METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEALING A HAND OF CARDS AND ANALYZING A

BOARD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to card games. In particular, the invention relates to a method and system for dealing a hand of cards and analyzing a board.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Bridge is one of the world's most popular card playing games and an estimated 70 million people regularly play bridge around the world.

Bridge is a 4-person game comprising a complex bidding cycle with a plurality of bidding conventions. A central part of any bridge club is the duplicate bridge in which the cards/hands are duplicated such that every person participating in a duplicate bridge tournament, at the end of the tournament, will have the same cards/hands. For example, at a first table all participants sitting in the west position will have the same hand and the participants sitting at position east, north and south will likewise have the same hands when they, at their turn , sit at table one. Thereby, the luck-factor is substantially eliminated because every participant has the same bad and/or good cards/hands at one time or another in the tournament.

A barometer tournament in bridge is a tournament, where all participants play the same duplicate hands at the same time i.e. all participants play board number 1 comprising the same set of hands at each respective position at the same time and when all participants have finished board 1 , each participant's result from the first board is displayed on a so-called "barometer" (from which the tournament type has received its name). A tou rnament may typically comprise 35 games and therefore, in a barometer tournament, it is possible to follow each participant's position in the tournament after each played board.

It is complicated and expensive to pack many boards identically and therefore, barometer tournaments are usually only used in the finals where the number of participants is red uced . Further, it remains a problem to allow any n um ber of participants to play in a barometer tournament due to the problem of packing a large number of boards identically. Also, it remains a problem to ensure that the deals to be played in a bridge tournament are unknown to the participants of the tournament (and every body else) until the last minute up to the start of the bridge tournament thereby reducing the risk of fraud. For distributing cards in bridge games or such tournaments, card distributing devices have been proposed previously, however, they generally present a number of difficulties and problems.

Typically, the prior card distributing devices are noisy and work relatively slow. In addition, they often do not operate properly when the cards have been used or slightly worn. Most of the existing card distributing devices, which shuffle the cards, do that by re-dealing the cards multiple times which is time consuming.

In addition to the noisier operation of these card distributing devices, these known devices are usually large and heavy, meaning that it is suitable exclusively for being located in a room at the rear where the cards are subsequently transferred manually to a n u m ber of card folders a nd a re taken to the game room . I n case of large tournaments, much attention is focused on this manual handling - whether "it is done properly", and it is therefore important to apply laborious safety procedures. The smaller devices are either brought play area when the board is to be played or are placed on the table top, thereby not providing a distraction-free clean surface area.

Lastly, the players playing the board do not gain enough learning from the boards they played because of absence of any reliable post board analysis mechanism.

Therefore, there exists a need to eliminate the above-mentioned shortcomings by providing a method and system that can deal a hand of card without any possibility of players knowing the deal before the start of the board and integrating a board analysis mechanism into the gaming such as a thorough feedback to the players may be provided. Such feedback would serve the purpose of improving gaming level of the players as well as for training a new player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for dealing a hand of cards for a board and analyzing the board is disclosed. The method includes storing a first board data in a dealer memory of a card dealer, the card dealer housing a first deck of cards. Thereafter, dealing a hand of cards from the first deck of cards in accordance with the first board data using the card dealer, the first board data designates a specific card to each player. Further, receiving, without shuffling, sets of cards in the card dealer and identifying the card played by the each player in each unit of play. Lastly, generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the

identification.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a system for dealing a hand of cards for a first board and analyzing the first board is disclosed. The system includes a card dealer having a dealer memory for storing a first board data, the card dealer housing a first deck of cards; a dealing unit in the card dealer for dealing a hand of cards from the first deck of cards in accordance with the first board data, the first board data designating a specific card to each player; a card cartridge for receiving, without shuffling, a plurality of set of cards; a dealer processing unit in the card dealer adapted to identify the card played by the each player in each unit of play; and the dealer processing unit for generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the comparison. Other embodiments of the invention includes a card dealer, a card dealing method, a board table, a method for dealing hand of cards using a card dealer and a board table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention, together with its advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which

Fig. 1 illustrates a method for dealing a hand of cards and analysing a first board according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a method for dealing a hand of cards and analyzing the first board according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates a method for dealing a hand of cards and analyzing the first board according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates a method for dealing a hand of cards and analyzing the first board according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 illustrates a method for dealing a hand of cards and analyzing the first board according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates a card dealing method using only two deck of cards for continuous gaming according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 illustrates a table with a card dealer in the centre according to an

embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 illustrates a plurality of tables e.g. in a local barometer tournament, each bridge table comprising a card dealer and a tablet according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 illustrates an alternative to the embodiment of fig. 8 in that the system of fig.

9 only comprises one central card dealer according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 10 illustrates a plurality of barometer tournaments being played simultaneously at a plurality of geographical locations in a plurality of bridge clubs/bridge tournaments according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1 1 illustrates a Virtual Bridge Club connected via a physical and/or wireless data-connection to at least one geographical location according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 12 illustrates steps of a method of setting up a user profile in a Virtual Bridge Club according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 illustrates steps of a method of buying pre-played (e.g. the Monte Carlo

Bridge tournament 1991 ) and/or pre-scored tournaments according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 14 illustrates a method of playing a pre-played tournament provided by a Virtual Bridge Club and a card dealer according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 15 illustrates a method of setting up a virtual tournament room according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 16 illustrates steps of playing in a virtual tournament room in a Virtual Bridge Club according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 17 illustrates a method of buying a training lesson at a Virtual Bridge Club according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 18 illustrates the execution of a training lesson according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 19 illustrates a method to find one or more participants to one or more bridge boards e.g. if a bridge player arrives at a city and would like to play bridge but does not know of any bridge players in said city according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 20 illustrates a system for dealing a hand of cards for a first board and analyzing the first board according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 21 schematically illustrates a card dealer according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 22 illustrates a card dealer, a modular system, disposed on a table according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 23 illustrates a card dealer, a modular system, conceadingly positioned underneath a table according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 24 illustrates a schematic drawing of a tablet according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 25 illustrates a schematic drawing of a Virtual Bridge Club according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 26 illustrates an integrated card dealer according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 27 (A) and (B) illustrate a board table according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig 28 illustrates an elevator mechanism driven card dealer with (A) a card dealer not in dealing mode and (B) card dealer in dealing mode;

Fig. 29 illustrates a cross-section of card dealer with the spring member, according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 31 illustrates platform and elevator mechanism according to different embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is explained in terms of a Bridge game; however, the invention is applicable to other card games, as conceived by a person skilled in the art.

Definitions

The following definitions are defined with respect to a board but a person skilled in the art would appreciate that these definitions are applicable over a wider application of the invention. For example, a first board data will be different from second board data but will have general characteristics of board data, as described below. Similarly, groups will vary depending upon the hands played in the board but will represent characteristics of the group. Board Data: The board data includes an electronic data comprising instruction code designating a specific card to a specific player, which is represented by a specific angular position of spinning core of the card dealer. For example, the board data comprises information about which cards are to be dealt out for position N, S, W and E in a particular board.

Hand of cards: includes a group of cards designated to a specific player in a board.

Dealing a hand of cards: includes distributing cards from the deck of cards to the players according to the board data. In a four player game, each player will get 13 cards.

Unit of play: includes a cycle where one player leads by playing a card and other three then play their respective card in a sequential order. In all, one unit of play includes 4 cards, one from each player.

Trick: One trick is defined by the winner of each unit of play. In a four player board, there will be 13 tricks. Board: includes 13 units of plays leading to 13 tricks to be won for four players.

Card played & Set of cards: In a four player board, each player gets 13 cards and therefore, there will be 13 units of play and 13 tricks. Card played includes cards played by the each player in each of these 13 hands during the board. For example, if in the first hand, player East leads a first unit of play with 10Φ, followed by J^from player South, KA from player West and 6# from player North; then the unit of play will be defined by 6* of N, of W, J* of S, and 10* of E, and the trick is won by W. Similarly, other units of play during the board are defined by the cards played by the each player in other units of play respectively. As another example, if now, West leads by 7 , which is followed by 6Ψ by North, by East and ΟΨ by South, and then this unit of play would include these cards accordingly.

However, set of cards represents cards played for each unit of play by the each player during the first board. From above examples, the set of cards for North would include 6#, JV,... and so on, for West K#, 7Ψ, ... and so on, for South JA, QW,.... and so on and lastly for East 10#, QW and so on. It is to be noted that unit of plays includes cards from each player, whereas the set of cards represents cards of the each player. The respective set of cards for the each player will increase one at a time in the sequence they were played by the each player in each unit of play until the 13 ^th hand is being played. It is apparent the each of the four sets of the cards would include 13 cards each. Also, for each player the respective set would include one of the 13 cards, which were dealt out to the each player initially based on the board data however, under usual circumstances, the set is in a sequence of the cards played during each consecutive unit of play rather than the sequence in which the cards were handed out by the card dealer. Further, it will also be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the first card in the first set of cards of the first player relates to the first cards of the other three sets because they were played in the first unit of play. Similarly, the second, third,... until the thirteenth card in each set of hands represents the respective card played by the each player in the respective (second, third, ... until the thirteenth) unit of play.

Without shuffling: The plurality of sets of cards, representing set of cards of each player, is received in the dealer. "Without shuffling" refers that the cards within each set of cards are neither shuffled among one another nor with the cards of other sets. This avoids the cards within each set of cards or cards from different sets mixing with one another because such mixing would disrupt the relationship between the positioning of cards in the plurality of set of cards and the unit of play for which a particular card was played. Code of a card: Code of a card includes an electronically detectable code, which allows the card dealer to identify suit and value of the card, the code being different for different cards in a deck of cards.

Identification: includes identifying each card in a set of cards and identifying positioning of the each card in the plurality of set of cards to determine unit of play associated with the each compared card. This is performed by the card dealer, which is adapted to read code of a particular card from a set of cards. For example, if fourth unit of play includes 1W by West in first set of cards, 6Ψ by North in second set of cards, by East in third set of cards and QW by South in fourth set of cards. The card dealer will read code of the card and identifies 7Ψ as the fourth unit of play because of the positioning of the card in the first set. Thereafter, the card dealer identifies the card played during fourth unit of play in the second set of cards based on the positioning of the cards within the second set of cards and identifies it to be 6 . Similarly, cards within third set and fourth set of cards for the fourth unit of play are identified as and Q based on the cards positioning within each of the third and fourth set of cards Similar procedure is followed for other cards to identify the card and the unit of play, the card was played in.

Comparison result: The comparison result includes comparing the cards played by each player in different unit of plays and identifying winner of a trick. For example, if fourth unit of play includes 7Ψ by West in first set of cards, 6^ by North in second set of cards, Jff by East in third set of cards and Q by South in fourth set of cards, then the comparison result would include South as the winner of the fourth unit of play. Similarly, winner of other tricks is also identified.

Analysis: The analysis is performed by associating the board comparison result with the biddings entered for the each player for a particular board. The analysis includes the scoring based on the bidding made by the each player and the tricks won by the each player. In case of pair player, where North partners with South as team 1 and East partners with West as team 2, the bidding of the teams are compared with the tricks won by the each team and scores are generated for the each team. For example, if the team 1 bid was to win 10 tricks and based on the board comparison result, it is shown that the team 1 only managed to win 7 hands played, the analysis will include the scoring corresponding to the deficit of the 3 (10 bids - 7 won tricks) tricks. The analysis, in alternative embodiments, may be performed by the tablet, or the card dealer, or the server as shown later in the specification.

Profile: A profile is a collection of data associated to a specific user/ player. The profile defines the kind of subscription and level of accessibility to the board

comparison result, analysis, updated board comparison result, updated analysis, and other services, which are covered later in the specif icaiton.

Modular card dealer system: includes a system, which allows user of the card dealer to access component of the card dealer and replace the internal components, such as sensor, card cartridge, motor etc. in case of faulty operation or otherwise, if desired.

