HK1160060B - Gambling terminal having a digital camera - Google Patents

Description

The Commission has already adopted a proposal for a directive.

The invention relates to a game-taking terminal, of a type comprising a support for receiving a game document and a camera capable of capturing an image of the game document.

The state of the art

The main function of the gaming terminals is to record the participation of users in gambling, to issue receipts and to identify winners of these games. These terminals are usually installed in retail outlets (including desktops), and are connected to a remote central server managed by a gambling operator.

user refers to a person who participates in gambling by placing a bet in the hope of winning.

operator means a person who registers bets on behalf of a gambling operator.

We know of game-taking terminals with image acquisition devices, a processing unit, a touch screen and a printer.

To register a bet, a user hands a game ticket to the operator. The operator enters the ticket into the terminal. The terminal acquires an image of the game ticket. The processing unit detects the information entered on the game ticket and transmits this information to the remote central server for registration. The central server records the bet and returns a registration number to the terminal. The terminal issues a game receipt which is handed to the user.

To know his winnings, the user must hand over the gaming receipt to an operator again. The operator enters the receipt into the terminal. The terminal acquires an image of the receipt. The processing unit detects the registration number written on the receipt and queries the remote central server. The central server returns the result of the user's winnings to the terminal.

The touchscreen allows the point of sale operator to select a game when recording the transaction, view or correct the detected information, and order the transaction.

In some terminals, the means of image acquisition are a scrolling scanner.

The operator passes the game ticket or receipt through the scanner of the terminal, the document is rolled through the scanner and deposited in a receptacle.

It has also been proposed that terminals in which the means of image acquisition include a digital camera.

In these terminals, the ticket is simply placed by the operator on a surface of a stand and an image of the ticket is acquired by a digital camera.

However, the latter terminals do not always detect the information on the game cards reliably, which may be due to the bad positioning of the cards in relation to the camera.

WO 2006/099504 A2 describes a game-taking terminal comprising a camera and a light source projecting a pattern onto the game board.

The above detection problem may also be due to flatness defects in the bullet which cause distortions in the image acquired.

In addition, digital camera terminals are particularly sensitive to parasitic light from the surrounding environment.

In addition, regardless of the image acquisition technique used, it is always the point of sale operator who manipulates the game ticket or receipt and enters it into the terminal. US-A-5 256 863 describes a game take-out terminal, including a support designed to receive a game document assigned to a user and a barcode reader capable of acquiring an image of the game document when the game document is placed on the support.

Document EP-A-0 240 203 describes a game-taking terminal using a camera to take an image of game material.

It is possible for the user to control all the different operations performed by the operator.

A malicious operator may substitute another receipt for the player's receipt.

Therefore, there are also verification terminals installed in the outlets, which allow users to check for themselves, if their gaming receipts are winning. The user places his receipt under a barcode reader of the verification terminal, the terminal queries the central server and a message then appears on a screen indicating whether the receipt is winning. If so, the player then presents his receipt to the operator for payment.

With the exception of verification terminals, which are limited in their functions, current gaming terminals are used only by operators acting on behalf of the gaming operator, which results in a lack of transparency of some of the transaction vis-à-vis the user, in particular when verifying receipts before payment.

The first two are:

One purpose of the invention is to allow users to better control transactions.

This problem is solved in the present invention by a game-taking terminal, comprising a support designed to receive a game document assigned to a user and a camera capable of capturing an image of the game document when the game document is placed on the support, the terminal having a first side designed to face an operator and a second side, opposite the first side and facing the user, in which the terminal has a first opening arranged on the first side and a second opening arranged on the second side, so that the game document is visible simultaneously by the operator and the user during the acquisition of the image.

With such a terminal, the game document is visible to the user so that the user can easily control the course of the acquisition operation.

a gambling document means any document intended to be read by a gambling terminal, such as a gambling ticket on which a user enters the bet data or a gambling receipt issued by a gambling terminal summarising the bet data.

The terminal may have the following characteristics: the terminal consists of a cavity, the support extending inside the cavity, and the cavity is accessible by the operator and the user via the first opening and the second opening respectively,the terminal consists of user-oriented user interface means so that the user can view the information displayed on the interface means,the user interface means consists of a touch screen enabling the user to validate and/or correct the information displayed,the terminal consists of a processing unit, the processing unit being capable, from the acquired image, of extracting information from the game document,the terminal shall include a lighting device capable of projecting a reference pattern onto the game document and a processing unit capable of correcting the acquired image according to a distortion of the pattern present in the acquired image,the terminal shall include means of placing the game document on the support,the terminal shall include a box in which the support,camera and a processing unit are housed,the processing unit shall be placed under the support,the terminal shall include an enclosure delimiting a cavity into which the support extends,the terminal shall include side walls extending on either side of the first and second openings,the screen shall obscure at least part of the light emitted towards the support.

