Chip pusher with chip detection for local and remote gameplay

Abstract

This invention relates to systems and methods for playing games in conjunction with coin pusher equipment. Many specific embodiments may include: identifying characteristics of playing chips received at the coin pusher equipment via sensors; determining whether the playing chips are valid to initiate a round of play; initiating a round of play; determining the value of any playing chips received during the round of play; and updating a player's account. Additional embodiments may enable remote operation and play. In examples, the system and method may include receiving information indicating a remote bet for a round of play, initiating the round of play, calculating the bet, and updating the player's account associated with the bet.

Description

Coin pusher with chip detection for local and remote gameplay The present invention relates generally, but not exclusively, to the field of gaming devices and methods of using the same. Casinos and other gaming venues offer a variety of games to entertain players. These games may include live table games (e.g., roulette, craps, blackjack, etc.), virtual games, physical machines (e.g., slot machines), individual player machines, stadium-style group stations, and various game combinations. A coin pusher is an arcade game in which a moving element (such as a pusher) moves back and forth along the back of a platform. The platform contains a number of coins, stacked on top of each other at the front. If the pusher contacts any coin, it can cause that coin to push one or more other coins over the front edge of the platform. Sometimes, the pusher may contact a coin but not cause any to fall over the edge. If a coin does fall over the edge, it falls into a ditch, which the player can collect. At some point, the coins on the platform and the pusher reach a point of equilibrium, where the pusher no longer contacts any coins, and this is where the game begins. For the price of a coin, the player inserts a coin into a slot located above the platform, which then drops onto the coin-filled platform. As the coins fall onto the platform, they join and disrupt the other coins on the platform, potentially causing the pusher to push other coins off the edge, which the player can then collect. If more coins are pushed off the edge than the player inserted, the player wins. However, it's possible for a player to insert a certain number of coins onto the platform and have no coins fall off the edge, or for fewer coins to fall than the player inserted. Traditionally, coin pushers have had to physically visit an entertainment venue or location and obtain physical coins (e.g., quarters or $1 coins) to play. However, traveling to an entertainment venue isn't always possible, and obtaining enough coins to play can be challenging. When players can't access an entertainment venue or obtain the required number of coins, the venue loses business, and players miss out on the gaming experience. Furthermore, players have a wide variety of game types, options, and platforms to choose from. Consequently, casinos and gaming venues must innovate to attract and retain players, maintain profitability, and enhance the player experience. Aspects of the present invention include systems and methods for operating a coin pusher gaming device. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving information indicating a bet, remotely, for playing a round of gaming on the coin pusher gaming device, initiating the round of gaming based on the bet, resolving the bet by determining the value of any gaming chips received during the round of gaming, and updating a player account based on the resolved bet. The remote bet may be associated with the player account, and initiating the round of gaming may include providing gaming chips on a platform of the coin pusher gaming device. The platform may include a plurality of gaming chips, and a pusher may push the plurality of gaming chips toward an edge of the platform. According to some examples, the method may further provide a real-time video stream of the coin pusher gaming device on a user interface associated with a remote computing device. The remote computing device may be at least one of a mobile computing device and a player station. In some examples, initiating the round of the game includes automatically transferring the gaming chips from a storage area associated with the gaming device to the platform. A transmitter may automatically transfer at least one gaming chip in the collection area to the storage area. According to another example, a gaming system may include a computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least: identify, via a sensor, a characteristic of a gaming chip received at a slot pusher gaming device, determine, based on the characteristic, whether the gaming chip is valid to initiate a gaming round, and when it is determined that the gaming chip is valid, initiate the gaming round at the slot pusher gaming device, determine a value of any gaming chip received during the gaming round, and update a player account based on the value. The characteristic may include at least one of a visual characteristic, a physical characteristic, an electronic characteristic, and a value associated with the gaming chip. The visual characteristic may include at least one of an edge point on the gaming chip, a pattern on the gaming chip, at least one color on the gaming chip, and ultraviolet fluorescence. The physical characteristic may include at least one of the gaming chip weight and the gaming chip shape. The electronic characteristic may be associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The sensor may include at least one of a weight sensor, an RFID sensor, a UV detection sensor, an imaging sensor, and a shape detection sensor. A coin pusher gaming device may include a platform on which a plurality of gaming chips are stacked, a pusher that pushes the plurality of gaming chips toward a ledge or edge, a sensor that identifies a characteristic of a first gaming chip and a value associated with the first gaming chip, a path that receives the first gaming chip and provides the first gaming chip to the platform, and a collection area that collects any gaming chips pushed off the ledge by the pusher. Other features may include a conveyor for manually receiving the first gaming chip and positioning the first gaming chip into a gaming chip slot identified by the sensor, and returning at least one gaming chip in the collection area to a storage area. These and other features will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. This Summary is intended to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the following detailed description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. [Cross reference to related applications] This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 587,051, filed on September 29, 2023, and U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 896,761, filed on September 25, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The present invention describes specific embodiments and detailed construction and operation thereof. