Abstract:
Disclosed is a gaming table managing system and method thereof for determining the performance of dealers and also estimating the revenue for each gaming table. The system employs a wireless communications network and includes: an identification card; a table module having a plurality of service call buttons, a chip sensing mechanism and a card reader, for generating service call data, dealer-associated data and chip-associated data; a host computer for receiving the dealer-associated data and the chip-associated data and determining the performance of the dealer and estimating the revenue of the gaming facility, using received data; and a service call processing unit for receiving the service call data and displaying same on a screen.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a system and method for managing gaming tables in a gaming facility; and, more particularly, to a system and method which are capable of automatically monitoring dealers working at tables in the gaming facility allowing the performance of each of the dealers to be determined and a revenue of the gaming facility to be estimated. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Typically, gaming facilities such as a casino club are using a plurality of gaming tables. In such a gaming table, a dealer is in charge of dealing cards to players positioned at the table and collecting chips therefrom. 
     Revenue of the club is estimated by the collected chips from the gaming tables. Thus, if the dealer in a table is less efficient in dealing cards or collecting chips than others, the table may yield less revenue. Moreover, there are always cases in which some of the dealers may cheat chips form the table, causing a dent in the total revenue. 
     One of conventional gaming table managing systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,912 issued on Mar. 25, 1997 to Timothy J. Slater, et al., entitled “BET TRACKING SYSTEM FOR GAMING TABLES”, which automatically tracks betting activities of casino patrons at gaming tables and provides an indication of these betting activities to casino personnel in real time. 
     In the conventional bet tracking system, the casino patrons use magnetic cards to check themselves in and out of the bet tracking system through magnetic card readers that are located at each betting position of a gaming table. The magnetic card readers read identity and location codes of each patron and transmit it to a computer system via wireless communications network. By using the codes, the computer system retrieves information associated with the patrons, estimates an average bet for the patron based on the current minimum table bet for the gaming table and the time period of the patron&#39;s play, and calculate periodically an average theoretical win based on the patron&#39;s play. This information is made available through the casino computer system to the casino personnel at the patron&#39;s gaming table and at any other gaming table to which the patrons moves. The information available to the casino personnel is updated periodically to reflect the patron&#39;s accumulated betting activity. 
     Even if the conventional system is capable of managing the patrons by tracking the betting activities of the patrons, it is impossible to monitor the performance of dealers and also accurately check the revenue for each table. 
     Likewise, there are U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,482 issued to Strisower John M, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,936 issued to Bennett Michael J, et al., as methods for tracking players located at each gaming table, which employ a wireless communications network between each table and a host computer. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,482 teaches a system including a casino database which stores betting summary records for each of the players and the player&#39;s betting rating. In this patent, one or more gaming tables include a plurality of player&#39;s positions and a plurality of code readers. The code readers initiates a betting session in response to reading a player identification card encoded with a player identification code. This patent also collects real time data of the player&#39;s betting transactions, including the player&#39;s identification code and an average bet by the player during the betting session; updates the betting summary record with the collected real time data for the player; and provides the updated betting summary record to the casino database via the communications network. Although this patent may manage the betting records for each players and the player&#39;s betting rating information, it suffers from a shortcoming that it is difficult to determine the performance of dealers and also accurately check the revenue for each table. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,482 discloses an automated gaming table tracking system which includes a sensor located at a dealer&#39;s side for sensing the start and end of each game; an unique player identity card containing identity information of the player assigned to the player identity card; a plurality of player station controls, one of which is located at each of a plurality of player positions; and a central distribution control connected to each player station control for determining the start and the end of each game and beginning and termination of play by each player at each position. Although this patent may check the start and the end of the game and manage information of the player&#39;s betting transactions, it suffers from a drawback that it is difficult to determine the performance of each dealer. 
     As described earlier, all of the chips collected from all of the gaming tables located in the gaming club may determine the revenue of the gaming club. Various chip-sensing techniques have been introduced to support this. 
