Systems and methods for modular card games

Abstract

A card randomization system comprises a drum with a plurality of slots to store cards. Each slot holds one type of card and comprises a locking arm to restrain the card in the slot. A randomization process determines a card to be extracted from the drum. The drum aligns a slot associated with the card with an extraction mechanism. The extraction mechanism comprises a first belt on a first side of the card and at least one of a second belt or a plurality of rollers on a second side of the card. A locking arm actuator unlocks the locking arm and the extraction mechanism extends at least partially into the slot to extract the card. A camera takes an image of the card to determine an identity of the card, and the card is transported to an output system, based on the determined identity of the card.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining a randomized order of a subset of cards of a plurality of cards for use in an instance of a game, wherein the game comprises, in part, displaying the subset of cards in the randomized order;   determining a storage location associated with each card of the subset of cards, wherein each card of the plurality of cards is stored in one of a plurality of slots of a storage device, and wherein each slot of the plurality of slots is configured to store one or more cards of a single card type;   transporting each card, of the subset of cards and in the randomized order, from the storage location to a stacker, wherein the stacker is configured to hold the subset of cards in the randomized order;   outputting, from the stacker and to a presenter, the subset of cards in the randomized order, wherein the presenter comprises a viewing area comprising one or more card presentation positions, and wherein executing the instance of the game comprises passing the subset of cards through the viewing area in the randomized order;   presenting, at the presenter, each card of the subset of cards in the randomized order;   sending, based on a determination of a completion of the instance of the game, each card of the subset of cards to the stacker; and   transporting each card of the subset of cards from the stacker to the storage device, wherein each card is returned to the slot associated with the card type of each card.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presenter receives each card of the subset of cards in a face-down orientation, further comprising:
 rotating, at an active card presentation position, an active card to a face-up orientation; and   rotating, based on determining a completion of the instance of the game, the active card to the face-down orientation.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the presenter comprises a plurality of active card presentation positions, and wherein the presenter comprises rotating a plurality of cards of the subset of cards to the face-up orientation to facilitate completion of the instance of the game. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device comprises a drum, and wherein the plurality of slots are located radially around a central axis of the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the card type may comprise one or more of an unrecognizable card type, a cut card type, a joker card type, a damaged card type, a marked card type, an ace of spades card type, a two of spades card type, a three of spades card type, a four of spades card type, a five of spades card type, a six of spades card type, a seven of spades card type, an eight of spades card type, a nine of spades card type, a ten of spades card type, a jack of spades card type, a queen of spades card type, a king of spades card type, an ace of hearts card type, a two of hearts card type, a three of hearts card type, a four of hearts card type, a five of hearts card type, a six of hearts card type, a seven of hearts card type, an eight of hearts card type, a nine of hearts card type, a ten of hearts card type, a jack of hearts card type, a queen of hearts card type, a king of hearts card type, an ace of clubs card type, a two of clubs card type, a three of clubs card type, a four of clubs card type, a five of clubs card type, a six of clubs card type, a seven of clubs card type, an eight of clubs card type, a nine of clubs card type, a ten of clubs card type, a jack of clubs card type, a queen of clubs card type, a king of clubs card type, an ace of diamonds card type, a two of diamonds card type, a three of diamonds card type, a four of diamonds card type, a five of diamonds card type, a six of diamonds card type, a seven of diamonds card type, an eight of diamonds card type, a nine of diamonds card type, a ten of diamonds card type, a jack of diamonds card type, a queen of diamonds card type, or a king of diamonds card type. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots may be updated to change the card type associated with each slot. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presenter comprises a transparent cover to facilitate viewing each one of the subset of cards at the presenter and prevent tampering with the subset of cards at the presenter. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 determining a randomized order of a portion of cards of a plurality of cards, wherein subsets of cards of the portion of cards are used to execute instances of a game, and wherein the instance of the game comprises, in part, displaying the subset of cards in the randomized order;   determining a storage location associated with each card of the portion of cards, wherein each card of the plurality of cards is stored in one of a plurality of slots of a storage device, and wherein each slot of the plurality of slots is configured to store one or more cards of a single card type;   transporting each card, of the portion of cards and in the randomized order, from the storage location to an output stacker, wherein the output stacker is configured to hold the portion of cards in the randomized order;   outputting, from the output stacker and to a presenter, a first subset of cards in the randomized order, wherein the presenter comprises a viewing area comprising one or more card presentation positions, and wherein executing a first instance of the game comprises passing the first subset of cards through the viewing area in the randomized order;   presenting, at the presenter, each card of the first subset of cards in the randomized order;   sending, based on a determination of a completion of the first instance of the game, each card of the first subset of cards to an input stacker;   outputting, from the output stacker and to the presenter, a second subset of cards in the randomized order;   presenting, at the presenter, each card of the second subset of cards in the randomized order;   sending, based on a determination of a completion of a second instance of the game, each   card of the second subset of cards to the input stacker; and   transporting each card of the portion of cards from the input stacker to the storage device, wherein each card is returned to the slot associated with the card type of each card.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the presenter receives each card of the subset of cards in a face-down orientation, further comprising:
 rotating, at an active card presentation position, an active card to a face-up orientation; and   rotating, based on determining a completion of the instance of the game, the active card to the face-down orientation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the presenter comprises a plurality of active card presentation positions, and wherein the presenter comprises rotating a plurality of cards of the subset of cards to the face-up orientation to facilitate completion of the instance of the game. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the storage device comprises a drum, and wherein the plurality of slots are located radially around a central axis of the drum. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the card type may comprise one or more of an unrecognizable card type, a cut card type, a joker card type, a damaged card type, a marked card type, an ace of spades card type, a two of spades card type, a three of spades card type, a four of spades card type, a five of spades card type, a six of spades card type, a seven of spades card type, an eight of spades card type, a nine of spades card type, a ten of spades card type, a jack of spades card type, a queen of spades card type, a king of spades card type, an ace of hearts card type, a two of hearts card type, a three of hearts card type, a four of hearts card type, a five of hearts card type, a six of hearts card type, a seven of hearts card type, an eight of hearts card type, a nine of hearts card type, a ten of hearts card type, a jack of hearts card type, a queen of hearts card type, a king of hearts card type, an ace of clubs card type, a two of clubs card type, a three of clubs card type, a four of clubs card type, a five of clubs card type, a six of clubs card type, a seven of clubs card type, an eight of clubs card type, a nine of clubs card type, a ten of clubs card type, a jack of clubs card type, a queen of clubs card type, a king of clubs card type, an ace of diamonds card type, a two of diamonds card type, a three of diamonds card type, a four of diamonds card type, a five of diamonds card type, a six of diamonds card type, a seven of diamonds card type, an eight of diamonds card type, a nine of diamonds card type, a ten of diamonds card type, a jack of diamonds card type, a queen of diamonds card type, or a king of diamonds card type. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of slots may be updated to change the card type associated with each slot. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the presenter comprises a transparent cover to facilitate viewing each one of the subset of cards at the presenter and prevent tampering with the subset of cards at the presenter. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 transporting, based on a determination to execute an automated instance of a game, a first randomized order of a first subset of cards of a plurality of cards stored at a card storage device to a stacker, wherein the stacker is configured to hold the first subset of cards ;   presenting, via a first pathway and to a presenter, the first subset of cards, wherein the presenter comprises a viewing area comprising one or more card presentation positions, and wherein executing the automated instance of the game comprises passing the first subset of cards through the viewing area in the first randomized order;   transporting each card of the first subset of cards from the presenter to the card storage device, wherein each card is returned to a slot associated with the card type of each card actuating, based on a determination to execute a manual instance of the game, a mechanism to transition from an automated presentation system to a manual presentation system;   transporting a second randomized order of a second subset of cards of the plurality of cards stored at the card storage device, to a card shoe, wherein the card shoe is configured allow dispensation of the second subset of cards for use in the manual instance of the game;   receiving, at the stacker, dispensed cards of the second subset of cards; and   transporting the dispensed cards of the second subset of cards from the stacker to the card   storage device, wherein each dispensed card is returned to the slot associated with the   card type of each dispensed card.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the stacker further comprising:
 a first orientation hidden from a view of participants in instances of the game; and   a second orientation raised into view of the participants of instances of the game, wherein the stacker receives the dispensed cards of the second subset of cards in the second orientation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the presenter comprises a transparent cover to facilitate viewing each one of the subset of cards at the presenter and prevent tampering with the subset of cards at the presenter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising covering, based on the determination to execute the manual instance of the game, the presenter with an opaque cover. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 capturing, by at least one camera, at least one image of each dispensed card of the second subset of cards received at the stacker; and   determining an associated card type for each one of the dispensed cards of the second subset of cards.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising executing a plurality of manual instances of the game from the second subset of cards, wherein the dispensed cards of the second subset of cards received by the stacker are transported to the card storage device based on a determination that each manual instance of the plurality of manual instances of the game is completed.