KR20030064124A - Casino control system and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for managing a casino and a method thereof are provided to manage various kinds of information and a game progress state of a gamer in a casino and to contrast video information photographed in a corresponding time by analyzing collected various kinds of event information. CONSTITUTION: Dealer desk computers(102a,102b,102c,102d) are mounted adjacent to a table seated by gamers in a casino, supply a selection menu with respect to a game progress state. A dealer transmits event information being generated during a casino game in accordance with the selection menu. Cameras(103a,103b,103c,103d) are mounted in each table and photograph the game state of the dealer and the gamer in each table. A video data backup unit(200) compresses a photographed video and stores the compressed video with the event information transmitted from the dealer desk computers(102a,102b,102c,102d). An operating server(400) refers to the event information, searches, and manages the video data.

Description

Casino management system and its method {CASINO CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a casino management system, and in particular, a dealer desk PC is installed at each table of a casino, so that events such as access information and currency exchange information of dealers and customers can be categorized by guest / dealer ID, dealer, PIT, and time. The present invention relates to a casino management system capable of storing and managing, compressing and storing image information photographed by a camera installed at each table and ceiling, and reproducing and analyzing and managing image information by time as needed.

Currently, many casinos are operating at home and abroad. In the casino, games are played at each table, and dealers play the tables. The dealer directly manages the deal, betting, action, and exchange of the game in the table at the time of the game, so the information of the game can be managed, but the data is not preserved in the long term. .

In addition, many casinos now operate, betting, winning and winning games. Rarely, cheats are used to cheat dealers and other players to win the game. To solve this problem, some casinos install surveillance cameras to monitor all players.

However, it takes a lot of time and labor to monitor all the gamers and watch all surveillance areas, and there is a problem that a large amount of storage space is required even if the video data compressed based on video compression technology such as MPEG2 is stored. .

For example, in order to record video data compressed with MPEG2 for 24 hours, about 40 gigabytes (Giga bytes) are required per channel. However, in general, casinos need about 100 channels, so they need to store a week or two of data. Even a week's worth of data requires about 30 terabytes of storage space. Since it costs about 50 million to 150 million won, it is expected to cost about 1.6 billion won to build 16 terabytes of storage.

In addition, even if the storage in the expensive mass storage device does not manage the information of the game player in the long term, there is a problem that it is difficult to provide services such as searching and analyzing the video information of the corresponding time.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a casino management system that can systematically manage the game progress and various information of the gamers in the casino and analyze the collected event information to contrast the video information recorded at the time The purpose is to provide.

In addition, another technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is a casino management method that can systematically manage the game progress and various information of the game player and analyze the collected event information to contrast the image information photographed at the time The purpose is to provide.

1 is an exemplary view showing the overall configuration of the casino management system according to the present invention.

2 is a view for explaining the operation of the system of FIG.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the menu on the monitor screen of each dealer desk PC.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database in which a list of timed events is stored.

5 is a detailed connection diagram of each camera and the PIT computer and the operation server.

6 is a screen showing image information of photographing each table on a monitor;

7A and 7B are diagrams showing screens for reproducing image information of photographing each table.

8 is a diagram illustrating a screen of searching for stored information of a specific game player.

9 is a flow chart showing the main steps of the casino management method according to an embodiment of the present invention carried out in the casino management system according to the present invention.

10 is a detailed flowchart of the process of monitoring each table.

********** Symbol description of the main parts of the drawing **********

1, 2, 3, 4: table

104: Speed Dome Camera 105: PIT Computer

102a, 102b, 102c, 102d: Dealer Desk PC

103a, 103b, 103c, 103d: surveillance camera

106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e: DVR

107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 107e: middleware server unit

108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, 108e: storage unit

200: image data backup unit 300: touch screen screen

400: Operation Server 500: Monitor

The casino management system according to the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, is installed adjacent to the table surrounded by the player in the casino yard to provide a selection menu for the game progress and the dealer is generated during the casino game according to the selection menu A dealer desk computer for sending event information; A surveillance camera positioned for each table and photographing a game state of a dealer and a game player and an image of the game player of each table; An image data backup unit compressing the captured image and storing the compressed image together with event information sent from the dealer desk computer; And an operation server for searching and managing image data stored in the image data backup unit by referring to event information.

In addition, the event information, it is preferable to include the time information when the event occurred.

The casino management system may include: a speed dome camera installed at the center of the ceiling of the casino to zoom in and capture a state of the entire casino, the game progress of each table, and a specific part of a specific player; And a PIT computer including a monitor displaying images captured by the surveillance camera and the speed dome camera, storing event information generated according to game progress for each table, and retrieving and outputting a list of the event information. It is desirable to include.