     For example, there is U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,941 issued to Bacchi Lorenzo, entitled “SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE MOVEMENT OF MONEY AND CHIPS ON A GAMING TABLE”, which includes a tray for receiving gaming chips and sensors for sensing the chips held by the tray. In this patent, a cash box is provided for the deposit of cash received in return for chips dispensed from the tray; a keyboard is provided to record each deposit of cash into the cash box; and a central processing unit is responsive to a timer. The keyboard and the sensors record each transaction which takes places on the gaming table into data storage means. A warning light lights up in the event that money, which has been deposited in the cash box, is not entered into the keyboard. However, although this patent may monitor each transaction on the gaming table and somewhat determine the competence of individual dealer, it has a disadvantage that there is a need to provide a plurality of second sensors and the keyboard for each table, which in turn, drives up the cost of the system. Further, since chips inserted into a chip slot provided on the gaming table determine the revenue, it is difficult to accurately estimate the revenue. 
     There is U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,742 issued to French John, entitled “GAMING TABLE TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD”, which employs a gaming chip having a transponder embedded therein to report the total value of the chips at any location. However, although, in the invention disclosed in this patent, an inventory of all of the chips may be checked and the revenue of a casino may be estimated, the transponder having a battery must be built into each chip, which renders the structure of the chip highly complicated and increasing the cost thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a system for automatically monitoring each dealer located at each gaming table in a gaming facility, allowing simultaneously the performance of each of the dealers and a revenue of the gaming facility to be determined. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a system capable of providing various services to individual player located at a gaming table in a gaming facility, through the use of a plurality of call buttons installed on the gaming tables. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide a method for automatically monitoring each dealer located at each gaming table in a gaming facility, allowing the performance of each dealer and a revenue of the gaming facility to be simultaneously determined. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for automatically monitoring and tracking dealers located at gaming tables in a gaming facility using a wireless communications network, the system comprising: 
     a portable data-carrying device; 
     a table module provided near the dealer on the gaming table, the table module including a plurality of call buttons, a chip sensing mechanism, a reading unit and a signal processing means, for generating service call data, dealer-associated data and chip-associated data, wherein each chip has an unique color representing a denomination thereof; 
     means connected to the table module via the network, for receiving two types of the data generated from the table module, storing them in a first and second databases, determining the performance of the dealer and estimating a revenue of the gaming facility, based on the stored data; and 
     means connected to the table module via the network, for receiving the remaining type of the data generated from the table module, and displaying same on a screen. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, for use in a gaming table managing system, for automatically monitoring and tracking dealers located at a plurality of gaming tables in a gaming facility, wherein the system includes a portable data carrying device, a table module, a managing means and a call processing unit which are connected with one another in a wireless network communication, the table module including a plurality of call buttons, a chip sensing mechanism, a reading unit and a signal processing means, which comprising the following steps: 
     (a) detecting a plurality of dealer-associated data, chip-associated data and service call data, using the portable data carrying device and the table module, storing two types of the detected data in a memory, and outputting the remaining type of the data together with the two types of the data, wherein each chip has an unique color representing a denomination of the chip thereof; 
     (b) receiving the two types of the data, storing each of the two types of the data in a first and second databases, respectively, determining the performance of the dealer and estimating a revenue of the gaming facility, using each data stored in the first and second databases; and 
     (c) receiving the remaining type of the data generated from the table module, and displaying the same on a screen. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 presents a schematic architecture of a gaming table managing system in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 offers a schematic block of a table module shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 exemplifies a pictorial representation of a chip sensing mechanism in the table module in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 designates a pictorial representation illustrating a chip sensing technique using the chip sensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram illustrating a menu provided on a screen of a host computer; 
     FIG. 6 provides a pictorial representation of a software architecture built into the host computer; 
     FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a service call processing unit having a screen on which various call messages are displayed; 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B show flow charts, which will be used to describe how the table module operates in accordance with the present invention, respectively; 
     FIG. 9 denotes a flow chart which will be used to describe how the host computer operates in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 shows a flow chart, which will be used to describe how the service call processing unit operates in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This invention will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the description. 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic architecture of a gaming table managing system using a wireless communications network in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 offers a schematic block of a table module shown in FIG. 1, which includes a CPU  150 , a first memory  160 , a second memory  170  and an RF transceiver  180 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming table managing system (“GTMS”) of the present invention includes a table module  100 , a host computer  200  and a service call processing unit  300 . The inventive GTMS is capable of accepting up to, e.g.,  1024  table modules, using the host computer  200  incorporating GTMS software program therein. 