Description of the drawings

Other features and advantages will be shown in the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limitative and should be read in conjunction with the figures annexed, including: Figure 1 schematically represents a game system,Figure 2 schematically represents different equipment of a game-taking terminal,Figures 3 and 4 schematically represent, in perspective, a game-taking terminal conforming to a mode of implementation of the invention,Figure 5 schematically represents, in perspective, the terminal without the screens,Figures 6 and 7 schematically represent steps of a game-taking process and steps of a win-checking process.

Detailed description of a method of implementation

In Figure 1, the game system consists of a central server 10 managed by a game operator and a plurality of game-taking terminals 1, 2,... N located in different retail outlets.

The central server 10 records and centralises all bets collected by the gaming terminals.

In Figure 2, the game-taking terminal 1 schematically comprises a box 3, a media 63, image acquisition means in the form of a digital camera 31, a light source 32, a processing unit 33, an operator interface in the form of a touch screen 12, a user interface in the form of a touch screen 22, receipt editing means in the form of a printer 34 and a communication interface 35 for exchanging data with the remote central server.

In Figures 3 to 5, the play terminal 4 is symmetrical to a plane P. The plane P divides terminal 4 into a first part 41 (front part) extending on one side of the plane P, and a second part 42 (rear part) extending on another side of the plane P. The first part 41 has a first side 11 (front side) facing an operator and the second part 42 has a second side 21 (back side) facing the user.

The game terminal 4 comprises box 3 and the two touchscreens 12 and 22 over box 3. Box 3 comprises a front wall 13 forming the first side, a rear wall 23 forming the second side and two side walls 43 Walls 13, 23, 43 define an enclosure surrounding a cavity 53 presenting a game document.

Terminal 4 also includes the Document 63 holder extending inside the cavity 53. The Document 63 holder includes a reception surface on which a game document assigned to a user for acquisition can be deposited.

The front wall 13 has a first opening 14 and the rear wall 23 has a second opening 24, so that cavity 53 is accessible by both the operator via the first opening 14 and the user via the second opening 24.

When a game document is placed on the holder 63 in the enclosure, the document is visible simultaneously to the operator and to the user through the apertures 14, 24.

Box 3 has a bottom 73 (or base) and a top 83. The bottom 73 of the box contains the data processing unit 33. The top 3 of the box contains the digital camera 31 and the lighting device 32.

The bottom part of the box 3 containing the processing unit is wider than the top part which supports the two touch screens 12, 22. The base 73 provides good stability for the terminal 4 while the top part of the box 83 thins to provide minimal space and make room for the screens 12, 22.

Box 3 has at its top 83 fixing means 15, 25 of the screens 12, 22 on the box 3. The screens 12, 22 are arranged on either side of the P-plane of symmetry. A first screen 12 extends on the first side 11 of box 3 so as to be visible to the operator while a second screen 22 extends on the second side 21 of box 3 so as to be visible to the user facing it. The screens 12, 22 allow for displaying information viewed simultaneously by the operator and the user. In addition, the operator and user can each interact with their respective screens to validate and/or correct the displayed information.

The first screen 12 and the second screen 22 extend above the first aperture 14 and the second aperture 24 respectively. In this configuration, the operator and user can each simultaneously view a screen 12, 22 and the game document deposited on the holder 63.

The first and second screens 12, 22 are inclined with respect to the plane of symmetry P. The screens 12, 22 are oriented to allow for comfortable viewing and use by the operator and user.

In addition, the screens 12, 22 are arranged to block at least part of the ambient light emitted towards the support 63, in particular from the ceiling of the room in which the terminal is installed.

For example, walls 13, 23, 43 of cavity 53 and screens 12, 22 help to block out parasitic light radiation that may interfere with image acquisition.

The digital camera 31 and the lighting device 32 are located in the top 83 of box 3, above the holder 63. The holder 63 and the camera 31 are positioned on either side of the cavity 53.

The lighting device 32 illuminates the reception surface of the support 63. In addition, the lighting device 32 projects a reference pattern (or viewfinder) onto the game document. The processing unit is programmed to run an image straightening algorithm to correct the acquired image based on a distortion of the reference pattern present in the acquired image. Thus, when the game document is not flat (the document has distortions, including due to folds), the processing unit generates a corrected image of the document, which improves the reliability of information extraction.

Finally, terminal 4 may include means for placing the game document on the support, such as an aspiration device creating a depression between the reception surface and the document, or a device generating electrostatic charges.

Terminal 4 has the advantage of being a single unit: all the equipment is housed or supported by a single housing.

To participate in a game of chance, such as a lottery, a user fills out a game ticket, which has a grid with numbers on it, and the user selects numbers by ticking the boxes on the grid.