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Based on the teachings herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations may be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that constitute the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of the components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without excessive detail, where such detail would be obvious to those skilled in the art based on the teachings herein, and / or where such detail would obscure an understanding of more relevant aspects of the embodiments. FIG1 illustrates an exemplary coin pusher 100. The coin pusher may include a cabinet 110 containing the electrical and mechanical components for operating and playing the game. The coin pusher 100 may include a horizontal or substantially horizontal platform 120 upon which a plurality of chips 125 are stacked. The chips may be gaming chips (e.g., casino chips) or other objects (e.g., plastic or metal trays, etc.). Chips 125 may fall into the chute 115 and rest on the platform 120. In some examples, a player may manually place chips into the slot 105 on the front of the cabinet 110 to begin a round of gaming. In other examples, such as during remote play, chips remaining in the storage container 170 may automatically fall into the chute 115 when a game begins. The pusher 130 may include at least one movable element, such as a pusher arm, that pushes the plurality of chips (including dropped chips) toward the flange 150. The pusher 130 can be continuously moved between a first position and a second position (see, for example, path 140) to push the plurality of chips 125 toward the flange 150. A motor (not shown) housed within the cabinet 110 can drive the movement of the pusher 130. In some examples, the pusher 130 includes a fixed arm or flange, and the platform moves along the path 140 between the first position and the second position. FIG. 2 provides another example of chips 125 on the platform 120 between the second position 202 and the flange 150. The pusher 130 is shown in the first position 204, with the path 140 located between the first position 204 and the second position 202. Chips pushed out of flange 150 fall into collection area 160. In some examples, the collection area includes a guard 165, which can serve as a safety measure to prevent objects and players from entering cabinet 110 and attempting to remove chips from the platform. In some examples, guard 165 can be moved between an open position and a closed position to direct chips. In the open position, chips entering collection area 160 are directed toward the cabinet opening, allowing players to retrieve won chips. The open position can be provided during play. The closed position can be a preset position. In one example, the closed position causes the guard to block the cabinet opening and direct any fallen chips to storage container 170. Guard 165 can remain in the closed position until the start of a game or a round of play. Starting a game or playing can cause the guard to switch to the open position during play and return to the closed position after the round or game ends. A conveyor system 810, further illustrated in FIG. 8 , can transport any fallen chips from collection area 160 to storage container 170. While the positioning and dimensions of the conveyor system 810 depicted in FIG8 do not accurately reflect the actual location of the conveyor system 810, it illustrates the concept of a conventional coin pusher using a coin track to circulate coins within the machine. The coin track is made of the same metal as the coins, so this type of recycling system works well in this environment. However, the hardness of chips is different from that of coins, so the coin track will wear out the chips more quickly. Therefore, the coin pusher 100 uses a conveyor belt to move the chips from the collection area to the storage area, thereby preventing the chips from wearing out too quickly. The coin pusher 100 may include at least one sensor system 190 for determining chip characteristics. For example, this characteristic can be used as a security measure to ensure that the correct chips are being used to play on the machine. The sensor system 190 can help prevent damage to the coin pusher or other improper use. In various examples, as discussed herein, play chips—such as casino play chips—can be used as chips in a coin pusher. FIG3 illustrates various examples of play chips that can be used in the embodiments discussed herein. Play chips can have different designs and patterns to distinguish them from chips used in other casinos, other gaming venues, and other types of chips. Chips can have distinguishing edge points 302, text, symbols, monetary values ​​(e.g., $5, $10, $50, $100, etc.), weight, dimensions (see, for example, chip 308), and other features such as radio frequency identification (RFID), tags (as further discussed with reference to FIG4 ), or ultraviolet (UV) detectable coloring 220. Sensor system 190 can identify characteristics of gaming chips, such as at least one of physical, visual, and electronic characteristics. Because many casinos use chips of similar size and weight, sensor system 190 identifying chip characteristics can help identify the type of gaming chips and ensure that the correct gaming chips are used in machine 100. In some examples, sensor system 190 can also identify the value of gaming chips. The value of gaming chips can be associated