Integrated card dealer system: includes a system where the housing (chassis) of the dealer body is sealed as one unit in such a way that prohibits the user to access the internal components of the card dealer. The power supply, such as battery, in the integrated card dealer system may or may not be detached.

Method for dealing a hand of cards and analysis

Fig. 1 discloses a method for dealing a hand of cards and analysing the first board, according to first embodiment of the invention. At 105, a first board data is stored in a dealer memory of a card dealer. The card dealer houses a first deck of cards. The card dealer deals a hand of cards from the first deck of cards in accordance with the first board data at 1 10. The first board data designates a specific card to each player. After the first board is over, at 120, a plurality of set of cards are received, without shuffling, in the card dealer. At 125, identifying the card played by the each player in each unit of play; and at 130, generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the comparison.

After the first board, the each set of cards may be received sequentially from the each player or randomly from any player. For generating the first board comparison result, the only criterion is that neither the cards within each set of cards are shuffled among themselves nor with the cards of other sets. Therefore, "without shuffling" relates to this criterion.

Method for generation of board data and its transmission

Fig. 2 shows additional steps according to another embodiment of the invention, where at 205 the first board data is generated using a server; and at 210, the first board data is transmitted from the server to the card dealer. The server is

communicatively coupled to the card dealer. The following steps in this embodiment are represented by the features of the earlier embodiment (Fig. 1 ), as also shown in Fig. 2. In yet another embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, at 205 the first board data is generated using a server; and at 305, the first board data is transmitted from the server to a tablet. The server and the tablet are communicatively coupled to each other by a physical link or wireless link such as Bluetooth connection. At 310, the first board data is stored in a tablet memory of the tablet. Thereafter, at 315, the first board data is transmitted from the tablet to the card dealer. The tablet and the card dealer are communicatively coupled to each other. The steps following this transmission include the features of the first embodiment (Fig. 1 ), as also shown in Fig. 3. The method includes establishing the communication coupling after the server has generated the first board data. The transmission of the first board data from the server may occur a few minutes before the start of the first board, such as 3 minutes before the start of the board. In this way, the card dealer or tablet may be disconnected from the server until, for example, right before the moment in which the cards to be dealt by the card dealer are required to be dealt. For example, 3 minutes before the start of a barometer bridge tournament the card dealer may be connected to the server thus enabling transmission of the electronic board data from the server to the card dealer or to the tablet.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises terminating the communication coupling between the server and tablet and/ or card dealer after the server has transmitted the first board data. The communication coupling may include both physical and/or wireless communication link.

In this way, the window of opportunity for a fraudulent person to gain access to the card dealer and/or the server is reduced considerably because the physical and/or wireless communication coupling between the server and card dealer and/ or tablet may only be open for a limited period e.g. the time it takes to transfer the data from the server to the card dealer and/ or tablet.

Different embodiments for entering biddings; generating & transmitting comparison result & analysis

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Fig. 4, biddings are entered of the each player during the first board into the tablet at 405. At 410, the biddings are then stored of the each player in the tablet memory. The first board comparison result is then transmitted from the card dealer to the tablet at 415. At 420, the tablet generates a first board analysis for the each player by associating the first board comparison result of the each player with the biddings of the each player during the first board. The first board analysis of the each player is then transmitted at 425 from the tablet to the server, the tablet being communicatively coupled to the server; and finally, at 430, the first board analysis is stored of the each player in the server, the first board analysis being available to the each player according to a profile of the each player.

In another embodiment, along with the biddings, the trumps may be entered in the tablet and the entered trump is transmitted from the tablet to the card dealer, which stores the trump in the dealer memory. In generating the comparison result, preference is given to trumps over any other card played during a unit of play and within trumps priority is given to a higher valued trump starting from 2 till Ace in determining the winner of the trick. The card dealer is adapted to identify the trumps and generate a board comparison result accordingly.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention, where at 405 the biddings of the each player are entered during the first board into the tablet; the tablet at 505 transmits the entered the biddings of the each player from the tablet to the card dealer, which then stores the biddings of the each player in the dealer memory at 510. The card dealer, at 515, then generates the first board analysis for the each player by associating the first board comparison result of the each player with the scoring and/ or biddings of the each player during the first board. At 520, the first board analysis of the each player is then transmitted from the card dealer to the server and at 430, the first board analysis is stored in the server, the first analysis being available to the each player according to the profile of the each player. In one embodiment of the invention, the first board comparison result is transmitted from the card dealer to the server and stored in the server, the first board comparison result being available to the each player according to the profile of the each player. In another embodiment of the invention, the first board comparison result may also be transmitted from the card dealer to the tablet, which then transmits the first board comparison result from the tablet to the server; and finally, the first board comparison result is stored in the server, the first board comparison result being available to the each player according to the profile of the each player. In addition to this, the tablet may also transmit the bidding to the server and analysis for each player may be performed at the server itself because the server now has the comparison result, bidding and the first board data.

In one embodiment of the invention, the identification comprises determining different set of cards and determining cards played in a unit of play by reading cards positioned at same number in each set of cards. Same number indicates that the cards, when counted in respective set of cards have same count number and therefore, refer to same unit of play number/ identifier. The dealer receives different set of cards in same way, i.e., face down.

In one embodiment, the identification comprises comparing each card in the plurality of set of cards with the first board data to recognize recipient of the compared card and comparing positioning of the each card in the plurality of set of cards to determine unit of play associated with the each compared card and the generation includes comparing correspondingly positioned cards, such as third cards of each of the plurality of set of cards, in the each of the plurality of set of cards to determining winner of a trick.

In yet another embodiment, the first board data is stored in the dealer memory in a classified form having a plurality of classification, such as in a tabular form having rows and columns, with each classification comprising a list of the cards dealt to the each player. The table may include the player or angular position (N, E, S; W) and a list of cards dealt out to the player or in angular position. The identification comprises comparing the each card in the plurality of set of cards with the first board data to recognize recipient of the compared card and assigning unit of play identifier to each card in the classification. Unit of play identifier only indicates the unit of play number for which the card was played. For example, the unit of play identifier is defined by a number out of one of the 13, indicating the unit of play number. The generating comprises comparing cards having same unit of play identifier, i.e. comparing cards played in the same unit of play, in the each classification to determine winner of the trick. In yet another embodiment, the identification includes comparing a first card of the each of the plurality of set of cards with the first board data to recognize recipient of the each set of cards in the dealt hand of cards and determining position of each card in each of the plurality of set of cards. It would be appreciated by person skilled in the art that one set of card is represented by a consecutive series of 13 consecutive cards. Therefore, identification of first card in the each set of cards and identifying the recipient of the first card would allow for knowing the recipient of other 12 consecutive cards following the first card. This method eliminates the step of identifying the recipient for each card, rather first card identification allows for identifying the recipient of the following 12 cards. Thereafter, the generating comprises comparing

correspondingly positioned cards in the each of the plurality of set of cards to determining winner of the trick.

In another embodiment, identification of the card played by the each player in each unit of play is transmitted from the card dealer to the server; and a first board comparison result is generated for the each player based on the identification using the server. In another embodiment, identification of the card played by the each player in each unit of play is transmitted from the card dealer to the tablet; and a first board comparison result is generated for the each player based on the identification using the tablet. In yet another embodiment, the first board comparison result for the each player based on the identification is generated by the card dealer.

As a further embodiment, transmitting identification of the card played by the each player in each unit of play from the card dealer to the server; generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the identification using the server; transmitting the entered biddings of the each player from the tablet to the server; and generating the first board analysis for the each player using the server by associating the first board comparison result of the each player with the biddings of the each player during the first board.

The first board comparison result and/ or the first board analysis may be made available in a desired format, such as graphically, textually, as a user interactive screen or a combination thereof to each player according to the profile of the each player. The profile of the each player determines level of accessibility to the first board comparison result and the first board analysis. The first board comparison result and the first board analysis of the each player may be linked to historical comparison results and historical analysis of previously played boards of the same each player, thereby producing an updated comparison result and an updated analysis. This allows learning for the player and improves the skills at playing the future boards.

Card Dealing method The dealing of the card by the card dealer is performed by a dealing method, as illustrated in Fig. 6. At 605, the first deck of cards is loaded in a card cartridge, which is positioned on a spinning core and each card in the first deck of cards is provided with a readable code. Thereafter, at 610 the code of a card from the first deck of the cards is read and an angular position for the card cartridge is identified. The angular position is determined by the first board data. Thereafter, at 615, the card cartridge is rotated by turning the spinning core using a motor, which turns and positions the cartridge at the identified angular positions. Once the card cartridge is positioned at the identified angular position, then at 620, a card is pushed from the first deck of cards towards the opening using an impact face, which is moved linearly by a linear motor.

Lastly, in one embodiment at 625, the each card is ejected out of the opening of the card dealer in a desired angular position of the card cartridge using a motor driven pressure means. In other embodiments, however, the cards are dealt for a first opening followed by dealing the cards for other openings in a sequential order, that is, cards for first opening followed by cards for a second opening and so on.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cards are made accessible to the players either progressively as the cards are dealt. Progressively relates to making the cards accessible as they are dealt either sequentially or for one specific opening prior to other openings. However, in other embodiment, the dealt cards are made accessible to the players simultaneously irrespective of whether they were dealt sequentially or for one specific opening prior to other openings.

The pressure means is selected from a pressure wheel for gripping the card within the wheels peripheral surface and ejecting the card during rotation motion of the pressure wheels and pressure plates for gripping the card within face surface facing the card and ejecting the card during linear motion of the pressure plates. The direction of rotation of the pressure wheels facilitates the ejection of the card and the direction of movement of the pressure plates facilitates the ejection of the card. Other means providing the same effect may also be employed.

As additional steps in an alternative embodiment, it is determined whether all the cards from the first deck of cards have been ejected/ dealt out at 630. If so, then a second deck of cards is loaded at 635 in the card cartridge, such as just before the first board starts or when the first board is in progress. The second hand from the second deck of cards is dealt and handed out according to a second board data following the steps 610 through 625, the second board data designating a specific card of the second deck of cards to a specific player for the second board. In another embodiment of the invention, the code of the ejected card and angular position in which the ejected card is ejected is read using a sensor in the card dealer. The read code and angular direction is stored in the dealer memory as a first data, the first data must be in compliance with the first board data and the angular position corresponding to the each player. In yet another embodiment of the invention, detection is made whether the card was ejected successfully using the sensor as a second data, transmitting the first data and the second data from the sensor to a dealer processing unit of the dealer; and transmitting the first data and second data from dealer processing unit to at least one of the other devices such as the tablet, server. This method of card dealing allows handing out the cards even when the cards have been used or slightly worn so long as the codes on the cards are distinguishably read by the sensor. The time taken by the card dealer to deal the second deck of cards for a second board is lesser than average time taken to complete the first board, allowing using of only the first deck of cards and second deck of cards for successive boards. The second board is played based on the second board data and generates a second board comparison result and second board analysis.

In one embodiment, the dealer is provided with noise insulation for reduced noise during operation. Refer to Fig. 26 illustrating an integrated card dealer according to an embodiment of the invention. The size of the card dealer is such that positioning of the card dealer on the table top does would not block viewing of cards being played by each player during the board. Also, the edges 2615 are tapered to allow viewing of the cards being played. The card dealer includes an openable lid 2605, which may be opened using the button 2610, for receiving the cards. Further, the dealt hands of cards 3005 are made accessible simultaneously in all the card compartments of the card dealer 3010, as shown in Fig. 30.

