AU2015202506A1 - A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device - Google Patents

A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2015202506A1
AU2015202506A1 AU2015202506A AU2015202506A AU2015202506A1 AU 2015202506 A1 AU2015202506 A1 AU 2015202506A1 AU 2015202506 A AU2015202506 A AU 2015202506A AU 2015202506 A AU2015202506 A AU 2015202506A AU 2015202506 A1 AU2015202506 A1 AU 2015202506A1
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Prior art keywords
storage device
data storage
gaming
game
portable data
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AU2015202506A
Inventor
Linn Anthony Mckay
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Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
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Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
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Priority claimed from AU2012201507A external-priority patent/AU2012201507A1/en
Application filed by Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd filed Critical Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Priority to AU2015202506A priority Critical patent/AU2015202506A1/en
Publication of AU2015202506A1 publication Critical patent/AU2015202506A1/en
Priority to AU2017202176A priority patent/AU2017202176A1/en
Priority to AU2019203253A priority patent/AU2019203253A1/en
Priority to AU2021203065A priority patent/AU2021203065A1/en
Priority to AU2023208199A priority patent/AU2023208199A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

Abstract A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a game controller arranged to implement a game, at least one game 5 meter arranged to obtain game related information, and an interface device arranged to facilitate transfer of at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction. A corresponding method of monitoring a 10 gaming device is also disclosed. 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015