with different play modes, types of play, and bets. In some examples, the sensor system 190 can identify physical characteristics of a play chip, including at least one of its weight and shape. In this example, incorrectly sized play chips (e.g., too large or too small) can be prevented from being delivered to the platform 120. Referring to FIG3 , in an example where the pusher is configured to manually accept chips of a specific size (e.g., $10, $50, or $100 chip size), a physically smaller $5 chip would be rejected. For example, the $5 chip could be delivered directly to a collection area rather than being delivered to the platform 120 via the chute 115. Similarly, chips of different values ​​may have different weights. The weight sensor can be configured to verify that chips meet a certain weight or are within a certain weight range and reject any chips that do not meet the pusher's weight settings. Visual characteristics may include an edge dot design on the gaming chip (see, for example, edge dot 302), a pattern on the gaming chip, at least one color on the gaming chip, and ultraviolet fluorescence (see, for example, UV coloring 304). Sensor system 190 may verify the chip type or chip value based on one or more unique visual characteristics associated with the gaming chip. As further shown in FIG4 , the electronic characteristics may include information detected from and associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (see, for example, RFID tag 306 ). Chip 125 may include a front pattern 402, a front weight 404 that also contributes to the edge point, a color denomination 406 that also contributes to the edge point, an RFID chip 306, a rear weight 408 that also contributes to the edge point, and a back pattern 410. The front and back patterns may indicate the chip's denomination, issuer, and other characteristics. Sensor system 190 may verify the chip type based on the RFID tag 306 on or within the chip. The RFID tag may, for example, provide information related to at least one of the chip's value, chip type, and the gaming history associated with the chip. Each RFID tag's unique ID may also identify how many chips are currently in the machine, in a storage container, on the platform, and / or in a collection area. Although the sensor system 190 is shown in FIG1 as being located in the lower portion of the cabinet 110, it can be located anywhere and in multiple locations throughout the coin pusher 100 and can include multiple components or sensors, including one or more weight sensors, RFID sensors, ultraviolet detection sensors, image sensors, and shape detection sensors. In various examples, the sensor system 190 can identify the characteristics of gaming chips before they are dropped into the chute 115. In various examples, the sensor system 190 can identify the characteristics of gaming chips after they are inserted into the coin slot 105 or while the gaming chips are being transferred from the storage container 190. In another example, the sensor system 190 may include a tilt detection sensor 800 mounted between the coin pusher's control panel 802 and main unit 804 to monitor the orientation of the cabinet 110, as shown in FIG8 . The tilt detection sensor 800 may be located anywhere in the cabinet 110 or at multiple locations throughout the cabinet 110, so that it is triggered when the cabinet is tilted, bumped, struck, or shaken. The tilt detection sensor 800 may activate an alarm (e.g., a visual alarm, an audible alarm, a combination of alarm types, etc.) or other notification to be broadcast or sent (e.g., to another computing device) with information regarding the alarm event, as further shown in FIG10 . The tilt detection sensor 800 may also cause the game to automatically stop or shut down. The guard 165 may be switched or locked into a closed position during an alarm event. The coin pusher 100 may need to be reset after an alarm event. Other security measures may also be implemented when an alarm occurs. For example, in Figure 10, a camera 1002 installed in a coin pusher or within the environment of a coin pusher can continuously monitor activity around the coin pusher and store at least some of the resulting footage. When an alarm event occurs due to a person 1004 tilting, banging, bumping, or shaking the coin pusher, the footage 1006 of activity around the coin pusher before and after the alarm event allows the operator to review the footage and determine whether the person 1004 is attempting to cheat and take appropriate action. Various game play modes can utilize different types of chips (e.g., casino chips), prize types (e.g., virtual currency), play locations (e.g., local play, remote play), security features (e.g., sensor system 190), and chip drop events (e.g., automatic, player-initiated). Any combination of game mode features can be combined to provide a customized gaming experience. In a first example, a player manually inserts chips 125 into the coin slot 105 , where the chips slide down the chute 115 onto the platform 120 , and any collected chips are pushed from the platform 120 into the collection area 160 . In a second example, a player can associate their player account with the round of the game. For example, a player can insert a player card or other identification or credential into the card slot 180, as shown in FIG1 , to connect their player account to the game. The player then manually inserts chips 125 into the coin slot 105. As the chips slide down the chute 115 onto the platform 120, any collected chips are automatically associated with and added to the player account. This mode of game play eliminates the need for players to retrieve, count, or carry large numbers of chips from the collection area 160. One or more sensors within the collection area 160 can automatically identify the number and / or type of chips that fall into the collection area from the flange 150. Compared to traditional collection methods, this automatic counting process can speed up the game and allow for more rounds of play. In a third example, a player can link their player account to initiate a round of gaming, and chips are transferred from storage container 170 to platform 120 via chute 115. In this example, the player does not need to manually insert chips into coin slot 105. This allows players to play a coin pusher