In addition, the selection menu, PIT business start / end, business start / end for each dealer, game participation / withdrawal for each customer, drinks order, high value bet / the menu for inputting the result is preferably at least one.

In addition, the dealer desk computer monitor is preferably a touch screen type.

In addition, the dealer desk computer is provided with a card reader for recognizing the ID card of the dealer and the customer, it is preferable to send the event information generated during the game through the card reader.

In addition, the PIT computer includes an overlay image capturing board, and stores a game progress status and a list of events progressed for each table, and searches and outputs game progress status and events progressed for each table. It is desirable.

In addition, the PIT computer may simultaneously display a photographing screen for each table, and enlarge only a specific channel for display on the monitor.

In addition, the PIT computer can simultaneously display the current photographing screen and the specific past photographing screen for each table on the monitor.

In addition, the PIT computer can display the current specific photographed screen for each table as a full screen, and simultaneously display the specific past photographed screen on the monitor while moving to a predetermined area of the monitor.

The image data backup unit may include: a source unit configured to transmit image data in a compressed digital data format when the image data is to be backed up; A middleware server unit connected to each other by a LAN network and having an operating server connected to the LAN network, wherein a program written to access a specific database can access another database; And a storage unit connected to the middleware server unit for distributing and storing a large amount of image data.

The source unit may further include a DVR for compressing an image signal photographed by a photographing camera for surveillance and recording the image signal as digital image data.

In addition, the storage unit is preferably built in SCSI or IDE RAID.

In addition, the LAN network is preferably a 10/100 Mbps network.

In addition, the operation server, the monitor that can monitor the images taken by each camera and the speed dome camera of the casino; And storage for storing event information checked in each dealer desk computer.

In addition, the casino management method according to the present invention for achieving the other technical problem (a) provides a selection menu for the progress of the game at the casino and the dealer sends the event information generated during the casino game in accordance with the selection menu Doing; (b) taking an image by a camera and storing the event information sent in step (a) together with the captured image; And (c) retrieving the image information stored in the step (c) based on the event information stored in the step (b).

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an exemplary view showing the overall configuration of the casino management system according to the present invention, there is a dealer desk for each table (1, 2, 3, 4) of the casino yard playing a game, each dealer desk PC (102a) on the dealer desk , 102b, 102c, 102d) to manage information such as entry and exchange of customers and dealers.

Surveillance cameras 103a, 103b, 103c, and 103d, which are installed for each table 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the casino, for photographing the game progress and gamers of the tables 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Is connected to the DVR (digital video record) 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e by coaxial cable, and is compressed by the DVRs 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e and recorded as digital video data. desirable.

Each DVR (106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e) transmits the compressed video data to each middleware server (107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 107e) through the network and each middleware server unit ( Preferably, storage units 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, and 108e for storing image information are provided for each of 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, and 107e. The middleware server unit 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 107e and the storage units 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d, 108e are preferably controlled and managed by the operation server 400.

2 is a view for explaining the operation of the system of FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the casino may include tables 1, 2, 3 and 4, surveillance cameras 103a, 103b, 103c and 103d, speed dome camera 104, PIT computer 105, dealer desk PC 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d).

Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 are designed to allow several players to sit around, and casino games are played on the tables 1, 2, 3, and 4. The dealer desk PCs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d are located at the top of the dealer desk, and the dealer uses the dealer desk PCs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d to check the entry and exit of the dealer and the guests, It is desirable to store the event by hour, dealer, PIT, event, guest ID, etc., and analyze and manage based on the stored data.

Surveillance cameras 103a, 103b, 103c, and 103d located at each table (1, 2, 3, 4) take images of the dealers and gamers of each table (1, 2, 3, 4) and game progress. The DVRs 106a, 106b, 106c, and 106d compress and store the images photographed by the surveillance cameras 103a, 103b, 103c, and 103d.

In addition, the speed dome camera 104 is installed in the center of the ceiling of the casino to shoot the entire state of the casino and to shoot in detail by zooming in on the face or specific part of the specific game player, the DVR 106e compresses and stores the captured image do.

In addition, the PIT computer 105 includes a monitor capable of storing and playing a game progress and a list of events progressed for each table and an overlay image capture board for capturing an image. In addition, the PIT computer 105 controls the start and end of sales of each table of the casino, and stores a list of the game progress and the time progressed events for each table (1, 2, 3, 4) and each table (1). Retrieve and output the stored information for each of 2, 3, 4). In general casino terms, PIT refers to the area in a casino that oversees a set of gaming tables, usually with four or five tables rounded and a PIT computer in the center.

