SYSTEM FOR RENDERING AND STORING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS PRESENT IN A BUILDING, SUCH AS A CASINO

The present invention relates to a system for displaying and tracking the number of people present in a building such as a casino, and to a method for displaying and tracking the number of persons present in a building such as a casino.

Systems for displaying the number of persons present in buildings are per se known, as is the use thereof in a casino or similar establishment, such as an amusement arcade. The systems generally comprise means for recording and displaying the number of persons who have entered the building via a main or other entrance.

A drawback is that the known systems only provide insight into the total number of persons or visitors present in a building, but not into the spread or distribution of these persons over the various separate rooms inside the building. Insight into this distribution of the visitors to a casino is very useful for, among other purposes, the allocation of staff, catering and security personnel over the various rooms, while it also becomes apparent which games and attractions are popular with people at a specific time. A further drawback is that such systems, which only record the overall number of visitors, often make use of photo or video cameras, which is not always desirable in an establishment such as a casino for reasons of privacy.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for displaying the number of persons present in rooms and buildings which at least partly obviates the above stated drawbacks, or to provide a usable alternative.

The invention provides for this purpose a system of the above stated type, comprising at least one sensor assembly which is disposed at a passage between two separate rooms and which is adapted to generate measurement data when a person goes through a passage, a control unit coupled to the sensor assembly for generating information related to the gaming devices on the basis of the measurement data; and display means coupled to the control unit for the purpose of representing both the measurement data and the generated information related to the gaming devices.

Because a sensor assembly is disposed in at least all but one of the passages between two separate rooms, the system according to the present invention not only provides insight into the total number of persons present but also into the number of people in each of the rooms, if the total number of people who have entered the building has been tracked. If this is not the case, it is necessary to dispose a sensor assembly at each passage. The number of persons present in a determined room can here be tracked and/or displayed locally or centrally. The system according to the invention is also adapted to have the control unit generate information relating to gaming devices present in the room(s). This game-related information is here preferably aimed at promoting the gaming devices to the persons present in the room(s), which will increase the appeal of the gaming devices. The attraction to players is relevant from a financial viewpoint to operators and developers of the game of chance devices, usually formed by slot machines, wherein attempts will be made to improve the involvement of players in games of chance as much as possible. Display of this information related to the gaming devices can for instance be realized by means of one or more video screens or other types of screen. The information related to the gaming devices to be displayed audibly and/or visually can be of very diverse nature, wherein it is for instance possible to indicate by means of the information which and/or how many gaming devices is/are positioned in the room(s). Information relating to the current payout percentages and/or payout amounts of the gaming devices is preferably displayed to the public via the display means in order to increase the appeal of playing on the gaming devices. It is noted in this context that the information related to the gaming devices is generally shown directly to the persons present in the τoom(s), although the measurement data as such are not usually shown directly to these persons. The measurement data are generally displayed in (an)other way(s), for instance via a computer screen in a (control) area screened off from the public. In a particular preferred embodiment the control unit is coupled to the gaming devices, wherein the control unit is adapted to regulate the payout amount of at least one of the gaming devices on the basis of the collected measurement data. It is hereby thus not the chance of winning but only the amount or credit (the payout amount) to be won which is regulated subject to the number of people detected. In this way the appeal and the challenge of playing on the gaming devices can be further increased, whereby persons can be enticed in relatively efficient manner to enter (a) certain room(s), whereby the distribution of persons inside the building, and

also inside the room(s), can be regulated in relatively effective manner, this being of substantial commercial value particularly in casinos and amusement arcades.

In an embodiment the display means are adapted to display in at least a number of rooms the number of people present in these rooms. The number of people present can for instance be shown on a display, which is for instance placed behind a bar or counter. A manager or a person responsible for a determined room hereby has immediate insight into the number of people present and, if required, can request back-up on the basis thereof.

In an advantageous embodiment the system comprises communication means for sending the measurement data to a central database, which central database is adapted to determine the number of people present in each separate room on the basis of the measurement data. In this manner it is possible to have an overview at one location of how the persons present are distributed over the various rooms.

In another advantageous embodiment the database is adapted to increase or decrease the displayed number of people in a room on the basis of the measurement data. A correct display of the number of people is thus realized.

In a subsequent preferred embodiment the database is adapted to display in real time the number of people in at least one room. An immediate response to the distribution of the persons is thus possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment the at least one sensor assembly comprises a first and second sensor placed at a mutual distance in a passage direction for determining a direction in which the person moves through the at least one passage on the basis of a sequence of measurement data generated by the first and second sensor, wherein the shown number of persons present in the room is increased or decreased.

The use of two sensors for determining a direction in which a person moves through a determined passage provides a very reliable possibility for determining the direction of movement, and thus provides insight into whether the total number of people present in the relevant room increases or decreases when the person passes through. Each sensor

preferably comprises a transmitter and a receiver for infrared light. It is possible in this manner to have the count take place inconspicuously relative to the persons, while a correct recording is not impeded by incident artificial light or other ambient light, since this is outside a frequency range of the infrared receiver. Infrared light is also safe for people.

