US2017061735A1PendingUtilityA1

Systems and methods of reading gaming chips and other stacked items

60
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 22, 2010Filed: Nov 16, 2016Published: Mar 2, 2017
Est. expiryMar 22, 2030(~3.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Dominic M. Kotab
G07F 17/322G07F 17/32G07F 17/3225G07F 17/3202G07F 17/3248G07F 17/3241
60
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products associated with wirelessly (e.g., RF) readable gaming chips are disclosed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining a value of a gaming chip or chips at a table or player position;   detecting a change in value of the gaming chip or chips at the table or player position; and   determining whether the change in value is valid.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a start of the game and performing the method thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by receiving a signal from a sensor coupled to a card shoe. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a start of the game and performing the method thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by receiving a signal initiated by a dealer. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a start of the game and performing the method thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by detecting no change in value of the gaming chips at the table for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the method is successfully performed for each of a plurality of the gaming chips in a stack. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein an RF carrier wave passes through an antenna of at least one gaming chip in the stack to reach another gaming chip in the stack. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each gaming chip comprises: a body; a circuit; and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in a vicinity of the antenna. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a processor and/or hardware configured for:
 determining a value of a gaming chip or chips at a table or player position; 
 detecting a change in value of the gaming chip or chips at the table or player position; and 
 determining whether the change in value is valid. 
   
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a reader or antenna for wirelessly communicating with the gaming chip or chips and obtaining an identifier from each gaming chip, wherein the value of each of the gaming chip or chips is determined using the identifier obtained therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising an antenna coupled to the table or positioned near the table for wirelessly communicating with the gaming chip or chips and obtaining an identifier from each gaming chip, wherein the value of each of the gaming chip or chips is determined using the identifier obtained therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a unique antenna associated with each of the player positions for wirelessly communicating with the gaming chip or chips at the player position associated therewith and obtaining an identifier from each gaming chip, wherein the value of each of the gaming chip or chips is determined using the identifier obtained therefrom. 
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising logic for detecting a start of the game and performing the determining and the detecting thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by receiving a signal from a sensor coupled to a card shoe. 
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising logic for detecting a start of the game and performing the determining and the detecting thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by receiving a signal initiated by a dealer. 
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising logic for detecting a start of the game and performing the determining and the detecting thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by detecting no change in value of the gaming chips at the table for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein operations performed by the processor and/or hardware are successfully performed for each of a plurality of the gaming chips in a stack. 
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein an RF carrier wave passes through an antenna of at least one gaming chip in the stack to reach another gaming chip in the stack. 
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the gaming chip comprises: a body; a circuit; and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna. 
     
     
         19 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in a vicinity of the antenna. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code thereon, the computer code comprising:
 computer code for determining a value of a gaming chip or chips at a table or player position; 
 computer code for detecting a change in value of the gaming chip or chips at the table or player position; and 
 computer code for determining whether the change in value is valid. 
   
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising;
 determining a value of a gaming chip or chips at a player position using a radio frequency signal; and   recording in a database the value of the gaming chip or chips at the player position in association with identity information of the player.   
     
     
         22 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising detecting a change in value of the gaming chip or chips at the player position and storing the change in value in the database. 
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising assigning points to the player based on the recorded value. 
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method is successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips while the gaming chips are stacked. 
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein an RF carrier wave passes through an antenna of at least one gaming chip in a stack to reach another gaming chip in the stack. 
     
     
         26 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein each gaming chip comprises: a body; a circuit; and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna. 
     
     
         27 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein each gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in a vicinity of the antenna. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising receiving an identifier of a player. 
     
     
         29 . A system, comprising:
 a processor and/or hardware configured for:
 determining a value of a gaming chip or chips at a player position during a game using a radio frequency signal; and 
 recording in a database the value of the gaming chip or chips at the player position in association with identity information of the player. 
   
     
     
         30 . A system as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising a reader or antenna for wirelessly communicating with the gaming chip or chips using the radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 29 , further comprising a card reader near the player position. 
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 29 , further comprising logic for detecting a change in value of the gaming chip or chips at the player position and storing the change in value in the database. 
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 29 , further comprising logic for assigning points to the player based on the recorded value. 
     
     
         34 . A system according to  claim 29 , wherein operations performed by the processor and/or hardware are successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips while the gaming chips are stacked. 
     
     
         35 . A system as recited in  claim 34 , wherein an RF carrier wave passes through an antenna of at least one gaming chip in a stack to reach another gaming chip in the stack. 
     