In one embodiment, the invention also includes a card dealer for dealing a hand of cards (Refer Figure 26). The size of the card dealer is such that positioning of the card dealer on the table top does would not block viewing of cards being played by each player during the board. The card dealer includes a surface footprint of each side in the range of 210 to 260 mm; and a height in the range of 40mm to 50mm. The surface footprint area is defined by the area of the table covered by the card dealer, when the card dealer is placed on top of table. In Fig. 26, the surface footprint area is defined by area enclosed by the edges A, B, C, and D. The height (h) of the card dealer is measured from bottom surface to top surface of the card dealer. The bottom surface is defined by the edges A, B, C, and D, whereas the top surface is defined by the edges A', B', C and D'. In some embodiments, the top surface is corresponding to surface area of the lid of the card dealer. It is visibly evident that the surface area of the footprint is more than the surface area of the top surface of the card dealer. This forms an angle of inclination (ang) between the edges of top surface (A, B, C, and D) and corresponding edges of bottom surface (Α', Β', C\ and D') respectively. The size and angle formed allows visibility of cards played during the board even when the card dealer is placed on top of the table. The angle of inclination is in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees. The card dealer, in preferred embodiment, includes four sides/ edges as shown by A, B, C, and D for bottom surface and A', B', C\ and D' for top surface.

The card dealer may further include means for applying force on top of the deck of cards to allow withdrawal of one card at a time. In different embodiments, such means may include a spring force operated members that are physically disjoint from the lid, a spring based lid or other means providing this functionality. The force applied by the means is enough so that when the impact face pushes the card towards the opening, only the lower most card moves and the positioning of other cards remain static. This feature is especially useful when last few cards, such as two to five are left for dealing or the cards in the card dealer are old. This feature is illustrated in Fig. 29, which shows the member according to an embodiment of the invention. 2905 represents the lid of the card dealer and 2915 is the card cartridge section holding the deck of cards. The member 2910 applies force onto the deck of cards, such that when a card 2925 under the impact of the impact face moves and the gripped by the pressure wheels 2920, the other cards of the deck of cards are stable under the force applied by member 2910.

In various embodiments, the card dealer may be positioned on top of a board table, or concealedly positioned and affixed to the board table. The latter allows more free space and little distraction for the players during the board. The hand of cards is delivered to the each player in respective card compartment. In different embodiments of the invention, the card compartment is selected from respective opening in the card dealer for the each player; compartments coupled to the respective opening in the card dealer, each compartment may have an openable flap corresponding to the each player; and compartments each connected to the opening in the card dealer via respective card transportable means such as a conveyor channel, sliding channel, for the each player. These features are covered in detail in later sections of the

specification. In two different embodiments of the invention, the card dealer may be a modular system and an integrated system.

The method for dealing a hand of cards using a card dealer may be performed using a board table, having following steps: concealedly positioning a card dealer on a platform underneath a table; moving a sliding section of the table from an initial table top position to slide position, thereby creating a table opening; elevating the platform through the table opening to allow the card dealer to be position on top of the table; dealing the deck of cards using the card dealer; moving the platform down the table opening, thereby pulling the card dealer down the table; and closing the table opening by moving the sliding section from the slide position to the table top position. The elevator platform is driven by an elevator mechanism.

In different embodiments of the invention, the tablet may include either a graphical user interface or physical buttons or a combination thereof for entering the biddings for the each player. Gaming architecture, including Virtual Bridge Club (VBC), according to different embodiments of the invention

Fig. 7 illustrates a bridge table with a card dealer in the centre according to an embodiment of the invention. A bridge table (4) with a card dealer (1 ) in the centre of the table is shown. Alternatively, said card dealer (1 ) may be placed in connection with said table. During a bridge board, said card dealer (1 ) may deal out cards to the players (3) of the bridge board according the board data. Said card dealer may include the dealer described later. The first deck of cards (15) and tablet (2) is also shown in the figure with 15 representing the communication coupling between the tablet and the card dealer.

Fig. 8 shows a plurality of bridge tables e.g. in a local barometer tournament, each bridge table comprising a card dealer (1 ) and the tablet (2) according to an

embodiment of the invention. The respective tablet (2) for each of the plurality of bridge tables may be physically and/or wirelessly connected to their respective card dealer (1 ). Further, the dealer (2) may be physically and/or wirelessly connected to a central basestation (7) in physical and/or wireless connection to a local computer/ server (6). The local computer/ server (6) may act as a director for a bridge tournament.

Alternatively or additionally, the local computer may be a Virtual Bridge Club generating bridge board data for the plurality of bridge tables. The server (6), the basestation (7), the tablet (2) and the card dealer (1 ) may represent a local bridge club and/or a local bridge tournament. Via e.g. an internet connection (8), the local bridge club and/or local tournament may communicate with other local bridge clubs and/or tournaments.

Alternatively or additionally, said local bridge club and/or local tournament may communicate with a Virtual Bridge Club generating bridge board data for at least one local bridge club and/or local tournament.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative to the embodiment of Fig. 8 in that the system of fig. 8 comprises one central card dealer (1 ) which under a tournament may provide cards to a plurality of bridge tables (tables 1 - n). Each bridge table has a tablet (2) for managing each bridge table (4) and enabling each bridge table (4) to communicate bids and/or analysis to a local computer (6) and/or remote server e.g. a Virtual Bridge Club via a physical and/or wireless data-connection 8. Fig. 10 shows a plurality of geographical locations (locations a - n) e.g. a plurality of bridge clubs (9), connected via a Virtual Bridge Club (10) in one or more barometer tournaments being played simultaneously. Through the Virtual Bridge Club (10), each participant in a barometer tournament is able to compare his/hers result with one or more other participant's results in the tournament. The Virtual Bridge Club (10) may act as a bridge board generator, providing bridge board data to the plurality of

geographical locations connected either physically or wirelessly (8) to said Virtual Bridge Club. The bridge board data provided to said plurality of locations may be identical and may be provided simultaneously i.e. enabling the plurality of locations to participate in the same barometer tournament irrespective of their geographical location. The one or more card dealer connected, either directly or indirectly ( e.g. through one or more communication and scoring modules) to said Virtual Bridge Club receives said bridge board data from said Virtual Bridge Club and enables a secure and simultaneously dealing out of cards at a plurality of locations according to the bridge board data.

The bridge board data may, for example, comprise information about which hands the participants at position N, S, W and E should have in different boards in a tournament, information about dealer and vulnerability, names of participants, tournament movements (i.e. the meaning of the schedule by which the players taking part of the tournament should move about during the tournament), and/or a

synchronized timer showing the actual time left of a tournament and/or tournament round. Alternatively, the Virtual Bridge Club may be executed in one of the geographical locations e.g. in "location a" of figure 10, and thereby the network of the plurality of geographical locations may be coupled in a point-to-point-like network-structure with the Virtual Bridge Club situated at one of the locations. Fig. 1 1 shows a Virtual Bridge Club (10) connected via a physical and/or wireless data-connection (8) to at least one geographical location (9).

A geographical location may comprise a bridge club (9) connected to said Virtual Bridge Club (10) via a wireless (IR, Bluetooth, WLAN, etc.) and/or physical (optical cable, electrical cable) data-connection. The bridge club (9) may comprise a local server (6) transmitting the bridge board data received from the Virtual Bridge Club to one or more tablet (2) in said bridge club. Alternatively, said bridge board data may be transmitted directly from said Virtual Bridge Club (10) to one or more tablets (2) in said bridge club. Said one or more tablets (2) may be connected to one or more card dealer (1 ) to which the bridge data may be transmitted. Alternatively, said bridge board data may be transmitted directly from said Virtual Bridge Club (10) to said one or more card dealer (1 ).

Alternatively or additionally, a geographical location may comprise one or more private user bridge tables (1 1 ). A private user bridge table (1 1 ) may be connected to said Virtual Bridge Club (10) via a wireless (IR, Bluetooth, WLAN, etc.) and/or physical (optical cable, electrical cable) data-connection. The private user bridge table (1 1 ) may comprise a tablet (2) receiving the bridge board data and the tablet (2) may transmit said bridge board data to a card dealer (1 ) connected to said tablet (2). Alternatively, said bridge board data may be transmitted directly from said Virtual Bridge Club (10) to said one or more card dealers (1 ).

Thereby, one or more bridge clubs (9) and/or one or more private user bridge tables (1 1 ) may participate in the same tournament via the Virtual Bridge Club (10) and further, the bridge tournament may be a duplicate tournament and further, the tournament may be a barometer tournament.

In an additional embodiment, at least one of the bridge clubs (9) and/or at least one of the private user bridge tables (1 1 ) in a bridge tournament may be monitored by a professional bridge player and/or commentator and/or tutor (12). The professional bridge player and/or commentator and/or tutor (12) may be physically present at one of the locations (9, 1 1 ). Alternatively, the professional bridge player and/or commentator and/or tutor (12) may be in any location and from there have access to the Virtual Bridge Club (10), e.g. via a physical and/or wireless data-connection, said Virtual Bridge Club (10) keeping track of the results of each of the participants in the tournament via the one or more tablets (2) connected to the one or more card dealer (1 ) in the tournament. Thereby the professional player and/or commentator and/or tutor (12) is enabled to monitor all the participants in a barometer tournament and thereby the professional player and/or commentator and/or tutor (12) is enabled to monitor and/or comment all bids, board data, results, etc. By enabling a bridge club in data connection with said Virtual Bridge Club (10) to have access to a tutor (12) may upgrade a class C club to a class A club thereby increasing the value of the club and the players attracted to the bridge club. An A-club is defined as a club having a high teaching level, often led by one or more international players, and by having enough students to have ranked classes focusing on the specific skill level of the players and having the teaching focused accordingly.

The board data of one or more bridge boards played may be stored in the Virtual Bridge Club (10).

In an additional embodiment, the Virtual Bridge Club (10) may provide services to Virtual Bridge Club users e.g. participants of a bridge tournament and/or private users. The services provided by said bridge club may be made available via e.g. a homepage on the Internet which may be accessed by a user via a computer and/or a mobile telephone and/or a tablet (2), etc. The services provided by the Virtual Bridge Club (10) may comprise statistical analysis of the boards played by a user, participation in a virtual barometer tournament, training bridge boards, training bidding sequences, coaching by a professional bridge player and/or commentator and/or tutor, bridge board data on already played bridge tournaments (e.g. Monte Carlo 1991 , etc.), etc.

In an additional embodiment, the services provided by the Virtual Bridge Club (10) is controlled by digital rights management (DRM) such that, for example, a user (e.g. a participant in a tournament and/or a private user and/or a director of a bridge club) may purchase a service at the Virtual Bridge Club (10) and agree on using the service in a restricted manner, e.g. only Wednesday, only a certain amount of times, etc., in order to acquire the service at e.g. a reduced price. Alternatively, a user may acquire the service without restrictions. In an additional embodiment, a user profile may be created in said Virtual Bridge

Club (10) for one or more users e.g. participant in a bridge tournament and/or for one or more private users. Said user profile may comprise a unique identification of said user. The user profile may further comprise a log of the bridge boards played by said user in said Virtual Bridge Club (10) and/or the results obtained by said user represented by said user profile. Alternatively or additionally, said user profile may comprise a log over the services requested and/or purchased by said user represented by said user profile on said Virtual Bridge Club (10). Alternatively or additionally, said user profile may comprise one or more conventions of the user represented by said user profile. Additionally, said user profile may comprise demographics of the players, and information on other interests and habits, etc.

In an additional embodiment, the information stored in a user profile may be used to target the user represented by said user profile with e.g. commercial material and/or training bridge boards aimed at helping the user overcoming a bridge board deficiency uncovered by the Virtual Bridge Club (10) e.g. through analysis of the user's results and bridge board data, etc.

In an additional embodiment, the user profile data stored in the Virtual Bridge Club (10) may be used to award masterpoints to a given user satisfying the requirements for awarding masterpoints.

Method relating to the Virtual Bridge Club (VBC) according to different embodiments of the invention Fig. 12 shows the steps of a method of setting up a user profile in a Virtual Bridge

Club (10).