locally or remotely, where chips are inserted by the machine itself by removing them from a storage area and inserting them into chute 115. Similar to the previous example, any chips that land in collection area 160 are automatically counted and added to the player's account. In a fourth example, players can switch between different game play modes and / or features. For example, a player can choose to physically insert chips into the coin slot 105 and then switch to automatic chip transfer from the storage container 170. The player can also switch between collecting chips from the collection area 160 and having any winnings automatically credited to their player account. Figures 5-6 illustrate examples of remote game play modes that can be implemented using the coin pusher 100, as well as any of the examples discussed herein. Figure 5 illustrates a game play mode in which a user uses a remote computing device 502 to play the coin pusher 100. The remote computing device can be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other type of computing device that communicates with the coin pusher. Chips that actually fall into the collection area can be electronically counted towards the remote game, while the physical chips are returned to the storage container. Figure 6 illustrates a game play mode in which a user uses a player station 602 to play the coin pusher 100 in a manner similar to the remote computing device 502. The player station 602 can be located, for example, within a gaming venue such as a casino. Figure 7 provides views of a coin pusher from a top view 702, a front view 704, and a side view 706. Figure 8 provides views of a multi-player coin pusher from a front view 902 and a top view 904. In a remote game play example, a player can view at least a portion of a coin pusher on a display (e.g., displays 504, 604). For example, the platform 120, the plurality of chips 125, and the chute 115 can be seen on displays 504, 506. In various examples, the display provides a live video stream of the coin pusher. The remote player can instantly initiate rounds of the game and initiate and view real-time chip drops and game results. A player account can be associated with remote game play so that play events are instantly credited and debited based on play events occurring on the coin pusher. In some examples, a live operator can be present to perform one or more aspects of the coin pusher operation based on instructions received via a remote computing device. In other examples, the coin pusher operation is automated and instructions received via a remote computing device can be executed without the need for an operator at the device. Figure 11 illustrates an example flow chart related to local or remote game play.At block 1110, each aspect may receive information indicating local or remote bets for a round of game play at a coin pusher. At block 1120, each aspect may initiate a round of the game based on local or remote betting. In some examples, initiating a round of the game includes manually providing chips on the platform of the coin pusher. Alternatively, the round of the game may be initiated remotely, for example, via a mobile computing device, a player station, or other remote computing device. In such examples, the chips may be provided by the coin pusher itself. Initiating the round of the game may require associating a player account with the round of the game, for example, by logging into a player account, inserting a player card into the coin pusher, or other methods. At block 1130, each aspect may resolve the bet by determining the value of the gaming chips received during the round of gaming. Bet resolution may include determining the number and value of chips received in the collection area during the round of gaming or after the gaming chips are delivered to the platform. In some examples, the value of the gaming chips may be limited to gaming chips received within a specified time period (e.g., 5, 10, or 15 seconds) after the gaming chips are delivered to the platform. In other examples, the timer period may refer to the period after the last chip is received in the collection area. For example, different timer periods may be implemented to ensure that the game runs in a timely and efficient manner. At block 1140, each aspect may update the player's account based on the resolved bets. The player's account associated with the round of gaming may be credited with the value associated with any chips received at the collection area. If no chips are collected at the collection area, the value associated with the one or more chips delivered to the platform may be deducted from the player's account. In some examples, the coin pusher can automatically transfer one or more gaming chips received in the collection area back to the storage area. For example, the transfer can occur after a round of gaming is completed. FIG12 illustrates an example flow chart for chip identification and remote game play according to a specific embodiment. At block 1210, each state may identify characteristics of a play chip received at a coin pusher using a sensor. As discussed herein, the sensor may include one or more of a weight sensor, an RFID sensor, an ultraviolet detection sensor, an image sensor, and a shape detection sensor. The sensor may be positioned to identify the play chip before it is transferred to the platform. For example, the sensor may be positioned along a path between a coin slot and a chute for receiving the play chip. In an example where the play chip comes from a storage container, the sensor may be positioned on or around the storage container. The sensor may identify the play chip as it leaves the storage container or before it is transferred to the chute and platform. The characteristic of the gaming chip may be a physical characteristic, including at least one of the weight and shape of the gaming chip. The characteristic may also be a visual characteristic, including at least one of the following: an edge point on the gaming chip, a pattern on the gaming chip, at least one color on the gaming chip, and ultraviolet fluorescence. The characteristic may also be an electronic characteristic, such as information associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. At block 1220, each aspect may determine the validity of a