1. A shuffling device for randomizing playing cards, the device comprising:
components for contacting at least one playing card within the shuffling device to initiate or suspend movement of the at least one playing card;
a processor in informational connection with the shuffling device;
at least one sensor configured and positioned to detect, without reference to playing card movement or position, values of an operational parameter of one or more of the components consisting of at least one of speed of movement of, distance of movement of, time of movement of, power supplied for movement of, force applied to, and torque applied to the one or more components and to provide a signal to the processor representative of one or more values of at least one of speed of movement of, distance of movement of, time of movement of, power supplied for movement of, force applied to and torque applied to the one or more components;
the processor programmed to interpret the signal to recognize a departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values.
2. The shuffling device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to interpret a recognized departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values as an indication that a defect in operation of the shuffling device has occurred.
3. The shuffling device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to interpret a recognized departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values as an indication of a playing card jam within the shuffling device.
4. The shuffling device of claim 3, wherein the processor is programmed to automatically reverse a direction of movement of at least one card in response to the indication of a jam.
5. The shuffling device of claim 1, wherein the one or more components comprise at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip, and an elevator.
6. The shuffling device of claim 2, wherein the one or more components comprise at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip, and an elevator.
7. The shuffling device of claim 3, wherein the one or more components comprise at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip, and an elevator.
8. The shuffling device of claim 2, wherein the shuffling device further comprises a carousel or fan having multiple compartments into which at least one card is randomly placed.
9. The shuffling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of electronic sensors, electromechanical sensors, magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors and optical sensors
10. The shuffling device of claim 3, wherein the shuffling device further comprises a carousel or fan having multiple compartments into which at least one card is randomly placed from the first group of cards.
11. The shuffling device of claim 2, wherein the shuffling device further comprises a carousel or fan having multiple compartments into which at least two cards are randomly placed, one at a time, from the first group of cards.
12. The shuffling device of claim 3, wherein the shuffling device further comprises a carousel or fan having multiple compartments into which at least two cards are randomly placed, one at a time, from the first group of cards.
13. The shuffling device of claim 2, wherein the shuffling device further comprises an elevator comprising a single card-mixing compartment into which one card at a time is randomly placed from the first group of cards into an increasing collection of cards in the mixing compartment.
14. The shuffling device of claim 3, wherein the shuffling device further comprises an elevator comprising a single card-mixing compartment into which one card at a time is randomly placed from the first group of cards into an increasing collection of cards in the mixing compartment.
15. The shuffling device of claim 2, wherein the shuffling device further comprises a stack of multiple compartments into which at least two cards are randomly placed, one at a time, from the first group of cards.
16. The shuffling device of claim 3, wherein the shuffling device further comprises a stack of multiple compartments into which at least two cards are randomly placed, one at a time, from the first group of cards.
17. The shuffling device of claim 1, wherein the shuffling device is configured to randomly eject playing cards out of a first set of cards, transport the randomly ejected cards to a card-receiving area, and collect the cards on the card-receiving area as a randomized set of cards.
18. The shuffling device of claim 1, wherein the shuffling device is configured to randomly insert cards from a first group of cards into an accumulating randomized set of cards by randomly separating the randomized set of cards into at least two segments and inserting one card at a time into a space between the two segments.
19. A method of detecting deficiencies in the operation of a playing card-shuffling device, the method comprising:
moving one or more components for contacting at least one playing card within the shuffling device to initiate or suspend movement of the at least one playing card;
detecting with at least one sensor, without reference to playing card movement or position, values of an operational parameter of the one or more of the components consisting of at least one of speed of movement of, distance of movement of, time of movement of, power supplied for movement of, force applied to, and torque applied to the one or more components and providing a signal to a processor representative of one or more values of at least one of speed of movement of, distance of movement of, time of movement of, force applied to and torque applied to the one or more components;
the processor interpreting the signal to recognize a departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the processor interprets a recognized departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values as an indication of a defect in operation of the shuffling device has occurred.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the processor interprets a recognized departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values as an indication of a playing card jam within the shuffling device.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein moving one or more components comprises moving at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip and an elevator.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein moving one or more components comprises moving at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip and an elevator.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein moving one or more components comprises moving at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip and an elevator.
25. The method of claim 19, further comprising detecting values of the operational parameter with the at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of electronic sensors, electromechanical sensors, magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors and optical sensors.
26. The method of claim 20, further comprising detecting values of the operational parameter with the at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of electronic sensors, electromechanical sensors, magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors and optical sensors.
27. The method of claim 21, further comprising detecting values of the operational parameter with the at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of electronic sensors, electromechanical sensors, magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors and optical sensors.
