METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR AN AUTOMATIC CARD HANDLING DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS INCLUDING SAME

• US 20080113700A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vladislav Zvercov, Zbigniew Czyzewski
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Zvercov, Vladislav, Czyzewski, Zbigniew
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/11
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2411 Input form cards, tapes, discs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

An automatic card handling device, automatic card handling devices within a network, and methods of use are disclosed. An automatic card handling device includes a shuffling apparatus with a controller and configured to deliver a set of shuffled cards, and a communication module operably coupled to the controller. The communication module is configured for establishing an electronic communication with a local or world-wide network and thereafter sending and receiving information related to the operation of the automatic card handling device across the network. A network of automatic card handling devices may include plurality of automatic card shufflers. The network may also include at least one server operably coupled to the plurality of automatic card shufflers. In addition, the server may be operably coupled to a service center through a world-wide network.

Claims

1. An automatic card handling device, comprising:

a shuffling apparatus with a controller, the apparatus configured for shuffling an input set of cards and delivering an output set of cards resulting from the shuffling; and

a communication module operably coupled to the controller, wherein the communication module is configured for sending and receiving information related to operation of the automatic card handling device across a communication port configured for operable coupling to a communication network.

2. The card handling device of claim 1, further comprising a detection module configured for recognizing a rank and suit of each card of the output set of cards prior to removal of the output set of cards from the shuffling apparatus.

3. The card handling device of claim 2, further comprising a microcontroller configured for performing the functions of the detection module and the communication module.

4. The card handling device of claim 3, wherein the microcontroller is further configured with a diagnosis module configured for performing a self-diagnosis on the card handling device.

5. The card handling device of claim 3, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to selectively operate in one of a set-up, run, and service mode.

6. The card handling device of claim 2, further comprising a custom hardware module configured for performing the functions of the detection module and the communication module.

7. The card handling device of claim 6, wherein the custom hardware module is further configured to selectively operate in one of set-up, run, and service mode.

8. The card handling device of claim 6, wherein the custom hardware module is further configured with a diagnosis module configured for performing a self-diagnosis on the card handling device.

9. A network of card handling devices, comprising:

a plurality of automatic card handling devices, each card handling device of the plurality comprising;

a shuffling apparatus with a controller, the apparatus configured for shuffling an input set of cards and delivering an output set of cards resulting from the shuffling; and

a communication module operably coupled to the controller, wherein the communication module is configured for sending and receiving information across a communication port; and

a communication network operably coupled to the communication port of each card handling device of the plurality.

10. The network of card handling devices of claim 9, wherein each card handling device of the plurality of automatic card handling devices further comprises a detection module configured for recognizing a rank and suit of each card of the output set of cards prior to removal of the output set of cards from the shuffling apparatus.

11. The network of card handling devices of claim 9, further comprising a server operably coupled to the communication network and configured to send and receive information from the plurality of card handling devices over the communication network and a world-wide network.

12. The network of card handling devices of claim 11, wherein the server is located within an operator station.

13. The network of card handling devices of claim 11, further comprising a service center operably coupled to the server over the world-wide network.

14. The network of card handling devices of claim 13, wherein the communication network comprises one of a local network and the world-wide network.

15. The network of card handling devices of claim 9, wherein the communication network comprises one of a wireless communication network and a wired communication network or a combination thereof.

16. A network of card handling devices comprising:

at least one local communication network, the at least one local communication network comprising;

at least one automatic card handling device, the at least one automatic card handling device comprising;

a shuffling apparatus configured for shuffling an input set of cards and delivering an output set of cards resulting from the shuffling;

a detection module configured for recognizing a rank and suit of each card of the output set of cards prior to removal of the output set of cards from the shuffling apparatus; and

a communication module operably coupled to the detection module, wherein the communication module is configured for sending and receiving information related to operation of the at least one automatic card handling device across a communication port, wherein the communication port is configured to direct operable coupling to at least one local pit communication network of the plurality; and

at least one local server, wherein each of the at least one local server is operably coupled to one of the at least one local communication network and wherein the at least one local server is configured to send and receive information over the at least one local communication network to which it is coupled.

17. The network of card handling devices of claim 16, wherein each of the at least one local server is located within a pit operator station.

18. The network of card handling devices of claim 16, further comprising a server operably coupled to each of the at least one local communication network.

19. The network of card handling devices of claim 18, wherein the server is configured to send and receive information across each of the at least one local communication network and a world-wide network.

20. The network of card handling devices of claim 18, wherein the server is located within an operator station.

21. The network of card handling devices of claim 20, further comprising a service center operably coupled to the server over a world-wide network.

22. A method of operating a network of automatic card handling devices, comprising:

establishing a communication link across a communication network between at least one automatic card handling device and at least one server; and

transmitting information from the at least one automatic card handling device to the at least one server across the communication network, wherein the information is related to operation of the at least one automatic card handling device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving control information at the at least one automatic card handling device from the at least one server.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the control information received comprises one of a work command, a software or firmware upgrade, and a self-diagnosis request.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting at least one message from the at least one server to a service center across a world-wide network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one message comprises one of an alert and a request.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising performing troubleshooting routines on the at least one automatic card handling device from the service center across the world-wide network and the communication network.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising installing software updates or patches on the at least one automatic card handling device from the service center across the world-wide network and the communication network.

29. A computer-readable media storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform instructions for operating a network of automatic card handling devices, the instructions comprising:

establishing a communication link across a communication network between at least one automatic card handling device and at least one server; and

transmitting information from the at least one automatic card handling device to the at least one server across the communication network, wherein the information is related to the operation of the at least one automatic card handling device.

30. The computer-readable media storage medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions further comprise receiving control information at the at least one automatic card handling device from the at least one server.

31. The computer-readable media storage medium of claim 30, wherein the control information received comprises one of a work command, a software or firmware upgrade, and a self-diagnosis request.

32. The computer-readable media storage medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions further comprise transmitting at least one message from the at least one server to a service center across a world-wide network.

33. The computer-readable media storage medium of claim 32, wherein the at least one message comprises one of an alert and a request.

34. The computer-readable media storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions further comprise performing troubleshooting routines on the at least one automatic card handling device from the service center across the world-wide network and the communication network.

35. The computer-readable media storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions further comprise installing software updates or patches on the at least one automatic card handling device from the service center across the world-wide network and the communication network.