Patent ID: 8303404

Claim:
A radio frequency card tracking system for a gaming table comprising: a system computer; a deck of hand held playing cards; wherein each card in the deck of hand held playing cards comprises: a card antenna; a card identity; and a radio frequency transponder configured to transmit a unique card identifying radio frequency signal associated with the card identity using the card antenna when the card antenna receives a radio-frequency-energizing signal; a table antenna configured to: manifest a detection zone located at and above a dealer's card placement position at the gaming table; transmit a plurality of radio-frequency-energizing signals and receive a plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals to and from each card located within the detection zone as each card is dealt over the table antenna from the deck of hand held playing cards, said deck being held by the dealer when the dealer is dealing; and a transceiver operably coupled with the table antenna and the system computer, the transceiver configured to: provide the plurality of radio-frequency-energizing signals to the table antenna for transmission to each card located within the detection zone as each card is dealt over the table antenna; receive the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals from the table antenna; and transfer the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals received from the table antenna to the system computer; wherein the system computer is configured to receive the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals from the transceiver; wherein the system computer comprises; a processor; and a program storage device comprising a non-transitory storage medium embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to: register the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals received by the system computer; determine the card identity associated with the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals; distinguish between when any card is dealt across the detection zone or when such card has been placed flat on the table within the detection zone by a duration of the unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card when said card is within the detection zone, the signal duration determined by tabulating a number of the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals; determine that any card has been dealt to any player's card placement position by detection of the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card within a predetermined duration; determine that any card has been dealt to the dealer's card placement position by detection of the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card for more than the predetermined duration; indicate when any card has been dealt to any player's card placement position; and indicate when any card has been dealt to the dealer's card placement position.