Patent ID: 12230095

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a game that is played in an amusement place having a gaming table10will be described. Although the present embodiment shows an example in which the gaming table10is a baccarat table and a baccarat game is played, the present invention is also applicable to other amusement places or other games.

FIG.1is a diagram schematically showing an amusement place. As shown in the drawing, in the amusement place there are disposed a substantially semicircular gaming table10and chairs11which are arranged along the arc side of the gaming table10so as to face a dealer D. The number of the chairs11is any. In the example ofFIG.1, six chairs11are provided (they are called chairs11ato11fin order from the right side on the paper of the gaming table10, and are collectively called chairs11). In addition, betting areas12are provided on the gaming table10for the respective chairs11(they are called betting areas12ato12fin order from the right side on the paper of the gaming table10, and are collectively called betting areas12). Namely, the six betting areas12ato12fare arranged in an arc-like manner.

Then, customers (players) C sit in the respective chairs11ato11f. Each customer (player) C bets on a Player win, a Banker win, or a Tie as the winning or losing outcome of the baccarat game (this is hereinafter referred to as “bet”) by stacking chips W in a betting area12provided in front of a chair11in which the customer (player) C sits.

There may be only one type of chips W to bet or there may be a plurality of types of chips W to bet. In addition, the number of chips W to bet may be arbitrarily decided by the customers (players) C. The present embodiment is to recognize the number (furthermore, the type) of stacked chips W.

The dealer D calls “No more bets” at the right time to end betting by the customers (players) C and, for example, moves his/her hand in a crosswise direction. Then, the dealer D draws cards one by one from a card shooter apparatus S onto the gaming table10. As shown inFIG.2, the first card is a Player's hand, the second card is a Banker's hand, the third card is a Player's hand, and the fourth card is a Banker's hand (the drawing of the first to fourth cards is hereinafter referred to as “dealing”).

Note that since all cards are drawn face down from the card shooter apparatus S, neither the dealer D nor customers (players) C can grasp ranks (numbers) or suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs).

After the fourth card is drawn, a customer (player) C who has bet on the Player (if there are a plurality of customers C who have bet on the Player, a customer C with the highest bet, and if there is no customer C who has bet on the Player, the dealer D) turns over the face-down first and third cards face up. Likewise, a customer (player) C who has bet on the Banker (if there are a plurality of customers C who have bet on the Banker, a customer C with the highest bet, and if there is no customer C who has bet on the Banker, the dealer D) turns over the second and fourth cards face up (in general, the turning over of a face-down card face up is called “squeezing”).

Then, based on the ranks (numbers) of the first to fourth cards and the detailed rules of the baccarat game, the dealer D draws the fifth card and further the sixth card, and each of these cards becomes a Player's or Banker's hand. In the same manner as above, a customer (player) C who has bet on the Player squeezes a card that is the Player's hand, and a customer (player) C who has bet on the Banker squeezes a card that is the Banker's hand.

A period of time before winning and losing outcomes are found out by squeezing the fifth and sixth cards after drawing the first to fourth cards is a thrilling time for the customers (players) C.

Furthermore, depending on the ranks (numbers) of cards, winning and losing may be decided by the first to fourth cards, or winning and losing may be finally decided by the fifth card or further by the sixth card. Based on the ranks (numbers) of the squeezed cards, the dealer D grasps that winning and losing are decided and grasps winning and losing outcomes, and performs a task such as pressing a winning and losing outcome display button on the card shooter apparatus S to display the winning and losing outcomes on a monitor to show the customers (players) C the winning and losing outcomes.

In addition, at the same time, a winning and losing determiner included in the card shooter apparatus S determines the winning and losing outcomes of the game. If, despite the fact that winning and losing have been decided, the dealer D further attempts to draw a card without displaying the winning and losing outcomes, an error occurs. The card shooter apparatus S detects the error and outputs an error signal. Finally, during a period during which the winning and losing outcomes are displayed, the dealer D calculates bets made by the customers (players) C, and makes payouts to winning customers (players) C and collects bets from losing customers (players) C. After the completion of the calculation, the display of the winning and losing outcomes is terminated, and betting for the next game starts.

