Abstract: This invention provides a means to minimize the costs of technical and business processes. These processes are comprised of resources and tasks requiring resources. The optimization consists of the best assignment of resources to tasks to minimize the costs. In the resource assignment optimization method disclosed herein, Genetically Adapted Search Agents (GASA) are employed to improve a population of possible assignments, each represented by a single variable length chromosome, where the chromosome upon which the GASA operates is a direct encoding of possible resource to task assignments and order. To manage the enlarged search space, this method uses the GASA with substring crossover to evolve the population towards better solutions. The assignments generated by this method satisfy all constraints.

Abstract: A gaming system simulates events in a casino table card wagering game where there has traditionally been a dealer, whether or not the dealer is an active player in the game. Two distinct video areas are preferably provided, one providing video images of a virtual dealer, and the second video display providing a simulation of a table top for player cards, and optionally also dealer cards. The players have individual play areas with player input, and these play areas have individual processing intelligence that communicates directly with at least one processor. Delivery order of cards is determined by actual shuffling or randomization of a physical deck of cards, reading the cards, then creating an electronic file of the order of the shuffled or randomized cards, then using an order of cards contained in the electronic file to deliver virtual cards to players, dealer and flop as needed.

Abstract: A method of playing a poker-type wagering game is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) placing a mandatory Ante bet to participate in a poker-type card game against a dealer hand; b) placing a mandatory Super Bonus bet on the occurrence of one of a predetermined plurality of winning poker hands; c) a dealer dealing at least two hands of cards to the dealer position and a hand of cards to each player participating in the game; d) and when the dealer's first hand meets or exceeds a predetermined high ranking hand value, discarding the first hand and playing the second hand; e) each player placing an additional mandatory Bet after viewing at least the player's hand of cards to stay in the game; f) resolving each player hand against the dealer hand; g) paying the player on the Ante and Bet if the player's hand ranking exceeds that of the dealer; and h) paying the player on the Super Bonus bet if the player hand is one of a plurality of predetermined winning poker hands.

Abstract: A source of symbols with two primary distinguishable characteristics is provided in a wagering environment. A player has wagering opportunities on a sequence of events, wagering on either of the primary distinguishable characteristics for each event in the sequence of events. Playing cards may be used as the source of symbols, such as a 52-card standard deck with one or two jokers or other non-standard cards. Wagers can be placed on each of the number of events in the sequence and special events that occur in the sequence (all symbols of the same characteristic, a particular card or other predetermined events). Side bets may also be placed on the events. Bets may be placed on the color of a limited number of cards dealt to a community flop, with the joker(s) providing a basis for house retention or profits on wagers.

Abstract: An automatic card shuffler includes a card input unit, card ejection unit, card separation and delivery unit and card collection unit. A card ejection unit ejects cards in a singular fashion from a stack of cards placed into the input unit. The ejected cards are passed through a dynamic de-doubler that prevents more than a pre-established number of cards from passing through. The dynamic de-doubler is able to shift positions to accommodate card that are bent, impacted by environmental conditions and otherwise worn. The cards are ejected to a stop arm maintaining the entrance to the card separation unit. Upon processor command, the stop arm raises to allow a plurality of cards to pass under to the card separation and delivery unit. A series of rotating belts and rollers act to separate the cards and propel them individually to the collection unit. A floating gate slightly forward of the stop arm dictates that a minimum number of cards are managed simultaneously.

Abstract: Abrasive disk sheet articles having raised islands coated with spherical abrasive agglomerates that can provide both precision flat and smooth workpiece surfaces by high speed lapping are described. These disks also provide high material removal rates and low surface pick-out of soft metallic or non-metallic materials embedded in hard workpieces. A method of producing equal-sized spherical shaped composite abrasive agglomerate beads containing small diamond abrasive particles is described. These beads can be bonded directly on the flat surface of a flexible backing or bonded onto raised island surfaces. Simple and inexpensive apparatus devices and process techniques are described that allow efficient low-volume batch or continuous web manufacturing of precision thickness, large diameter abrasive disk or rectangular sheet abrasive articles.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting wagering games utilizing one or more decks of standard playing cards preferably including the steps of: receiving an ante wager from a player; receiving a blind wager from the player; dealing a plurality of cards to the player to form a player's hand; dealing a plurality of cards to a dealer to form a dealer's hand; receiving a play wager from the player or the player folding; comparing the poker rank of the player's hand with the poker rank of dealer's hand to resolve the ante and play wagers, wherein the player wins the ante and play wagers if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand; and comparing the player's hand with a predetermined winning criteria to resolve the blind wager, wherein the player wins the blind wager if the player's hand satisfies the predetermined winning criteria and outranks the dealer's hand, the blind wager pushes if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand but does not satisfy the predetermined winning criteria, and the blind wager loses w

Abstract: New thermally and chemically stable sulfonic acid-containing polymers are synthesized via post-sulfonation of aromatic polymers. These new polymers provide unique benefits to proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology (“PEMFC”). As a sulfonic acid moiety can be easily installed into an aromatic ring via electrophilic sulfonation, even in the presence of an electron-withdrawing substituent such as —F, rigid polymers consisting of aromatic rings at either the side chain or main chain can be prepared with a wide range of substituents and flexibility in properties. Novel synthetic procedures are provided for synthesis of the polymers.