The method starts at step 1 .

At step 2, a user establishes a data-connection to a Virtual Bridge Club (10), e.g. an internet homepage, via a tablet (10) (e.g. a Bridge Tablet) and/or a mobile telephone and/or a computer with internet access, etc.

At step 3, upon request from said Virtual Bridge Club (10), the user enters a serial number of a card dealer (1 ), e.g. a BridgeSpinner, or chooses a guest membership.

At step 4, the user chooses a type of subscription.

At step 5, the user confirms the choice of step 4 IF said choice is correct ELSE step

4 is repeated.

At step 6, the user enters information representing said user.

At step 7, the user confirms the choice of step 6 IF said choice is correct ELSE step 6 is repeated. At step 8, the Virtual Bridge Club (10) transmits a username and a user password to the user e.g. to the user's tablet (2) and/or mobile telephone and/or computer with internet access.

At step 9, the Virtual Bridge Club (10) assigns a unique identification to the tablet (2) in connection with said card dealer (1 ) identified by the serial number.

At step 10, the user is enabled to acquire services from the Virtual Bridge Club (10) e.g. via said tablet (2) (e.g. said Bridge Tablet) and/or said mobile telephone and/or said computer connected to the Internet. For example, the user may request analysis of the bridge boards played by the user and stored on the Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 1 1 , the method ends.

In an additional embodiment, step 4 comprises choosing a subscription from the group of: paying for one time services and unlimited use of services paid with a monthly flat fee.

In an additional embodiment, step 6 comprises entering information such as

• Name and address of the user;

• Age and gender;

• How many years the user has been playing bridge;

• Optionally entering the name of a bridge partner;

· The conventions by which the user plays;

• Optionally entering one or more memberships of bridge clubs;

• Number of masterpoints. Alternatively, the masterpoints may be collected directly from a national bridge league;

• Credit card details.

Fig. 13 shows the steps of a method of buying pre-played (e.g. the Cavendish cup, 1983) or fictitious pre-scored tournaments.

The method starts at step 1 .

At step 2, a user establishes a data-connection to a Virtual Bridge Club (10), e.g. an internet homepage or a browser, via a tablet (2) (e.g. a Bridge Tablet and/or a mobile telephone and/or a computer with internet access, etc.).

At step 3, the user confirms the user identity by entering a password and a username acquired during setting up a user profile at the Virtual Bridge Club (10), as disclosed in Fig. 12 and associated text. At step 4, the user chooses a service e.g. the user may choose a tournament played by random participants on certain skill levels that match the users own skill level enabling a fair standard of reference. Further, the results scored by the user may be ranked for further use. Alternatively or additionally, the user may choose a high-profile tournament where the user and associated participants play at a level substantially equal to the level of the high-profile participants that participated in the tournament. Alternatively, the high-profile tournament may be played with a handicap. Alternatively, any pre-played and/or pre-scored tournament may be chosen as a service at the Virtual Bridge Club (10) and thereby chosen by the user.

At step 5, the user chooses what kind of digital right the service (e.g. tournament) should be associated with; for example, a service may be bought as a one-time use, a time-limited use, a pre-selected number of uses, and/or an unlimited use of the service. The price of a service may depend on the type of DRM e.g. one-time use of a tournament may be set at a lower price than unlimited use of said tournament.

At step 6, the user confirms the choice of step 5 IF said choice is correct ELSE step

5 is repeated. IF the user confirms the choice, a financial transaction between the user (e.g. via the tablet (2) and the Virtual Bridge Club (10) takes place in which the user pays for the service.

At step 7, bridge board data representing the bought service is transferred from the Virtual Bridge Club (10) to the user's Bridge Tablet (2) and/or mobile phone and/or computer with internet access.

At step 8, the bridge board date is transferred from the user's tablet (2) (e.g. Bridge Tablet and/or mobile phone and/or computer with internet access) to the card dealer (1 ). After transfer of bridge board data from the tablet (2) to the card dealer (1 ), the tablet (2) may be disconnected from the card dealer (1 ). The card dealer (1 ) may then deal a number of hands in accordance with the acquired bridge board data.

At step 9, the method ends.

By enabling a user to buy e.g. training lessons (e.g. comprising of pre-programmed board data and instructional comments on one or more issues trained) directly on the tablet (2), e.g. a Bridge Tablet, the user is enabled to increase his/her bridge skill level in an efficient and easy manner. Further, by having one or more special board packages focusing on training specific problems in the board, comprising e.g. special board data and/or teaching manuals etc., lower level clubs may upgrade their service and/or teaching level.

Fig. 14 shows a method of playing a pre-played tournament provided by a Virtual Bridge Club and a card dealer.

At step 1 , the method starts.

At step 2, the cards are dealt by a card dealer (1 ) in accordance with bridge board data acquired by a user from a Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 3, the bidding starts. The bidding continues until a first, a second and a third player have made a pass bid.

At step 4, the bid made by a fourth player constitutes a contract. The contract is entered into a tablet (2) and may from there be transmitted to said Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 5, a lead card is chosen. The value of the lead card is entered into the tablet(2) and may from there be transmitted to the Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 6, the cards dealt by the card dealer (1 ) are played by said first, second, third and fourth players.

At step 7, the result of the bridge board played is entered into the tablet (2) and may from there be transmitted to said Virtual Bridge Club (10). The played cards are returned to the card dealer (1 ). The Virtual Bridge Club (10) performs a statistical analysis on the transmitted result and transmits the statistical result to said tablet (2). Alternatively, if the contract, the lead card and the result have not been transmitted from the tablet (2) to the Virtual Bridge Club (10), the tablet (2) may perform the statistical analysis.

At step 8, the participants may review the statistical analysis on the tablet (2). IF un- played bridge board data exist in the card dealer (1 ), the method returns to step 2 and continues from step 2. ELSE IF un-played bridge board data does not exist in the card dealer (1 ), the method continues at step 8.

At step 9, the tournament ends. The card dealer (1 ) may have stored gaming data comprising information on how the cards have been played in one or more bridge boards in the tournament. The tablet (2) may be reconnected to the card dealer (1 ) in case the dealer (2) has been disconnected from the card dealer (1 ). The gaming data may be transferred from the card dealer (1 ) to the tablet (2). At step 10, the gaming data may be transmitted from the tablet (2) to the Virtual Bridge Club (10) via a physical and/or wireless data connection. The Virtual Bridge Club (10) may perform analysis of the boards played based on the gaming data. The gaming data obtained from said first, second, third and fourth players playing the tournament may therefore become part of the statistical data for the tournament. Therefore, the statistical data of each tournament in the Virtual Bridge Club (10) grows with the number of sold tournaments via the Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 1 1 , the participants may buy one or more analysis of the one or more bridge boards played in said tournament.

At step 12, the method ends.

Fig. 15 shows a method of setting up a virtual tournament room according to an embodiment of the invention. The method starts in step 1 .

At step 2, a user establishes a data-connection to a Virtual Bridge Club (10) e.g. from a tablet (2).

At step 3, the user confirms the user identity by entering a password and a username acquired during setting up a user profile at the Virtual Bridge Club (10), as disclosed in Figure 12 and associated text.

At step 4, the user chooses scoring or IMP scoring to set the frame of a tournament and a number of bridge boards to be played in said tournament.

At step 5, a date and a time is set for the tournament. The user setting up the virtual tournament room may set a condition for participation to be that the virtual tournament is played simultaneously at the participating bridge tables thereby enabling a comparison of a running score during the tournament.

At step 6, the user invites one or more participants to join the tournament and card dealer (1 ) associated with the participants are prepared to receive the bridge board data.

At step 7, the tournament is confirmed by the user and afterwards by the invited participants. The tournament may be put on standby until the data and time chosen in step 5.

The method ends in step 8. Fig. 16 shows the steps of playing in a virtual tournament room in a Virtual Bridge Club (10).

The method starts at step 1 .

At step 2, bridge board data comprising one or more bridge hands in a bridge tournament is transmitted from a Virtual Bridge Club (10) to one or more geographical locations (locations a - n) comprising one or more card dealer (1 ).

At step 3, said bridge board data is transmitted from the Virtual Bridge Club (10) to the one or more dealer (1 ).

At step 4, each participant in said bridge tournament provides a bid in the tablet. At step 5, a contract is set between the participants e.g. using a number of tablet

(2).

At step 6, a lead card is chosen.

At step 7, the participants in the tournament play the respective hands via the one or more card dealer (1 ).

At step 8, the result obtained by each participant of the bridge board is entered into a tablet (2) at each bridge table (4).

At step 9, each tablet (2) communicates the result of each respective participant at each respective bridge table (4) connected to said tablet (2) to said Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 10, said Virtual Bridge Club (10) transmits statistical data representing the played board at each respective bridge table (4) to each tablet (2).

At step 1 1 , IF un-played bridge board data exist in the one or more card dealers (1 ), the method returns to step 4 and continues from step 4. ELSE IF un-played bridge board data does not exist in the one or more card dealers (1 ), the tournament is finished.

At step 12, transferring board data from said one or more card dealer (1 ) to said Virtual Bridge Club (10) and performing at least one statistical analysis on said board data in said Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 13, enabling each participant in the tournament to buy at least one analysis of one or more boards played in the tournament.

At step 14, the method stops.

In an additional embodiment, step 2 comprises transmitting bridge board data comprising one or more bridge hands in a bridge tournament from a Virtual Bridge Club (10) to one or more tablets (2) in one or more geographical locations. Step 3 of this additional embodiment comprises transferring said bridge board data from said one or more tablets (2) to one or more card dealers (1 ) and disconnecting said tablet (2) from said card dealer (1 ) after transmission of said bridge board data. Step 3 of this additional embodiment may further comprise connecting said one or more tablets (2) to the one or more card dealers (1 ) just before tournament start e.g. 3 minutes before the tournament starts.

Step 12 of this additional embodiment comprises reconnecting said one or more tablets (2) to the one or more card dealers (1 ) and transferring board data from said one or more card dealers (1 ) to said Virtual Bridge Club (10) via said one or more tablets (2).

Step 12 of this additional embodiment may further comprises disconnecting said one or more tablets (2) from said one or more card dealers (1 ) when board data has been transferred from said one or more card dealers (1 ) to said Virtual Bridge Club (10).

In a further additional embodiment, step 8 comprises entering information about the contract played, lead card played and the result of the bridge board played. Step 12 of this further additional embodiment comprises transferring data comprising the order in which the cards of the bridge board have been played. Fig. 17 shows a method of buying a training lesson at a Virtual Bridge Club (10).

The method starts in step 1 .

At step 2, a user establishes a data-connection to a Virtual Bridge Club (10) e.g. via a tablet (2) and/or mobile phone and/or computer with internet access.

At step 3, the user confirms the user identity by entering a password and a username acquired during setting up a user profile at the Virtual Bridge Club (10), as disclosed in Figure 12 and associated text.

At step 4, the user chooses one or more training lessons. A lesson may, for example, comprise training in bridge conventions. Alternatively or additionally, a lesson may comprise training in playing bridge.

At step 5, the user chooses what kind of digital right the lesson should be associated with; for example, a lesson may be bought as a one-time use, a time-limited use, a pre-selected number of uses, and/or an unlimited use of the lesson. The price of a lesson may depend on the DRM type e.g. one-time use of a lesson may be set at a lower price than unlimited use of said lesson. A lesson may, for example, comprise a number of training hands to be played.

At step 6, the user confirms the choice of step 5 IF said choice is correct ELSE step 5 is repeated. IF the user confirms the choice, a financial transaction between the user and the Virtual Bridge Club (10) takes place in which the user pays for the lesson.

At step 7, bridge board data representing the bought one or more lessons is transferred from the Virtual Bridge Club (10) to the user's tablet (2) (e.g. Bridge Tablet and/or mobile phone and/or computer with internet access).