Note that the flow of the above-described baccarat game is widely done in general casinos, and the card shooter apparatus S is an existing card shooter apparatus that is configured to read a card to be drawn while being structured such that a card is drawn out by a hand of the dealer D, and that further includes an outcome display button and an outcome display module and has a function of making a winning and losing determination and displaying winning and losing outcomes. As described above, the card shooter apparatus S, a monitor, etc., are disposed for each of a plurality of gaming tables10arranged on a general casino floor, and cards to be used are supplied in units of packages or sets or further in units of cartons on each gaming table10or in a cabinet210below the gaming table10and utilized.

The present embodiment relates to a chip recognition system that recognizes chips W that are stacked in the betting areas12by the customers (players) C, and more specifically to a chip recognition system that recognizes the number and/or type of chips W.

The chip recognition system includes a single or a plurality of (two in the example ofFIG.1) cameras1aand1b. The camera1ais disposed on the right side on the paper of the gaming table10and shoots the betting areas12. On the other hand, the camera1bis disposed on the left side on the paper of the gaming table10and shoots the betting areas12. Note that the disposition positions of the cameras1aand1bare merely exemplification, and the cameras1aand1bmay be disposed in any position in which the cameras1aand1bcan shoot the betting areas12.

The camera1amay shoot only a part of the betting areas12ato12f, but it is desirable that the camera1ashoot all of the betting areas12ato12f. When the camera1ashoots a plurality of betting areas12, it is expected that a sharp image can be obtained for betting areas12close to the camera1a, but it is also considered that an unsharp image is obtained for betting areas12far from the camera1a. In addition, it is expected that a sharp image can be obtained for betting areas12that are in focus of the camera1a, but it is also considered that an unsharp image is obtained for betting areas12that are out of focus of the camera1a. The same things can also be said for the camera1b.

Chips W are recognized using images obtained by shooting with the cameras1aand1b. Use of a sharp image increases the accuracy of recognition of the chips W and use of an unsharp image reduces the accuracy of recognition of the chips W.

FIG.3is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a chip recognition system. The chip recognition system is to recognize chips W on a gaming table10in an amusement place having the gaming table10, and includes cameras1aand1b, a game recording apparatus2, an image analysis apparatus3, a plurality of chip determination apparatuses4, and an artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5.

As described above, the cameras1aand1bshoot chips W stacked in the betting areas12on the gaming table10. Images obtained by the shooting are transmitted to the game recording apparatus2by wireless communication or wired communication.

The game recording apparatus2records, as images, the state of chips W stacked in a game which is played on the gaming table10, using the cameras1aand1b. Namely, the game recording apparatus2records the images shot with the cameras1aand1b.

The image analysis apparatus3performs an image analysis on the recorded images of the state of chips W. For example, the image analysis apparatus3performs filtering by the size (the number of pixels), shape (pattern matching), etc., of an assumed target (chip W) to make a distinction between the chips W and a background. It is desirable that the image analysis apparatus3be structured such that even if some or a single whole chip W of a plurality of chips W stacked in the betting areas12are/is hidden due to the blind spots of the cameras1aand1b, the image analysis apparatus3can obtain information about the type, number, and position of the chips W. Specifically, this becomes possible by artificial intelligence by teaching the artificial intelligence an image and the number of chips in the image as teacher data.

The plurality of chip determination apparatuses4include, for example, two artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4band a physical measurement determination apparatus4c. Note that the plurality of chip determination apparatuses4may include only two artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4b, or may include only one artificial intelligence apparatus for determining the number of chips4aand the physical measurement determination apparatus4c, or may include three or more artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips, or may include an apparatus that determines the number of chips by a different technique.

In order that the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4bcan determine the number of chips W using an image analysis result obtained by the image analysis apparatus3, the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4bare subjected to pre-learning.