3 shows in detail a menu on a monitor screen of each dealer desk PC 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. Referring to FIG. 3, the dealer and the game player each have an ID card, and the dealer desk PCs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d have a card reader 301 capable of recognizing the dealer's and the player's magnetic ID card. The dealer desk PCs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d have a touch screen screen 300, and the dealer desk PCs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d may be referred to as web pads.

Selection menus provided by the dealer desk PCs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d include a start / end of a PIT, a game player's participation / exit of a game, a currency exchange, a high stake, and a result, a drink order, and the like. Event information is generated when the dealer selects the corresponding event through the touch screen from the selection menu of the desk PCs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d.

4 illustrates an example of a database in which an event list for each hour is stored. Referring to FIG. 4, as a list of timed events according to the present invention, for example, PIT business start / end, business start / end of each dealer, game player's participation / exit, currency exchange information, betting, action (action), beverage orders, high stakes / results, etc. These event lists are stored in the database with time information. Here, action refers to the total amount of games played by a player during a game period. For example, if a player has played 100 hands by betting $ 25.00 per hand, his action is $ 2,500.00. In addition, betting refers to money or behavior of the player.

5 shows a detailed connection diagram of each camera, the PIT computer and the operation server according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the operation of the casino management system according to the present invention will be described. The surveillance cameras 103a, 103b, 103c, and 103d installed for each table 1, 2, 3, and 4 are arranged in the center of the casino floor. The image data photographed by the speed dome camera 104 is transmitted to the image data backup unit 200. The image data backup unit 200 includes a source unit 201, middleware server units 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d and 107e, and storage units 108a, 108b, 108c and 108d. The middleware server units 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, and 107e are connected to each other by a LAN network, and the LAN network functions to allow programs written to access a specific database to access other databases. The LAN network is preferably a 10/100 Mbps network.

The source unit 201 preferably includes DVRs (106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e) for compressing an image signal photographed by a photographing camera for surveillance and recording the image signal as digital image data. The storage units 108a, 108b, 108c, and 108d are preferably configured with a small computer system interface (SCSI) or an integrated drive electronics redundant array of independent RAID (IDE).

As shown in FIG. 5, image information captured by each camera 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, and 104 is managed and analyzed by the PIT computer 105, and monitors the information analyzed by the PIT computer 105. 500) can be confirmed.

6 shows image information of photographing each table according to the present invention on a monitor. Referring to FIG. 6, the monitor 500 may simultaneously reproduce a shooting screen for each table to capture and monitor a game state of each table and each player. In addition, it is possible to display and manage detailed information on the event list of each game player on one side of the monitor 500, and to enlarge and view only a specific channel.

7A and 7B illustrate screens for reproducing image information of photographing each table according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7A, the suspected player A of each table can simultaneously view the current shot screen 700 and the specific past shot screen 600 of the table participating in the game, thereby presenting the suspected player A's present. It is possible to simultaneously analyze and contrast the game play of the past and the game play of the past. Here, the suspicious player A refers to a player who plays a suspicious action such as making a large bet in a short period of time to make a large profit or try to cheat while playing the game.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the suspected player A of each table enlarges and plays the current shooting screen 700 of the table participating in the game to the full screen, and changes the specific past shooting screen 600 to the small screen. It is also desirable to play back and move to the bottom left of the monitor so that they can be viewed simultaneously.

8 shows a screen for searching stored information of a specific game player according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, a list of events of a suspicious player A is displayed on a monitor by searching a game progress status of a suspicious player A, past game participation and game results.

Referring to the operation of the embodiment according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

When a shooting camera for surveillance purposes is operated in a casino, the captured video signal is compressed by the DVR (Digital Video Recorder) 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e and recorded as digital video data. If the video data is to be backed up once a month, the video data is transmitted from the DVRs 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d and 106e to the middleware server units 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d and 107e.

Middleware is a term used to refer to a program that acts as an intermediary or association between two separate programs. It is like an "adhesive". A typical function of middleware is to allow programs written to access one database to access another database. In this embodiment, the middleware server unit 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 107e connects the database and the LAN network. It can also display forms in web browsers, use them to retrieve data from a database, or display dynamic pages based on user requests. For example, in a three-tier client / server architecture, middleware forms the middle tier. This class of middleware includes TP monitors, DCE environments, RPC systems, ObjectRequest Brokers (ORBs), database access systems, and message passing. have. In general, message queuing is used as a connection medium for communication with middleware programs.

9 is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of the casino management method according to an embodiment of the present invention carried out in the casino management system according to the present invention. First, a customer or dealer who wants to play a casino game recognizes an ID card in the form of a magnetic card in a card reader (step S500). Next, the ID information recognized in the step S500 and currency exchange information for the game are stored (step S501). The image information captured by the table camera and the ceiling camera is stored together with the time information (step S502). Next, the information stored in the step S502 is selected and monitored and managed by event, dealer, or PIT or time (step S503). Based on the monitored data of step S503, the stored image information of step S502 may be searched to track an image of a corresponding time (step S504).

