Optical Barcode Recognition for Casino Game Initiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Players face inconvenience with multiple casino club cards and tickets, which can be lost or damaged, and existing systems lack efficient electronic payout and account management solutions.

Innovation Solution

A mobile application that processes images of optical machine-readable data representations, such as barcodes, to automatically update and manage wagering accounts, allowing electronic deposits and retrieval of winnings, troubleshooting information, and linking accounts to wagering sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If physical club cards and tickets are used for player identification and payout, then players can access casino services, but players face inconvenience with multiple cards and tickets that can be lost or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of player accessVSAvoiddurability of identification media
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical club cards and tickets with their digital copies stored in a database. Each physical item has an associated digital record containing all necessary information (player profile, wagering data, balance). The system reads data from the physical item (via scanner or camera) and retrieves the corresponding digital copy, eliminating the need to carry multiple physical cards while maintaining secure access to player information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If physical tickets are used for payout, then winnings can be dispensed to players, but casinos require numerous on-duty cashiers and cash reserves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayout processing efficiencyVSAvoidcashier infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cash handling system with an electronic fund transfer system. Instead of physical cashiers manually counting and dispensing cash, the system uses automated scanners to read ticket data, retrieves winning information from databases, and electronically transfers funds to the player's account or mobile device. This eliminates the need for physical cash reserves and reduces cashier infrastructure to minimal supervisory personnel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple physical cards and tickets are carried, then players can access various casino services, but the system lacks efficient electronic management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to casino servicesVSAvoidelectronic account management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal digital account system that consolidates multiple physical cards and tickets into a single electronic profile. This profile can store wagering account information, club card data, tournament entries, and promotional offers. The system provides multiple access methods (scanner, camera, mobile app) and enables automated management of all casino services through one unified interface, eliminating the need to carry separate physical items for each service.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240378964A1Game initiation in response to optical machine readable data representation images
Publication Date: 2024.11.14 LNW GAMING INC
  • US20240378964A1 patent drawing
  • US20240378964A1 patent drawing
  • US20240378964A1 patent drawing

AI summary

In some embodiments, in a system comprising a wagering game machine, the wagering gaming machine including a digital camera and a barcode recognition unit, a method includes: detecting, by the digital camera, a barcode within a field of view of the digital camera and capturing a picture of the barcode; via the barcode recognition unit, decoding the barcode to produce decoded barcode data; in response to the decoded barcode data representing a desired casino wagering game, determining whether the desired casino wagering game is installed on the wagering game machine; and, if the desired casino wagering game is installed on the wagering game machine, loading, initiating and presenting the desired casino wagering game on an electronic display device of the wagering game machine.