The artificial intelligence apparatus for determining the number of chips4adetermines, using artificial intelligence, the number of stacked chips W, using a result that is shot with the camera1aand recorded as an image and further subjected to an image analysis. On the other hand, the artificial intelligence apparatus for determining the number of chips4bdetermines, using artificial intelligence, the number of stacked chips W, using a result that is shot with the camera1band recorded as an image (i.e., an image different from the image shot with the camera1a) and further subjected to an image analysis.

The physical measurement determination apparatus4cdetermines the number of chips W by a physical measurement method without using artificial intelligence. For a specific example of the physical measurement method, the number of chips W may be determined based on the height of the stacked chips W which is obtained by applying trigonometry to the images shot with the cameras1aand1b. Furthermore, specifically, the number of chips W can be determined by computing, using trigonometry, the angles of vision from the cameras1aand1b, the position of the chips W in the images, and a horizontal distance. Specific description will be made below.

InFIG.4, it is assumed that the cameras1aand1band chips W are present in the same plane perpendicular to the gaming table10. A relational expression between an angle α formed by a straight line connecting the camera1ato the center C of the top chip W and the gaming table10, an angle β formed by a straight line connecting the camera1bto the center C of the top chip W and the gaming table10, a distance L between a point of intersection KR of the straight line connecting the camera1ato the center C of the top chip W and the gaming table10and a point of intersection KL of the straight line connecting the camera1bto the center C of the top chip W and the gaming table10, and a height H of the stacked chips W is represented by the following equation (1):
L=H/tan α+H/tan β  (1)

Here, the distance L and the angles α and β are found by the following method. The points of intersection KR and KL are positions where the center C of the top chip W is projected onto the gaming table10as viewed from the angles of view of the cameras1aand1b. Therefore, the points of intersection KR and KL are obtained by obtaining, by image processing, the center of the outline of the top chip W in images shot with the cameras1aand1b. Furthermore, by obtaining an image of the gaming table10looked down from immediately above by performing image processing on the images shot with the cameras1aand1b, the distance L between the points of intersection KR and KL is obtained. Furthermore, if the positions of the points of intersection KR and KL are known, then since the heights of the cameras1aand1bfrom the gaming table10are fixed, the angles α and β can be obtained. By the above, the height H of the stacked chips W can be obtained using the distance L and angles α and β obtained above and by the following equation (2) which is a modified version of the above-described equation (1):
H=(tan α×tan β)/((tan α+tan β))L(2)

Although the above assumes that the cameras1aand1band the chips W are present in the same plane perpendicular to the gaming table10for simplification of description, even when the cameras1aand1band the chips W are not present in the same plane perpendicular to the gaming table10, computation can be performed in the same manner inFIG.5. Given that the point of intersection of a perpendicular line from the center C to the gaming table10with the gaming table10is O, the angle formed by a straight line connecting the points of intersection O and KR and a straight line connecting the points of intersection KR and KL is γ, and the angle formed by a straight line connecting the points of intersection O and KL and the straight line connecting the points of intersection KR and KL is δ, though detailed computation is omitted, the height H is represented by the following equation (2′):
H=tan α tan β/(tan αcos δ+tan βcos γ)L(2′)

By obtaining the height H of stacked chips W by the methods shown above, the number of chips W with a predetermined thickness t can be obtained by H/t.

Referring back toFIG.3, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5has learned in advance which one of determination results obtained by the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4band the physical measurement determination apparatus4cwhich are included in the plurality of chip determination apparatuses4is more likely to be correct for what image based on which the number of chips W is determined. Then, when the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5obtains different determination results for the number of chips W from the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4band the physical measurement determination apparatus4c, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5decides the correct number of chips W using artificial intelligence. Upon this decision, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5uses images that are used by the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4bto determine the number of chips W.

The artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may decide the correct number of chips W, taking into account the positions of the cameras1aand1bused by the game recording apparatus2. For example, the camera1ais close to the betting area12aand is far from the betting area12f(seeFIG.1). Hence, when the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5determines the number of chips W stacked in the betting area12a, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may decide the number of chips W obtained as a result of determination by the artificial intelligence apparatus for determining the number of chips4athat uses an image from the camera1a, instead of by the artificial intelligence apparatus for determining the number of chips4bthat uses an image from the camera1b, to be correct.

