Automated system for facilitating management of casino game table player rating information

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating player tracking activities at a casino gaming table which includes a plurality of player stations. One aspect is directed to different techniques for automating the various manual processes involved in the rating of a player of a table game. Another aspect is directed to different embodiments for automatically starting, suspending, resuming and/or ending player tracking sessions at one or more table games.

1 . A gaming table system comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in a gaming network; and   memory;   the system being operable to:   automatically detect a presence of a first player at a first gaming table;   automatically initiate at least one procedure for closing a player rating session associated with the first player in response to a determination that a first set of criteria has been satisfied; and   automatically compute or determine player rating information relating to the first player's player rating session, wherein the player rating information includes first player walk amount information relating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to the first player at a time of closing of the first player's player rating session.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the player rating information further includes at least one type of information selected from a group of information consisting of: first player game speed information relating to an estimated speed of game play by the first player at the first gaming table, and first player timing information relating to an estimated amount of time that the first player spent at the first gaming table. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 automatically delay closing of the first player rating session in response to a determination that the first set of criteria has not been satisfied.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify one or more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal space associated with the first player;   wherein the first region of personal space includes at least one region which has not been allocated for wagering activity.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify one or more wagering tokens which are within a first region of the first gaming table;   wherein the first region includes at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify a first spatial region associated with the first player, wherein the first spatial region includes a first region portion corresponding to a wagering token placement area for use table game wagering, and includes a second region portion which is not used for table game wagering; and   automatically detect one or more wagering tokens located within the second region portion.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 automatically and passively associate the first player with a specific player station at the first gaming table, the specific player station being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming table, the first spatial region including at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity; and   automatically identify wagering tokens located within the first spatial region at the first gaming table.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 automatically identify, as belonging to the first player, at least one wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify one or more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal space associated with the first player;   wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include at least one zone of space which is not currently visible to an observer.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 identify a first region of personal space associated with the first player;   wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity; and   wherein the first region of personal space is further defined to include at least one zone of space within a predetermined distance from the first player.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 automatically and passively associate the first player with a specific player station at the first gaming table, the specific player station being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming table, the first spatial region including at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity   identify a first region of personal space associated with the first player;   wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include the first spatial region.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to:
 automatically track, in real time, information relating to a first portion of wagering tokens belonging to the first player;   wherein the first portion of wagering tokens includes at least one wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to perform at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically track amounts wagered by the first player during game play at the first gaming table; and automatically track winnings awarded to the first player during game play at the first gaming table.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to perform at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically compute or determine player game speed information relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gaming table during a first time interval; automatically compute or determine player ranking information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; automatically compute or determine player skill information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; and automatically compute or determine player comp value information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  being further operable to perform at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically track buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; automatically track marker-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; automatically track chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; and automatically track redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player.   
   
   
       16 . A gaming table system comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in a gaming network; and   memory;   the system being operable to:   automatically detect a presence of a first player at a first gaming table;   automatically perform at least one operation selected from a group consisting of: tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; tracking chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; and tracking redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  being further operable to perform at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically track amounts wagered by the first player during game play at the first gaming table; and automatically track winnings awarded to the first player during game play at the first gaming table.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16  being further operable to perform at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically compute or determine player game speed information relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gaming table during a first time interval; automatically compute or determine player ranking information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; automatically compute or determine player skill information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; and automatically compute or determine player comp value information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information.   
   
   
       19 . A method for facilitating player rating activities at a casino gaming table, the method comprising:
 automatically detecting a presence of a first player at a first gaming table;   automatically initiating at least one procedure for closing a player rating session associated with the first player in response to a determination that a first set of criteria has been satisfied; and   automatically computing or determining player rating information relating to the first player's player rating session, wherein the player rating information includes first player walk amount information relating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to the first player at a time of closing of the first player's player rating session.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the player rating information further includes at least one type of information selected from a group of information consisting of: first player game speed information relating to an estimated speed of game play by the first player at the first gaming table, and first player timing information relating to an estimated amount of time that the first player spent at the first gaming table. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 automatically delaying closing of the first player rating session in response to a determination that the first set of criteria has not been satisfied.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 identifying one or more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal space associated with the first player; and   wherein the first region of personal space includes at least one region which has not been allocated for wagering activity.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 identifying one or more wagering tokens which are within a first region of the first gaming table; and   wherein the first region includes at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 identifying a first spatial region associated with the first player, wherein the first spatial region includes a first region portion corresponding to a wagering token placement area for use table game wagering, and includes a second region portion which is not used for table game wagering; and   automatically detecting one or more wagering tokens located within the second region portion.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 automatically and passively associating the first player with a specific player station at the first gaming table, the specific player station being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming table, the first spatial region including at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity; and   automatically identifying wagering tokens located within the first spatial region at the first gaming table.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 automatically identifying, as belonging to the first player, at least one wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 identifying one or more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal space associated with the first player;   wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include at least one zone of space which is not currently visible to an observer.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 identifying a first region of personal space associated with the first player;   wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity; and   wherein the first region of personal space is further defined to include at least one zone of space within a predetermined distance from the first player.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 automatically and passively associating the first player with a specific player station at the first gaming table, the specific player station being associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming table, the first spatial region including at least one region portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity   identifying a first region of personal space associated with the first player;   wherein the first region of personal space is defined to include the first spatial region.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 automatically tracking, in real time, information relating to a first portion of wagering tokens belonging to the first player;   wherein the first portion of wagering tokens includes at least one wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising performing at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically tracking amounts wagered by the first player during game play at the first gaming table; and automatically tracking winnings awarded to the first player during game play at the first gaming table.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically computing or determining player game speed information relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gaming table during a first time interval; automatically computing or determining player ranking information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; automatically computing or determining player skill information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; and automatically computing or determining player comp value information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; automatically tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; automatically tracking chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; and automatically tracking redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player.   
   
   
       34 . A method for facilitating player rating activities at a casino gaming table, the method comprising:
 automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the first gaming table; and   automatically performing at least one operation selected from a group consisting of: tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; tracking chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; and tracking redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically tracking amounts wagered by the first player during game play at the first gaming table; and automatically tracking winnings awarded to the first player during game play at the first gaming table.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:
 automatically computing or determining player game speed information relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gaming table during a first time interval; automatically computing or determining player ranking information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; automatically computing or determining player skill information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information; and automatically computing or determining player comp value information relating to the first player using at least a portion of the player rating information.   
   
   
       37 . A system for facilitating player rating activities at a casino gaming table, the method comprising:
 at least one processor;   memory;   means for automatically detecting a presence of a first player at a first gaming table;   means for automatically initiating at least one procedure for closing a player rating session associated with the first player in response to a determination that a first set of criteria has been satisfied;   means for automatically computing or determining player rating information relating to the first player's player rating session, wherein the player rating information includes first player walk amount information relating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to the first player at a time of closing of the first player's player rating session;   means for automatically tracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;   means for automatically tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;   means for automatically tracking chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;   means for automatically tracking redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; and   means for automatically identifying, as belonging to the first player, at least one wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.   
   
   
       38 - 64 . (canceled)