Game validation using game play events and video

Abstract

Validation of gaming operations is described. One method includes receiving a video signal depicting a game from at least one video device, receiving game play events from a gaming apparatus, combining a graphical representation of the game play events with the video signal into a combined video signal, and storing the combined video signal such that one may search for game play events and receive, with each search result, a corresponding portion of the combined video signal.

1 . A method for validating gaming operations, said method comprising:
 configuring at least one game tracking device to detect and communicate game play events in a game;   configuring at least one video camera to have a view of the game and provide a video signal;   receiving the game play events from the at least one game tracking device;   receiving the video signal from the at least one video camera;   combining a graphical representation of each of the received game play events with the received video signal to generate a combined video signal;   storing the combined video signal; and   enabling searching for one or more of the game play events in the stored video signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein combining the graphical representation of each of the game play events with the video signal to generate the combined video signal comprises associating each of the game play events with a position in the combined video signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the game play events in a memory area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game comprises one or more of the following: a card game, a dice game, a table game, a reel game, and a wheel game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one game tracking device comprises a card dispenser which detects and communicates card identity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling searching comprises:
 receiving a request from a user for one or more game play events;   searching the stored video signal for the requested game play events to generate search results; and   providing to the user the portions of the stored video signal corresponding to the search results.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the video signal from the at least one video camera comprises receiving the video signal from each of a plurality of video cameras and combining the video signals into a single video signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the at least one video camera to provide a video signal combined with an audio signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 configuring at least one microphone near the game to provide an audio signal;   receiving the audio signal from the at least one microphone; and   adding the audio signal to one or more of the following: the video signal from the at least one video camera, the combined video signal, and the stored video signal.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising encrypting one or more of the following: the video signal from the video camera, the combined video signal, and the stored video signal. 
     
     
         11 . A system for validating gaming operations, said system comprising:
 a memory area for storing at least one video signal and a plurality of game play events; and   a processor programmed to:   receive at least one video signal, said at least one video signal comprising video of a game;   store the at least one video signal in the memory area;   receive a plurality of game play events from at least one game tracking device;   store the plurality of game play events in the memory area;   search for one or more of the stored game play events to generate search results; and   for each of the search results, combine a graphical representation of the search result with a corresponding portion of the at least one stored video signal to generate a combined video signal.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the game comprises one or more of the following: a card game, a dice game, a table game, a reel game, and a wheel game. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one game tracking device comprises a card dispenser which detects and communicates at least one of the following: card identity and card value. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is programmed to combine the graphical representation of the search result with the corresponding portion of the at least one stored video signal by combining a graphical representation of the search result with a corresponding portion of at least one of a plurality of stored video signals. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is programmed to receive a plurality of video signals and combine the video signals into a single video signal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is programmed to search for one or more of the stored game play events by searching based on at least one of the following criteria: game piece value, game piece identification, player identification, operator identification, game outcome, payout, and time period. 
     
     
         17 . A system for server-based gaming, said system comprising:
 at least one server in communication with at least one gaming apparatus;   at least one video device providing a video signal to the server; and   a processor configured to:
 receive a plurality of game play events from the gaming apparatus; 
 receive the video signal from the video device; 
 synchronize the received game play events with the received video signal; 
 search for one or more of the received game play events to generate search results; and 
 for each of the search results, combine a graphical representation of the search result with a corresponding portion of the received video signal to generate a combined video signal. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide the combined video signal to a user of a remote device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one gaming apparatus comprises a device which detects and communicates at least one of the following: card identity and card value. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to search for one or more of the received game play events by:
 enabling a user of a remote device to provide search criteria; and   searching for one or more of the received game play events based on the provided search criteria.