At step 8, the bridge board date representing the hands to be played in the one or more lessons is transferred from the user's tablet (2) (e.g. Bridge Tablet and/or mobile phone and/or computer with internet access) to the card dealer (1 ). After transfer of bridge board data from the tablet (2) to the card dealer (1 ), the tablet (2) may be disconnected from the card dealer (1 ). The card dealer (1 ) may then deal a number of hands in accordance with the acquired bridge board data. The bridge board data associated with teaching the lesson stored in the tablet (2) (e.g. Bridge Tablet and/or mobile telephone and/or computer with internet access) may be used to comment on the bridge board played by the user.

At step 9, the method stops. Fig. 18 shows the execution of a training lesson according to an embodiment of the invention.

The method starts in step 1 .

At step 2, one or more participants of a training lesson are instructed in the objective(s) of the training lesson by a Tablet (2) and/or a mobile telephone and/or a computer with internet access.

At step 3, a first, a second, a third and a fourth participant around a bridge table (4) go through the key points of the chosen training lesson and optionally discuss these.

At step 4, the lesson starts e.g. by one or more card dealer (1 ) dealing out a hand according to the training lesson.

At step 5, each participant provides a bid and this is registered in one or more tablets (2) (e.g. Bridge Tablet).

At step 6, one or more bids are evaluated and commented by the one or more tablet (2). If a bid differs from the recommended bid, the differing bid is changed to the recommended bid by the one or more tablet (2) before the next bid is set. At step 7, a contract is set between the participants.

At step 8, the one or more tablets (2) provide comments to each participant on their biddings and on the contract.

At step 9, the recommended bidding sequence is displayed on the one or more tablets (2) (Bridge Tablets). Each bid in the bidding sequence may be selected for a comment, stored in said one or more tablets (2). The recommended bid sequence may comprise artificial bids and may refer to a bidding convention suitable for the played hands.

At step 10, a lead card is chosen, the value of which may be input into the one or more tablets (2).

At step 1 1 , the recommended lead card is displayed on the one or more tablets (2) (Bridge Tablet). IF the recommended lead card differs from the chosen lead card, the chosen lead card is exchanged by the recommended lead card such that the hands may be played according to the purpose of the training lesson.

At step 12, the hands are played.

In step 13, the results of the played board are entered into the one or more tablets (2) (Bridge Tablets) e.g. the number of tricks acquired by the participant having the contract.

At step 14, gaming data comprising the results of the played bridge board are transferred from the one or more tablets (2) (Bridge Tablets) to the Virtual Bridge Club (10), said Virtual Bridge Club (10) performing at least one statistical analysis on the gaming data.

At step 15, the at least one statistical analysis is transmitted from the Virtual Bridge Club (10) to the one or more tablets (2) (Bridge Tablets), and the one or more tablets (2) (Bridge Tablets) comments on the result and the sequence of the board. The comments may be based on the statistical analysis.

At step 16, the method ends.

Fig. 19 shows a method to find one or more participants to one or more bridge boards e.g. if a bridge player arrives at a city and would like to play bridge but does not know of any bridge players in said city.

The method starts in step 1 .

At step 2, a user establishes a data-connection to a Virtual Bridge Club (10) e.g. via a tablet (2) and the user confirms the user identity by entering a password and a username acquired during setting up a user profile at the Virtual Bridge Club (10), as disclosed in Figure 12 and associated text.

At step 3, the user chooses via said tablet (2) a match making service being on said Virtual Bridge Club (10), for example, in a collection of community based services on said Virtual Bridge Club (10).

At step 4, the user chooses via said tablet (2) a location in which the user would like to find one or more participants for one or more boards of bridge.

At step 5, the user chooses via said tablet (2) a date and a time where the user wishes to play bridge.

At step 6, via said tablet (2) the user posts if the user is a single player or if the user is playing with a partner i.e. in a pair.

At step 7, via said tablet (2) the user posts the enquiry comprising the location, the date and time and the number of participants sought at the Virtual Bridge Club (10).

Alternatively or additionally, the enquiry is pushed to Virtual Bridge Club (10) members living substantially at the location e.g. in the same city as the user posting the enquiry may presently be in.

At step 8, one or more participants interested in said inquiry may respond to said inquiry via their respective tablet (2) thereby enabling said user and said one or more participants to play bridge.

At step 9, the time and the place for the one or more boards of bridge are agreed upon e.g. in a virtual tournament room on said Virtual Bridge Club (10) as disclosed in Fig. 15 and associated text. Alternatively or additionally, said user and said one or more participants may agree on a personal meeting In the embodiment of Fig. 19, the enquiry may be made by e.g. a bridge club seeking other bridge clubs and/or users to play.

In an embodiment, the method of the invention comprises establishing a physical and/or wireless communication link between a user communication and tablet for generating electronic board data; providing a plurality of services to the user tablet by the means for generating electronic board data; enabling a user to choose at least one service from said plurality of services via said user tablet; enabling the user to choose a digital rights management (DRM) type associated with said at least one chosen service; providing the at least one chosen service to the user tablet via said physical and/or wireless communication link from said means for generating electronic board data; charging said user via said physical and/or wireless communication link for said chosen at least one service, said charging depending on said digital rights management type; enabling the user to electronically pay the means for generating electronic board data for the chosen at least one service via said user tablet.

In an embodiment, where the modular system is being used, a player owning a first card dealer (1 ) comprising a first kernel and a first chassis may take the first kernel comprising a first electronic serial number from the first card dealer (1 ) to e.g. a physical bridge club comprising a second chassis with a second electronic serial number of a second card dealer (1 ). The first kernel may be connected to the second chassis.

When the second card dealer (1 ) comprising the first kernel and the second chassis is connected to e.g. a tablet (2), one or more services (e.g. Monte Carlo Bridge tournament 1991 ) may be downloaded from the Virtual Bridge Club to the second card dealer. Additionally, information such as the electronic serial number of the first kernel and the second chassis may be transmitted from the second card dealer (1 ) to the Virtual Bridge Club. From the information received by the Virtual Bridge Club from the second card dealer regarding the player's first kernel being connected to the second chassis, the Virtual Bridge Club may determine to pay a commission to the player e.g. for spreading information regarding the card dealer (1 ) and/or the Virtual Bridge Club and/or the services available from the Virtual Bridge Club. The commission may, for example, comprise a cash commission and/or a number of services for free from the Virtual Bridge Club.

System according to different embodiments of the invention According to another embodiment of the invention, a system for dealing a hand of cards for a first board and analyzing the first board is disclosed as shown in Fig. 20. The system includes a card dealer 2005 having a dealer memory 2010 for storing a first board data, the card dealer housing a first deck of cards. The system further includes a dealing unit 2020 in the card dealer for dealing a hand of cards from the first deck of cards in accordance with the first board data, the first board data designating a specific card to each player. The dealing unit 2020 for receives, without shuffling, a plurality of set of cards. A dealer processing unit 2015 in the card dealer is adapted in the card dealer adapted to identify the card played by the each player in each unit of play. A processor for generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the comparison. The processor, in different embodiments, may include dealer processing unit 2015 or server processing unit 2015' or tablet processing unit 2085. This depends upon the processing unit, which is being employed to generate the first board comparison result. The dealer memory, dealing unit and dealer processing unit are communicatively coupled to one another through a communication link 2025.

In an embodiment, the system includes a server 2030, which is communicatively coupled 2040 to a tablet 2035. In another embodiment, the server is communicatively coupled 2045 (dotted communication link) to the card dealer directly. The server generates the first board data using a server processing unit 2015' and transmits the first board data from the server to the tablet and/ or the card dealer using a server transmitter 2050. It is understandable that the tablet and card dealer includes respective tablet receiver and dealer receiver to receive the data. The transmission of the first board data from the server occurs a few minutes before the start of the first board, such as 3 minutes before the start of the board.

In one embodiment of the invention, the tablet includes a tablet memory 2055 for storing the first board data. The tablet also includes a tablet transmitter 2060 for transmitting the first board data from the tablet to the card dealer; and the dealer memory 2010 of the card dealer for storing the transmitted first board data, the tablet being communicatively coupled 2065 to the card dealer.

The tablet includes input means 2070 for entering the biddings of the each player during the first board into the tablet; and the tablet memory 2055 for storing the biddings of the each player. The input means in various embodiments of the invention may include a graphical user interface (GUI), or physical buttons or a combination thereof.

The card dealer includes a card dealer transmitter 2075 for transmitting the first board comparison result from the card dealer to the tablet, received by the tablet receiver 2080; a tablet processing unit 2085 in the tablet for generating a first board analysis for the each player by associating the first board comparison result of the each player with the biddings of the each player during the first board; the tablet transmitter 2060 for transmitting the first board analysis of the each player from the tablet to a server, which includes a server receiver 2090. The tablet is communicatively coupled 2040 to the server; and the server stores the first board analysis of the each player in the server memory 2095, the first board analysis being available to the each player according to a profile of the each player.

All the respective components of the card dealer, tablet, and server are connected with one another by respective communication links, such as 2025, 2005' and 2010' respectively.

In one embodiment of the invention, the tablet 2035 includes the tablet input means 2070 for entering the biddings of the each player during the first board into the tablet 2035; the tablet transmitter 2060 for transmitting the entered biddings of the each player from the tablet to the card dealer. The dealer 2005 includes the dealer memory 2010 for storing the transmitted biddings of the each player. The card dealer 2005 includes the dealer processing unit 2015 for generating the first board analysis for the each player by associating the first board comparison result of the each player with the biddings of the each player during the first board and also includes a card dealer transmitter 2075 transmits the first board analysis of the each player from the card dealer to the server 2030, the card dealer being communicatively coupled 2045 to the server. The transmitted analysis is stored in the server memory 2095, the first analysis being available to the each player according to the profile of the each player. In another embodiment, the card dealer transmitter 2075 transmits the first board comparison result from the card dealer 2005 to the server 2030 and the server stores the first board comparison result in server memory 2095, the first board comparison result being available to the each player according to the profile of the each player.

In another embodiment, the card dealer includes the card dealer transmitter 2075 for transmitting the first board comparison result from the card dealer 2005 to the tablet 2035. The tablet includes the tablet transmitter 2060 for transmitting the first board comparison result from the tablet to the server 2030; and the server stores the first board comparison result, the first board comparison result being available to the each player according to the profile of the each player. In one embodiment of the invention, the dealer processing unit identifies by comparing each card in the plurality of set of cards with the first board data to recognize recipient of the compared card and by comparing positioning of the each card in the plurality of set of cards to determine unit of play associated with the each compared card; and the processor generates the comparison result by comparing correspondingly positioned cards in the each of the plurality of set of cards to determining winner of a trick.

In another embodiment, the dealer memory stores the first board data in a classified form having a plurality of classification, such as in a tabular form having rows and columns, with each classification comprising a list of the cards dealt to the each player; the dealer processing unit identifies by comparing the each card in the plurality of set of cards with the first board data to recognize recipient of the compared card; the dealer processing unit for assigning unit of play identifier to each card in the

classification; and the processor for generating comprises comparing cards having same unit of play identifier in the each classification to determining winner of the trick.

In an embodiment of the invention, the dealer processing unit identifies by comparing a first card of the each of the plurality of set of cards with the first board data to recognize recipient of the each set of cards in the dealt hand of cards; the dealer processing unit for determining position of each card in each of the plurality of set of cards; and the processor for generating by comparing correspondingly positioned cards in the each of the plurality of set of cards to determining winner of the trick. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a dealer transmitter for transmitting identification of the card played by the each player in each unit of play from the card dealer to the server; and a server for generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the identification. In yet another embodiment, a dealer transmitter for identification of the card played by the each player in each unit of play from the card dealer to the tablet; and a tablet processing unit for generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the identification by the tablet. In another embodiment, the card dealer processing unit generates the first board comparison result for the each player based on the identification.