play chip based on the characteristics to initiate a round of the game. The pusher may accept play chips that have one or more characteristics and reject play chips that do not have one or more characteristics. Accepted chips may be transferred to the platform, while rejected chips may be transferred to a separate storage area or reject container. In some examples, chips with inappropriate size characteristics may not be able to enter the chip slot on the coin pusher. In other examples, chips of inappropriate size, such as chips that are too small, may be diverted to a different path and not conveyed to the chute leading to the platform. Chip acceptance or rejection may be a binary decision based on whether the sensor has identified one or more required characteristics associated with the correct chip. In various examples, this determination may occur instantly or in other ways so that the player does not notice a delay or a significant delay after inserting the chip or starting the chip drop. At block 1230, when the play chips are determined to be valid, each aspect can start the round of the game. After determining that the play chips are valid, the round of the game can be started by transferring the chips to the platform. At block 1240, each aspect may determine the value of any gaming chips received during the round of gaming. One or more sensors may automatically determine the value of gaming chips. Gaming chips received during a round of gaming may refer to any chips received in the collection area within a period of time after the gaming chips are delivered to the platform. The present invention describes specific embodiments and detailed construction and operation thereof. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Based on the teachings herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations may be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that constitute the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of the components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without excessive detail, where such detail would be obvious to those skilled in the art based on the teachings herein, and / or where such detail would obscure an understanding of more relevant aspects of the embodiments. The above-described techniques may be implemented on a computing device associated with a gaming device (e.g., a player station operating one or more games, a mobile computing device such as a smartphone, laptop, or tablet), multiple computing devices associated with multiple gaming devices, a controller communicating with the gaming device(s) (e.g., a controller configured to synchronize the gaming device(s), or multiple controllers communicating with the gaming device(s). Additionally, the techniques may be distributed between the computing device(s) and the controller(s). FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computing system including hardware modules, software modules, and combinations thereof and which can be implemented as a computing device and / or a server. In a basic configuration, the computing system may include at least a processor, system memory, storage devices, input / output peripherals, communication peripherals, and an interface bus. Instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to perform various methods and operations, including roulette wheel speed adjustment and outcome detection optimization, as described above. The computing system components may reside in a gaming device, in a server, or other component of a network, or distributed among some combination of such devices. The interface bus is configured to communicate, transfer, and transmit data, control, and commands between the various components of the electronic device. System memory and storage devices include computer-readable storage media such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, hard drives, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, flash memory, and other tangible storage media. Any such computer-readable storage media may be configured to store instructions or program code embodying various aspects of the present invention. Additionally, system memory includes an operating system and application programs. A processor is configured to execute stored instructions and may include, for example, a logic processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, and the like. System memory and storage devices may also include computer-readable signal media. Computer-readable signal media may include a propagated data signal having computer-readable program code embodied therein. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any combination thereof. Computer-readable signal media may be any computer-readable medium that is not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use in conjunction with a computing system. Additionally, input and output peripherals include user interfaces such as keyboards, screens, microphones, speakers, and other input / output devices, as well as computing components such as digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters, graphics processing units, serial ports, parallel ports, and universal serial buses. Input / output peripherals may also include various sensors such as light, proximity, GPS, magnetic field, altitude, and speed / acceleration, RSSI and distance sensors, and other types of sensors. Input / output peripherals can be connected to the processor through any port connected to the interface bus. A user interface may be configured to allow a user of a computing system to interact with the computing system. For example, a computing system may include instructions that, when executed, cause the computing system to generate the user interface and perform other methods and operations that a user may use to provide input to and receive output from the computing system. This user interface may be in the form of a graphical user interface that is presented on a screen and coupled to audio transmitted via a speaker and microphone and input received via a keyboard. In one embodiment, the user interface may be generated locally on the computing system. In another embodiment, the user interface may reside on a remote computing system and be presented there. For example, a server may generate the user interface and transmit