Card recognition apparatus and program

Abstract

The present invention provides a card recognition technology capable of suppressing a mistake in distribution of cards by a dealer, or the like. A card recognition program AP, by cooperating with various types of hardware of a card recognition apparatus 200, causes a computer device 220 to function as: a detection means for detecting a plurality of playing cards placed in a prescribed area of a game table 100; a determination means for determining a plurality of overlapping playing cards as one group, among the plurality of playing cards; a recognition means for recognizing respective card elements of the playing cards belonging to the group; and a counting means for counting the total value of the playing cards belonging to the group, on the basis of the respective card elements of the playing cards belonging to the group.

Description

Card recognition device and program

[0001] The present invention relates to a card recognition device and a program.

[0002] In card games using playing cards, such as poker and blackjack, a dealer places one or more decks of playing cards (hereinafter simply referred to as "cards") into a card shooter or the like, and then dispenses cards one by one from the deck to the game participants (users).

[0003] Meanwhile, casinos and other gaming establishments have attempted to prevent various irregularities and fraudulent activities in card games. For example, a system is known in which surveillance cameras are installed to monitor for fraudulent activities, and images obtained from the surveillance cameras are used to monitor cheating by users, such as switching cards during a game or illegally moving chips during a game (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] International Publication WO2015 / 107902

[0005] In the monitoring system described in Patent Document 1, the numbers on cards dealt by the dealer from a card dealing device to a gaming table are identified by a surveillance camera, and it is determined whether these numbers match the numbers on the cards read by the card dealing device, thereby detecting fraudulent activity, etc. However, such a monitoring system has the problem that it cannot detect or prevent mistakes in the dealing of cards by the dealer.

[0006] Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a card recognition technology that can reduce mistakes in dealing cards by the dealer.

[0007] A card recognition device according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising a detection means for detecting a plurality of cards placed in a predetermined area on a table, and a discrimination means for discriminating, among the plurality of cards, a plurality of overlapping cards as a single group.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it causes a computer to function as a detection means for detecting a plurality of playing cards placed in a predetermined area on a table, a discrimination means for discriminating a plurality of overlapping playing cards among the plurality of playing cards as one group, a recognition means for recognizing each card element of the playing cards belonging to the group, and a counting means for counting the sum of the numbers of the playing cards belonging to the group based on each card element of the playing cards belonging to the group.

[0009] According to the present invention, among the cards placed on the table, overlapping cards are classified as one group. By utilizing the results of this classification, it becomes possible to prevent mistakes in the cards that should be distributed to each player, for example.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating multiple cards dealt to each player. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a gaming table. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a card recognition device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of the process for card recognition. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the process for card recognition. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a first recognition algorithm. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the process for the first authentication algorithm. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a second recognition algorithm. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the process for the second authentication algorithm. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the process for the second authentication algorithm. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining matching of each combination candidate. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating alert information. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for when a player selects split. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of the process when two cards dealt to a player have the same number.

[0011] A. This Embodiment A-1. Overview An embodiment applied to a card game using playing cards will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, parts with the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations. In addition, "Blackjack" will be exemplified below as an example of a card game, but the present invention can also be applied to other card games.

[0012] Blackjack is a competitive game between the dealer, who deals cards to the gaming table, and the players, including the dealer himself, who are customers. The player with the combination of cards in his hand (i.e., his hand) closest to 21 points wins. Cards are counted by their numerical value from "2" to "10," with face cards "J," "Q," and "K" all counting as 10 points. An "Ace" (Ace) can be counted as either 1 point or 11 points, allowing players to count it as a number that is convenient for them depending on the situation. A blackjack (a combination of "A" and "10"), the strongest hand, immediately guarantees victory.

[0013] However, if the user's hand exceeds 21 points, they will be disqualified (bust) and lose. A player who is closer to 21 points than the dealer will win and receive a payout. On the other hand, a player who is further away from 21 points than the dealer will lose and will forfeit their bet. If the number of points is the same, it is called a bust and the game will end in a draw.

[0014] The basic flow of a blackjack game is shown below in (1) to (5). (1) Each player bets a bet (points). (2) The dealer deals two cards to each player and to himself / herself. (3) Each player declares his / her action, such as whether to "hit" (to draw one more card) or "stand" (to draw no more cards). (4) Following the declaration, the dealer deals cards to each player. (5) The dealer reveals the face-down cards from the cards he / she was dealt to himself / herself, shows his / her hand to all players, and then plays against each player according to the game rules.