10 shows a detailed flowchart of the process of monitoring each table. Referring to FIG. 10, first, each camera photographs and monitors the game progress and gamers of each table (step S600). If any suspicious player A is found (step S601), the stored event information of the suspicious player A found in step S601 is retrieved (step S602). On the basis of the information retrieved in the step S602, the video information of the suspicious game player A of the time is reproduced and output (step S603). Now, it is possible to analyze and contrast (step S604) based on the reproduced and outputted information of step S603.

Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a system for storing the video of the game player along with the event information on the situation of the game progress in the casino, and later retrieve the stored video with reference to the event information. In addition, it is possible to systematically manage game progress and various information of gamers at low cost, and to protect good gamers by analyzing the collected event information and contrasting image information recorded at the corresponding time. It has an excellent effect on the security management of the casino.

In addition, since the video data backup system according to the present invention directly connects the DVR to the middleware server unit, it is possible to use an existing 10/100 mega LAN environment without installing a high-speed network. In addition, by distributing storage space using SCSI or IDE RAID, it is possible to back up image data photographed by an image photographing apparatus such as a DVR at a low cost.

Claims (16)

A dealer desk computer installed adjacent to a table surrounded by gamers in a casino and providing a selection menu for a game progress and sending event information generated by the dealer during a casino game according to the selection menu; A surveillance camera positioned for each table and photographing a game state of a dealer and a game player and an image of the game player of each table; An image data backup unit compressing the captured image and storing the compressed image together with event information sent from the dealer desk computer; And And an operation server for searching and managing image data stored in the image data backup unit by referring to event information. The method of claim 1, wherein the event information, Casino management system, characterized in that it comprises time information when the event occurred. The method of claim 1, A speed dome camera installed at the center of the ceiling of the casino and zooming in and out of the entire casino, the game progress of each table, and a specific part of a specific player; And A PIT computer having a monitor for displaying images captured by the surveillance camera and the speed dome camera, storing event information generated according to game progress for each table, and retrieving and outputting a list of the event information; Casino management system. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection menu, Casino management system including at least one of the menu to enter the start / end of PIT, start / end of each dealer, enter / exit game for each customer, order drinks, high bets / results. The casino management system of claim 1, wherein the dealer desk computer monitor is a touch screen type. The computer of claim 1, wherein the dealer desk computer comprises: The casino management system comprising a card reader for recognizing the ID card of the dealer and the customer and sends event information generated during the game through the card reader. The method of claim 2, wherein the PIT computer, Equipped with an overlay image capture board, The casino management system, characterized in that for storing the progress of the game for each table and the list of events progressed by time, and retrieves and outputs the game progress and the time progressed events for each table. The method of claim 3, wherein the PIT computer, A casino management system, characterized in that the current specific shooting screen for each table is made full screen, and the specific past shooting screen is displayed on the monitor while moving to a predetermined area of the monitor. The method of claim 1, wherein the video data backup unit, A source unit which transmits the image data in the compressed digital data format when the image data is to be backed up; A middleware server unit connected to each other by a LAN network and having an operating server connected to the LAN network, wherein a program written to access a specific database can access another database; And And a storage unit connected to the middleware server unit for distributing and storing a large amount of image data. The method of claim 9, wherein the source portion, And a DVR for compressing an image signal photographed by a photographing camera for surveillance and recording the image signal as digital image data. The method of claim 9, wherein the storage unit, Casino management system, characterized by either SCSI or IDE RAID. The method of claim 9, wherein the LAN network, Casino management system, characterized in that the 10/100 Mbps network. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation server, A monitor capable of monitoring images captured by each camera and speed dome camera of the casino; And storage for storing event information checked in each dealer desk computer. (a) providing a selection menu for the game progress in the casino and sending the event information generated during the casino game by the dealer according to the selection menu; (b) taking an image by a camera and storing the event information sent in step (a) together with the captured image; And (c) retrieving the image information stored in the step (c) based on the event information stored in the step (b). The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) is (c-1) selecting an arbitrary game player based on the event information; (c-2) searching image information of any game player selected in the step (c-1); And (c-3) analyzing and matching the image information retrieved in the step (c-2). The method of claim 15, wherein step (b), Photographing the game progress and gamers' video of each table by means of a surveillance camera installed at each table of the casino and storing the event information sent in step (a); And Casino management, comprising the step of zooming in on the entire face of the casino and the face or specific part of the specific casino by the speed dome camera installed in the center of the casino and storing the event information sent in the step (a); Way.