Smart Table RFID Player Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional casinos face challenges in seamlessly transitioning between electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and table games due to disparities in wagering currencies, where EGMs use cash or tickets, while table games primarily use chips, leading to inefficiencies in currency exchange and player convenience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for a smart table that incorporates RFID sensors and a mobile device to enable cardless connection, allowing players to use digital wallets for buy-in and cash-out, and facilitating the exchange of tickets for chips or vice versa, using a table management computing device and server to manage transactions and player identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional chip exchange methods are used at table games, then physical currency handling is required, but player convenience and operational efficiency deteriorate due to manual cash-in and cash-out processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical cash handling with electronic/digital systems. Players use mobile devices with digital wallets to perform cashless transactions, eliminating the need for physical currency exchange. The table management system electronically tracks wagers and balances, substituting manual cash counting and handling with automated electronic processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables players to perform their own transactions independently without requiring dealer assistance for cash handling. Players use their mobile devices to initiate buy-ins and cash-outs, with the table management system automatically processing these transactions. This self-service capability reduces waiting time and improves player convenience.
2Reliability
If player tracking cards are used for identification, then player identity can be tracked, but the system complexity increases due to card distribution and management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from the physical player tracking card and relocates it to the player's mobile device. The mobile device already contains the player's identification information in its digital wallet, so the separate card is eliminated. This reduces system complexity by removing card distribution, management, and tracking infrastructure while maintaining reliable player identification through the mobile device.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device serves multiple functions: it acts as both the player's payment method (digital wallet) and their identification card. By combining these functions into a single device that players already possess, the system eliminates the need for separate player tracking cards and their associated management infrastructure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If digital wallet integration is implemented, then cashless transactions are enabled, but the device complexity increases due to RFID sensors and mobile device coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a table management system as an intermediary between the RFID sensors and the casino's central system. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of coordinating between multiple mobile devices, RFID sensors, and the central casino system, absorbing the computational and coordination burden so that individual components remain relatively simple.
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
This solution streamlines currency exchange between EGMs and table games, enhancing player convenience by allowing cashless transactions and reducing the need for physical currency handling, while improving operational efficiency within the casino environment.
Implementation Method 1
at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor configured to detect wireless-enabled wagering tokens
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a smart table having RFID sensor(s) configured to detect RFID-enabled chips and a table management computing device. The system includes processor(s) executing instructions configured to receive a connection request including a player position of the plurality of player positions at the multiplayer gaming device. The instructions further cause the at least one processor to identify a player tracking account identifier associated with the player based in part on information included in the connection request and cause to be displayed, on the table management computing device, a profile image associated with the player tracking account identifier and the player position included in the connection request. The instructions further cause the at least one processor to receive, from the table management computing device, confirmation of at least one of the identity of the player or the position of the player.