SET OF PLAYING CARDS

Abstract

A set of playing cards comprises N playing cards, N>1, each playing card having a detectable card identity string. This card identity string is a series of M characters. The set of playing cards is provided with a set identity string, this set identity string being composed of N groups of R characters, R<=M. Each card identity string provides to the set identity string one group of R characters taken from the series of M characters of this card identity string. The sequence of said N groups of R characters in the set identity string is identical to the sequence of the N cards in the set of playing cards.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A set of playing cards, said set comprising N playing cards, N>1, each playing card having a detectable card identity string, said card identity string being a series of M characters, said set of playing cards being provided with a set identity string, said set identity string being composed of N groups of R characters, R<=M, each card identity string providing to the set identity string one group of R characters taken from the series of M characters of this card identity string, the sequence of said N groups of R characters in the set identity string is identical to the sequence of the N cards in the set of playing cards.

17. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein R<M.

18. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the card identity string is printed on the face side of the playing card.

19. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the card identity string is encrypted into a card identity code.

20. The set of playing cards according to claim 19, wherein the card identity code is printed on the face side of the playing card.

21. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein R has a value between 1 and 5.

22. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the set identity string is encrypted into a set identity code.

23. The set of playing cards according to claim 22, wherein the set of playing cards is packed in a sealed package, the set identity code being printed on the package and/or seal.

24. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the card identity string comprises information on rank and suit of said playing card.

25. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the set of playing cards comprises B decks of playing cards, B>1, the card identity strings comprise information on the deck to which the card belongs in the set of cards.

26. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the card identity strings comprise information on: the date and/or time of printing of the card and/or the location where the card is printed and/or the company printing the card and/or the type of game the card is printed for and/or the brand of the card and/or the casino for which the cards is printed.

27. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the card identity strings comprise a serial number and/or a random number.

28. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the group of R characters taken from the series of M characters of the card identity string is a group of R sequential characters out of the series of M characters of this card identity string, the first of the R sequential characters being always the character on the same position in the series of M characters of the card identity strings.

29. The set of playing cards according to claim 16, wherein the card identity string or if applicable the card identity code is printed using a UV visible ink.

30. A method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, comprising: providing a set of playing cards according to claim 16; providing a dealing shoe which is fit to read the card identity string or if applicable the card identity code; reading the card identity string or if applicable card identity code; extract and compare the R characters of the card identity string to the characters in the set identity string.

31. The method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, comprising: A. Providing a set of playing cards according to claim 16; B. Providing a dealing shoe which is fit to read the card identity string or if applicable the card identity code; C. Providing a processing unit fit for: If applicable decrypting a card identity code into a card identity string; If applicable decrypting a set identity code into a set identity string; Extracting the R characters from the card identity string and Comparing the R characters from the card identity string with the set identity string; D. Inserting said set of playing cards in said dealing shoe; E. Providing the set identity string or if applicable card identity code to the processing unit; F. Drawing a playing card from the dealing shoe; G. Reading the card identity string or if applicable card identity code by the dealing shoe and providing the card identity string or if applicable card identity code to the processing unit; H. If applicable decrypt the card identity code to the card identity string; I. Extract and compare the R characters of the card identity string to the characters in the set identity string; J. Repeat steps F to I as long as step I provides equality between the R characters of the card identity string to the characters in the set identity string; K. Signal said deficiency when step I provides non equality between the R characters of the card identity string to the characters in the set identity string.

32. The method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, comprising: providing a set of playing cards according to claim 17; providing a dealing shoe which is fit to read the card identity string or if applicable the card identity code; reading the card identity string or if applicable card identity code; extract and compare the R characters of the card identity string to the characters in the set identity string.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0086] FIG. 1 is a schematical view of a playing card being part of a set of playing cards according to the invention.

[0087] FIG. 2 shows schematically the card identity string of the card of FIG. 1.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows how a set identity string and set identity code is configured out of card identity strings.

[0089] FIG. 4 shows a set of cards according to the invention.

[0090] FIG. 5 is a schematical view of a playing card being part of a set of playing cards according to the invention.

[0091] FIG. 6 shows schematically the card identity string of the card of FIG. 5.

[0092] FIG. 8 shows how a set identity string and set identity code is configured out of card identity strings.

[0093] FIG. 8 is a schematical view of a playing card being part of a set of playing cards according to the invention.

