Card game simulator

Abstract

A card game simulator includes storage of a rules base having programming specific to enforcing rules of a number of discrete card games. The rules base may be internal to a main unit or may be a number of plug-in modules that are received by the main unit. The main unit includes at least one main display that is responsive to a processor to generate visual representations of activities that are to be accessible in common to all player during the enforcement of the rules of a particular card game. In addition to the main unit, there are a number of individual display units that are separately responsive to the processor of the main unit. Each player unit includes a player display that is enabled to generate visual representations of activities specific to a participant to whom the player unit is assigned.

1 . A card game simulator comprising: 
 a main unit having a processor and a rules base store, said rules base store including programming specific to enforcing rules of a plurality of discrete card games by means of said processor, thereby enabling electronic simulations of distributions of shuffled cards to a plurality of players, said main unit further having at least one main display that is responsive to said processor to generate visual representations of activities that are to be accessible in common to all said players during said enforcing of said rules of one of said card games; and    a plurality of individual player units that are separately responsive to said processor of said main unit with respect to said programming that is specific to enforcing said rules, each said player unit including a player display enabled to generate visual representations of activities specific to a single said player during said enforcing of said rules of one of said card games, each said player unit further including an input means for enabling player selections.    
   
   
       2 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said player units are dimensioned for use as hand-held devices, said main unit being dimensioned for use as a table-top device.  
   
   
       3 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said rules base store defines said rules for each said card game, with said rules being specific to card distribution, scoring and the sequence for enabling player selections via said input means of said player units.  
   
   
       4 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said rules base store includes programming specific to enforcing rules for games that include Pinochle.  
   
   
       5 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said rules base store includes programming for enforcing rules of parlor games that are unrelated to the use of cards.  
   
   
       6 . The card game simulator of  claim 5  wherein said parlor games for which said rules base store includes programming comprise dice games and Scrabble.  
   
   
       7 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said main unit and said player units define a system that is dedicated to providing electronic simulation of said games.  
   
   
       8 . The card game simulator of  claim 7  wherein said player units are wired to said main unit to enable signal exchanges.  
   
   
       9 . The card game simulator of  claim 7  wherein said player units exchange signals with said main unit using a wireless technology.  
   
   
       10 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said programming implements visual representations of shuffling of a deck of cards, deck cutting and card dealing from said deck.  
   
   
       11 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said input means for enabling said player selections includes touch screen technology as applied to each said player display.  
   
   
       12 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said input means for enabling said player selections includes at least one of buttons and toggle.  
   
   
       13 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  further comprising a program input for entering and updating said programming of said rules base store.  
   
   
       14 . The card game simulator of  claim 1  wherein said rules base store is a plurality of plug-in memory cards configured to be received at a connector of said main unit.