[0015] In this embodiment, a camera is used to detect each player's hand (i.e., card combination) dealt in a predetermined area of ​​the gaming table. In this case, as shown in Fig. 1, multiple cards dealt to each player are placed on top of each other, but it is possible to detect each of the multiple cards placed on top of each other (i.e., each player's hand; frame line Lf in Fig. 1) and notify the dealer or the like of the detection results.

[0016] A-2. System Configuration Next, a configuration of the gaming system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The gaming system 1 includes a gaming table 100 and a card recognition device 200 provided on the gaming table 100.

[0017] <Gaming Table 100> FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the exterior of a gaming table. The gaming table 100 is, for example, a semicircular table and includes a play area (a predetermined area) where cards are dealt to each player and where the dealer deals his or her own cards. A card shoe 110 for accommodating cards to be dealt is provided near the play area, and a payout chip storage unit 120 for accommodating payout chips is provided between the play area and the dealer's seat. The gaming table 100 also includes an alarm device 130 for notifying players of the card recognition results obtained by the card recognition device 200 and a chip management device 140 for detecting and managing chips bet on the betting area of ​​the gaming table 100. The alarm device 130 and the chip management device 140 may be incorporated into the card recognition device 200.

[0018] The notification device 130 is composed of, for example, a display panel, a speaker, etc. The notification device 130 displays the card recognition result on the display panel and outputs sound from the speaker in accordance with instructions from the card recognition device 200. The notification device 130 may be installed in a position where it can notify only the dealer of the card recognition result, or it may be installed in a position where it can notify everyone participating in the game (e.g., the dealer and each player). In addition to notifying with text display or sound messages, various information may be notified by changing the color or the combination of off / blinking processing of a light-emitting element such as an LED (not shown).

[0019] The chip management device 140 is configured to include, for example, a reading device and a recording device for detecting the chip. The chip is configured to enable short-range wireless communication using electromagnetic waves between the chip management device 140, specifically, configured as an RFID tag including an electromagnetic induction coil, an integrated circuit, a memory, etc. The chip management device 140 reads the unique identification information and chip amount registered in each chip and records (manages) them in a recording device.

[0020] 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the card recognition device 200. The card recognition device 200 is a device that recognizes cards dealt to the play area of ​​the gaming table 100 and outputs the recognition results, and is equipped with a camera 210 and a computer device 220.

[0021] The camera 210 is a camera using, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, and is installed somewhere (for example, above) where it can capture images of the play area of ​​the gaming table 100. The camera 210 captures images of the play area, for example, from the start to the end of a game, in accordance with instructions from a management device (not shown). The images of the play area captured by the camera 210 are output to the computer device 220.

[0022] The computer device 220 includes a control unit 221 equipped with a CPU etc., a storage unit 222 consisting of a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive etc., and a communication unit 223 consisting of an ISDN modem, an ADSL modem, a cable modem, an optical modem, a soft modem etc. The control unit 221 centrally controls each unit of the computer device 220 by executing various programs stored in the storage unit 222.

[0023] The memory unit 222 stores images of the play area captured by the camera 210, an application program AP for performing card recognition processing (hereinafter referred to as the card recognition program), various databases, and the like.

[0024] The card recognition program AP performs card recognition based on the image of the play area captured by the camera, and outputs the recognition results, etc. (details will be described later).

[0025] A-3. Overview of Card Recognition Processing Below, an overview of the processing when the control unit 221 executes the card recognition program AP and performs card recognition (detection) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the process for card recognition, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process. The control unit (acquisition means) 221 captures an image of the play area captured by the camera 210 and binarizes it (step S1 → step S2). As shown in FIG. 5A, when no cards are placed in the play area, the binarized image (initial image) is displayed entirely in black. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when multiple cards are placed overlapping each other in the play area, the binarized image (placed image) displays the areas where multiple cards are placed overlapping (areas 1 to 3) in white, and the other areas in black.

[0027] The control unit (detection means, discrimination means) 221 detects the multiple cards placed in the play area based on the comparison result between the initial image and the placed image, and discriminates each area where multiple cards are placed overlapping each other (areas 1 to 3 in B of Figure 5) as one group (step S3 → step S4).

[0028] The control unit (ID assigning means) 221 assigns an area number (identification ID) to each area (group) in which a card is placed (step S5; see C in FIG. 5).

[0029] The control unit (recognition means) 221 analyzes the placed image to recognize the suit information and number information (card elements) of each card belonging to each area (group) (step S6; see D in FIG. 5). The "suit information" is the four types of suits of playing cards ("spades," "hearts," "diamonds," and "clubs"), and the "number information" is the face cards of playing cards ("A," "K," "Q," and "J") and number cards ("2" to "10"). Details of the card element recognition method (recognition algorithm) will be described later, so let's continue with the explanation.