information related thereto to a computing device, which in turn presents the user interface to the user. The computing device may, for example, execute a browser or present an application programming interface (API) at the server to access the user interface hosted on the server. Finally, the computing system's communication peripherals are configured to facilitate communication between the computing system and other computing systems (e.g., between the computing system and a server) over a communications network. Communication peripherals include, for example, network interface controllers, modems, various modulators / demodulators and encoders / decoders, wireless and wired interface cards, antennas, and the like. The communication network includes any type of network suitable for providing communication between the computing device and the server and may include a combination of discrete networks using different technologies. For example, the communication network includes a cellular network, Wi-Fi / broadband network, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), telephone network, fiber optic network, or a combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication network includes the Internet and any network suitable for communicating with the Internet. The communication network may also be configured as a device for transmitting data between the computing device and the server. The aforementioned techniques may be embodied in a program code module executed by one or more computers or computer processors and fully or partially automated by the program code module. The program code module may be stored on any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or computer storage device, such as a hard drive, solid-state memory, optical disk, or the like. These processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or fully in dedicated circuitry. The results of the disclosed processes and processing steps may be stored persistently or otherwise in any type of non-transitory computer storage device, such as a volatile or non-volatile storage device. In a specific embodiment, a method for operating a slot pusher gaming device includes: receiving information indicating a remote bet for a round of gaming at the slot pusher gaming device, wherein the remote bet is associated with a player account; initiating the round of gaming based on the remote bet, wherein initiating the round of gaming includes providing play chips on a platform of the slot pusher gaming device, wherein the platform includes a plurality of play chips, and wherein the slot pusher gaming device includes a pusher that pushes the plurality of play chips toward a ledge of the platform; resolving the bet by determining a value of any play chips received in a collection area beneath the ledge during the round of gaming; and updating the player account based on the resolved bet. According to a specific embodiment, the method further includes providing a real-time video stream of the coin pusher gaming device on a user interface associated with a remote computing device at least during the round of the game. In a specific embodiment, the remote computing device is at least one of a mobile computing device and a player station. In certain embodiments, initiating the round of gaming includes automatically transferring the gaming chips from a storage area associated with the gaming device to the platform. In a specific embodiment, the method further includes: automatically transferring at least one gaming chip in the collection area to the storage area. In a specific embodiment, the storage area and the collection area are both housed within a cabinet associated with the coin pusher gaming device. In a specific embodiment, a gaming system includes a computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions to be executed by the processor that cause the computing device to at least: identify, via a sensor, a characteristic of a gaming chip received at a slot pusher gaming device, and determine, based on the characteristic, whether the gaming chip is valid to initiate a round of gaming; initiate the round of gaming at the slot pusher gaming device when the gaming chip is determined to be valid, wherein the instructions to initiate the round of gaming include providing the gaming chip on a platform of the slot pusher gaming device, wherein the platform includes a plurality of gaming chips, and wherein the slot pusher gaming device includes a pusher to push the plurality of gaming chips toward a ledge of the platform; determine a value of any gaming chips received in a collection area beneath the ledge during the round of gaming; and update a player account based on the value. In a specific embodiment, the characteristic includes at least one of: a visual characteristic, a physical characteristic, an electronic characteristic, and a value associated with the gaming chip. In a specific embodiment, the visual characteristic includes at least one of: an edge point on the gaming chip, a pattern on the gaming chip, at least one color on the gaming chip, and ultraviolet fluorescence. In certain embodiments, the physical characteristic includes at least one of a weight of the gaming chip and a shape of the gaming chip. In a specific embodiment, the electronic characteristic is associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. In a specific embodiment, the sensor includes at least one of the following: a weight sensor, an RFID sensor, an ultraviolet detection sensor, an image sensor, and a shape detection sensor. In a specific embodiment, when the feature indicates that the gaming chip is invalid, the gaming chip is transferred to a chip storage area. In a specific embodiment, a coin pusher gaming device includes: a platform on which a plurality of gaming chips are stacked; a pusher that pushes the plurality of gaming chips toward a ledge, wherein the pusher moves between a first position and a second position on the platform; a sensor that identifies a characteristic of a first gaming chip and a value associated with the first gaming chip; a path that receives the first gaming chip and provides the first gaming chip on the platform; and a collection area that collects any gaming chips pushed off the ledge by the pusher. In a specific embodiment, the device further