Method and system for dealing out at least one hand of cards

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of dealing out at least one hand of cards. Further, the invention relates to a corresponding system. The method of dealing out at least one hand of cards comprises generating electronic game data comprising at least one hand in means for generating game data; transmitting said electronic game data from said means for generating game data to at least one card dealing module comprising a memory via a first physical and/or wireless communication link; storing said electronic game data in the memory of said at least one card dealing module; dealing said at least one hand of cards via said at least one card dealing module, said at least one hand being dealt in accordance with said electronic game data. In this way, the electronic data generation may be postponed until the moment before a start of a tournament e.g. a bridge tournament. Thereby, the hands to be played in e.g. a bridge tournament may be kept secret substantially up to the start of the tournament, when then game data may be transmitted to the at least one card dealing module.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A method of dealing out at least one hand of cards, said method comprising
 generating electronic game data comprising at least one hand in means for generating game data;   transmitting said electronic game data from said means for generating game data to at least one card dealing module comprising a memory via a first physical and/or wireless communication link;   storing said electronic game data in the memory of said at least one card dealing module;   dealing said at least one hand of cards via said at least one card dealing module, said at least one hand being dealt in accordance with said electronic game data.   
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises establishing the first physical and/or wireless communication link after the means for generating game data has generated the electronic game data. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises terminating the first physical and/or wireless communication link after the means for generating game data has transmitted said electronic game data to said card dealing module. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein transmitting said electronic game data from said means for generating game data to at least one card dealing module is performed via a communication and scoring module. 
   
   
       21 . A system for dealing out at least one hand of cards, said system comprising
 means for generating electronic game data comprising at least one hand of cards;   means for transmitting said electronic game data from said means for generating game data to at least one card dealing module comprising a memory via a first physical and/or wireless communication link;   means for storing said electronic game data in the memory of said at least one card dealing module;   means for dealing said at least one hand of cards via said at least one card dealing module, said at least one hand being dealt in accordance with said electronic game data.   
   
   
       22 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first physical and/or wireless communication link is established after the means for generating electronic game data has generated the electronic game data. 
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first physical and/or wireless communication link is disconnected after the means for generating electronic game data has transmitted said electronic game data to said card dealing module. 
   
   
       24 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the system further comprises a communication and scoring module via which said electronic game data from said means for generating electronic game data transmits the electronic game data to the at least one card dealing module. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises terminating the first physical and/or wireless communication link after the means for generating game data has transmitted said electronic game data to said card dealing module. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein transmitting said electronic game data from said means for generating game data to at least one card dealing module is performed via a communication and scoring module. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein transmitting said electronic game data from said means for generating game data to at least one card dealing module is performed via a communication and scoring module. 
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first physical and/or wireless communication link is disconnected after the means for generating electronic game data has transmitted said electronic game data to said card dealing module. 
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the system further comprises a communication and scoring module via which said electronic game data from said means for generating electronic game data transmits the electronic game data to the at least one card dealing module. 
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein the system further comprises a communication and scoring module via which said electronic game data from said means for generating electronic game data transmits the electronic game data to the at least one card dealing module. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein transmitting said electronic game data from said means for generating game data to at least one card dealing module is performed via a communication and scoring module. 
   
   
       32 . A system according to  claim 30 , wherein the system further comprises a communication and scoring module via which said electronic game data from said means for generating electronic game data transmits the electronic game data to the at least one card dealing module.