[0030] The control unit (counting means) 221 counts the sum of the numbers of the cards belonging to the area (group) based on the card elements (here, numerical information) of the recognized cards (step S7). Note that the counting rules according to the card game are stored in the memory unit 222.

[0031] The control unit (display control means) 221 displays the counting result (e.g., "18") on the display panel (step S8). Furthermore, the control unit 221 determines whether the counting result satisfies the conditions (notification conditions) for notifying the dealer (step S9). The notification conditions are stored in the storage unit 222, and for example, in the case of blackjack, the notification condition is set as when the dealer busts (i.e., when the number of points exceeds 21).

[0032] If the control unit 221 determines that the counting result does not satisfy the notification condition (step S9; NO), it terminates the process. On the other hand, if the control unit (notification control means) 221 determines that the counting result satisfies the notification condition (step S9; YES), it notifies the dealer that the notification condition has been satisfied (step S10), for example, by flashing a navigation LED (not shown) provided on the table surface of the gaming table 100, and terminates the process.

[0033] The card element recognition algorithms (two types) according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0034] (1) First Recognition Algorithm Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the first recognition algorithm, and Figure 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the processing of the first authentication algorithm. The first recognition algorithm is a method for detecting the corners of multiple cards placed on top of each other and recognizing card elements (suit information and number information). Note that in the first recognition algorithm, the process up to identifying each area where multiple cards are placed on top of each other as a group is the same as the flow shown in Figure 4 above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0035] The control unit (recognition means) 221 analyzes the placed image to detect the card angles of cards belonging to each area (group) (step S110; see A in FIG. 7 ). The control unit 221 predicts the position of each card from the detected card angles (step S120; see B in FIG. 7 ). As shown in C in FIG. 7 , the control unit 221 performs angle correction for each card and then performs matching (step S130 → step S140). Here, "matching" refers to determining the matching rate of the combination of the suit information and number information of the cards and determining the combination with the highest matching rate. In the example shown in C in FIG. 7 , the control unit 221 analyzes the matching area Am of the card (card D) to determine the "3 of spades." The magnitude of the angle correction can be set arbitrarily, but may also be set so that the suit information and number information are aligned in the same direction (vertical in C in FIG. 7 ).

[0036] The control unit 221 determines whether matching has been completed for all cards belonging to the target area (group) (cards A to D in the example shown in FIG. 7C) (step S150). If the control unit 221 determines that matching has not yet been completed for some cards (step S150; NO), the process returns to step S130. On the other hand, if the control unit 221 determines that matching has been completed for all cards (step S150; YES), the control unit 221 determines whether matching has been completed for all detected areas (step S160). If the control unit 221 determines that matching has not yet been completed for some areas (step S160; NO), the process returns to step S110. On the other hand, if the control unit 221 determines that matching has been completed for all detected areas (step S160; YES), the process ends the first authentication algorithm described above.

[0037] (2) Second Recognition Algorithm Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the second recognition algorithm, and Figures 9 and 10 are schematic diagrams for explaining the outline of the processing of the second authentication algorithm. Unlike the first recognition algorithm, the second recognition algorithm is a method that enables recognition of card elements (suit information and number information) without determining the card corners. Note that in the second recognition algorithm, the process up to determining areas where multiple cards are placed overlapping each other as a single group is the same as the flow shown in Figure 4 above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0038] The control unit (recognition means) 221 analyzes the placed image to extract labels that meet the conditions for each region (group) (step S210; see A in FIG. 9 ). A "label" is image information (candidate) that may be suit information or number information. After extracting the labels, the control unit 221 analyzes the extracted labels to narrow down the candidate combinations of suit information and number information (step S220; see B in FIG. 9 ). Specifically, the control unit 221 narrows down the candidate combinations of suit information and number information by performing distance determination and shape determination. In the distance determination, the control unit 221 determines, for example, whether the center distance between labels is equal to or less than a threshold, and in the shape determination, it determines, for example, whether the length of each side is within a specified range. In the example shown in FIG. 10 , the control unit 221 determines that the center distance between the suit information "spade" and the number information "6" and the center distance between the suit information "spade" and the number information "3" are both within the specified range.

[0039] After extracting the candidate combinations, the control unit 221 performs matching for each candidate combination (step S230). FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the matching of each candidate combination. The control unit 221 performs angle correction for each candidate combination (see A in FIG. 11), and then narrows down the judgment area (see B in FIG. 11). The control unit 221 calculates the matching rate for each candidate combination (i.e., the combination of suit information and number information of the cards), and determines the combination with the highest matching rate (see C in FIG. 11).