comprises: a gaming chip slot for receiving the first gaming chip and positioning the first gaming chip for identification by the sensor. In a specific embodiment, a computing device is further included that is configured to at least: receive a bet for initiating a round of gaming from a remote computing device, wherein the bet is associated with a player account; initiate the round of gaming by transferring the first gaming chip from the storage area to the path; resolve the bet by determining the value of any gaming chips received in the collection area under the flange during the round of gaming; and update the player account based on the resolved bet. In a specific embodiment, the device further comprises: a conveyor belt, which returns at least one gaming chip in the collection area to the storage area. In a specific embodiment, the computing device is further configured to provide a real-time video stream of the platform on a user interface associated with the remote computing device during the round of gaming. In a specific embodiment, the platform, the pusher, the sensor, the path and the collection area are all housed in a cabinet, and a tilt detection sensor is configured therein, which triggers an alarm and stops a round of game when the cabinet tilts. In a specific embodiment, the characteristic is at least one of: an edge point on the gaming chip, a pattern on the gaming chip, at least one color on the gaming chip, the weight of the gaming chip, the shape of the chip, ultraviolet fluorescence, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. As used herein, conditional language, such as "can," "could," "might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise or understood otherwise in the context of use, is generally intended to convey that some embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments do not. Thus, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that features, elements, and / or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or that one or more embodiments must include them for determining, with or without author input or prompting, whether such features, elements, and / or steps are included in any particular embodiment or will be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like are synonymous and are used in an open-ended, inclusive manner and do not exclude additional elements, features, actions, operations, and the like. Additionally, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not its exclusive sense), so that, for example, when used in conjunction with a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. The present invention describes specific embodiments and detailed construction and operation thereof. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Based on the teachings herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations may be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that constitute the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of the components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without excessive detail, where such detail would be obvious to those skilled in the art based on the teachings herein, and / or where such detail would obscure an understanding of more relevant aspects of the embodiments. The terms and descriptions used above are presented by way of illustration only and are not meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that those and many other variations, enhancements, and modifications of the concepts described herein are possible without departing from the basic principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention shall be determined solely by the following claims and their equivalents. 100: Pusher 105: Coin slot 110: Cabinet 115: Chute 120: Platform 125, 308: Chip 130: Pusher 140: Path 150: Flange 160: Collection area 165: Guard 170: Storage container 180: Slot 190: Sensor system 202: Second position 204: First position 220: UV-detectable coloring 302: Distinguishing edge point 302: Edge point 306: RFID tag 402: Front pattern 404: Front weight 406: Color denomination 408: Back weight 410: Back pattern 502: Remote computing device 504, 506, 604: Display 602: Player station 702, 904: Top view 704, 902: Front view 706: Side view 800: Tilt detection sensor 802: Control panel 804: Main unit 810: Conveyor system 1002: Camera 1004: Person 1006: Video FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin pusher gaming device according to an embodiment. 2 is a perspective view of a platform of a coin pusher gaming device, further illustrating the pusher, gaming chips on the platform, and an edge of the platform, according to an embodiment. 3 includes a top view of different types and denominations of gaming chips for use in a slot pusher gaming device according to an embodiment. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a gaming chip with an RFID chip according to an embodiment. FIG5 is a top view of a mobile computing device illustrating remote gaming of a coin pusher gaming device according to an embodiment. 6 is a top view of a player standing in front of a player station for remotely playing a coin pusher gaming device according to an embodiment. 7 provides top, front, and side views of a single player pusher gaming device according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a more detailed side view of the coin pusher game device of FIG. 7 , further illustrating a shock absorber according to a specific embodiment. 9 is a front view and a top view of a multi-player coin pusher gaming device according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a security component of a coin pusher gaming device according to a specific embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of remote gaming according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example of chip identification and remote play according to an embodiment. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary block diagram of a general-purpose computer system in which various aspects, or portions thereof, of the methods and systems disclosed herein may be incorporated. 100: Coin Pusher 105: Coin slot 110: Cabinet 115: chute 120: Platform 125: Chips 130: Pusher 140: Path 150: flange 160: Collection area 165: Protective device 170: Storage container 180:Card slot 190:Sensor System

