiting an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the first patron initiating start of a first gaming session at a gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to a location of the first patron being detected as being within a predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the closing of the first gaming session, and an event relating to the location of the first patron being detected as no longer being within the predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is implemented at a live casino gaming environment which includes at least one authorized gaming region, and at least one non-gaming region, the system further comprising:

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with at least one remote device at the live casino gaming environment;

the system being operable to;

determine an identity of a first patron whose presence is detected at the live casino gaming environment;

periodically detect and identify electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of the first patron of the live casino gaming environment during at least one time interval; and

generate, in response to detecting and identifying a presence of a first electronic wagering token which is determined to be within possession or control of the first patron, token-owner association information which includes information relating to a first ownership association between the first patron and the first electronic wagering token.

14. A method for implementing wireless communications among devices in a wager-based gaming environment, the system including a first portable electronic smart card device comprising a first outer body having a center portion, a rim portion, and a specific monetary denomination and amount designated on an outer surface thereof;

a first processor disposed within the first outer body;

at least one transceiver including a first transceiver disposed within the first outer body;

at least two antennas disposed within the first outer body including a first antenna and a second antenna;

a first rechargeable, portable power source disposed within the first outer body;

a first charging circuit disposed within the first outer body and electrically coupled to the first rechargeable power source, the first charging circuit being operable to recharge the first rechargeable power source by distributing power acquired from an external source;

the method comprising;

operating the first portable electronic smart card device as multi-band frequency transceiver device;

wherein the operation of the first portable electronic smart card device as a multi-band frequency transceiver device includes transmitting, from the first portable electronic smart card device, wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of an electromagnetic spectrum;

wherein the operation of the first portable electronic smart card device as a multi-band frequency transceiver device further includes receiving, at the first portable electronic smart card device, wireless signals associated with selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum; and

wherein the selected frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum include frequency bands selected from a group consisting of;

Low Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 30 kHz to 300 kHz, and High Frequency band signals having an associated frequency range of 3 MHz to 30 MHz.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

periodically engaging in wireless communications between the first portable electronic smart card device and a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens configured or designed to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

periodically scanning, using the first portable electronic smart card device, for a presence of electronic wagering tokens which are located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

periodically scanning, using the first portable electronic smart card device, for a presence of electronic wagering tokens which are located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device;

determining, at the first portable electronic smart card device, an identity of at least one electronic wagering token which is detected to be within the predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device; and

providing, from the first portable electronic smart card device to an external device, wagering token inventory information, wherein the wagering token inventory information includes information relating to at least one identity of at least one electronic wagering token which was detected as being located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device during a first time interval.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

periodically scanning, using the first portable electronic smart card device, for a presence of electronic wagering tokens which are located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device;

determining, at the first portable electronic smart card device, an identity of at least one electronic wagering token which is detected to be within the predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device;

generating, at the first portable electronic smart card device, wagering token inventory information, wherein the wagering token inventory information includes information relating to at least one identity of at least one electronic wagering token which was detected as being located within a predefined proximity of the first portable electronic smart card device during a first time interval; and

storing at least a portion of the wagering token inventory information at a local memory of the first portable electronic smart card device.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving, at the first portable electronic smart card device, data communications from at least one of a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens configured or designed to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device; and

transmitting, using the at least one transceiver, at least a portion of the received data communications to a first remote device which is configured or designed to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving, at the first portable electronic smart card device, a first data communication from a first electronic wagering token, wherein the first data communication includes signal strength information relating to at least one wireless signal generated by at least one external device which was detected by the first electronic wagering token during a first time interval; and

providing at least a portion of the received signal strength information to a first remote device which is configured or designed to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

periodically detecting and identifying, using the first portable electronic smart card device, electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of a first person during a first time interval.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

periodically detecting and identifying, using the first portable electronic smart card device, electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within a given patron'"'"'s predefined personal space.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

transmitting, using the first portable electronic smart card device, instructions to an identified electronic wagering token for causing a first feature or component to be enabled at the electronic wagering token; and

transmitting, using the first portable electronic smart card device, instructions to the identified electronic wagering token for causing the first feature or component to be disabled at the electronic wagering token.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is implemented at a live casino gaming environment which includes at least one authorized gaming region and at least one non-gaming region, the live casino gaming environment including a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens operable to engage in wireless communication with at least one remote device at the live casino gaming environment, the method further comprising:

performing real-time tracking of a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens throughout the live casino gaming environment, including the at least one authorized gaming region and the at least one non-gaming region.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is implemented at a live casino gaming environment which includes at least one authorized gaming region and at least one non-gaming region, the live casino gaming environment including a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens operable to engage in wireless communication with at least one remote device at the live casino gaming environment, the method further comprising:

performing tracking of electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within possession or control of a first patron during at least one event selected from a group consisting of;

an event relating to the first patron entering an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the first patron exiting an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the first patron initiating start of a first gaming session at a gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to a location of the first patron being detected as being within a predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the closing of the first gaming session, and an event relating to the location of the first patron being detected as no longer being within the predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is implemented at a live casino gaming environment which includes at least one authorized gaming region and at least one non-gaming region, the live casino gaming environment including a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens operable to engage in wireless communication with at least one remote device at the live casino gaming environment, the method further comprising:

determining an identity of a first patron whose presence is detected at the live casino gaming environment;

periodically detecting and identifying electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of the first patron of the live casino gaming environment during at least one time interval; and

generating, in response to detecting and identifying a presence of a first electronic wagering token which is determined to be within possession or control of the first patron, token-owner association information which includes information relating to a first ownership association between the first patron and the first electronic wagering token.

27. A system for implementing wireless communications among devices in a wager-based gaming environment, the system comprising:

a first portable electronic smart card device;

a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens each operable to engage in wireless communication with at least one remote device at the live casino gaming environment;

means for periodically engaging in wireless communications between the first portable electronic smart card device and a first plurality of electronic wagering tokens configured or designed to engage in wireless communication with the first portable electronic smart card device;

means for performing tracking of electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within possession or control of a first patron during at least one event selected from a group consisting of;

an event relating to the first patron entering an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the first patron exiting an authorized gaming region of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the first patron initiating start of a first gaming session at a gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to a location of the first patron being detected as being within a predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table of the live casino gaming environment, an event relating to the closing of the first gaming session, and an event relating to the location of the first patron being detected as no longer being within the predefined proximity to the gaming device or gaming table;

means for determining an identity of a first patron whose presence is detected at the live casino gaming environment;

means for periodically detecting and identifying electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of the first patron of the live casino gaming environment during at least one time interval; and

means for generating, in response to detecting and identifying a presence of a first electronic wagering token which is determined to be within possession or control of the first patron, token-owner association information which includes information relating to a first ownership association between the first patron and the first electronic wagering token.