28. A playing card-shuffling device, comprising:
a card input portion for receiving cards to be shuffled;
a card-shuffling portion for receiving cards from the card input portion and outputting shuffled cards to a card outlet portion with at least one moving part of the shuffling device;
the card outlet portion being adapted for coupling to a first output card receiver when it is desired to remove shuffled cards one at a time from the shuffling device, and the card outlet portion being adapted for coupling to a second output card receiver when it is desired to remove a group of shuffled cards at a time from the shuffling device;
a processor in informational connection with the shuffling device;
at least one sensor configured and positioned to detect, without reference to playing card movement or position, values of an operational parameter of one or more of the components consisting of at least one of speed of movement of, distance of movement of, time of movement of, power supplied for movement of, force applied to, and torque applied to, the one or more components and to provide a signal to the processor representative of one or more values of at least one of speed of movement of, distance of movement of, time of movement of, power supplied for movement of, force applied to and torque applied to the one or more components;
the processor programmed to interpret the signal to recognize a departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values.
29. The device of claim 28, wherein the card outlet portion comprises first alignment features for aligning with corresponding second alignment features on the first output card receiver and the second output card receiver.
30. The shuffling device of claim 28, wherein the processor is programmed to interpret a recognized departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of acceptable values as an indication of a defect in operation of the shuffling device has occurred.
31. The shuffling device of claim 28, wherein the processor is programmed to interpret a recognized departure in the operational parameter of the one or more components from one of an acceptable value and range of values as an indication that a playing card jam has occurred within the shuffling device.
32. The shuffling device of claim 28, wherein the one or more components comprise at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip, and an elevator.
33. The shuffling device of claim 30, wherein the one or more components comprise at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip, and an elevator.
34. The shuffling device of claim 31, wherein the one or more components comprise at least one of a shaft, a roller, a pusher, a grip, and an elevator.
35. The shuffling device of claim 28, wherein the shuffler further comprises a carousel or fan having multiple compartments into which at least one card is randomly placed from the first group of cards.
36. The shuffling device of claim 28, wherein the shuffler further comprises a carousel or fan having multiple compartments into which at least two cards are randomly placed, one at a time, from the first group of cards.
37. The shuffling device of claim 30, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of electronic sensors, electromechanical sensors, magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors and optical sensors.
38. The shuffling device of claim 31, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of electronic sensors, electromechanical sensors, magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors and optical sensors.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A wireless communication system in which a wireless network formed of a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses is constructed with one wireless communication apparatus operating as a control station, wherein each wireless communication apparatus comprises a mode setting section for switching an operation mode of the apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority, a second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, and a third operation mode in which the apparatus cannot operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists.
2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein, when one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network is switched to the second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, when a control station already exists in the wireless network, the wireless communication apparatus joins the wireless network as a terminal station.
3. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein, when one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network is switched to the second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, when a control station does not exist in the wireless network, a control station is determined by a predetermined control-station selection process.
4. The wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein, in said control-station selection process, a control station is determined based on the number of other wireless communication apparatuses with which each wireless communication apparatus set to the second operation mode can communicate.
5. A wireless communication system in which a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses is constructed with one wireless communication apparatus operating as a control station, wherein each wireless communication apparatus comprises a mode setting section for switching an operation mode of the apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority and a second operation mode in which the apparatus does not operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists.
6. The wireless communication system according to one of claims 1 and 5, wherein, in response to the switching to the first operation mode in which one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network operates as a control station with priority, the wireless communication apparatus is activated as a control station.
7. The wireless communication system according to claim 6, wherein, when another wireless communication apparatus that operates as a control station exists in the wireless network, and an operation for changing the control station is performed, a wireless communication apparatus that is newly changed to the first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority is set as a control station.
8. The wireless communication system according to claim 5, wherein, in response to switching to the second operation mode in which one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network does not operate as a control station, that wireless communication apparatus joins the wireless network as a terminal station.
9. A wireless communication control method in which a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses is constructed with one wireless communication apparatus operating as a control station, said wireless communication control method comprising a mode setting step of switching an operation mode of each wireless communication apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority, a second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, and a third operation mode in which the apparatus cannot operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists.
10. The wireless communication control method according to claim 9, wherein, when one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network is switched to the second operation mode in which the apparatus may operate as a control station, if a control station already exists in the wireless network, the wireless communication apparatus is allowed to join the wireless network as a terminal station.
11. The wireless communication control method according to claim 9, wherein, when one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network is switched to the second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, when a control station does not exist in the wireless network, a control station is determined by a predetermined control-station selection process.
12. The wireless communication control method according to claim 11, wherein, in said control-station selection process, a control station is determined based on the number of other wireless communication apparatuses with which each wireless communication apparatus set to the second operation mode can communicate.
13. A wireless communication control method in which a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses is constructed with one wireless communication apparatus operating as a control station, said wireless communication control method comprising a mode setting step of switching an operation mode of each wireless communication apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority and a second operation mode in which the apparatus cannot operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists.