The user carries the ticket to a point of sale. As shown in Figure 6, the user inserts the ticket into terminal 4 cavity 53 via the second opening 24 and places it on the holder 63 (step 101). Alternatively, the user hands the ticket to an operator and the operator inserts the document into terminal 4 cavity 53 via the first opening 14.

The processing unit 33 commands camera 31 to capture an image of the game ball (step 102). The capture can be triggered automatically, by detection of the presence of the ball on the support, or manually by the operator.

The image data acquired by camera 31 is transmitted to processing unit 33 for processing. Processing unit 33 extracts from the image data the information on the game board (step 103). This information includes, in particular, the type of game and the numbers selected by the user on the game board.

The processing unit then commands the screens 12, 22 to display the extracted information, screens 12, 22 simultaneously displaying the information so that the operator and user can view it.

The operator and/or user have the possibility to check and correct the information displayed before validating it (step 104) using the touch screen 12, 22.

Once the operator and/or user have validated the displayed information, the processing unit 33 transmits the information to the remote central server (step 105). The central server 10 records the information associated with the transaction, including game data as well as the date, time of the transaction and point of sale. The central server 10 assigns a number to the transaction (step 106). The central server 10 transmits the transaction number to the processing unit 33 (step 107).

When the processing unit 33 receives the transaction number, it orders the printer 34 to print a summary receipt containing all the transaction data and a barcode corresponding to the transaction number (step 108).

The operator shall provide the user with a receipt certifying the registration of the user's participation in the game.

The user can then go to a point of sale to check whether the receipt is a winner. As shown in Figure 7, the user enters the receipt into terminal 4 cavity 53 via the second opening 24 and deposits it on the holder 63 (step 201). Alternatively, the user hands the receipt to an operator, who enters it into terminal 4 cavity 53 via the first opening 14 and deposits it on the holder 63.

The processing unit 33 commands the camera to capture an image of the receipt (step 202). The acquisition can be triggered automatically, by detection of the presence of the receipt on the carrier, or manually by the operator.

During the acquisition of the image, the receipt remains visible to the user, thanks to the second opening 24.

The image data acquired by camera 31 is transmitted to processing unit 33 for processing. Processing unit 33 corrects the image data and extracts the game type and transaction number from the image data. Terminal 4 queries the remote central server 10 (step 203).

The central server 10 contains all the transaction data of users for a single game.

From the transaction number, server 10 determines whether the receipt is a winner and determines the amount of the associated gain if any (step 205).

Terminal 10 receives the result and displays the result on screens 12, 22 (step 207).

The user can follow the different operations carried out by the operator and can view or validate the information displayed on the screen at the same time as the operator.

In addition to gaming documents, the terminal described above can also be used to recognise and verify other documents, including secure documents such as bank notes.

Claims (14)

1. Gambling terminal (4), comprising a mount (63) for receiving a gambling document belonging to a user and a camera (31) able to acquire an image of the gambling document when the gambling document is placed on the mount, the terminal (4) having a first side (11) intended to face an agent and a second side (21), opposite the first side (11), and intended to face the user, in which the terminal (4) has a first opening (14) arranged on the first side (11) and a second opening (24) arranged on the second side (21) such that the gambling document can be seen simultaneously by the agent and the user while the image is being acquired.
2. Terminal according to claim 1, comprising a cavity (53), the mount (63) extending inside the cavity, and in which the cavity (53) is accessible by the agent and by the user via the first opening (14), respectively the second opening (24).
3. Terminal according to one of claims 1 or 2, comprising user interface means (22) oriented such that the user views the information displayed on the interface means (22).
4. Terminal according to claim 3, in which the user interface means (22) include a touch screen enabling the user to validate and/or correct the information displayed.
5. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a processing unit (33), said processing unit being able, from the acquired image, to extract information depicted on the gambling document.
6. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a lighting device (32) able to project onto the gambling document a reference pattern, and a processing unit (33) able to correct the image acquired as a function of a deformation of the pattern present in the acquired image.
7. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, comprising means for laying flat the gambling document on the mount (63).
8. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a casing (3) in which are housed the mount (63), the camera (31) and a processing unit (33).
9. Terminal according to claim 8, in which the processing unit (33) is arranged under the mount (63).
10. Terminal according to claim 1, comprising an enclosure (13, 23, 43) delimiting a cavity (53) in which extends the mount (63).
11. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, comprising lateral walls (43) extending on either side of the first and the second openings (14, 24).
12. Terminal according to claim 4, in which the screen (22) blacks out at least in part the light emitted in the direction of the mount (63).
13. Gambling system, comprising at least one terminal (4) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and a remote central server (10), in which the terminal is able to acquire an image of a gambling document and to transmit the corresponding information to the central server (10).
14. Gambling method according to which a gambling terminal conforming to one of claims 1 to 12 acquires an image of a gambling document and transmits the corresponding information to a remote central server (10).