Method, apparatus and article for computational sequence generation and playing card distribution

• US 20050110210A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The United States Playing Card Company (Cartamundi NV)
• Original Assignee: ARL, Inc.
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149.P
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2411 Input form cards, tapes, discs
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID

Abstract

A computationally generated playing card sequence (e.g., pseudo-random, non pseudo-random, or partially pseudo-random) allows shuffled distribution of playing cards. Playing cards may be organized into card holders by at least one or a rank and a suit, and retrieved in the computationally generated order. Alternatively, playing cards may be organized into card holders in order of a computationally generated sequence, and retrieve as necessary. Unreadable playing cards may be automatically removed from play.

Claims

1. A method of arranging a plurality of playing cards in preparation for a playing card game, the method comprising:

sorting the plurality of playing cards into a number of card holders by at least one of a rank or a suit of the playing cards;

computationally generating a pseudo-random sequence of playing card values, each of the playing card values corresponding to at least one of a playing card rank or suit;

removing a number of the playing cards from the card holders based on at least one of the rank or the suit of the playing cards and in an order matching at least a portion of the generated pseudo-random sequence of playing card values.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein computationally generating a first pseudo-random playing card sequence from a first set of playing card values includes executing a pseudo-random number generation algorithm on a processor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reading at least one of the rank or a suit of the playing card with a card reader before sorting the playing card into one of the card holders.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein sorting the plurality of playing cards into a number of card holders by at least one of a rank or a suit of the playing cards includes sorting playing cards of identical rank or suit into respective ones of the card holders.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein sorting the plurality of playing cards into a number of card holders by at least one of a rank or a suit of the playing cards includes sorting playing cards of identical rank into respective ones of the card holders.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein sorting the plurality of playing cards into a number of card holders by at least one of a rank or a suit of the playing cards includes sorting playing cards of identical rank and suit into respective ones of the card holders.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein sorting the plurality of playing cards into a number of card holders by at least one of a rank or a suit of the playing cards includes sorting playing cards of identical suit into respective ones of the card holders.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the playing card bears an illicit marking; and

directing playing cards bearing illicit markings to an alternate card holder.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

directing damaged playing cards to an alternate card holder.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for each of the card holders, determining a quantity of the playing cards that are received in the respective card holders before removing the number of the playing cards from the card holders.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein computationally generating a pseudo-random sequence of playing card values includes determining playing card values for each playing card in at least one deck, wherein one deck is comprised of at least fifty-two playing cards.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein computationally generating a pseudo-random sequence of playing card values includes determining playing card values for each playing card in at least eight decks, wherein each deck is comprised of at least fifty-two playing cards.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein computationally generating a pseudo-random sequence of playing card values includes selecting a number of playing cards to be used in the generated sequence to achieve a theoretical win/loss threshold associated with a playing card game.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein removing a number of the playing cards from the card holders includes removing a quantity of playing cards that is less than the plurality of playing cards.

15. A playing card delivery device, comprising:

a card receiver sized and dimensioned to receive a plurality of playing cards;

a plurality of card holders;

a card reader to read at least one identifier on each of the playing cards, the card reader positioned to read the playing cards before the playing cards are sorted into the respective card holders;

a first transport means for sequentially transporting each playing card from the card receiver to the card holders;

a processor programmed to generate a pseudo-random playing card sequence from a set of playing card values;

a distribution means for distributing the playing cards from the card holders based on the identifier on the playing cards and in an order corresponding to the generated pseudo-random sequence of playing card values; and

an output receptacle sized and dimensioned to receive the distributed playing cards.

16. The playing card delivery device of claim 15, further comprising:

an alternate card holder to receive a playing card having at least one illicit marking.

17. The playing card delivery device of claim 15, further comprising:

an alternate card holder to receive damaged playing cards.

18. The playing card delivery device of claim 15 wherein the transport means comprises an input conveyer.

19. The playing card delivery device of claim 18 wherein the transport means further comprises an input actuator positioned to transfer each playing card from the input conveyor to one of the respective card holders.

20. The playing card delivery device of claim 19 wherein the input actuator is a roller that is driven in response to control signals from a microprocessor.

21. The playing card delivery device of claim 15 wherein the distribution means comprises an output conveyor.

22. The playing card delivery device of claim 15, further comprising:

a counter to determine a quantity of the playing cards received by the card holders.

23. The playing card delivery device of claim 15, further comprising:

a controller programmably operable to control a position of at least some of the card holders with respect to the transport means.

24. The playing card delivery device of claim 15 wherein the identifier is a machine-readable symbol.

25. A playing card delivery device, comprising:

a receiving means sized and dimensioned for receiving a plurality of playing cards;

a storage means for at least temporarily storing at least some of the playing cards received from the receiving means;

a reading means for reading at least one identifier on each of the playing cards that is provided to the storage means, the reading means positioned to read the identifier on the playing cards before the playing cards are sorted into the storage means;

a transport means for sequentially transporting each playing card from the receiving means to the storage means;

a computing means for generating a pseudo-random playing card sequence from a set of playing card values;

a distribution means for distributing the playing cards from the storage means based on the identifier on the playing cards and in an order corresponding to the generated pseudo-random sequence of playing card values; and

an output means sized and dimensioned for receiving the distributed playing cards.

26. The playing card delivery device of claim 25, further comprising:

a secondary storage means for receiving a playing card having at least on illicit marking.

27. The playing card delivery device of claim 25, further comprising:

a secondary storage means for receiving damaged playing cards.

28. The playing card delivery device of claim 25 wherein the transport means comprises an input conveyer.

29. The playing card delivery device of claim 28 wherein the transport means further comprises an input actuator positioned to remove each playing card from the input conveyor to the storage means.

30. The playing card delivery device of claim 29 wherein the input actuator is a roller that is driven in response to control signals from a microprocessor.

31. The playing card delivery device of claim 25 wherein the distribution means comprises an output conveyer.

32. The playing card delivery device of claim 25, further comprising:

a counting means for determining a quantity of the playing cards received by the storage means.

33. The playing card delivery device of claim 25, further comprising:

a positioning means for substantially aligning a portion of the storage means to receive at least one of the playing cards from the transport means.

34. The playing card delivery device of claim 25 wherein the identifier on the playing card is a machine-readable symbol.

35. The playing card delivery device of claim 25 wherein the identifier is at least one of a rank or a suit located on the playing card.