[0040] After matching the combination candidates, the control unit 221 determines whether matching has been completed for all combination candidates belonging to the target area (group) (step S240). If the control unit 221 determines that matching has not yet been completed for some cards (step S240; NO), the control unit 221 returns to step S230. On the other hand, if the control unit 221 determines that matching has been completed for all cards (step S240; YES), the control unit 221 determines whether matching has been completed for all detected areas (step S250; NO). If the control unit 221 determines that matching has not yet been completed for some areas (step S250; NO), the control unit 221 returns to step S210. On the other hand, if the control unit 221 determines that matching has been completed for all detected areas (step S250; YES), the control unit 221 ends the second authentication algorithm described above.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment, even when multiple cards (i.e., hands) are dealt to each player and placed on top of each other, it is possible to detect card elements (combinations of suit information and number information) for each hand and notify the dealer of the detection results, thereby making it possible to prevent errors in the dealer's card dealing.

[0042] B. Modifications <Modification 1> If the card recognition device 200 is unable to recognize a card for some reason, such as when a card is bent or torn, or when cards are nearly overlapping and the card elements cannot be correctly identified, alert information (here, "WARNING") IF1 as shown in FIG. 12 may be displayed on the display panel to alert the dealer.

[0043] <Variation 2> For example, if two cards (assuming blackjack) dealt to a player have the same number (same number) and the player selects "split," the control unit 221 may divide the cards into two and classify each into a separate group (hand). As already described, the cards dealt to each player are placed so that the cards overlap each other. For example, as shown in A of FIG. 13, suppose the two cards dealt to a player are the same number of "8" and "8," and the player declares "split" and bets the same amount as the initial bet. In this case, the dealer removes the overlap between the two "8" and "8" cards dealt to the player (see B of FIG. 13) and divides the cards into two hands.

[0044] 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the outline of the processing when the two cards (assuming blackjack) dealt to a player have the same number of cards. When the control unit 221 determines that the two cards dealt to a player have the same number of cards and detects that the player has declared a split, it determines whether the player has bet chips of the same amount as the initial bet (hereinafter referred to as an "additional same amount bet") (step S310).

[0045] Specifically, the chip management device (chip detection means) 140 reads the RFID tag mounted on the chip and outputs the read data to the control unit 221, whereby the control unit (chip detection means, determination means) 221 detects whether an additional bet of the same amount has been made. At this time, the control unit (notification means) 221 may notify the dealer, player, or the like of the detection result of whether an additional bet of the same amount has been made (step S320). For example, if an additional bet of the same amount has not been made within a predetermined time, the control unit 221 may notify an error message indicating that the split conditions have not been met. The notification method is not limited to this, and for example, if an additional bet of the same amount has been made within a predetermined time, the control unit 221 may notify a message indicating that the game should be continued as a split.

[0046] When the dealer receives a detection result indicating that an additional bet of the same amount has been made, the dealer separates the two cards dealt to the player who declared "split" into two hands (i.e., removes any overlapping cards). When the control unit 221 detects that the two cards dealt to the player have been separated into two hands, it determines that each card belongs to a different group (i.e., a different hand). The dealer then deals new cards to each group, and the dealer and the player compete independently for each of the two separated hands.

[0047] In addition, when a "split" is declared by one of the players and the overlapping of the two cards dealt to that player is resolved, the control unit (ID assignment means) 221 may assign an identification number (identification ID) to the two split hands so that it can be identified as the hands of the same player.

[0048] To give an example, if the control unit (ID assignment means) 221 assigned an identification number of "1" to the hand before division, then for one hand, the control unit (ID assignment means) may add a branch number of "-1" to the identification number of the hand before division, "1" (identification number: "1-1"), so that it is clear that each hand after division belongs to the player in question, and for the other hand, the control unit (ID assignment means) may add a branch number of "-2" to the identification number of the hand before division, "1" (identification number: "1-2").

[0049] <Variation 3> For example, based on an image of the playing area captured by the camera 210, it may be possible to detect at predetermined time intervals whether or not there has been a change in any of the groups (i.e., any of the hands), and only for those hands for which a change has been detected, the card elements of that hand (a combination of suit information and number information) may be recognized, and the total number of that hand may be counted based on the recognition results.

[0050] For example, when a new card (such as a second card) is dealt to a player or the dealer, the control unit (recognition means, counting means) 221 may recognize only the card elements of the hand of that player or dealer and count the total number of the hand based on the image of the playing area captured by the camera 210. This reduces the burden of calculation processing compared to counting all hands at predetermined time intervals.

