Identification system using a portable instrument issuing an external electromagnetic signal

Abstract

A system and method are set forth for tracking activities of a person having on their person an identification instrument which issues coded signals over a limited range. A data base is provided which includes data for the person including biometrical data such as the facial image of the person. When the card is brought into the range of a receiving antenna, the card's signal is received and processed to access the person's data including their biometrical data for recognition of the person

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for identifying a person comprising: 
 a host processor including a data structure, said data structure storing player identification data for each person to be identified including data representative of a biometrically distinguishable physical feature of the person;    a portable instrument issued to each person, each instrument including a transmitter for issuing an identifiable signal, said data structure storing data correlating each signal with the person carrying the instrument;    a receiver to receive said signals and to generate data signals corresponding thereto to said processor;    said processor adapted to, from said data signals, identify each person recall said player identification data; and    a display for displaying for each identified player said person identification data including said physical feature data for identification of the person with said instrument.    
     
     
         2 . A system for identifying a person comprising: 
 a host processor including a data structure storing player identification data for each person to be identified including data representative of the facial appearance of the person;    a portable instrument issued to each person, each instrument including means for issuing an identifiable signal, said data structure storing data correlating each signal the person to whom the instrument was issued;    a receiver to receive said signals and to provide data signals corresponding thereto to the processor, said processor adapted to, from said data signals, identify the instrument and recall said player identification data; and    a display for displaying at a display for each identified player said person identification data including said facial appearance for identification of the person with said instrument.    
     
     
         3 . A system for generating a player tracking slip for tracking the play of a player playing a table wagering game comprising: 
 a host processor including a data structure storing player identification data for each player including data representative of the facial appearance of the player;    a player tracking instrument issued to each player each including means for issuing an identifiable electromagnetic signal, said data structure storing data correlating each electromagnetic signal with the instrument issued to that player;    a receiver to receive said external electromagnetic signals and to generate data signals corresponding thereto and provide said data signals to the processor, said processor adapted to, from said data signals, identify the instrument each player at the table and recall said player identification data; and    means for displaying for each identified player a player tracking slip including player identification data including said facial appearance data.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the player tracking instrument is a card.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the card includes a passive transmitting circuit activated by an external base signal and adapted to issue said electromagnetic signal, said system further including a transmitter for issuing said base signal for generating said base signal.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said display includes a printer to print said image and identification data on a printed tracking slip.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said receiver means generates a data signal to identify the location of the receiver.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the system includes a receiver proximate each table, said data signal adapted to identify the player's table.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the table has player positions, the system including a receiver proximate each position and adapted to generate a data signal to identify the player's table and position.  
     
     
         10 . A system for generating a player tracking slip for tracking the play of a player playing a table wagering game comprising: 
 a host processor including a data structure having stored therein for each player data including player information data and player facial data representing the facial image of the player;    a player tracking instrument issued to each player each adapted to issue a coded signal, said data structure including for each player data correlating the signal of the instrument issued to the player to the player's data;    a receiver to receive said issued signals and for generating a data signal to the host processor to identify each signal, said host processor adapted to process the data signal to identify the player data corresponding to said signal;    a display for displaying for each identified player a player tracking slip including player identification data and said facial image data.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said displaying means includes means to print said identification data and facial image data on a tracking slip.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said receiving includes an antenna disposed proximate the table occupied by the player.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further including said receiver generating signals to identify its location.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  including said receiver adapted to generate said data signal to include data to identify the location of the table receiving said issued signals.  
     
     
         15 . A system for generating a player tracking slip for tracking the play of players playing a wagering games comprising: 
 a host processor having a data structure including for each player (i) player identification data (ii) facial image data and (iii) player historical data;    an identification card issued to each player including a transmitter means to issue an electromagnetic signal encoded with card data to identify the card;    an antenna adapted to receive and send said card data to said host processor, said processor adapted to identify the player-owner of the card and access the corresponding data from said data structure for that player; and    a display for displaying a player tracking slip including at least said player identification and facial image data.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said display includes a printer adapted to print a tracking slip including player identification and facial image data.  
     
     
         17 . A system for generating a player tracking slip for tracking the play of players playing one of a plurality of wagering games in a casino comprising: 
 a host processor having a data structure including for each player (i) player identification data (ii) facial image data and (iii) player historical data;    an identification card issued to each player including means to issue a signal encoded with card data to identify the card;    an antenna disposed proximate each wagering game and adapted to receive and send said card data to said host processor, said processor identifying the location of the antenna and, from said card data, identify the player-owner of the card and access said data from said data structure;    a printer for printing a player tracking slip including at least said player identification and facial image data.    
     
     
         18 . A method for generating a player tracking slip for tracking the play of a gambler playing a wagering game, said slip to be completed by casino personnel for rating of a player, said method comprising: 
 providing a host processor having a data structure;    for each player to be tracked, storing player identification data into the processor data structure;    issuing to each player to be tracked a transportable tracking instrument including a device adapted to issue an instrument specific data signal;    receiving said data signals at a receiver;    the receiver sending said data signals received from the receiver to said processor, said processor correlating said received signal to an individual player and recalling from the data structure said player identification data; and    displaying a player tracking slip including at least a portion of said player identification data.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  including storing as said player identification data representing the name and address of the player and player facial identification data.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  including issuing to the player an identification instrument including a transmitting circuit periodically issuing said signal.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  including identifying the location of the game played by the identified player.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  including positioning a receiver proximate the wagering game and identifying the position of the receiver.  
     
     
         23 . A method for generating a player tracking slip for tracking the play of a gambler playing one of a plurality of wagering games, said slip to be completed by casino personnel for rating of a player, said method comprising: 
 providing a host processor having a data structure;    for each player to be tracked, storing player identification data including personal data and facial appearance data into the processor data structure;    issuing to each player to be tracked a transportable tracking instrument including a device adapted to issue an instrument specific electromagnetic data signal;    receiving said data signals at a receiver located proximate the game being played by the player;    the receiver sending said data signals received from the receiver to said processor, said processor locating the position of the receiver, correlating said received signal to an individual player and recalling from the data structure said player identification data; and    displaying a player tracking slip including at least a portion of said player identification data.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the displaying step includes printing said portion of the player identification data at a printer.