Alternative embodiment includes dealer processing unit identifying different set of cards and determining cards played in a unit of play by reading cards positioned at same number in each set of cards.

In another embodiment, the system includes a dealer transmitter for transmitting identification of the card played by the each player in each unit of play from the card dealer to the server; a server processing unit for generating a first board comparison result for the each player based on the identification using the server; a tablet transmitter for transmitting the entered biddings of the each player from the tablet to the server; and the server processing unit for generating the first board analysis for the each player using the server by associating the first board comparison result of the each player with the biddings of the each player during the first board.

The first board comparison result and/ or the first board analysis are provided to each player according to the profile of the each player in a desired format. The profile of the each player determines level of accessibility to the first board comparison result and the first board analysis.

In another embodiment of the invention, the server processing unit 2015' of the server is adapted to link the first board comparison result and the first board analysis of the each player to historical comparison results and historical analysis of previously played boards of the same each player, allowing learning for the player from an updated comparison result and an updated analysis.

In various embodiments, the card dealer is positioned on top of the table, or concealedly positioned and affixed to the board table. The card dealer comprises card compartments (25, in Fig. 22) for delivering the hand of cards to the each player. In alternative embodiments, the card compartment is selected may include respective opening in the card dealer for the each player; compartments coupled to the respective opening in the card dealer, each compartment having an openable flap corresponding to the each player; and compartments each connected to the opening in the card dealer via respective card transportable means such as a conveyor channel (36 in Fig. 23), sliding channel, for the each player. Similarly, the card compartment in two embodiments may include a modular card dealer system or an integrated card dealer system. The card dealer also includes a card dealing unit, which comprises a card cartridge for holding the first deck of cards, the card cartridge being positioned on a spinning core and each card being provided with a readable code; a first motor for turning and position the card cartridge in a number of angular positions by turning the spinning core; a linear motor for linearly moving an impact face for pushing a card from the first deck of cards towards the opening; a pressure wheel, driven by a second motor, for ejecting the each card out of the opening of the card dealer in a desired angular position of the card cartridge; and a sensor for reading the code of the ejected card and angular position in which the ejected card is ejected. The card dealer is explained in detail in later sections of this application.

In another embodiment of the invention, the dealer memory of the card dealer also stores the read code and angular direction as a first data, the first data being in compliance with the first board data and the angular position corresponding to the each player. In addition, the card dealer includes a sensor for detecting whether the card was ejected successfully as a second data; a sensor transmitting means for transmitting the first data and the second data from the sensor to the dealer processing unit of the dealer; and the card dealer transmitter for transmitting the first data and second data from dealer processing unit to at least one of the other devices such as the tablet, server.

The card cartridge of the card dealer fmay also hold a second deck of cards after the first deck of cards are handed, such as just before the first board starts or when the first board is in progress; and the dealing unit for dealing a second hand from the second deck of cards according to a second board data, the second board data designating a specific card of the second deck of cards to a each player for the second board. A second board is played from the second hand of cards dealt from the second deck of cards. The second board is based on a second board data, which is different from the first board data. The second board results in a second comparison result and a second board analysis for each player of the second board. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that the method and system used for the second board is same the one used with the first board except that the second board is played using the second deck of cards and the board is played based on the second board data and generates the second board comparison result and second board analysis. The time taken by the card dealer to deal the second deck of cards for the second board is lesser than average time taken to complete the first board, allowing using of only the first deck of cards and second deck of cards for each successive boards. The successive boards, however are played based on successive board data, which are usually different from the first board data and the second board data.

Card dealer

Fig. 21 schematically shows a card dealer according to an embodiment of the invention. The card dealer includes a dealing unit comprising a card cartridge for holding the first deck of cards 18, the card cartridge being positioned on a spinning core 14 and each card being provided with a readable code; a first rotating motor 9 for turning and positioning the card cartridge in a number of angular positions by turning the spinning core; a linear motor 15 for linearly moving an impact face 1 1 for pushing a card from the first deck of cards towards the opening 6; pressure wheels 7, 8, driven by a second motor, for ejecting the each card out of the opening of the card dealer in a desired angular position of the card cartridge; and a sensor for reading the code of the ejected card and angular position in which the ejected card is ejected.

The card dealer includes a chassis having a lid, a part of which can be rotated around an axis to get access the card cartridge for placing a deck of cards. A card dealer includes components described in earlier Fig. 20. The dealing unit includes a rotating spinner/ spinning core 14. The card cartridge of the dealing unit is configured for being able to receive a deck of playing cards 18 and is positioned on the spinning core 14. Each card in the deck of cards is being provided with a readable code. The card cartridge may be positioned in a number of angular positions by turning the spinning core. The angular position, which corresponds to the direction in which the card is ejected, can be changed by means of a rotating motor 9 which is part of the dealing unit and is configured for being able to control the rotating spinner core 14 such that it is possible to hand out a card in four different directions, in case of a board of bridge designated north, south, east and west. By adequate control of the ejection means and the motor, the cards may be handed out in four different directions through four slots/ opening in the card dealer.

By a dotted line in Figure 21 shows an embodiment of a modular card dealer, where frame module 20 is capable of completely enclosing the components of the card dealer. In one embodiment of modular card dealer system, the frame module 20 has different detachable links with the card dealer, which are used if the card dealer is to be replaced, or when a deck of playing cards is to be arranged in the rotating spinner core 14. Moreover, the frame module 20 has four openings in the north, south, east, west directions. In another embodiment of integrated system, the chassis (similar to the frame module) covers the components of the card dealer and is integrated as one unit such that access to the components of the card dealer is not possible; the card may be positioned in the card cartridge, by opening a flap on top of the chassis. A power supply module 19 is further provided in the card dealer, and by means of an I/O port 5 (acts as dealer transmitter/ receiver) a tablet 40 may be connected which is shown in figure 22.

The rotating motor may be a step motor that comprises a number of coils, each of which is provided separately with power to the effect that a magnetic rotor can be controlled to adjust to predetermined angular positions determined by the location of the coils. For distribution of the playing cards to four players, a motor with four angular positions will be used. The angle is determined by means of the coil current which is controlled by the control unit 4. A suitable motor could be eg series 12 or 2008 from FTB GmbH under Faulhaber-Group.

By 4 is designated a control computer (dealer processing unit) configured for being able to receive information via an infrared coupling 3 that is connected to a plug 5 by which it is possible to transfer information into and out of the card dealer. It will thus be understood that the power supply module 19 can also be connected to the plug connection in case power is received from the outside. Otherwise the power supply module 19 will be connected to all other power-consuming parts of the card-handing module. The individual playing cards are pushed out of the card dealer by means of a linear motor 15 that operates a plate that includes an impact face 1 1 abutting on an edge of a playing card. When the linear motor 15 has moved the card a predetermined distance the card will be caught between a motor-driven pressure wheel 7 and a pressure wheel 8 with a sensor. The latter parts 7 and 8 will convey the card out through the slot to the drawer (card compartment) 25.

Thus, the dealing of cards takes place in that each playing card comprises a bar code which is read by a bar-code reader 10. If, for example, a king of hearts is detected, that information will proceed to the computer (dealer processing unit) 4 on which information is encoded that the king of hearts is to be delivered to eg the player who is in the east position. By means of the linear motor 9, the card-handing module 30 is turned such that the delivery opening of the spinner core 14 is facing the drawer, eg 25 or 26, that faces eastwards. Then the card is pushed out by means of the linear motor 15 and rollers 7, 8. Then the next card is read, and so on.

The card dealer further includes a means for applying force on top of the deck of cards to allow withdrawal of one card at a time. In different embodiments, such means may include a spring force operated members that are physically disjoint from the lid, a spring based lid or other means providing this functionality.

The rotating spinner core 14 may be provided with a number of other detectors to enable quicker, more reliable operation or in other ways to increase the user- friendliness of the apparatus. Reference numeral 2 is used to show a sensor that can be used to inform the users that the cards have been handed out correctly, and by 12 another sensor is shown which is configured to read the status of the card drawers.

To reduce the noise to practically inaudible level, it is also attempted to make the weight and radius of the rotating spinner core as small as possible. This can be accomplished eg by the bar code reader 10 comprising an array of individual bar code readers that are able to read the entire bar code without the playing card having to be moved relative to the bar code reader. Thereby the radial movement of the playing card within the spinner core 14 can be shortened, whereby the diameter of the spinner core can be reduced. Also, the dealer may be provided with noise insulation for reduced noise during operation. A card dealer with reduced noise during operation includes an insulation layer in surface of housing of the card dealer. The noise level is preferably below 40 dB. Further, the dealer may have a size such that positioning of the card dealer on the table top does not block viewing of cards being played by each player during the board.

The card dealer may essentially be enclosed by the housing 16 which contributes to reducing the noise level during operation. Both the housing 16 and chassis may be provided with extra noise-silencing measures to the effect that the system according to the invention is not a nuisance/distraction to the players. Thereby it is possible to use the system according to the invention on the card table as such, which enables entirely new options for flexible utilisation of state-of-the art technique. As already mentioned, the tablet may be in communication with all other tablets, preferably via wireless connection, and all of the modules may be in communication with a central computer that emits information as to how the cards are to be dealt at the individual tables and which is able to receive information about the board results and calculate a list of results.

All of these advantages depend on the possibility of the cards being handed out at the board table as such, and that requirement is solved precisely by the modular system according to the invention and in such a manner that the system is flexible, both with regard to use and with regard to price.

Fig. 22 shows an example of use of the system described in Fig. 21 . The card dealer has a chassis 16; the card dealer has four openings for passage of playing cards, where openings 23 and 24 are shown. In integrated system, the chassis is non- detachable and is provided with a flap on a part of the top of the card dealer to allow access to the card cartridge.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the card dealer is placed on top of the table, and cards placed in the card card-cartridge, following which the lid is closed. Thereafter, the card dealer delivers the cards individually to four different card compartments, where the card compartment 25 is shown in closed position, whereas the card compartment 26 is shown in open position for discharge of "a hand", i.e. the 13 cards that eg a bridge player uses.

As described earlier, in an integrated card dealer system, the card handling module and the frame module are one unit, where the card handling module is pre-arranged and fixed to the frame module. In the integrated system, the one unit may either be fixed to the table permanently but still one can detach it from the table when required, for example, in case the card dealer is faulty and is to be replaced by a new one. In another embodiment of the invention, a card dealer comprises a stationary card cartridge for holding a first deck of cards; an impact face adapted to be positioned in different positions such that in each position, the impact face pushes the card towards an opening of the card dealer; and a pressure means for ejecting the each card out in a desired angular position of the card cartridge.

The positioning of the impact face in different position is driven by a drive means such as a motor. The drive means moves the impact face along a guide path such as around the card cartridge or along the edges of deck of cards, and positions the impact face in at least four different positions. The guide path may further include linear path, corresponding to each of the different positions, for movement of the impact face along the linear path such that the movement of the impact face along the linear path pushes a card towards opening corresponding to the each of the different position. When the impact face is moved linearly over the linear guide path for pushing the card, the opening corresponding to the each of the different position indicates the opening towards which the card is being pushed. The card also includes a sensor for reading the code of the card and identifying the position where the impact face is to be moved. The identification is based on the first board game data, based on which the direction in which or opening towards which the card is to be pushed or dealt. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a card dealer comprises a stationary card cartridge for holding a first deck of cards; a plurality of impact faces, each impact face being adapted to push a card towards an opening of the card dealer; and a pressure means for ejecting the each card out in a desired angular position of the card cartridge. The impact faces is moved by a drive means, such as a motor in a linear direction, such that movement of an impact face of the plurality of the impact faces moves a card in a particular direction and towards a specific opening. The card dealer also includes a sensor for reading the code of a card and identifying an impact face, from the plurality of impact faces, that is to be operated for pushing the card. The identification is based on the first board data, which allows identification of recipient of a particular card from the deck of cards.