[0051] <Variation 4> In the above variation 3, whether there has been a change in any of the groups (i.e., any of the hands) is detected at predetermined time intervals, but instead, whether the dealer's hand is reflected in any of the hands may be detected at predetermined time intervals.

[0052] When the control unit (recognition means, counting means) 221 detects that the dealer's hand is reflected in one of the hands based on the image of the playing area captured by the camera 210, it may recognize only the card elements of that hand and count the total number of the hand. This reduces the burden of calculation processing compared to counting all hands at predetermined intervals. Note that whether the dealer's hand is reflected in the image may be determined, for example, based on the image of the group, by determining whether an object other than cards or chips appears from outside the group. However, this is not intended to be limiting, and various methods can be employed. This aspect also reduces the burden of calculation processing compared to counting all hands.

[0053] C. Other The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The elements of the embodiments, as well as their arrangement, materials, conditions, shape, size, etc., are not limited to those illustrated and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, configurations shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined.

[0054] 1...gaming system, 100...gaming table, 110...card shoe, 120...payout chip storage section, 130...alarm device, 140...chip management device, 200...card recognition device, 210...camera, 220...computer device, 221...control section, 222...storage section, 223...communication section, AP...card recognition program

Claims

1. A card recognition device comprising: a detection means for detecting a plurality of cards placed in a predetermined area on a table; and a discrimination means for discriminating, among the plurality of cards, a plurality of overlapping cards as one group.

2. The card recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the cards are playing cards, and further comprising: recognition means for recognizing each card element of the playing cards belonging to the group; and counting means for counting the sum of the numbers of the playing cards belonging to the group based on each card element of the recognized playing cards.

3. The card recognition device according to claim 2, further comprising display control means for displaying the counting result on a display device.

4. A card recognition device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a notification means for notifying when the counting result satisfies a predetermined condition.

5. A card recognition device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, further comprising an acquisition means for acquiring images before and after the playing cards are placed in a designated area of ​​the table as an initial image and a placed image, respectively; said detection means detecting the multiple playing cards placed in the designated area of ​​the table based on the results of comparing the initial image with the placed image; and said discrimination means binarizing the placed image and discriminating the group based on the binarized placed image.

6. A card recognition device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein when the discrimination means detects that the overlapping of multiple playing cards that have been determined to belong to one group has been resolved, the discrimination means discriminates each of the playing cards whose overlapping has been resolved as playing cards that belong to different groups.

7. A card recognition device as described in claim 6, wherein said discrimination means further comprises: chip detection means for detecting a predetermined declaration by a player for a plurality of playing cards that have been determined to belong to one group; and chip detection means for detecting chips placed on the table; and notification means for making a specific notification when said discrimination means detects said predetermined declaration and said chip detection means does not detect any chips that satisfy specific conditions.

8. The card recognition device according to claim 6, further comprising an ID assignment means for assigning an identification ID to each of the groups, wherein the ID assignment means assigns an identification ID to each of the separate groups to which each of the playing cards whose overlaps have been resolved belongs, the ID indicating that the cards have branched off from the same group.

9. A card recognition device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, further comprising an imaging means for imaging a predetermined area of ​​the table and outputting the imaging data, wherein the detection means detects at predetermined time intervals whether or not there has been a change in any of the groups in the predetermined area based on the imaging data, and when a change in any of the groups is detected, the recognition means recognizes the card elements of each of the playing cards belonging to the group in which a change has been detected, and the counting means counts the sum of the numbers of the playing cards belonging to the group in which a change has been detected, based on the card elements of each of the playing cards belonging to the group in which a change has been detected.

10. A card recognition device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, further comprising an imaging means for imaging a predetermined area of ​​the table and outputting the imaging data, wherein the detection means detects at predetermined time intervals whether or not the dealer's hand is reflected in any of the groups in the predetermined area based on the imaging data, and when it is detected that the dealer's hand is reflected in any of the groups in the predetermined area, the recognition means recognizes the card elements of each of the playing cards belonging to the group in which the dealer's hand is reflected, and the counting means counts the sum of the numbers of the playing cards belonging to the group in which the dealer's hand is reflected based on the card elements of the playing cards belonging to the group in which the dealer's hand is reflected.

11. A card recognition device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the recognition means recognizes the card elements by performing angle correction and then matching for all of the playing cards belonging to the group.

12. A program for causing a computer to function as: a detection means for detecting a plurality of playing cards placed in a predetermined area on a table; a discrimination means for discriminating, among said plurality of playing cards, a plurality of overlapping playing cards as one group; a recognition means for recognizing the card elements of each of said playing cards belonging to said group; and a counting means for counting the total number of said playing cards belonging to said group based on the card elements of each of said playing cards belonging to said group.

Images