Gaming object recognition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying and tracking gaming objects. The system comprises an overhead camera for capturing an image the table, a detection module for detecting a feature of the object on the image, a search module for extracting a region of interest of the image that describes the object from the feature, a search module for extracting a region of interest of the image that describes the object from the feature, a feature space module for transforming a feature space of the region of interest to obtain a transformed region of interest, and an identity module comprising a statistical classifier trained to recognize the object from the transformed region. The search module is able to extract a region of interest of an image from any detected feature indicative of its position. The system may be operated in conjunction with a card reader to provide two different sets of playing card data to a tracking module, which may reconcile the provided data in order to detect inconsistencies with respect to playing cards dealt on the table.

1 . A system for identifying a gaming object on a gaming table comprising: 
 at least one overhead camera for capturing an image of said table;    a detection module for detecting a feature of said object on said image;    a search module for extracting a region of interest of said image that describes said object from said feature;    a feature space module for transforming a feature space of said region of interest to obtain a transformed region of interest; and    an identity module comprising a statistical classifier trained to recognize said object from said transformed region.    
   
   
       2 . The system of claims  1 , wherein said feature space module comprises a Principal Component Analysis module for transforming said feature space according to principal component analysis algorithms.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dimensionality reduction module for reducing said transformed region into a reduced representation according to dimensionality reduction algorithms, wherein said statistical classifier is trained to recognize said object from said reduced representation.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said identity module comprises a cascade of classifiers.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said detection module comprises a cascade of classifiers.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a boosting module for combining weak ones of said cascade of classifiers.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a boosting module for combining weak ones of said cascade of classifiers.  
   
   
       8 . The system of claims  4 , wherein said detection module comprises a cascade of classifiers, further comprising a boosting module for combining weak classifiers of said cascades of classifiers.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said object is a card belonging to a deck of cards, and further comprising a deck verification module for receiving a suit and a rank of said card from said statistical classifier, and verifying that said deck of cards adheres to a provided set of standards.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said object is a playing card, and said region of interest is a region of said image occupied by an index of said card.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said region of interest is a region of said image occupied by a suit of said card.  
   
   
       12 . A method of identifying a value of a playing card placed on a game table comprising: 
 capturing an image of said table;    detecting at least one feature of said playing card on said image;    delimiting a target region of said image according to said feature, wherein said target region overlaps a region of interest, and said region of interest describes said value;    scanning said target region for a pattern of contrasting points;    detecting said pattern;    delimiting said region of interest of said image according to a position of said pattern; and    analyzing said region of interest to identify said value.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said feature is a segment of an edge of said card.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining at least two scan lines parallel to said edge within said target region, wherein said scanning is performed along said lines, and whereby said scanning is more efficient.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said scanning is performed along lines perpendicular to said edge, and said detecting comprises recording a most contrasting point for each of said lines to obtain a series of points, and applying a pattern recognition algorithm to said series to identify a pattern characteristic of a card identifying symbol.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said applying a pattern recognition algorithm comprises convolving said pattern with a mask of properties expected from a card identifying symbol.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said feature is a corner of said card.  
   
   
       18 . A system for detecting an inconsistency with respect to playing cards dealt on a game table comprising: 
 a card reader for determining an identity of each playing card as it is being dealt on said table;    an overhead camera for capturing images of said table;    a recognition module for determining an identity of each card positioned on said table from said images; and    a tracking module for comparing said identity determined by said card reader with said identity determined by said recognition module, and detecting said inconsistency.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said card reader determines a dealing order of said each playing card as it is being dealt on said table, said recognition module determines a position of said each card positioned on said table, and said tracking module compares said identity and said order determined by said card reader with said identity and said position determined by said recognition module and detects said inconsistency according to procedures of a game.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said recognition module determines an approximate identity of said each card positioned on said table, and said tracking module compares said approximate identity with said identity determined by said recognition module, and detects said inconsistency.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said card reader is comprised in a card shoe for storing playing cards to be dealt on said table.