In another embodiment of the invention, the card dealer includes a card cartridge for holding a first deck of cards; a plurality of openings corresponding to directions in which the card is to be dealt out; and a means for ejecting the card towards an opening of the plurality of openings of the card dealer such that the card is ejected sequentially towards the opening according to the placement of the cards in the deck. The card is ejected towards an opening of the plurality of openings based on the first board data. Sequentially refers to that the card at the bottom of the deck is dealt first followed by the one on top of the bottom card in the deck of cards. In other embodiment, sequentially may include dealing the cards starting from top of the deck instead.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the card dealer includes a card cartridge for holding a first deck of cards; a plurality of openings corresponding to directions in which the card is to be dealt out; and a means for ejecting a card towards a first opening of the plurality of openings such that cards corresponding to the first opening are ejected prior to ejecting the cards corresponding to other openings of the plurality of openings. The cards are ejected towards the first opening of the plurality of openings based on the first board data. The first opening relates to an opening, which is associated with a particular direction such as E or S or W or N, and provides card to a particular player

corresponding to the direction. Once the cards are ejected for the first opening, the cards for the second opening are ejected and thereon, for rest of the openings of the plurality of openings.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cards are made accessible to the players either progressively as the cards are dealt. Progressively relates to making the cards accessible as they are dealt either sequentially or for one specific opening prior to other openings. However, in other embodiment, the dealt cards are made accessible to the players simultaneously irrespective of whether they were dealt sequentially or for one specific opening prior to other openings.

Positioning of the card dealer & Board table

Figure 22 also shows a tablet 40 which may be any kind of electronic apparatus, such as computer, mobile phone, PDA or the like as described in later sections, containing information on how the cards are to be handed out (board data). Such information is, as already described, transferred to the card dealer. Moreover, it is possible, when the board is over or during the board, to enter bids and information on the board results/ scoring, thereby enabling quick analysis, the tablet 40 being configured for communicating via a tablet transmitter, preferably wirelessly, with other corresponding modules and/or with a central calculator module/ server in a bridge facility where many players may be gathered. The tablet 40 may also communicate with an internet server to the effect that the players are able to play with each other throughout the world without having to be located in the same geographical place.

It is possible to couple ordinary mains voltage to the card dealer which may have a transformer for supplying mains power either directly or indirectly via a rechargeable power supply module 19. It may also comprise ordinary batteries, but by configuring the power supply module as an exchangeable module, the system according to the invention may be used in different environments without problems.

It would be appreciated by the skilled person, that the flexibility of the card dealer is not limited to the power supply module 19. The major advantage of the modular card dealer system is that the system is divided into the modules already mentioned which may be configured in various ways and which may be mutually interconnected in various ways. The major advantage of the integrated card dealer system is that there is no possibility of the user or less knowledgeable person to mishandle the components and functioning of the integrated card dealer because the frame module and the card handling module is built as one unit.

Fig. 23 shows an example of how the card dealer may be conceadly arranged underneath a table which has means for transporting a set of card to each individual player. In fig. 23 the element designated by frame module 30 above is arranged underneath the table, where it is designated by 35. The openings of the card dealer is interconnected with a number of conveyor channels 36 for receiving a tray that can be moved from the card dealer 35 to the rim of the table by means of respective motors 37 to the effect that a set of playing cards can be moved from the frame and towards the rim of the table. According to one embodiment the frame module 35 can be in communication with the channels 36 and the motors 37.

In another embodiment, the conveyor channels may be replaced by sliding channels, where the opening of the card dealer delivers a card in the sliding channel, where one end of the sliding channel proximal to the opening is at a higher ground level in comparison to the other end to allow the movement of the card from the opening to the rim of the table under gravity.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the card dealer is concealedly positioned underneath the table using an elevator mechanism. The elevator mechanism includes a platform on which the card dealer is positioned, an activation button, which allows a sliding section of the table to move from initial table top position to slide position, thereby making an opening and after the opening is being made, allowing lifting up of the platform through the table opening to allow the card dealer to be positioned on top of the table. In table top position, the table looks like conventional bridge board table and in slide position, the table looks like the table shown in Fig. 22. Once the cards are handed out, the activation button allows the platform to move through the table opening and pulls the card dealer down the table and later, the table opening is closed by the sliding section moving from the slide position to the table top position.

Fig. 27 illustrates a board table according to an embodiment of the invention, where 2705 represents the section underneath the table where the card dealer is concealedly positioned. The cards are dealt and hands of cards delivered in the card compartments 2710, which comprise an openable flap. The flap may be opened, as shown by 2715, to access the dealt cards. This way, the board table surface area is not occupied by a table top positioned card dealer.

Fig. 27 also illustrates a table with a card dealer essentially in level with surface of the table. The table includes a cavity at the table surface for receiving the card dealer; and the card dealer such that top surface of the card dealer is in level with the table surface. This feature is also illustrated in Fig. 28A. The card dealer delivers cards in a plurality of angular positions. The card dealer delivers cards in a plurality of card compartments 2710, each card compartment being accessible to each player. The each card compartment includes a flap, the flap is openable to access the dealt card, as shown by 2715.

These embodiments where in the card dealer is concealedly positioned underneath the table are relatively expensive, but, in return, provide ideal exploitation of the individual components of the system according to the invention. This is due to the fact that it is possible to make the lid 22 particularly sound-silencing; and in that the card dealer, optionally with the passages 36 coupled thereto, is relatively heavy, the system according to the invention will be able to operate more or less completely silent and hence not be a nuisance to the players. If a card dealer were to break during the board, it will be possible to quickly exchange it with an operative card-handing module. It is not necessary to replace the entire table. Similarly, in integrated card dealer module, the one unit of card handling unit and frame module may be replaced without the need of replacing the entire table.

In circumstances where a broken card dealer is replaced with a new card dealer, even during a board, the moment the new card dealer establishes communication coupling with the tablet, the board data will be transferred from the tablet to the new card dealer, which is then stored in dealer memory of the new card dealer. This allows the new card dealer to generate the comparison result, once the hands played in the set of cards are played and placed in the new card dealer because the stored board data from the new card dealer can be used to generate the comparison result of each player for the board played.

In the event that an error occurs in connection with the means for advancing the playing cards or in elevator mechanism in cocealedly position card dealer, it is an option to remove the card dealer and put the card dealer on the table as shown in Fig. 22, following which the card dealer is repositioned. One does thus not have to reprogram the card dealer in connection with such replacement.

The system according to the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in figs. 22 and 23, it being understood that the individual embodiments can be combined in many different ways and in many different embodiments, depending on how it is to be used. The use may comprise that only the disclosures shown in figure 21 are used, and which may be used at home or in bridge clubs. It is conceivable that a bridge club has at its disposal a number of tables of the kind shown in figure 23 and a number of card dealers. In bridge clubs it is also conceivable to have a recharger apparatus for charging a number of power supply modules 19 that are arranged in the frame module 20 prior to a board night.

In one embodiment of the invention, an elevator mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a platform underneath a table for concealedly positioning a card dealer; an activation means for moving a sliding section of the table from an initial table top position to slide position, thereby creating a table opening; an elevating means for elevating the platform through the table opening to allow the card dealer to be position on top of the table; and the activation means for moving the platform down the table opening, thereby pulling the card dealer down the table and closing the table opening by moving the sliding section from the slide position to the table top position once the deck of cards have been dealt.

Fig. 28 (A) an elevator mechanism driven card dealer with (A) a card dealer not in dealing mode and (B) card dealer in dealing mode. The not in dealing mode (non- dealing mode) is defined when the card dealer 2805 is not on top of the board table, whereas the dealing mode is defined when the card dealer 2805' is on top of the board table and usable to deal the cards, as shown in (B). 2805 and 2805' are same card dealer but in different position with respect to surface of the board table 2815.

Although, the earlier embodiment in the preceding paragraph is described with the table having a sliding section and movement of the slide section from an initial table top position to slide position and vice-versa. However, it is visible from Fig. 28 that, in another embodiment, the table may very well include just an opening with card dealer positioned in the opening and top of the card dealer forming the surface of the table, as shown in Fig. 28(A). Therefore, Fig. 28 illustrates an elevator mechanism comprising a platform underneath a table for positioning a card dealer with top of the card dealer forming surface of the table and defining a non-dealing position; an elevating means for elevating the platform such that the card dealer is in dealing position for dealing the deck of cards; and the elevating means further moving the card dealer from the dealing position to the non-dealing position once the card are being distributed. Fig. 31 (A), (B), and (C) illustrate a platform 3105, 3105', and 3105" and elevator mechanisms 31 10, 31 10' and 31 10" according to different embodiments of the invention. It is understandable that the card dealer is placed on top of the platform, which can be elevated up and moved down using one of the disclosed elevating mechanisms or any other mechanical mechanism. The functioning of the elevator mechanism is explanatory from the figures, for example, it is clear that in Fig. 31 (A), the platform is moved up or down using a combination of means, which covert the rotational movement of the gears/ pulley arrangements into vertical linear movement.

Tablet

Fig. 24 illustrates a tablet according to an embodiment of the invention. The Tablet (2) may, for example, comprise a memory module (tablet memory), a wireless communication module having the tablet transmitter and tablet receiver (Bluetooth, WLAN, etc.), a CPU (tablet processing unit), an operating system, bridgelets and/or other small dedicated pieces of software handling specific functions in the usability, a dedicated web browser for use with a Virtual Bridge Club, a board clock that may be synchronized by the Virtual Bridge Club, and a battery. The Bridge Tablet may have a graphical user interface (GUI) that may be adapted to one or more bridge situations i.e. one or more modes of use and provides an input means for entering the biddings. For example, when players around a bridge table are rotating after having played a bridge hand then the Tablet may be in a first mode in which a display may show the names of the players and where they are positioned (north, south, east, west); the number of the round in a tournament; and the boards the players are going to play as shown in (18). The GUI may further provide a second mode, for example a key-in mode (23). Using (21 ), the players may enter their bids and/or lead cards and/ or score and using (22), the Tablet may be in an "enter contract" mode where a contract may be entered.

Further, the Tablet may comprise an on/off button (16), a sound speaker (17), a graphical user interface with a touch screen (18, 23), a reject and/or step-back button (19) and a confirm button (20). The tablet may comprise an electronic serial number e.g. an ESN or an MEID.

The tablet (2) may communicate with said card dealer (1 ) via a secure

communication protocol e.g. via handshaking communication protocol such as through Bluetooth connection. Alternatively, said communication between said tablet (2) and said card dealer (1 ) may be performed via any secure communication protocol.

Alternatively, said bridge board data may be transmitted from said tablet (2) to said card dealer (1 ) via a non-secure communication protocol e.g. as ASCII text.

In an embodiment, said card dealer (1 ) may be connected directly to a Virtual Bridge Club via a physical and/or wireless data-connection such as for example an optical cable, an electrical cable, Bluetooth, IR communication, WLAN, etc. Data- transmission between said card dealer (1 ) and said Virtual Bridge Club may be performed via a secure protocol such as handshaking. Alternatively, said data- transmission between said card dealer (1 ) and said Virtual Bridge Club may be performed via an un-secure protocol e.g. data may be sent as plain text.

In other embodiment, the tablet may include physical buttons or a combination of GUI and physical buttons providing functionalities as described above.

Virtual Bridge Club

Fig. 24 shows a schematic drawing of a Virtual Bridge Club according to an embodiment of the invention. The Virtual Bridge Club may comprise one or more micro-processors (401 ) connected with a main memory (402) and e.g. one storage device (406) via an internal data/address bus (404) or the like. Additionally, the device

(400) may also be connected to or comprise a display (407) and communication means

(401 ) for communication with one or more remote systems (e.g. a tablet and/or a card dealer) via a e.g. a communication network. The memory (402) and/or storage device

(406) are used to store and retrieve the relevant data together with executable computer code for providing the functionality according to the invention. The microprocessors) (401 ) is responsible for generating, handling, processing, calculating, etc. the relevant parameters according to the present invention.

