Systems and methods of reading playing cards and other stacked items

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products associated with wirelessly (e.g., RF) readable playing cards and/or gaming chips are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining a first plurality of identifiers from a first plurality of playing cards present at a first player position of a gaming table at least in part by wireless communication with the first plurality of playing cards;   obtaining a second plurality of identifiers from a second plurality of playing cards present at a second player position of the gaming table at least in part by wireless communication with the second plurality of playing cards;   determining which cards the first plurality of playing cards are utilizing the first plurality of identifiers;   determining which cards the second plurality of playing cards are utilizing the second plurality of identifiers;   determining an outcome of a game involving the first and second pluralities of playing cards; and   outputting the identified outcome.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising detecting a start of the game and 
 performing the method thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by   receiving a signal from a sensor coupled to a card shoe.   
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising detecting a start of the game and 
 performing the method thereafter, wherein the start of the game is detected by   receiving a signal initiated by a dealer.   
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the method is successfully performed for the first plurality of playing cards arranged in a stack. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein an RF carrier wave passes through an antenna of at least one playing card in the stack to reach another playing card in the stack. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each playing card in the stack has a semitransparent antenna embedded therein. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each playing card in the stack has an antenna embedded therein at a different position relative to the positions of the antennas of the other playing cards in the stack. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each playing card comprises: a body; a circuit; and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein at least 50% of RF energy striking the antenna passes through the antenna. 
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each playing card comprises a body, a circuit and an antenna coupled to the circuit, wherein the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields surrounding the antenna even in a vicinity of the antenna. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising obtaining a third plurality of identifiers from a third plurality of playing cards present at a dealer position of the gaming table at least in part by wireless communication with the third plurality of playing cards; wherein determining the outcome of the game includes determining whether a player has won the game based on the identifiers of the playing cards. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein determining the outcome of the game includes determining which player has won the game based on the identifiers of the playing cards. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising determining a value of a first plurality of gaming chips positioned at the first player position at least in part by wireless communication with the first plurality of gaming chips. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein determining the outcome of the game includes calculating a payout associated with the outcome based at least in part on the values of the gaming chips at the first player position. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , comprising determining, at least in part by wireless communication, a value of a second plurality of gaming chips moved to the first player position after the game; and confirming that the value of the second plurality of gaming chips corresponds to the payout associated with the outcome. 
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the table includes directional antennas located at each of the player positions for communicating with the playing cards. 
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising determining whether each of the first plurality of identifiers associated with the first plurality of gaming cards is valid, including comparing each of the first plurality of identifiers associated with the first plurality of gaming cards to a first set of valid identifiers. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a processor and/or hardware configured to:   obtain a first plurality of identifiers from a first plurality of playing cards present at a first player position of a gaming table at least in part by wireless communication with the first plurality of playing cards;   obtain a second plurality of identifiers from a second plurality of playing cards present at a second player position of the gaming table at least in part by wireless communication with the second plurality of playing cards;   determine which cards the first plurality of playing cards are utilizing the first plurality of identifiers;   determine which cards the second plurality of playing cards are utilizing the second plurality of identifiers;   determine an outcome of a game involving the first and second pluralities of playing cards; and   output the identified outcome.   
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 17 , comprising a unique antenna associated with each of the player positions for wirelessly communicating with the playing cards at the player position associated therewith and obtaining the identifiers from the playing cards. 
     
     
         19 . A system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the antennas are directional. 
     
     
         20 . A system as recited in  claim 17 , comprising logic to determe a value of a first plurality of gaming chips positioned at the first player position at least in part by wireless communication with the first plurality of gaming chips.