Methods and apparatuses for an automatic card handling device and communication networks including same

摘要

An automatic card handling device, automatic card handling devices within a network, and methods of use are disclosed. An automatic card handling device includes a shuffling apparatus with a controller and configured to deliver a set of shuffled cards, and a communication module operably coupled to the controller. The communication module is configured for establishing an electronic communication with a local or world-wide network and thereafter sending and receiving information related to the operation of the automatic card handling device across the network. A network of automatic card handling devices may include a plurality of automatic card shufflers. The network may also include at least one server operably coupled to the plurality of automatic card shufflers. In addition, the server may be operably coupled to a service center through a world-wide network.

主权项

1. An automatic card handling device, comprising:
a shuffling apparatus configured to shuffle an input set of cards and deliver randomly ordered cards resulting from the shuffling; and a computing device comprising:
a diagnosis module configured to perform a self-diagnosis of the card handling device and determine operational data indicating functionality parameters of the shuffling apparatus, wherein the functionality parameters include diagnostic results of the self-diagnosis; anda communication module configured to transmit at least some of the operational data including the diagnostic results of the self-diagnosis to an alerting system configured to present the at least some of the operational data to a device technician, the alerting system operably coupled to a communication network coupled to one or more servers and one or more other card handling devices.