Gambling team or group affiliation detection utilizing radio-frequency identification (rfid) chips or other rfid items

Abstract

Methods and systems for intelligent tracking and/or play and/or management of card gaming use transponder readable chips or gaming pieces with detectors and appropriate software for determining when chips are being shared or exchanged by multiple players, thereby indicating a possible gaming team.

1 . A method of detecting garners in a gaming casino that are associated using an information processing system comprising:
 electronically identifying a plurality of electronically identifiable gaming pieces distributed together;   assigning a group identification to said plurality;   storing a group identification record for each group and a piece identification record for each piece;   storing a player identification record for a player to which a group is provided;   detecting movement and play of gaming pieces using a plurality of casino transponders in said gaming casino;   updating said group identification record in response to said detecting;   applying a rules set using a logic processor of said information processing system to group identification records and piece identification records to determine if multiple players appear to be playing cooperatively; and   transmitting a data signal to an external device or casino personnel indicating the identities and/or locations of said multiple players that appear to be playing cooperatively.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pieces are RFID read only pieces and data regarding group identity, player identity, or piece history is stored external to said pieces. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pieces are writable RFID pieces and data regarding group identity and/or player identity and/or piece history is stored external to said pieces and on said pieces. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of card tables in a casino each include at least one casino transponder, said transponder able to detect the presence of a player at said gaming table. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of card tables include one or more transponders performing the steps:
 identifying pieces bet by each individual player;   identifying pieces won and lost by each individual player; and   further wherein said plurality of card tables includes data interfaces performing the steps:   communicating information for pieces lost to information storage to unassign said pieces lost from a group;   communicating information for pieces won to information storage to assign said pieces won to one or more groups of one or more pieces bet by a player.   
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5  further comprising:
 transmitting a new group identification to a piece for storage on said piece;   transmitting a new group identification to a remote database for storage at said database.   
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 5  further comprising:
 communicating information for pieces lost to information storage to assign said pieces lost to an identification for said table.   
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 when a player buys pieces from a casino cage or at a gaming table, reading CHIP_IDs from said pieces using a casino transponder and:   generating a unique GROUP_ID;   creating a new CHIP_MASTER record for each piece;   storing said CHIP_MASTER records with field values indicating said generated GROUP_ID.   
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 creating a new GROUP_MASTER record;   storing said GROUP_MASTER record with field values indicating said generated GROUP_ID and a timestamp;   creating a new CHIP_DETAIL record for each piece:   storing said CHIP_DETAIL record with field values indicating an event, a location, said generated GROUP_ID and a timestamp.   creating a new group_PLAYER record; and   storing said group_PLAYER record with field values indicating said generated GROUP_ID and player identification.   
   
   
       10 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 photographing said player and generating a PHOTO_ID;   storing said PHOTO_ID and a photograph or photo indication of said player.   
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 detecting one or more of said pieces at a second casino transponder;   updating one or more records associated with said pieces to indicate status and/or timestamp and/or a location of said second casino transponder.   
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 detecting one or more of said pieces at a table betting transponder;   creating CHIP_DETAIL records for said pieces;   storing field values in said detail records indicating CHIP_ID, status, GROUP_ID, timestamp, and a location of said table betting transponder.   
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 detecting a bet loss of one or more of said pieces at a table betting transponder;   creating CHIP_DETAIL records for said pieces;   storing field values in said detail records indicating CHIP_ID, status, GROUP_ID, timestamp, and a location of said table betting transponder.   
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 detecting a bet win of one or more table pieces at a table betting transponder;   detecting one or more GROUP_ID's of bet pieces at a table betting transponder;   creating CHIP_DETAIL records for said table pieces;   storing field values in said detail records indicating CHIP_ID, status, a new GROUP_ID corresponding to a GROUP_ID of a bet piece, timestamp, and a location of said table betting transponder.   
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 detecting a bet win of one or more table pieces at a table betting transponder;   detecting one or more GROUP_ID's of bet pieces at a table betting transponder;   updating one or more records associated with said pieces to indicate GROUP_ID change and/or status and/or timestamp and/or a location of said table betting transponder.   
   
   
       21 . A method of detecting that individuals are associated using an information processing system comprising:
 electronically identifying a plurality of uniquely electronically identifiable items that are acquired together by an individual;   assigning a group identification to said plurality;   storing a group identification record for each group and an item identification record for each item;   storing a individual identification record for an individual to which a group of items is provided;   at some time after provision of said group to said individual, detecting a location of two or more of said items;   updating said group identification record in response to said detecting;   applying a rules set using a logic processor of said information processing system to group identification records and item identification records to determine if multiple an individual appears to be related to other individuals; and   transmitting a data signal to an external device or authorized personnel indicating the identities and/or locations of said multiple individuals that appear to be in relationship.   
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said items are tagged with RFID read only tags and data regarding group identity, individual identity, or item history is stored external to said items. 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising:
 a local transponder able to electronically identify a plurality of said electronically identifiable gaming pieces distributed together;   said transponder in communications with a processor and data storage;   said processor assigning a group identification to said plurality of electronically identifiable gaming pieces distributed together;   said data storage storing a group identification record for each group and a piece identification record for each piece;   said data storage storing a player identification record for a player to which a group is provided;   one or more remote casino transponders detecting movement and play of gaming pieces and in communication with said controller;   said controller updating said group identification record;   said processor applying a rules set to group identification records and piece identification records to determine if multiple players appear to be playing cooperatively; and   an output interface transmitting a data signal to an external device or casino personnel indicating the identities and/or locations of said multiple players that appear to be playing cooperatively.   
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . The system of claim  42  wherein said pieces are writable RFID pieces and data regarding group identity and/or player identity and/or piece history is stored external to said pieces and on said pieces. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A system for detecting group associations in a gaming casino, said system comprising:
 an electronically identifiable gaming piece;   said gaming piece comprising a body and a transponder carried within the body;   said transponder being encoded with permanent read-only identification information; and   said gaming piece further having a data bank for receiving and maintaining a changeable group identification information transmitted thereto from an antenna.