Description

- 1 A GAMING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF MONITORING A GAMING DEVICE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming system and to a 5 method of monitoring a gaming device. Background of the Invention It is known to provide a gaming system which comprises a game controller arranged to implement a game and a player 10 interface usable by a player to play the game. In some gaming systems, game meters are also provided for monitoring attributes of game play such as coin in/coin out data, the number of games played, the number of wins, and so on. 15 However, with such gaming systems the task of manually extracting data from the meters is cumbersome and prone to error. 20 Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine permitting retrieval of game meter information by an authorized person, comprising: 25 a game controller configured to implement game play for play of a game by a player; at least one game meter configured to store game meter information related to the game play implemented by the game controller; 30 a portable data storage device storing an authentication identifier; a memory separate from the portable data storage device and storing a reference identifier; an interface device configured to facilitate transfer 35 of at least some of the game meter information stored in 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 2 said at least one game meter to the portable data storage device; and wherein the game controller is configured (1) to initially authenticate whether a person is authorized so 5 that game meter information may be transferred to the portable data storage device, and (2) to authenticate the portable data storage device used for receiving the transferred game meter information, by retrieving an authentication identifier stored in the portable data 10 storage device and comparing the retrieved authentication identifier to the reference identifier stored in the memory. In one embodiment, the interface device comprises a USB 15 interface arranged to mechanically and electrically connect with a portable USB data storage device. In addition or alternatively, the interface device comprises a wireless communication interface arranged to 20 communicate wirelessly with a portable data storage device. The wireless communication interface may comprise a Bluetooth or WiFi communication interface. In one embodiment, the gaming system comprises an 25 authorization device arranged to permit access to the obtained game related information by a person only when the identity of the person has been verified. The authorization device may be arranged to receive an 30 authorization code from a person, to compare the authorization code with a reference authorization code, and to permit access to the obtained game related information if the entered authorization code and the reference authorization code match. 35 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 3 In one embodiment, the gaming system comprises an identification device reader and the reference authorisation code is stored on an identification device which may be an identification card, the identification 5 device reader being arranged to extract the authorization code from the identification device when the identification device is engaged with the identification device reader. 10 In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to transfer at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction received from a person. 15 In an alternative embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to transfer at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction generated automatically when a connection is established between the interface 20 device and the portable data storage device. The game related information may comprise information indicative of the number of credits received and dispensed by the gaming system, the number of games played and/or 25 the number of wins. The game related information may comprise security information indicative of whether a door of the gaming system has been opened and/or whether a tilt has occurred 30 during game play. The game related information may comprise screen shot data indicative of at least some of the screens displayed to a player during game play. 35 In one embodiment, the gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine comprising: 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 4 at least one game meter arranged to obtain game related information; and an interface device arranged to facilitate transfer of at least some of the obtained game related information 5 to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of monitoring a 10 gaming device using a portable data storage device having a stored authentication identifier, and a reference identifier stored in a memory separate from the portable data storage device, the method comprising: executing game play of a game at the gaming device; 15 using at least one game meter to track gaming device information corresponding to game play executed by the gaming device; connecting the portable data storage device to the gaming device; 20 retrieving the authentication identifier stored in the portable data storage device; comparing the retrieved authentication identifier to the reference identifier stored in the memory; authenticating whether a person is authorized; 25 authenticating the portable data storage device if the retrieved authentication identifier matches the reference identifier; providing a transfer instruction; and if the person is authorized and the portable data 30 storage device is authenticated, transferring at least some of the gaming device information from the at least one game meter to the portable data storage device in response to the transfer instruction. 35 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 5 Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of core components of a gaming system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a gaming system in accordance with an embodiment of the present 10 invention with the gaming system implemented in the form of a stand alone gaming machine; Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of operative components of the gaming machine shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of components 15 of a memory of the gaming machine shown in Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of monitoring a gaming device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 20 Description of an Embodiment of the Invention Referring to the drawings, there is shown a schematic block diagram of a gaming system 10 arranged to implement a probabilistic game, in this example of the type wherein several symbols from a set of symbols are randomly 25 displayed, and a game outcome is determined on the basis of the displayed symbols. With some such probabilistic games, the set of symbols used include standard symbols and function symbols, and 30 the game outcome is determined on the basis of the displayed standard symbols and the function associated with any displayed function symbol. For example, standard symbols may resemble fruit such as apples, pears and bananas with a win outcome being determined when a 35 predetermined number of the same fruit appear on a display 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 6 along a win line, or are displayed according to defined outcome