     The table module  100  includes a plurality of service call buttons  110 , a chip slot  120  and a card reader  130 . The call buttons  110  allow players or patrons located at the gaming table to be served, including food and beverage services, chip deliveries, an open seating and so forth. In other words, if there is a request for one of the above services, the dealer simply presses a relevant button among the call buttons  110  on the table module  100  to fulfill the player&#39;s request located at the dealer&#39;s table. Then, the table module  100  transmits a service call data corresponding to the pressed call button using an RF transceiver  180  and an antenna  140  incorporated therein. 
     The card reader  130  is provided on the surface of the table module  100 , which is used for checking information on whether a dealer takes his or her place on the table or moves away form the table to another table. Specifically, when the dealer inserts his or her identification (“ID”) card into the card reader  130  on a gaming table in the gaming facility, the card reader  130  reads out the identification card inserted, detects an ID code of the dealer and transmits the ID code together with a card insertion time to the host computer  200  under the control of the CPU  150  shown in FIG.  2 . The ID code and the card insertion time also are stored into the first memory  160 . Likewise, after the termination of the game, the dealer again inserts his ID card into the card reader  130  and then moves to another gaming table in the gaming facility. When the ID card is again inserted into the card reader  130  of the table to which the dealer moved, the table module  100  transmits the ID code of the dealer and the card insertion time at which the dealer&#39;s card is again inserted into the card reader  130  to the host computer  200 , together with chip-associated data previously contained in the first memory  160 , which will be described below. The second memory  170  stores therein an operating system program. 
     shown in FIG. 3, the chip sensing mechanism includes a chute  119 , two sensors  122  and  123 , and a reference signal generator  124 . The chip slot  120  is formed on one end of the chute  119 , through which the chip  121  is inserted into the chute  119 . The chute  119  is connected with a chip bin provided at the gaming table. The first sensor  122  is attached at the entrance of the chute  119 , and senses the drop of the chip  121  and transmits a chip drop signal to the CPU  150 , the CPU  150  then transmitting the chip drop signal to the reference signal generator  124 . In response to a control signal issued from the CPU  150  based on the chip drop signal, the reference signal generator  124  attached to the chute  119  generates a reference signal to the second sensor  123 . Thereafter, in response to the reference signal, the second sensor  123  provided in a facing relationship with the reference signal generator  124 , senses the number and denominations of the dropped chips  121 , and transmits same to the CPU  150 . As described above, since the second sensor  123  and the reference signal generator  124  operate in response to the chip drop signal issued from the first sensor, the present invention requires low power consumption. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the chips may be distinguished by different color formed on its center per denomination. 
     FIG. 4 provides a pictorial representation illustrating a chip sensing technique using the second sensor  123  in accordance with the present invention, which includes an RGB light emitting diode (LED) drive  125 , a group of LEDs  125  and a photo detector  127 . As described above, the second sensor  123  continuously receives the reference signal from the reference signal generator  124 , and in the absence of the reference signal, it sequentially drives each LED in the group of LEDs  125 . 
     Specifically, when the chip  121  dropped into the chip slot  120  passes through a lighting area near the second sensor  123 , the RGB LED drive  125 , in response to the control signal from the CPU  150 , sequentially drives each LED  126  to emit a respective light. Then, the chip  121  will reflect any one of Red, Green and Blue lights as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Next, the photo detector  127  in the second sensor  123  detects reflected light from the chip  121  and outputs the detected light data to the CPU  150 . 
     Thereafter, the CPU  150  determines a chip&#39;s denomination corresponding to the light data using a lookup table prestored therein and stores data of the chip&#39;s denomination in the first memory  160 . The second sensor  123  also checks the number of chips dropped and sends the number to the CPU  150 . The CPU  150  stores the number and the denomination data as the chip-associated data in the first memory  160 . 
     The above operation is performed until the dealer moves to another table, i.e., when the ID card of the dealer is again inserted into the card reader  130  which will be described later in more detail. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a block diagram illustrating a menu provided at a screen of the host computer  200  and a pictorial representation of a software architecture built into the host computer  200 , respectively. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the host computer  200  enables a manager to determine the performance of each dealer and accurately estimate the revenue for each gaming table. As shown in FIG. 5, the host computer  200  of the present invention provides various information including, e.g., revenue information  222 , dealer information  223  and operation information  224 . The revenue information  222  represents a revenue list for each gaming table by time and day. The dealer information  223  represents a hand count by hour and an average gaming time for each dealer. The operation information  224  represents an operation time for each dealer during a given period. 