     
         36 . A system according to  claim 29 , further comprising logic for receiving an identifier of a player. 
     
     
         37 . A system as recited in  claim 29 , wherein each gaming chip comprises: a body; a circuit; and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna. 
     
     
         38 . A system as recited in  claim 29 , wherein each gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in a vicinity of the antenna. 
     
     
         39 . A computer program product, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code thereon, the computer code comprising:
 computer code for determining a value of a gaming chip or chips at a player position using a radio frequency signal; and 
 computer code for recording in a database the value of the gaming chip or chips at the player position in association with identity information of the player. 
   
     
     
         40 . A method, comprising;
 determining values of gaming chips played at a player position on a gaming table during games; and   recording in a database the values of the gaming chips played at the player position in association with identity information of the player.   
     
     
         41 . A method as recited in  claim 40 , further comprising detecting changes in values of the gaming chips at the player position and storing the changes in values in the database. 
     
     
         42 . A method as recited in  claim 40 , further comprising assigning points to the player based on the recorded value. 
     
     
         43 . A method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the method is successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips while the gaming chips are stacked. 
     
     
         44 . A method as recited in  claim 43 , wherein an RF carrier wave passes through an antenna of at least one gaming chip in a stack to reach another gaming chip in the stack. 
     
     
         45 . A method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein each gaming chip comprises: a body; a circuit; and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna. 
     
     
         46 . A method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein each gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in a vicinity of the antenna. 
     
     
         47 . A system, comprising:
 a processor and/or hardware configured for:
 determining values of gaming chips played at a player position on a gaming table during games; and 
 recording in a database the values of the gaming chips played at the player position in association with identity information of the player. 
   
     
     
         48 . A system as recited in  claim 47 , further comprising a reader or antenna for wirelessly communicating with the gaming chips. 
     
     
         49 . A system as recited in  claim 47 , further comprising detecting changes in values of the gaming chips at the player position and storing the changes in values in the database. 
     
     
         50 . A system as recited in  claim 47 , further comprising assigning points to the player based on the recorded value. 
     
     
         51 . A system as recited in  claim 47 , wherein the determining and the recording is successfully performed for each of a plurality of gaming chips while the gaming chips are stacked. 
     
     
         52 . A system as recited in  claim 51 , wherein an RF carrier wave passes through an antenna of at least one gaming chip in a stack to reach another gaming chip in the stack. 
     
     
         53 . A system as recited in  claim 47 , wherein each gaming chip comprises: a body; a circuit; and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna. 
     
     
         54 . A system as recited in  claim 47 , wherein each gaming chip comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in a vicinity of the antenna. 
     
     
         55 . A computer program product, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code thereon, the computer code comprising:
 computer code for determining values of gaming chips played at a player position on a gaming table during games; and 
 computer code for recording in a database the values of the gaming chips played at the player position in association with identity information of the player. 
   
     
     
         56 . A system, comprising:
 a gaming table having a plurality of player positions; and   a radio frequency (RF) antenna near each player position for wirelessly communicating with at least one of gaming chips and a loyalty card at each player position of a gaming table.   
     
     
         57 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising an RF antenna near a tray of the gaming table for wirelessly communicating with gaming chips in the tray. 
     
     
         58 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , wherein the RF antenna near a tray of the gaming table is directional. 
     
     
         59 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , wherein the RF antenna near a tray of the gaming table is coupled to the gaming table. 
     
     
         60 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , wherein the RF antenna near a tray of the gaming table is positioned above or below the gaming table. 
     
     
         61 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , wherein the RF antennas near the player positions of the gaming table are coupled to the gaming table. 
     
     
         62 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , wherein the RF antennas near the player positions of the gaming table are positioned above or below the gaming table. 
     
     
         63 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , wherein the RF antennas near the player positions are directional. 
     
     
         64 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising an RF antenna near a tip box of the gaming table for wirelessly communicating with gaming chips in the tip box. 
     
     
         65 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising a shield between gaming chips in a tip box and gaming chips in a tray. 
     
     
         66 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising a shield between gaming chips at the player position and gaming chips in a tray. 
     
     
         67 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising a shield between an RF antenna and a player side of the table for shielding a player from RF energy emitted by the RF antenna. 
     
     
         68 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising a shield between an RF antenna and a dealer side of the table for shielding a dealer from RF energy emitted by the RF antenna. 
     
     
         69 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising a shield located between player positions on the table. 
     
     
         70 . A system as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising a plurality of the gaming chips.

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