[0094] FIG. 9 shows schematically the card identity string of the card of FIG. 8.

[0095] FIG. 10 shows how a set identity string and set identity code is configured out of card identity strings.

[0096] FIG. 11 shows a set of cards according to the invention.

[0097] The same reference signs refer to the same, similar or analogous elements in the different figures.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0098] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments. It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0099] Throughout this specification, reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” are made. Such references indicate that a particular feature, described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, though they could.

[0100] Furthermore, the particular features or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0101] A playing card being part of a set of playing cards according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The set of playing cards comprises, as an example, 8 decks of 52 cards. Hence N is 416. The playing card 10, in this case the ace of hearts, carries a card identity string 13. This card identity string 13 is printed using UV visible ink, and is not visible by the naked eye under ambient illumination.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 2, the card identity string 13, being a binary string of characters 0 and 1 can constitute out of several character groups 31, 32 and 33. The first group 31 is a string of characters one-on-one linked to the rank and suit of the playing card. So in the example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ace of hearts is linked with the string “10001011”. All aces of diamond in the set of playing cards will have this string as the first 8 digits in its card identity string. These first groups 31 may be obtained giving each card a card number from 1 to 52 and converting the card number into said string by encrypting the card number using a given encryption value.

[0103] The second group 32 is a sequence of 3 characters being either 0 or 1. Group 32 equals 000 if the card belongs to the first deck present in the set of playing cards. group 302 equals 001 if the card belongs to the second deck, etc. This means that for this particular card shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card belongs to the 4.sup.th deck present in the set of playing cards.

[0104] It is understood that this second group 32 of characters may have more than 3 characters, e.g. 4, 5 or more. In an alternative embodiment, this group may e.g. be a random generated group of a given number of characters.

[0105] The third group 33 is a control digit. As an example, it represents 0 if the string of digits provided by groups 31 and 32 comprises an even number of “1”, and is 1 if the string of digits provided by groups 31 and 32 comprises an odd number of “1”.

[0106] FIG. 3 shows 5 card identity strings of 5 consecutive cards 51 to 55 in the set of playing cards. In this set of plying cards, card 51 is equal to the card 10 of FIG. 1. Card 53 is an ace of hearts, but from the 4.sup.th deck of cards in the set. Card 54 will be a cart different from the ace of hearts, but it is a card also from the 5.sup.th deck.

[0107] The set identity code 60 is a series of characters, each character being from the group consisting of the alphabet and the numbers 0 to 9. by means of an appropriate decoding key or algorithm 70, the set identity code can be converted in the set identity string 61. From each card identify string, the 3th, 7.sup.th and 11.sup.th character is chosen as the group 80 of R characters, in this embodiment 3 characters. The first 3 characters 62 in the set identity string will be the 3th, 7.sup.th and 11.sup.th character of the card identity string 51, i.e. of the first card in the set of cards. The next 3 characters 63 in the set identity string will be the 3th, 7.sup.th and 11.sup.th character of the card identity string 52, i.e. of the second card in the set of cards, etc. As such, all groups of R characters are concatenated one after the other in the order identical to the order in which the respective cards are present in the set of cards.

[0108] As such, the packed set of cards 90 in FIG. 4, having a seal 91 showing the set identify code 60, can be used for playing a card game, e.g. baccarat, during which game the sequence of cards in the set can be monitored whether this sequence equals the original one when the set was created and the set identity string and code were generated.

[0109] An alternative playing card being part of a set of playing cards according to the invention is shown in FIG. 5. The set of playing cards comprises, as an example, 8 decks of 52 cards. Again, N is 416. The playing card 100, in this case the ace of diamonds, carries a card identity code being a string of 8 characters from the alphabet, the numbers 0 to 9 and the special characters &, #, §, $, £ and €, and any other ASCII character.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 6, the card identity string 104, being a binary string of characters 0 and 1, can be obtained by appropriate decryption algorithms 202. This card identity string 104 can constitute out of several character groups 301, 302 and 303. The first group 301 is a string of characters one-on-one linked to the rank and suit of the playing card. So in the example as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ace of diamonds is linked with the string “10110010”. All aces of diamond in the set of playing cards will have this string as the first 8 digits in its card identity string.

[0111] The second group 302 is a sequence of 3 characters being either 0 or 1. Group 302 equals 000 if the card belongs to the first deck present in the set of playing cards. group 302 equals 001 if the card belongs to the second deck, etc. This means that for this particular card shown in FIG. 5 end 6, the card belongs to the 7.sup.th deck present in the set of playing cards.