Abstract: A method of deactivating land mines buried in ground comprises projecting high-pressure water jets into ground, cutting through ground with the high-pressure water jets, and making at least one cut through a land mine or cutting through at least one land mine that had been under the ground, the cutting of the land mine reducing the performance of the land mine. The method may reduce the performance of the land mine by rendering the land mine inactive to normal detonation procedures for the land mine. To reach as many surface areas on the buried landmines, it is preferable that at least two high-pressure water jets are spaced apart are used to cut through the ground. The method may be practiced with the high-pressure water jet being carried on a vehicle and cutting is done in a line that is formed at least in part by movement of the vehicle over the ground while the high-pressure water jet is cutting ground.

Abstract: An automatic card shuffler includes a card input unit, card ejection unit, card separation and delivery unit and card collection unit. A card ejection unit ejects cards in a singular fashion from a stack of cards placed into the input unit. The cards are ejected to a stop arm maintaining the entrance to the card separation unit. Adjustment means permit the shuffler to accommodate different sized cards. Upon processor command, the stop arm raises to allow a plurality of cards to pass under to the card separation and delivery unit. A series of rotating belts and rollers act to separate the cards and propel them individually to the collection unit. By utilizing separate motors to drive the belts and rollers it is possible to cease the movement of the belts so that the rollers independently act upon the cards. A floating gate slightly forward of the stop arm dictates that a minimum number of cards are managed simultaneously.

Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe is used in the play of the casino table card game of baccarat or blackjack or any game where cards are pulled one at a time from the shoe. The apparatus comprises a reader or an imager that scans lines bisecting the image at spaced intervals. The scanning occurs on playing cards in at least the region where suit and rank symbols are provided. The scanner output is a series of voltages that are converted to binary information. This binary information is compared to stored binary information to determine rank and suit. The upper surface of the output end of the shoe contains a partial barrier for cards being scanned. The partial barrier has an elevated surface and limits a size of a pathway so that only one card can be removed at a time.

Abstract: The invention comprises a pre-shuffler that receives a quantity of cards to be shuffled, such as nine decks of cards. One embodiment of the pre-shuffler includes a horizontal moveable box having, for example, nine compartments with vertical walls for separating the cards to be shuffled into groups. Cards are placed into all or some of the compartments in the box, and a shuffling sequence is then commenced. A motor moves the box containing the cards so that the cards in the first compartment are deposited into an input tray of the main card shuffler. The main shuffler then forwards the cards in the input tray one by one, via rollers, to selected card receptacles in the main shuffler. The process is then continued for each group of cards in the pre-shuffler until all cards are in the main shuffler. The main shuffler then shuffles the cards in a normal fashion. The cards output from the main shuffler are in a more random order than had the cards not been pre-shuffled by the pre-shuffler.

Abstract: A card shuffler and method in which recovery from a card jam can be performed. Sensors detect a jam and a program directs jam recovery.

Abstract: A casino game utilizes at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player placing at least one wager to participate in the casino game; dealing a first number of cards to a dealer, the first number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for the dealer; dealing a second number of cards to each player, the second number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for each player; the dealer discarding at least one card to form a resulting single dealer hand; each player discarding at least one card to form a resulting player's hand for each player, wherein the number of cards in resulting player's hands and the resulting dealer's hand are equal; and resolving each player hand against the dealer's hand according to predetermined game rules. The initial player's wagers must be at least matched with a Game Bet (or play bet) to remain in the game after players have received their cards.

Abstract: A method of playing a poker-type wagering game is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) placing a mandatory Ante bet to participate in a poker-type card game against a dealer hand; b) placing a mandatory Super Bonus bet on the occurrence of one of a predetermined plurality of winning poker hands; c) a dealer dealing at least two hands of cards to the dealer position and a hand of cards to each player participating in the game; d) and when the dealer's first hand meets or exceeds a predetermined high ranking hand value, discarding the first hand and playing the second hand; e) each player placing an additional mandatory Bet after viewing at least the player's hand of cards to stay in the game; f) resolving each player hand against the dealer hand; g) paying the player on the Ante and Bet if the player's hand ranking exceeds that of the dealer; and h) paying the player on the Super Bonus bet if the player hand is one of a plurality of predetermined winning poker hands.

Abstract: A method of playing a video wagering game and a video apparatus for that method are disclosed. The method may include a player placing a wager in a wagering machine having a processor; the wagering machine displaying at least a single payline of multiple frames influenced by at least two distinct indicators; the processor determining from one displayed distinct indicator on the payline whether the symbols provide at least one of at least two available different odds on the wager that are associated with an award; providing a second set of indicators associated with the payline, individual members of the second set of indicators associated with individual frames wherein predetermined combinations and/or orders of the second set of indicators are winning combinations and/or orders based on the wager; and providing the player with at least one award providing a specific multiple of at least some awards based upon the second set of indicators displayed on the payline.

Abstract: A card feed system for feeding cards into a card handling system is disclosed. The system includes a card input department with a playing card support surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. The playing card support surface slopes towards the front wall at an angle between 12 and 22 degrees. A slot is provided in the front wall to allow single cards to pass into the card handling system. The card feed system also includes a card moving system to advance cards through the slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enables linered label applicators to use labels on thin liners. Linered labels comprise a composite of an elongate sheet of thin or light-weight temporary liner having a precut label adhered to a low adhesion surface. The cut-out labels on the liner are fed into the linered label applicator. The use of support mechanisms other then vacuum application on rollers enables the use of thinner liner sheets on labels.

Abstract: A method of playing a casino table wagering game with at least two players comprises wagering on an underlying game where players may receive a bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank; placing a side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank; playing a hand of the casino table wagering game to conclusion; determining if at least one of the at least two players has obtained a player hand of said at least a predetermined rank; if a player has not obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, but that player has placed the side bet that at least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, and if another player has obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, awarding that player a predetermined proportional share of the bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.