14. The wireless communication control method according to one of claims 9 and 13, wherein, in response to switching to the first operation mode in which one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network operates as a control station with priority, the wireless communication apparatus is activated as a control station.
15. The wireless communication control method according to claim 14, wherein, when another wireless communication apparatus that operates as a control station exists in the wireless network and an operation for changing the control station is performed, the wireless communication apparatus which is newly changed to the first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority is set as a control station.
16. The wireless communication control method according to claim 13, wherein, in response to switching to the second operation mode in which one wireless communication apparatus within the wireless network cannot operate as a control station, that wireless communication apparatus joins the wireless network as a terminal station.
17. A wireless communication apparatus that operates on a wireless network constructed such that one wireless communication apparatus is selected as a control station, said wireless communication apparatus comprising:
a mode setting section for switching an operation mode of the apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority, a second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, and a third operation mode in which the apparatus cannot operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists; and
a control section for controlling an operation of said wireless network in accordance with the operation mode set by said mode setting section.
18. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, in response to the switching by said mode setting section to the third operation mode in which the wireless communication apparatus cannot operate as a control station, that wireless communication apparatus joins the wireless network as a terminal station.
19. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, when the wireless communication apparatus is switched by said mode setting section to the second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, when a control station already exists in the wireless network, said control section causes that wireless communication apparatus to join the wireless network as a terminal station.
20. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, when the wireless communication apparatus is switched by said mode setting section to the second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, when a control station does not exist in the wireless network, a control station is determined by a predetermined control-station selection process.
21. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 20, wherein, in said predetermined control-station selection process, communication is performed among wireless communication apparatuses that are set to the second operation mode, and a control section is determined based on the number of other wireless communication apparatuses with which each wireless communication apparatus can communicate.
22. A wireless communication apparatus that operates on a wireless network constructed such that one wireless communication apparatus is selected as a control station, said wireless communication apparatus comprising:
a mode setting section for switching an operation mode of the apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority and a second operation mode in which the apparatus cannot operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists; and
a control section for controlling an operation of said wireless network in accordance with the operation mode set by said mode setting section.
23. The wireless communication apparatus according to one of claims 17 and 22, wherein, in response to switching by said mode setting section to the first operation mode in which the wireless communication apparatus operates as a control station with priority, the corresponding wireless communication apparatus is made to operate as a control station with priority.
24. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 23, wherein, when another wireless communication apparatus that operates as a control station exists in the wireless network, said control section performs communication with the other wireless communication apparatus and performs a control-station changing operation, causing that wireless communication apparatus to operate as a control station.
25. A method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus that operates on a wireless network constructed such that one wireless communication apparatus is selected as a control station, said wireless communication apparatus control method comprising:
a mode setting step of switching an operation mode of the apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority, a second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, and a third operation mode in which the apparatus cannot operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists; and
a control step of controlling an operation of said wireless network in accordance with the operation mode set in said mode setting step.
26. The method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein in said mode setting step, when the wireless communication apparatus is switched in said mode setting step to the second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, when a control station already exists in the wireless network, the wireless communication apparatus joins the wireless network as a terminal station.
27. The method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein, in said control step, when the wireless communication apparatus is switched in said mode setting step to the second operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station, a control station does not exist in the wireless network, a control station is determined by a predetermined control-station selection process.
28. The method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein, in said control step, in said control-station selection process, communication is performed among wireless communication apparatuses that are set to the second operation mode, and a control station is determined based on the number of other wireless communication apparatuses with which each wireless communication apparatus can communicate.
29. A method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus that operates on a wireless network constructed such that one wireless communication apparatus is selected as a control station, said wireless communication apparatus control method comprising:
a mode setting step of switching an operation mode of the apparatus between a first operation mode in which the apparatus operates as a control station with priority and a second operation mode in which the apparatus cannot operate as a control station, wherein a wireless communication apparatus in the first operation mode may operate as a control station if it is determined by the network to be most suitable to operate as a control station or if the network determines that no control station exists; and
a control step of controlling an operation of said wireless network in accordance with the operation mode set in said mode setting step.
30. The method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus according to one of claims 25 and 29, wherein, in said control step, in response to the switching in said mode setting step to the first operation mode in which the wireless communication apparatus operates as a control station with priority, the wireless communication apparatus is made to operate as a control station.
31. The method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein, in said control step, when another wireless communication apparatus that operates as a control station exists in the wireless network, communication is performed with the other wireless communication apparatus, and a control-station changing operation is performed, thereby causing the wireless communication apparatus to operate as a control station.
32. The method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus according to one of claims 29, wherein, in said control step, in response to the switching in said mode setting step to the second operation mode in which the wireless communication apparatus cannot operate as a control station, that wireless communication apparatus joins the wireless network as a terminal station.