[0112] Again, it is understood that this second group 302 of characters may have more than 3 characters, e.g. 4, 5 or more. In an alternative embodiment, this group may e.g. be a random generated group of a given number of characters.

[0113] The third group 303 is a control digit. As an example, it represents 0 if the string of digits provided by groups 301 and 302 comprises an even number of “1”, and is 1 if the string of digits provided by groups 301 and 302 comprises an odd number of “1”.

[0114] FIG. 7 shows 5 card identity strings of 5 consecutive cards 501 to 505 in the set of playing cards. In this set of plying cards, card 501 is equal to the card 100 of FIG. 8. Card 503 is an ace of diamonds, but from the 1.sup.st deck of cards in the set.

[0115] The set identity code 600 is a series of 8 characters, each character being from the group consisting of the alphabet, the numbers 0 to 9 and the special characters &, #, §, $, £ and €, and any other ASCII character. By means of an appropriate decoding key or algorithm 700, the set identity code 600 can be converted in the set identity string 601. From each card identify string, the group 302 of 3 characters is chosen as the group 800 of R characters, in this embodiment 3 characters. The first 3 characters 602 in the set identity string will be the group 302 of the card identity string 501, i.e. of the first card in the set of cards. The next 3 characters 603 in the set identity string will be group 302 of the card identity string 502, i.e. of the second card in the set of cards, etc.

[0116] As such, A packed set of cards having a seal showing the set identify code 600, can be used for playing a card game, e.g. baccarat, during which game the sequence of cards in the set can be monitored whether this sequence equals the original one when the set was created and the set identity string and code were generated.

[0117] An alternative playing card being part of a set of playing cards according to the invention is shown in FIG. 8. The set of playing cards comprises, as an example, 8 decks of 52 cards, so 416 cards. N is 416. The playing card 1000, in this case the ace of spades, carries a card identity code, in this case four times, being a micro-dot image code 1002. It is understood that instead of a microdot code, the code can be a QR code which can be located on the same place as the microdot code, or e.g. beneath and adjacent right of the rank indication of the card.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 9, the card identity string 1004, being a binary string of characters 0 and 1, can be obtained by appropriate decryption algorithms 2002. This card identity string 1004 can constitute out of several character groups 3001 and 3002. The first group 3001 is a string of characters one-on-one linked to the rank and suit of the playing card. So in the example as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the ace of spades is linked with the string “111111”. All aces of spades in the set of playing cards will have this string as the first 6 digits in its card identity string.

[0119] The second group 3002 is a sequence of 3 characters being either 0 or 1. Group 3002 equals 000 if the card belongs to the first deck present in the set of playing cards. group 3002 equals 001 if the card belongs to the second deck, etc. This means that for this particular card shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the card 1000 belongs to the 8.sup.th deck present in the set of playing cards.

[0120] Also here, it is understood that this second group 3002 of characters may have more than 3 characters, e.g. 4, 5 or more. In an alternative embodiment, this group may e.g. be a random generated group of a given number of characters.

[0121] FIG. 10 shows 5 card identity strings of 5 consecutive cards 5001 to 5005 in the set of playing cards. In this set of plying cards, card 5001 is equal to the card 1000 of FIG. 8. Card 5003 is an ace of spades, but from the 2.sup.nd deck of cards in the set.

[0122] The set identity code 6000 is a barcode. By means of an appropriate decoding key or algorithm 7000, the set identity code 6000 can be converted in the set identity string 6001. From each card identify string, the group 3002 of 3 characters is chosen as the group 8000 of R characters, in this embodiment 3 characters. The first 3 characters 6002 in the set identity string will be the group 3002 of the card identity string 5001, i.e. of the first card in the set of cards. The next 3 characters 6003 in the set identity string will be group 3002 of the card identity string 5002, i.e. of the second card in the set of cards, etc.

[0123] As such, as shown in FIG. 11, a packed set of cards 9000 having a seal 9001 showing the set identify code 6000, can be used for playing a card game, e.g. baccarat, during which game the sequence of cards in the set can be monitored whether this sequence equals the original one when the set was created and the set identity string and code were generated.

[0124] It is to be understood that although preferred embodiments and/or materials have been discussed for providing embodiments according to the present invention, various modifications or changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.