patterns such as scattered, and so on. The function associated with a function symbol may be for example a wild function wherein display of the function 5 symbol is treated during consideration of the game outcome as any of the standard symbols. A function symbol may be represented as the word "WILD", a star, or by any other suitable word or symbol. Other functions are also envisaged such as scatter functions, multiplier functions, 10 repeat win functions, jackpot functions and feature commencement functions. Referring to Figure 1, a schematic diagram of core components of a gaming system 10 in accordance with the 15 present embodiment is shown. The core components comprise a player interface 12 and a game controller 14. The player interface 12 is arranged to enable interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes input/output components required for the 20 player to enter instructions and play the game. Components of the player interface 12 may vary but will typically include a credit mechanism 16 to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 25 18 which may comprise a touch screen, and a game play mechanism 20 arranged to enable a player to input game play instructions. The game controller 14 is in data communication with the 30 player interface 12 and typically includes a processor 22 arranged to process game play instructions and output game player outcomes to the display 18. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code 26 in a memory 24 that can also be hardwired. It will be 35 understood that in this specification the term "processor" is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions and may include a 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device such as a personal computer or a server. 5 In this example, the memory 24 also stores game related data including meter data 28 derived from at least one game meter 29. The meter data 28 includes information indicative of the number of credits received and dispensed by the gaming system 10, and may also include information 10 indicative of the number of games played, the number of wins, and any other game related data. The meter data may also include security information such as information indicative of whether a door of the gaming system cabinet has been opened, a tilt has occurred during game play, and 15 so on. The meter data 28 may also include screen shot data representative of at least some of the screens displayed to a player during game play. The screen shot data may be 20 used to analyse game outcomes subsequent to completion of games, for example so as to provide an indication as to the screens displayed during a winning outcome or during a perceived fault such as a false jackpot. 25 The memory 24 is also arranged to store symbols data indicative of a plurality of symbols, in the present example associated with a plurality of reels, and function data indicative of one or more functions allocatable to the symbols. 30 The gaming system 10 also includes an interface device 30 arranged under control of the processor 22 to facilitate transfer of at least some of the meter data 28 stored in the memory 24 from the memory 24 to a portable data 35 storage device 32. In this example, the interface device 30 is a USB interface and the portable data storage device 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 8 32 is a USB memory device mechanically and electrically connectable to the USB interface. The gaming system also comprises an authorisation 5 arrangement, in this example in the form of authorisation program code 26 stored in the memory 24 and arranged in association with the processor 22 to control access to a system menu, in particular so as to ensure that only authorised persons are able to access the meter data. The 10 system menu provides an authorised person with a user friendly interface usable to instruct the gaming system 10 to transfer at least some of the meter data from the memory 24 to a portable data storage device 32 connected to the interface device 30. Authorisation of a person may 15 be carried out by requesting entry of a password, or in any other way. Where the interface device 30 is wireless the user may be prompted from a portable device to enter information to interface with the authorization program code 26 to control access to the system menu. 20 For example, in an alternative authorisation arrangement, the portable data storage device 32 may include a unique identifier which is compared by the processor 22 with a reference identifier stored in the memory 24 in order to 25 determine whether the portable data storage device is genuine. In a further alternative authorisation arrangement, the gaming system may be provided with a reader which may be 30 in the form of a player tracking device, and the person authorised to access the meter data provided with an identification card readable by the player tracking device and including information identifying the person. Insertion of the identification card into the player 35 tracking device first causes the player tracking device to verify that the person indicated on the card is authorised to gain access to the meter data, and secondly causes a 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 9 request to be made for the person to enter an authorisation code such as a PIN number. Verification of the PIN number causes access to the meter data to be permitted. 5 In a further alternative arrangement, no authorisation is required. With this arrangement, other security measures may be included, such as providing the interface device and the portable data storage device with proprietary 10 complementary connectors. While the present example is described in relation to a USB interface device 30 and a corresponding portable USB data storage device, it will be understood that other 15 arrangements are possible for facilitating transfer of meter data from the memory 24 to the portable data storage device 30. For example, the gaming system 10 may be provided with a wireless interface device, for example arranged to communicate with a portable data storage 20 device using Bluetooth@, other "near field" communication schema or WiFi communications. With this arrangement, it will be understood that it is not necessary to mechanically engage the portable data storage device with the interface device 30. 25 In the present example, the gaming system is arranged such that meter data is transferred from the memory 24 to a portable data storage device 32 when actively instructed by a person, for example using a system menu. However, 30 other arrangements are possible. For example, the gaming system, and in particular the processor 22 in association with program code 26 stored in the memory 24 may be arranged to transfer meter data to the portable storage device 32 automatically when a connection is established 35 between the interface device 30 and the portable data storage device 32. 