Claims

1. A method for operating a coin pusher gaming device, the method comprising: Receives information instructing the player to place a bet on a round of the game at the coin pusher gaming device, wherein the bet is associated with the player's account; The validity of a play chip is determined by sensing at least two different types of characteristics from a group consisting of physical, visual, and electronic characteristics, and the play chip is allowed to be used for play when it is determined to be valid; the game round is initiated based on the bet, wherein initiating the game round includes providing the play chip on the platform of the coin pusher play device, wherein the platform includes a plurality of play chips, and wherein the coin pusher play device includes a pusher that pushes the plurality of play chips toward a flange of the platform, wherein the plurality of play chips have similar size and weight to each other; the bet is resolved by determining the value of any play chips received in a collection area under the flange during the game round; and the player's account is updated based on the resolved bet.

2. In addition to the method described in request item 1, it also includes: At least during that round of the game, a live video stream of the coin pusher game device is provided on the user interface associated with the remote computing device that placed the bet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote computing device is at least one of a mobile computing device and a player station.

4. The method of request 1, wherein starting the round of the game includes automatically transferring the game chips from a storage area associated with the game device to the platform.

5. In addition to the method described in request item 4, it also includes: At least one game chip in the collection area is automatically transferred to the storage area via a conveyor belt.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein both the storage area and the collection area are housed within a cabinet associated with the coin pusher gaming device.

7. A gameplay system, comprising: A computing device includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor, which cause the computing device to at least: identify, via sensors, at least two different types of characteristics of a play token received at a coin pusher gaming device, wherein the at least two different types of characteristics are selected from a group consisting of physical characteristics, visual characteristics, and electronic characteristics; determine, based on the at least two different types of characteristics, whether the play token is valid to initiate a round of play; when the play token is determined to be valid, allow the play token to be used for play and initiate the round of play on the coin pusher gaming device, wherein the instructions to initiate the round of play include providing the play token on a platform of the coin pusher gaming device, wherein the platform includes a plurality of play tokens, and wherein the coin pusher gaming device includes a pusher to push the plurality of play tokens toward a flange of the platform, wherein the plurality of play tokens have similar dimensions and weights; determine the value of any play tokens received during the round of play in a collection area under the flange; and update a player account based on the value.

8. As in request item 7, the game system further includes determining the value associated with the game chip.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the visual characteristic includes at least one of the following: edge points on the gaming chip, a pattern on the gaming chip, at least one color on the gaming chip, and one or more of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and ultraviolet fluorescence.

10. The playing system of claim 7, wherein the physical characteristic includes at least one of the weight of the playing chip and the shape of the playing chip.

11. The gaming system as described in claim 7, wherein the electronic feature is associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

12. The play system of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes at least one of the following: a weight sensor, an RFID sensor, an ultraviolet detection sensor, an image sensor, and a shape detection sensor.

13. The playing system as requested in item 7, wherein when the characteristics of the at least two different types indicate that the playing chip is invalid, the playing chip is transferred to the chip storage area.

14. A coin pusher game device, comprising: A platform on which multiple gaming chips are piled up; A pusher that pushes a plurality of play chips toward a flange, wherein the pusher moves between a first position and a second position on the platform, wherein the plurality of play chips have similar size and weight; a sensor that identifies at least two different types of characteristics of a first play chip and values ​​associated with the first play chip, wherein the at least two different types of characteristics are selected from a group consisting of physical characteristics, visual characteristics, and electronic characteristics; a computing device configured to determine the validity of the first play chip through the at least two different types of characteristics, and allow the first play chip to be used for play when the first play chip is determined to be valid; a path that receives the first play chip and provides the first play chip on the platform; and a collection area that collects any play chips pushed out of the flange by the pusher.

15. The coin pusher game equipment as described in claim 14, further includes: A coin slot for accepting game chips is used to manually receive the first game chip and position the first game chip for the sensor to identify.

16. The coin pusher game device of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to at least: receive a bet from a remote computing device to initiate a round of the game, wherein the bet is associated with a player account; initiate the round of the game by transferring the first game chip from a storage area to the path; resolve the bet by determining the value of any game chips received during the round of the game in the collection area under the flange; and update the player account based on the resolved bet.

17. The coin pusher game device as described in claim 16, further includes: A conveyor belt that returns at least one game chip from the collection area to the storage area.

18. The coin pusher game device of claim 16, wherein the computing device is further configured to provide real-time video streaming of the platform on a user interface associated with the remote computing device, at least during the round of the game.

19. The coin pusher game device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the platform, the pusher, the sensor, the path and the collection area are all housed in a cabinet, and wherein a tilt detection sensor is provided, which triggers an alarm and stops a round of the game when the cabinet is tilted.

20. The coin pusher game device of claim 14, wherein a first characteristic is at least one of the following: edge points on the game token, pattern on the game token, at least one color on the game token, weight of the game token, shape of the token, ultraviolet fluorescence, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

Images