The storage device (406) comprises one or more storage devices capable of reading and possibly writing blocks of data, e.g. a DVD, CD, optical disc, PVR, etc. player/recorder and/or a hard disk (IDE, ATA, etc.), floppy disk, smart card, PCMCIA card, etc. The memory (402) and/or storage device (406) may, for example, comprise executable code enabling the Virtual Bridge Club, when said executed code is executed in said one or more micro-processors (401 ) to generate, for example, bridge board data.

Said generated bridge board data may, for example, be stored in the main memory (402) of said Virtual Bridge Club and from there transmitted via said communication means to one or more card dealers and/or one or more tablets.

Alternatively or additionally, board data may be received from one or more tablets (and/or from one or more card dealers) by said tablet subsequently the received board data may be stored in said memory and/or said storage device.

The bridge board data may be generated in the Virtual Bridge Club. The Virtual Bridge Club may, for example, be a remote server relative to the bridge table comprising a computer program comprising program code means adapted to cause the remote server to generate at least one bridge board data comprising e.g. a randomized set of bridge-hands.

In an embodiment, the bridge board data may be transmitted to a local computer in physical and/or wireless data-connection with said tablet thereby enabling transmission of bridge board data from said local server to said tablet and there from to said card dealer.

Alternatively, said bridge board data may be generated in a local, with respect to the tablet, server including a Virtual Bridge Club, said local server being in physical and/or wireless data-connection with said tablet thereby enabling transmission of data from said local server to said tablet and thereon to said card dealer.

Alternatively, the tablet may communicate directly with said Virtual Bridge Club via secure communications protocol e.g. via handshaking communication protocol.

Alternatively, said communication between said tablet and said Virtual Bridge Club may be performed via any secure communication protocol. Alternatively, said bridge board data is transmitted from said Virtual Bridge Club to said tablet via a non-secure protocol e.g. as ASCII text. In the embodiment, where the Virtual Bridge Club is connected to the card dealer via the tablet, the data-connection (wireless and/or physical) between the tablet and the card dealer may be terminated after the transfer of bridge board data from the tablet to the card dealer. The termination of the data-connection between the card dealer and the tablet may be of such a kind that subsequent data transfer between the card dealer and the tablet is not possible before a second data-connection between the card dealer and the tablet has been established. The termination of the data-connection between the card dealer and the tablet may be digital i.e. data-transfer between the card dealer and the tablet is prevented digitally. Alternatively or additionally, the termination of the data-connection between the card dealer and the tablet may be physical e.g. by disconnecting one or more data-cables (e.g. optical cable and/or electrical cables) of the card dealer and/or the tablet.

In the embodiment, where the Virtual Bridge Club is connected directly to the card dealer, the data-connection (wireless and/or physical) between the Virtual Bridge Club and the card dealer may be terminated after the transfer of bridge board data from the Virtual Bridge Club to the card dealer. The termination of the data-connection between the card dealer and the Virtual Bridge Club may be of such a kind that subsequent data transfer between the card dealer and the tablet is not possible before a second data- connection between the card dealer and the tablet has been established. The termination of the data-connection between the card dealer and the Virtual Bridge Club may be digital i.e. data-transfer between the card dealer and the Virtual Bridge Club is prevented digitally. Alternatively or additionally, the termination of the data-connection between the card dealer and the Virtual Bridge Club may be physical e.g. by disconnecting one or more data-cables (e.g. optical cable and/or electrical cables) of the card dealer and/or the Virtual Bridge Club.

In an embodiment, the data-connection between the card dealer and the tablet (or the Virtual Bridge Club e.g. in case the card dealer is directly connected to the Virtual Bridge Club) is maintained after the transfer of bridge board data between said card dealer and the tablet (or Virtual Bridge Club).

The transmission of bridge board data from the tablet to the card dealer may be fast e.g. in the order of ms or seconds. Thus, in the embodiment where the card dealer is connected to the Virtual Bridge Club via the tablet, the risk of fraud may be reduced because the card dealer communicates with the Virtual Bridge Club via the tablet and the communication between the tablet and the card dealer is fast thereby reducing the window of opportunity for intercepting and/or changing the bridge board data before it is transferred to the card dealing device.

The time period between the loading of the bridge board data into the card dealer and the start of the tournament may be, as disclosed above, 3 minutes. Alternatively, the time may be chosen from the group of substantially 10 seconds, substantially 1 minute, substantially 5 minutes, substantially 10 minutes, substantially 30 minutes, substantially 1 hour, substantially 2 hours, substantially 5 hours, substantially 10 hours, substantially 1 day, substantially 2 days, substantially 5 days, substantially 2 weeks. Alternatively, the time period between the loading of the bridge board data into the card dealer and the start of the bridge tournament may have any length.

The above mentioned time period between the loading of the bridge board data into the card dealer and the start of the bridge tournament may determine the security of the bridge tournament i.e. the shorter the time period, the smaller the risk of fraud. E.g., the shorter the time period, the smaller the risk of the board data being intercepted and conveyed to one or more participants of the bridge tournament before the start of the bridge tournament. Further, the smaller the time period, the smaller the risk of one or more participants having gained unauthorized access to said board data will be able to use the information to influence one or more bridge boards in said tournament.

In the embodiment where the card dealer is connected to the Virtual Bridge Club via the tablet, the data-connection between the tablet and the card dealer may for example be established when the Virtual Bridge Club has generated the bridge board data and is ready to transfer the bridge board data to the tablet e.g. 3 minutes before tournament start. Thus, in this embodiment, the data-connection between the card dealer and the tablet may be established after the Virtual Bridge Club has generated the bridge board data and the data-connection may be terminated when the bridge board data has been transferred from the tablet to the card dealer. In the embodiment where the card dealer is connected directly to the Virtual Bridge Club, the data-connection between the Virtual Bridge Club and the card dealer may for example be established when the Virtual Bridge Club has generated the bridge board data and is ready to transfer the bridge board data to the card dealer e.g. 3 minutes before tournament start. Thus, in this embodiment, the data-connection between the card dealer and the Virtual Bridge Club may be established after the Virtual Bridge Club has generated the bridge board data and the data-connection may be terminated when the bridge board data has been transferred from the Virtual Bridge Club to the card dealer.

In an additional embodiment, there may further be one or more bidding modules in connection to the bridge table. For example, each participant at the table may have a bidding module. A participant may use a bidding module to provide a bid. A bid registered in a bidding module may be transmitted to the tablet either via a physical or a wireless data-connection i.e. via an electrical cable, an optical cable, via IR or via Bluetooth or WLAN. Alternatively, the bidding modules may transmit the bid to a local computer and from there, the bid may be transmitted to the Virtual Bridge Club.

Alternatively, the bidding modules may transmit the bid to a remote computer/server such as a Virtual Bridge Club.

In an additional embodiment, the bridge table may comprise a number of decks of playing cards. For example, the bridge table may comprise one deck of playing cards. Each deck of playing cards may, for example, comprise 13 playing cards of

respectively Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs. A hand of cards may comprise 13 cards e.g. dealt by the card dealer according to bridge board data. Thus, a deck of playing cards may, for example, be dealt into four hands by a card dealer, the card dealer for example dealing the cards according to bridge board data received from a Virtual Bridge Club via a communication and scoring module. In an embodiment, the bridge table may comprise two decks of playing cards, a first and a second deck of playing cards. The two decks of playing cards may, for example, be placed in the card dealer before a tournament start e.g. the first and second decks of cards may be placed in the central card compartment. 3 minutes before a

tournament start, the card dealer is connected to the tablet and bridge board data are transferred from the Virtual Bridge Club to the card dealer via the tablet. After transfer of the bridge board data, the card dealer may be disconnected from the tablet.

The bridge board data may comprise data of a number of bridge boards, for example, the bridge board data may comprise data of all the hands of all the bridge boards to be played at the bridge table during a tournament. For example, the bridge board data may comprise data of 10 bridge boards, each bridge boards comprising four hands, a hand for player N, S, W and E respectively. In an example, the bridge board data may comprise a first bridge board data and a second bridge board data and a third bridge board data including data of three bridge boards to be played at the bridge table.

Before tournament start, e.g. two minutes before, the card dealer deals the first deck of playing cards according to the first bridge board data in the bridge board data received from the tablet. The cards of the first deck of playing cards may be dealt into four first hands of the first deck. The four first hands are placed in the respective card compartments of the players (N, S, W, and E) and the players around the bridge table may take their respective first hand of cards at tournament start from their respective card compartment of the card dealer.

As the four players around the bridge table plays the first bridge board using the first hands dealt from the first deck of playing cards by the card dealer according to the first bridge board data, the card dealer deals the second deck of playing cards according to the second bridge board data. The cards of the second deck of playing cards may be dealt into four second hands of the second deck of cards. The four second hands are placed in the respective card compartments of the players (N, S, W, E).

A bridge board typically takes 7½ minutes in average to complete. A bridge board may, for example, take between 4 and 12 minutes. The card dealer may deal the cards in one minute and thus the card dealer is able to have the second deck of playing cards dealt according to the second bridge board data before the players finish the first deck of playing cards dealt according to the first bridge board data and thus there may be no waiting time between the number of bridge boards to be played. When the players have played the first deck of playing cards, the first deck of playing cards may be returned to the central card cartridge of the card dealer, and the players may subsequently take their respective second hand dealt from the second deck dealt according to the second bridge board data from the respective card compartments.

As the four players around the bridge table plays the second bridge board using the second hands dealt from the second deck of playing cards by the card dealer according to the second bridge board data, the card dealer deals the first deck of playing cards according to the third bridge board data, The cards of the first deck may be dealt into four third hands which may be placed in the respective card

compartments of the players (N, S, W, E).

When the players have played the second deck of playing cards, the second deck of playing cards may be returned to the central card cartridge of the card dealer, and the players may subsequently take their respective third hand dealt from the first deck of cards according to the third bridge board data from the respective card

compartments and so on. In an additional embodiment, the card dealer may comprise means for counting the returned playing cards from a deck of playing cards in the central card compartment in order to check whether all the played playing cards from the deck of playing cards have been returned to the card dealer. If all the playing cards in the deck have been returned, the card dealer may start to deal the playing cards according to bridge board data. If not all the playing cards have been returned to the card dealer, the card dealer may sound an alarm.

In an embodiment, the card dealer contains a first deck of playing cards in the central card compartment e.g. before a tournament start. After the card dealer has received bridge board data from the Virtual Bridge Club via the tablet, the first deck of playing cards are dealt into four first hands according to the bridge board data. The first hands are dealt to the card compartments of the card dealer. When a tournament starts, the players are placed at the bridge table and a player or a tournament official places a second deck of playing cards in the central card cartridge. When the second deck of cards is placed in the central card compartment, the player's respective card compartments are opened enabling the players to retrieve their respective first hands. During a first bridge board in which the players play their respective first hands, the card dealer may deal the second deck of playing cards into four second hands according to bridge board data and the four second hands may be dealt to the respective four card compartments of the respective players (N, S, W, E). When the players return the first deck of playing cards to the central card compartment (25), the player's respective card compartments are opened enabling the players to retrieve their respective second hands. In this embodiment, the card dealer may only be required to hold a single deck of playing cards in the central card compartment at a time and thereby, the card dealer may be designed with, for example, a lower height, compared to a card dealer required to hold two or more decks of playing cards at a time.

It is important to note that Figures illustrate specific applications and embodiments of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure or claims to that which is presented therein. Throughout the foregoing description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details, such as were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practised without some of these specific details and by employing different embodiments in combination with one another. The underlying principles of the invention may be employed using a virtually unlimited number of different combinations.

Accordingly, the scope and spirit of the invention should be judged in terms of the claims which follow.