Physical Card Selection System for Online Gaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online gaming card selection systems lack verifiable randomness, undermining player trust as the selection process is entirely electronic and unreviewable.
Innovation Solution
A card selection system using physical balls representing cards, where each ball is read by a sensor and recorded by a video camera to ensure transparent and auditable randomization, allowing players to verify the selection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If electronic card selection is used in online gaming systems, then automation and efficiency are improved, but player trust and verifiability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces physical cards as an intermediary between the electronic system and the player. These physical cards are manipulated by a dealer (human intermediary) rather than being directly selected by the electronic system, creating a tangible connection that players can observe and verify, thus bridging the trust gap between automation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely electronic card selection mechanism with a physical card handling system. Instead of electronic impulses selecting cards digitally, physical cards are shuffled and dealt by a dealer, substituting mechanical/physical processes for electronic ones to enhance player confidence in the randomness and fairness of card selection
2Device complexity
If purely electronic card selection is implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to audit and verify card selection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary recording of card selection events before the game concludes. Video cameras capture the entire card handling process in advance, creating an audit trail that can be reviewed later to verify fairness, ensuring that verification information is preserved without adding complex real-time verification systems
3Reliability
If physical cards are introduced in online gaming, then verifiability and player confidence are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses video recordings as copies of the actual card selection process. Instead of requiring complex real-time verification systems, the system creates visual copies (video recordings) of the physical card handling that can be reviewed later, providing verifiability through documentation rather than through complex active verification mechanisms
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a verifiable and transparent card selection mechanism that enhances player trust by physically representing card selection, ensuring the integrity and fairness of online card games.
Implementation Method 1
The balls are sequentially deployed from the vessel into a delivery tube, and are read by a sensor to provide identity data for each ball
Implementation Method 2
A video feed of the balls entering the delivery tube is recorded so that any dispute of the randomization of card selection can be verified by replaying the video feed
Data Source
AI summary
A card selection system, for use with an online gaming system, for allowing verifiable, physical selection of cards for players while playing a card game on the online gaming system. A plurality of card identifying balls are provided in a vessel, each ball representing one of the cards of a standard card deck. The balls are sequentially deployed from the vessel into a delivery tube, and are read by a sensor to provide identity data for each ball, so that a corresponding virtual card can be associated with the appropriate player. A video feed of the balls entering the delivery tube is recorded so that any dispute of the randomization of card selection can be verified by replaying the video feed.