     Specifically, when the manager selects a desired item among the revenue information  222 , the dealer information  223  and the operation information  224  on an initial screen  221  by a data entry device, then information associated with the selected item is displayed on the initial screen  221 . Subsequently, if a further desired information if desired, the manager may select items linked to the information on the menu on the initial screen  221 . It should be mentioned that, in the host computer  200 , since each information relevant to dealers or revenue is linked to each other, the manager can see desired information, by month, day, time, table and so forth, if desired. The host computer  200  has a software program for managing a graphic user interface (GUI) and two databases  225  and  226  shown in FIG.  6 . The host computer  200  receives each type of information transmitted from the table module  100  via the network, updates corresponding information previously stored in each of the databases  225  and  226  with the newly received information. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the service call-processing unit  300  is used to handle service requests of the dealers or the players. The host computer  200  includes an RF transceiver (not shown), which is substantially same as that of the table module  100  and a display  330  as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     Specifically, the service call processing unit  300  receives the service call data transmitted from the table module  100  via the wireless network, converts the service call data into a signal corresponding to a message on a screen of the display  330  to be displayed thereon, allowing it to be seen by service peoples. In this case, transmitted to the service call-processing unit  300  is a corresponding table number as well as the service call data, as shown in FIG.  7 . For example, if a dealer or a player located at table No.1 request a food service, the dealer presses a corresponding button on the table module  100 . Then, as described above, the table module  100  converts an electric signal corresponding to the pressed button into an RF signal and transmits it to the service call-processing unit  300 . Then, the service call processing unit  300  receives the RF signal provided from the table module  100  and displays a message corresponding to the RF signal on the screen thereof. That is, the message is displayed as “Food service request (Table No.1)” on the screen, and the service people provides the requested service to the dealer or the player. 
     In the present invention, the communication between the table module  100  and the host computer  200  or the service call-processing unit  300  is performed by using a half-duplex communication. 
     A detailed description will be made as to the operation of the table module  100  with reference to FIGS. 1 to  4  and FIGS. 8A and 8B, which are flowcharts illustrating how the table module  100  operates in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the table module  100  is powered on, it is initialized at step S 100 . At step S 101 , the CPU  150  in the table module  100  checks whether or not the ID card of the dealer has been inserted into the card reader  130  thereon. When the ID card is inserted into the card reader  130 , the process proceeds to step S 102 , wherein the CPU  150  checks time at which the card was inserted into the card reader  130  and the ID code of the dealer. The card insertion time and the dealer&#39;s ID code checked at step S 102  are stored in the first memory  160  shown in FIG.  2 . At the same time, at step S 104  the CPU  150  transmits the card insertion time and the ID code to the host computer  200  using the RF transceiver  180  and the antenna  140  via the wireless communications network. 
     Thereafter, a decision is made at step S 105  to determine whether or not an acknowledge signal “ACK” transmitted from the host computer  200  is received by the table module  100 , the ACK signal informing that the card insertion time and the ID code provided from the table module  100  are received by the host computer  200 . At step S 105 , if there is no ACK signal, the process proceeds to step S 106 , wherein the table module  100  waits for a prescribed interval and again transmits the card insertion time and the dealer&#39;s ID code to the host computer  200 . 
     On the other hand, if the ACK signal is received at step S 105 , the process proceeds to step S 107 , wherein the table module  100  checks whether or not chips are dropped into the chip slot  120 . If so, at step S 108  the table module  100  detects the number and denominations of the dropped chips using the chip sensing mechanism, and stores same in the first memory  160  at step S 109 . If, at step S 107 , the checked result is negative, the process proceeds to step S 110 , wherein the table module  100  checks whether or not any one of service call buttons  110  mounted on the table module  100  has been pressed. If so, at step S 111  the table module  100  detects a value of the pressed call button and transmits the detected value as the service call data. If otherwise, the process returns to step S 107  via Tap B, wherein the process of FIG. 8B is fulfilled. Referring now to FIG. 8B, at step S 112 , the table module  100  checks whether the ID card of the dealer is again inserted into the card reader  130 . In this conditional branch step, if the checked result is negative, then the process returns to step S 107  via Tap A, wherein the procedures described above are iteratively performed. However, if the checked result is positive, then the process proceeds to step S 113 , wherein the table module  100  determines that the play in the corresponding gaming table is over. 