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 10 The gaming system 10 can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a gaming device in the form of a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most 5 components required for implementing a game are present in a player operable gaming machine. In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing 10 the game are present in a player operable gaming device in the form of a gaming terminal and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming terminal. For example, a "thick client" architecture may be used wherein part of the game 15 is executed on a player operable gaming terminal and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a "thin client" architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming terminal is 20 used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player. However, it will be understood that other arrangements are 25 envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming device is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming device and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming 30 machine mode, "thick client" mode or "thin client" mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. 35 A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 40 is illustrated in Figure 2. The gaming machine 40 includes a console 42 having a display 44 on which is 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 11 displayed representations of a game 46 that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 50 of the gaming machine 40 houses a bank of buttons 52 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during 5 game play. The mid-trim 50 also houses a credit input mechanism 54 which in this example includes a coin input chute 54A and a bill collector 54B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit 10 card. A reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the 15 reading device. A top box 56 may carry artwork 58, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further 20 artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 59 of the console 42. A coin tray 60 is mounted beneath the front panel 59 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 30. 25 The display 44 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 44 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, or any other suitable video display unit. The top box 56 may also include a display, 30 for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 44, or of a different type. The display 44 may comprise a touch screen usable by a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play, and to interact with the system menu in order 35 to cause transfer of meter data to a portable storage device. 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 12 The display 44 in this example is arranged to display representations of several reels, each reel of which has several associated symbols. During operation of the game, the reels first appear to rotate then stop with at least 5 one symbol visible on each reel. Game outcomes are determined on the basis of the visible symbols together with any special functions associated with the symbols. A player marketing module (PMM) 62 having a display 64 is 10 connected to the gaming machine 10. The main purpose of the PMM 62 is to allow the player to interact with a player loyalty system. The PMM has a magnetic card reader for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. However other 15 reading devices may be employed and the player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device. The PMM 62 may also be arranged to read identification information from an identification card in 20 order to authorise a person to gain access to meter data stored in the gaming machine memory. The gaming system 40 also includes the interface device 30, in this example in the form of a USB interface, 25 mounted on the console 42 so as to be readily accessible. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a gaming machine 100 which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine shown in Figure 2. 30 The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 in accordance with the present invention are stored in a memory 103 which is in 35 data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 13 volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. 5 Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The 10 EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B 15 or elsewhere, and meter data 28. The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/0) interface 105 for 20 communicating with a player interface 120 of the gaming machine 100, the player interface 120 having several peripheral devices. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and 25 data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. In the example shown in Figure 3, the peripheral devices 30 that communicate with the game controller 101 comprise one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or bank of buttons 107, a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111, and a USB interface 112 for 35 mechanically and electrically engaging with a portable USB storage device. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 14 as required for the specific implementation. In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. 5 The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database. 10 It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 may be provided remotely from the game controller 101. 15 An example of a specific implementation of a gaming system will now be described in relation to a stand alone gaming machine 10, 40 although it will be understood that implementation may also be carried out using other gaming 20 system architectures such as a network architecture. Steps 252 to 264 of a method of monitoring a gaming device according to the present embodiment are shown in a flow diagram 250 in Figure 5. 25 Using the game play mechanism 20 and/or touch screen a representative of operators of the gaming system enters authorization information, in this example a username and PIN number, in order to verify the identity of the 30 representative. Positive identification grants the representative access to a system menu which may be navigated using the game play mechanism 20 and/or touch screen. The representative then engages the portable storage device 32 with the interface device 30 and effects 35 transfer of data from the memory 24 to the portable storage device 32 using the system menu. If more similar 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 15 gaming machines are present, the representative may carry out a similar download operation with these machines. After completion of all downloads, the data stored on the 5 portable storage device may be transferred to a suitable computing device for analysis. In particular, for a gaming system which includes a plurality of gaming machines connected in networked relationship, the meter data stored on the portable data storage device 32 may be 10 used to verify that the meter data obtained directly from the gaming machines corresponds to game related data obtained through the network. It will be appreciated that the present invention is 15 particularly suitable for gaming systems which include a plurality of gaming machines since it enables a person to obtain meter data directly from a plurality of gaming machines quickly and accurately. 20 In the claims of this application and in the description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the words "comprise" or variations such as "comprises"! or "comprising"! are used in an inclusive 25 sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication 30 is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 35 Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015