In a further embodiment at least one sensor is advantageously placed at a height between 70 and 110 centimetres from an underside of the passage. At this height, an average hip height, an accurate measurement can be performed because relatively few double measurements occur due to arms or legs moving past the sensor assembly some distance from each other or the rest of the body. The accuracy of the system can be further increased by relating a duration of a measurement signal generated by a sensor to a normal passage speed and declaring measurements valid or invalid on the basis thereof.

An even more reliable measurement is achieved if the first and second sensor are adapted to emit a parallel light beam. Such a pair of light beams, which must have a directional component in a direction perpendicularly of the direction in which a person must have passed through the passage, provides the advantage that the signals generated by the sensors do not depend on the location at which a person moves through the passage.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communication means comprise wireless communication means, such as means for communication via wireless Ethernet. The system can hereby be readily placed in already existing buildings and can be expanded in simple manner. In addition, sensor assemblies placed at the passage to a room which has fallen into disuse can be transferred to another location in simple manner.

In a further preferred embodiment the display means for representing the number of people present in each room is adapted to display the number of people present per room on an image, such as a floor plan. In this way a responsible person can very quickly obtain an overview of the distribution of the persons over the different rooms.

In yet a further preferred embodiment at least one sensor assembly can be adapted for remote activation and deactivation. Errors resulting from the accidental activation of a sensor at a passage to a closed-off room can hereby be prevented.

In another further preferred embodiment the system is adapted to determine the number of people present in the one separate room with passages without sensor assembly by subtracting the sum of the number of people present in the other separate rooms from the total of people who have entered via a shared main entrance. One sensor assembly fewer is thus always required than the overall number of rooms for which it must be possible to display the number of people. When the number of sensor assemblies is equal to or greater than the number of rooms or passages, a verification can on the other hand take place because the total number of persons in the rooms must be equal to the total number of persons who have entered the casino building via the main entrance.

The present invention can be applied for displaying the number of persons present in each of a number of separate rooms of a building connected by means of at least one passage, wherein gaming devices are placed in at least some of the number of rooms, by providing a sensor assembly at all but one of the passages between two separate rooms, which assembly is adapted to generate measurement data when a person moves through the passage, to send the measurement data to the central database, to determine the number of people present in each separate room on the basis of the measurement data and to display the number of people present in each separate room.

The invention also relates to a method for displaying the number of people present in each of a number of separate rooms of a building connected by at least one passage, wherein gaming devices are placed in at least some of the number of rooms, in particular a method for applying a system according to the invention, comprising of: providing a sensor assembly at least at all but one of the passages between two separate rooms, which assembly is adapted to generate measurement data when a person moves through the passage; detecting the movement of persons through the passage; sending the measurement data to a central database; determining the number of persons present in each separate room on the basis of the measurement data; and displaying the number of persons present in each separate room. Advantages and embodiment variants of the

method according to the invention have already been described at length in the foregoing.

The invention will be elucidated with reference to the following non-limitative figures, in which: figure 1 shows a floor plan of a casino building in which a system according to the present invention is accommodated and wherein a part of the system is shown on enlarged scale; and figure 2 shows a perspective view of a passage with a sensor assembly for use in a system according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a casino building 100 which is sub-divided into rooms 110, 120, 130, 140, 150. Room 110 can be accessed by people via a front door 115, while rooms 120, 130, 140 and 150 can be accessed from room 110 via respective passages 125, 135, 145 and 155. In addition, it is possible to walk via passage 165 from room 140 to room 150, and vice versa. The passages can optionally be provided with doors or similar screens. Game of chance devices 118, 128, 138, 148 and 158 are provided in the rooms.

Each of the passages 115, 125, 135, 145, 155, 165 is provided with a respective sensor assembly 116, 126, 136, 146, 156, 166. The sensor assemblies are provided with respective wireless communication means 117, 127, 137, 147, 157, 167 with which they can communicate with central database 170, which is coupled to display device 180 which is placed by way of example in room 150 and is formed by a personal computer, laptop and/or a video screen (not shown) visible to the public. The display device here shows measurement data obtained from sensors 115, 125, 135, 145, 155, 165 in an image which corresponds with a floor plan of casino 100. In addition, information related to gaming devices 118, 128, 138, 148 and 158 can in this way be communicated to the public in order to increase the appeal of playing on the gaming devices 118, 128, 138, 148 and 158 and thereby enable an increase in total cash flow and turnover.

Figure 2 shows a passage 200 between two rooms 140, 150 in which is arranged a sensor assembly 210, which comprises a first transmitter 211 and a second transmitter 212, which have a mutual distance 216 of about 20 centimetres. Together with first receiver 213 the first transmitter forms a first sensor and together with second receiver

214 the second transmitter 212 forms a second sensor. The sensor assembly is placed at a height 215, which is substantially the hip height of a person 300.

In addition to the shown configuration, wherein transmitters 211 and 121 are situated on a first side of the passage and first receiver 213 and second receiver 214 are situated on a second side, they can also all be situated on the first side, wherein reflectors are situated on the second side for reflecting light beams emitted by the first and second transmitters.

Many other configurations are possible in addition to the shown embodiments, all of which lie within the scope of protection of the present invention, as laid down in the following claims.