     After that, the table module  100  transmits the data stored in the first memory  160  at steps  103  and  109 , i.e., the card insertion time, the dealer&#39;s ID code and the chip-associated data to the host computer  200  and the process proceeds to step S 115 . As stated above, a decision is made at step S 115  to check whether or not the ACK signal from the host computer  200  is received by the table module  100 , and if so, at step S 117 , the power of the table module  100  is turned off and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is no ACK signal, then the process waits for a prescribed interval and repeatedly transmits the data till the ACK signal is received. 
     Referring now to FIG. 9, there is a flow chart which will be used to describe how the host computer  200  operates in accordance with the present invention. 
     At step S 200 , the host computer  200  determines whether or not a receive interrupt signal is generated from an RF transceiver (not shown) incorporated therein, which is substantially same as that of the table module  100 . If the receive interrupt signal is generated, the process proceeds to step S 201 , wherein a decision is made to determine whether or not a received data from the table module  100  is valid. 
     At step S 201 , if it is determined that the received data is valid based on a header or a checksum code contained in the received data, the process goes to step S 202 , wherein the host computer  200  determines whether or not the received data is the service call data, and if so, at step S 203  the host computer  200  discards the service call data. On the other hand, if it is determined that the received data is not valid, the process discards the same and returns to step S 200 . If it is determined that the received data is not the service call data at step S 202 , at step S 204  the host computer  200  determines whether or not the received data is the dealer-associated data, and if so, the process goes to step S 205 , wherein the host computer  200  updates the dealer-associated data previously stored in the dealer database  225  shown in FIG. 6 with the newly received dealer-associated data. At step S 208 , the host computer  200  transmits the Ack signal to the table module  100 , the Ack signal informing the table module  100  of the receipt of the dealer-associated data. 
     At step S 204 , if it is determined that the received data is not the dealer-associated data, the process proceeds to step S 206 , wherein the host computer  200  determines whether or not the received data is the chip-associated data, and if so, the process goes to step S 207 , wherein the host computer  200  updates chip-associated data previously stored in the revenue database  226  shown in FIG. 6 with the newly received chip-associated data. Similarly, at step S 208 , the host computer  200  transmits the Ack signal to the table module  100 . At step S 206 , if it is determined that the received data is not the chip-associated data, the process returns to step S 200 , wherein the above procedure is iteratively repeated. 
     FIG. 10 shows a flow chart, which will be used to describe how the service call processing unit  300  operates in accordance with the present invention. 
     At step S 300 , the service call processing unit  300  determines whether or not a receive interrupt is generated from an RF transceiver (not shown) incorporated therein, which is substantially same as that of the table module  100 . If the receive interrupt signal is generated at step S 300 , the process proceeds to step S 301 , wherein a decision is made to determine whether or not a received data from the table module  100  is valid. 
     At step S 301 , if it is determined that the received data is valid based on the header or the checksum code, the process goes to step S 302 . At step S 302 , the call-processing unit  300  determines whether or not the received data is the service call data, and if so, at step S 303  the call processing unit  300  displays a message corresponding to the service call data on the display  330  shown in FIG.  7 . 
     On the other hand, at step S 301  if it is determined that the received data is not valid, the processing unit  300  discards the same and returns to step S 300 . Similarly, at step S 302  if it is determined that the received data is not the service call data, the call processing unit  300  discards the same and returns to step S 300 . 
     As previously mentioned, the present invention installs the chip sensing mechanism at each gaming table to automatically detect denominations of each dropped chip and the number thereof to thereby allow the revenue for each gaming table in a gaming facility to be effectively estimated, which in turn, allows the performance of each dealer to be accurately determined. Furthermore, by mounting a plurality of service call buttons on the table module, the present invention has the capacity to easily provide various services to the players seated at each gaming table. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.