Claims (23)

1. A gaming machine permitting retrieval of game meter information by an authorized person, comprising: 5 a game controller configured to implement game play for play of a game by a player; at least one game meter configured to store game meter information related to the game play implemented by the game controller; 10 a portable data storage device storing an authentication identifier; a memory separate from the portable data storage device and storing a reference identifier; an interface device configured to facilitate transfer 15 of at least some of the game meter information stored in said at least one game meter to the portable data storage device; and wherein the game controller is configured (1) to initially authenticate whether a person is authorized so 20 that game meter information may be transferred to the portable data storage device, and (2) to authenticate the portable data storage device used for receiving the transferred game meter information, by retrieving an authentication identifier stored in the portable data 25 storage device and comparing the retrieved authentication identifier to the reference identifier stored in the memory.
2. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 30 interface device comprises a USB interface arranged to mechanically and electrically connect with the portable data storage device, and wherein the portable data storage device is a USB data storage device. 35
3. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a wireless communication 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 17 interface arranged to communicate wirelessly with the portable data storage device.
4. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the 5 wireless communication interface comprises a Bluetooth or WiFi communication interface.
5. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, and further comprising an authorization device 10 configured to verify the identity of the person.
6. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the authorization device provides a reference authorization code, the authorization device being configured to receive 15 an authorization code from a person, to compare the authorization code with the reference authorization code, and to permit transfer of the game meter information to the portable data storage device if the received authorization code and the reference authorization code 20 match.
7. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the authorization device comprises an identification device reader, the identification device reader being configured 25 to extract an authorization code from an identification device when the identification device is engaged with the identification device reader.
8. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of the 30 preceding claims, wherein the interface device is configured to receive a transfer instruction from a person.
9. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of the 35 preceding claims, wherein a transfer instruction is generated automatically when a connection is established 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 18 between the interface device and the portable data storage device.
10. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of the 5 preceding claims, wherein the game meter information comprises information indicative of the number of credits received and dispensed by the gaming machine, the number of games played and/or the number of wins. 10
11. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game meter information comprises security information indicative of whether a door of the gaming machine has been opened and/or whether a tilt has occurred during game play. 15
12. A gaming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a network interface for communication with a gaming server. 20
13. A method of monitoring a gaming device using a portable data storage device having a stored authentication identifier, and a reference identifier stored in a memory separate from the portable data storage device, the method comprising: 25 executing game play of a game at the gaming device; using at least one game meter to track gaming device information corresponding to game play executed by the gaming device; connecting the portable data storage device to the 30 gaming device; retrieving the authentication identifier stored in the portable data storage device; comparing the retrieved authentication identifier to the reference identifier stored in the memory; 35 authenticating whether a person is authorized; 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 19 authenticating the portable data storage device if the retrieved authentication identifier matches the reference identifier; providing a transfer instruction; and 5 if the person is authorized and the portable data storage device is authenticated, transferring at least some of the gaming device information from the at least one game meter to the portable data storage device in response to the transfer instruction. 10
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising providing a USB interface on the gaming device configured to mechanically and electrically connect with a portable USB data storage device for transferring at least some of 15 the obtained gaming device information.
15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the transferring comprises transferring at least some of the obtained gaming device information to a portable data 20 storage device using wireless communications.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the wireless communications comprise Bluetooth or WiFi communications. 25
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, comprising permitting access to the obtained gaming device information by the person only when the identity of the person has been verified. 30
18. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising receiving an authorization code from the person, comparing the authorization code with a reference authorization code, and permitting access to the obtained gaming device information if the received authorization code and the 35 reference authorization code match. 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015 - 20
19. A method as claimed in claim 18, using an identification device reader and an identification device engageable with the identification device reader, and further comprising providing the identification device 5 reader, storing a reference authorization code on the identification device, and extracting the authorization code from the identification device when the identification device is engaged with the identification device reader. 10
20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 19, comprising transferring at least some of the obtained gaming device information to the portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction received from 15 the person.
21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 20, comprising generating a transfer instruction automatically when a connection is established between the gaming device 20 and the portable data storage device, and transferring at least some of the obtained gaming device information to the portable data storage device in response to the transfer instruction. 25
22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 21, wherein the tracked gaming device information comprises information indicative of the number of credits received and dispensed by the gaming device, the number of games played and/or the number of wins. 30
23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein the tracked gaming device information comprises security information indicative of whether a door of the gaming device has been opened and/or whether a tilt has 35 occurred during game play. 6481597 1 (GHMatters) P25516.AU.2 MELANIEE 8/05/2015
AU2015202506A 2008-05-02 2015-05-08 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device Abandoned AU2015202506A1 (en)

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AU2015202506A AU2015202506A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2015-05-08 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device
AU2017202176A AU2017202176A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2017-04-03 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device
AU2019203253A AU2019203253A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2019-05-09 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device
AU2021203065A AU2021203065A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2021-05-13 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device
AU2023208199A AU2023208199A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2023-07-28 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device

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US61/050,022 2008-05-02
AU2012201507A AU2012201507A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2012-03-14 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device
AU2015202506A AU2015202506A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2015-05-08 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device

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AU2019203253A Abandoned AU2019203253A1 (en) 2008-05-02 2019-05-09 A gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device
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