In addition, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may decide the correct number of chips W, taking into account the numbers of pixels obtained from the cameras1aand1b, etc. For example, either one of the cameras1aand1bmay be selected by comparing the numbers of pixels or the degrees of focus which are obtained from the cameras1aand1b. Namely, when focus is achieved, an edge becomes sharp and thus contrast becomes clear, making it easier to obtain the correct number of chips W by image processing. Hence, for example, when different determination results are obtained for the cameras1aand1b, in general, it is highly likely that a camera that achieves better focus shows the correct number of chips W.

Alternatively, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may decide the correct number of chips W, taking into account the focal positions of images shot with the cameras1aand1b. For example, it is assumed that upon determining the number of chips W stacked in the betting area12b, the focus of the camera1ais located in the betting area12band the focus of the camera1bis located in the betting area12f. In this case, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may decide the number of chips W obtained as a result of determination by the artificial intelligence apparatus for determining the number of chips4athat uses an image from the camera1a, instead of by the artificial intelligence apparatus for determining the number of chips4bthat uses an image from the camera1b, to be correct.

In addition, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may decide the correct number of chips W, taking into account the past results obtained by the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4band the physical measurement determination apparatus4c. For example, when the physical measurement determination apparatus4chas a higher past correctness rate than the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4b, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may decide the number of chips W obtained as a result of determination by the physical measurement determination apparatus4cto be correct.

As such, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5can decide a correct result using various elements. Two or more of the exemplified positions of the cameras1aand1b, numbers of pixels obtained from the cameras1aand1b, focal positions of images, and past results may be combined, or other information may be further used.

FIG.6is a flowchart showing a technique for recognizing chips W. First, the cameras1aand1bshoot the state of chips W, and the game recording apparatus2records images representing the state of chips W (step S1). Subsequently, the image analysis apparatus3analyzes the recorded images (step S2). Then, each of the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4band the physical measurement determination apparatus4cwhich are included in the plurality of chip determination apparatuses4determines the number of chips W using an image analysis result (step S3).

Here, if determination results for the number of chips W which are obtained by the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4band the physical measurement determination apparatus4cmatch (YES at step S4), the determination results are used as the number of chips W. On the other hand, if the determination results do not match (NO at step S4), the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5decides which one of the determination results is correct, i.e., decides the correct number of chips W (step S5).

As such, in the present embodiment, the plurality of chip determination apparatuses4are provided, and furthermore, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5is provided. Hence, even when the plurality of chip determination apparatuses4provide different determination results, the number of chips W can be accurately decided by the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5.

Note that the above-described embodiment is to decide the number of chips W. However, both the type and number of chips W may be decided. For example, the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4bmay have learned in advance to determine the type and number of chips W, and determine both the type and number using images having been subject to an image analysis. In that case, if the types of chips W indicated by determination results do not match, the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5may further decide the correct type of chips W.

In addition, the chip recognition system may include a management and control apparatus that controls at least some of the game recording apparatus2, the image analysis apparatus3, the chip determination apparatuses4, and the artificial intelligence apparatus for deciding a correct result5.

For example, when determination results for the number (and/or type, the same also applies below) of chips W which are obtained from the artificial intelligence apparatuses for determining the number of chips4aand4bdiffer from a determination result for the number of chips W which is obtained from the physical measurement determination apparatus4c, the management and control apparatus may output and display “undetermined” as a determination result.

In addition, when the chip determination apparatuses4obtain different determination results for the number of chips W, the management and control apparatus may analyze images in the game recording apparatus2to determine whether the difference in determination result is caused by the stacking state of chips W stacked on the gaming table10, and decide the correct number of chips W based on the determination results obtained by the respective chip determination apparatuses4. The management and control apparatus may have an artificial intelligence apparatus function and use the artificial intelligence apparatus function for the decision.

The above-described embodiment is described with the aim of allowing a person of ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs to carry out the present invention. Various variants of the above-described embodiment can be made as a matter of course by a person skilled in the art, and the technical idea of the present invention can also be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the described embodiment, but should be construed as having the widest range according to the technical idea defined by the claims.