Gaming Machine Availability Control via BLE Social Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Casinos face challenges in maintaining social distancing while allowing patrons to conveniently access gaming credits, as existing methods are costly and inefficient, especially when distancing measures are no longer necessary.
Innovation Solution
A distributed gaming system that uses Bluetooth low energy (BLE) peripheral devices and tokenized transaction packages, allowing patrons to access gaming credits on their cell phones without physical interaction with gaming machines, while selectively controlling machine availability for social distancing and enabling social grouping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If casinos remove every other gaming machine and chair to maintain social distancing, then physical separation between patrons is improved, but implementation cost and reversibility cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls gaming machine availability based on real-time patron location data. Machines are selectively enabled or disabled through software control rather than physical reconfiguration, allowing flexible adaptation to changing social distancing requirements without permanent structural changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical mechanical measures (removing machines and chairs) with an electronic control system using BLE peripherals and server-based machine availability management. This substitution eliminates the need for physical reconfiguration while achieving the same social distancing objective.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If casinos remove every other gaming machine and chair to maintain social distancing, then physical separation between patrons is improved, but the cost to reverse the measure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows rapid reversal by simply changing software parameters. When social distancing requirements change, the server can re-enable previously disabled machines through a single system update, eliminating the need for physical restoration work and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control system replaces permanent physical modifications with reversible software-based machine availability control, enabling costless reversal when public health guidelines change.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If casinos implement strict social distancing measures, then virus spread is reduced, but patron convenience and access to gaming credits deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces mobile devices as intermediaries between patrons and gaming machines. Patrons use their smartphones to access gaming credits and interact with machines remotely, eliminating the need for direct physical contact while maintaining convenient access to gaming services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical interaction mechanisms with wireless communication and remote access systems, allowing patrons to obtain gaming credits through their mobile devices without touching or physically interacting with the gaming machines.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective maintenance of social distancing in casinos by controlling gaming machine availability and allowing social grouping, enhancing patron convenience and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
enabling a first patron to play at a first gaming machine and disabling one or more neighboring gaming machines that are nearby the first gaming machine from being played
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, social distancing is implemented at a gaming establishment (such as a casino) by disabling one or more neighboring gaming machines from being played while a first patron is playing at a first gaming machine. Social grouping is implemented by enabling a second patron who is in a social group with the first patron to play at one of the neighboring gaming machines, while the first patron is playing at the first gaming machine. In some implementations, a gaming system of the gaming establishment controls which gaming machines are disabled. In other implementations, patrons' cell phones running a gaming app communicate directly with the gaming machines to disable the neighboring gaming machines while enabling patrons in the same social group to play at neighboring gaming machines. In some implementations, play at a gaming machine is prevented by temporarily disabling the gaming machine's bill validator.