Automated playing card identification system for casino-type card games

Abstract

Systems and methods for the automatic recognition of playing cards for casino-type card games. The systems include an automatic card-recognition system, an electronic card data processor or processors which allow automatic collection, storage and hand ranking of historic and current card and player information, and statistical entry, analysis and retrieval systems. When used in the television industry, the invention provides multiple graphics generator interfaces, allowing television broadcasters to immediately generate and display computer-generated graphics detailing current hand and potential win percentage information, as well as historical or summary graphics information, for use in a live or post-produced television broadcast.

1 . An automated system for identifying playing cards comprising: 
 at least one deck of laminated playing cards, wherein each playing card is comprised of at least a front substrate and a rear substrate, wherein each playing card contains at least one wirelessly pollable identifier positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate, and wherein the wirelessly pollable identifier is attached directly to either the front substrate or the rear substrate;    at least one antenna, wherein the antenna is capable of transmitting a frequency necessary to cause the at least one wirelessly pollable identifier to transmit an identifier;    at least one reader, wherein the reader is capable of receiving the identifier transmitted by the at least one wirelessly pollable identifier;    a game processor;    a win percentage processor; and,    a graphics generator.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game processor is comprised of at least one database that correlates an identifier associated with an individual playing card to the rank and suit of the playing card.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the game processor validates the transmitted identifier, determines the rank and suit of the playing card associated with the transmitted identifier by polling the at least one database, and associates the playing card with the player to whom the card was dealt.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the game processor transmits hand information for all players to the win percentage processor after a required minimum number of cards have been dealt.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the game processor further transmits to the win percentage processor information on any dead or discarded cards.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein win percentage processor analyzes every possible hand for each player based on the cards remaining in the deck.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the win percentage processor returns an estimate of the percentage of hands that could be won using the cards currently held by each player.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the graphics generator converts information received from other system components into outputs appropriate for insertion into a broadcast data stream.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein information from the win processor is made available to the graphics generator.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one manual bet recorder station, wherein the manual bet recorder station allows the inputting of card information when such data is unavailable from the game processor.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one statistics monitor workstation.  
     
     
         12 . An automated system for identifying playing cards comprising: 
 at least one deck of laminated playing cards, wherein each playing card is comprised of at least a front substrate and a rear substrate, wherein each playing card contains at least one wirelessly pollable identifier positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate, and wherein the wirelessly pollable identifier is attached directly to either the front substrate or the rear substrate;    at least one antenna, wherein the antenna is capable of transmitting a frequency necessary to cause the at least one wirelessly pollable identifier to transmit an identifier;    at least one reader, wherein the reader is capable of receiving the identifier transmitted by the at least one wirelessly pollable identifier;    a game processor, wherein the game processor is comprised of at least one database that correlates an identifier associated with an individual playing card to the rank and suit of the playing card;    a win percentage processor, wherein win percentage processor analyzes every possible hand for each player based on the cards remaining in the deck and returns an estimate of the percentage of hands that could be won using the cards currently held by each player;    a graphics generator, wherein the graphics generator converts information received from other system components into outputs appropriate for insertion into a broadcast data stream; and    at least one manual bet recorder station, wherein the manual bet recorder station allows the inputting of card information when such data is unavailable from the game processor.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the game processor validates the transmitted identifier, determines the rank and suit of the playing card associated with the transmitted identifier by polling the at least one database, and associates the playing card with the player to whom the card was dealt, wherein the game processor transmits the hand information for all players to the win percentage processor after the required minimum number of cards have been dealt, and wherein the game processor transmits to the win percentage processor information on any dead or discarded cards.  
     
     
         14 . An automated system for identifying playing cards comprising: 
 at least one deck of laminated playing cards, wherein each playing card is comprised of at least a front substrate and a rear substrate, wherein each playing card contains at least one wirelessly pollable identifier positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate, and wherein the wirelessly pollable identifier is attached directly to either the front substrate or the rear substrate;    at least one antenna, wherein the antenna is capable of transmitting a frequency necessary to cause the at least one wirelessly pollable identifier to transmit an identifier;    at least one reader, wherein the reader is capable of receiving the identifier transmitted by the at least one wirelessly pollable identifier;    a game processor; and    a graphics generator.