EP1024462A1 - Datenverarbeitungssystem - Google Patents

Datenverarbeitungssystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1024462A1
EP1024462A1 EP00300549A EP00300549A EP1024462A1 EP 1024462 A1 EP1024462 A1 EP 1024462A1 EP 00300549 A EP00300549 A EP 00300549A EP 00300549 A EP00300549 A EP 00300549A EP 1024462 A1 EP1024462 A1 EP 1024462A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
data
base module
module
machine
connection
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00300549A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Nigel Mclaughlin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Brightstar Lottery UK Solutions Ltd
Original Assignee
IGT UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IGT UK Ltd filed Critical IGT UK Ltd
Publication of EP1024462A1 publication Critical patent/EP1024462A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a data handling system for use with data-generating machines.
  • the invention is particularly concerned with entertainment machines, such as coin-operated amusement or gaming machines of the kind referred to as slot machines or fruit or poker machines, the term 'coin' being used to include means of credit or monetary value other than actual coins.
  • entertainment machines such as coin-operated amusement or gaming machines of the kind referred to as slot machines or fruit or poker machines
  • the term 'coin' being used to include means of credit or monetary value other than actual coins.
  • the invention is not intended to be restricted to this field of application and the data handling system may be used with other kinds of machines whether or not coin-operated and whether or not for entertainment purposes.
  • the invention can be used with vending machines, coin-operated pool tables, EPOS systems and the like.
  • ADP Amusement with Prizes
  • machines of the fruit machine kind generate operating data representative of normal and abnormal machine functions, such as data indicating money paid in and paid out, occurrence of different kinds of awards, incidence of faults, attempts at unauthorised entry or intervention, etc.
  • Data can be collected from the machine with a hand held reader which is plugged into a data port of the machine or which is radiation-connected, e.g. via an infrared or optical link, to the machine.
  • the hand held reader can then be taken to a remote control centre where collected data is downloaded into computer equipment.
  • Machines can be provided with standardised interfaces for connection to standardised data collection and transfer equipment.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a data handling system with which the benefits of standardisation can be realised whilst being able readily to accommodate differing machine requirements.
  • a data handling system for use in the collection and transfer of data from a data-generating machine, comprising a base module mountable relative to the machine to receive data therefrom, and at least one output interface module connected to the base module for communication with data reading equipment externally of the machine, characterised in that the (or each) interface module is removably connected to the base module so as to be interchangeable with one or more further different said interface modules.
  • Standardisation of data handling can therefore be achieved whilst allowing for different kinds of machines and systems.
  • connection between the base module and the (or each) interface module is such as to provide releasable mechanical retention therebetween additionally to data communication connection.
  • a spring clip or other retention arrangement may be used together with male/female data connectors.
  • multiple interface modules are connectable together to the base module and this may be achievable in any suitable series and/or parallel arrangement with regard to mechanical and/or data connection.
  • multiple interface modules are releasably mechanically interconnected in series. Connection in different numbers or combinations may be possible.
  • the base module and the (or each) connected interface module, or at least major parts of these are of the same or similar cross-section and have outer surfaces which are respectively flush or coplanar with each other.
  • the cross-sections may be rectangular, or generally rectangular, and the flush or coplanar faces may be flat. In this way, a compact structure can be attained which easily and conveniently fits within the machine.
  • the (or each) interface module may perform one or more functions such as: conversion of data from the base module to a desired output transfer protocol, adaptation for communication with a desired output connection (ethernet, RF, RS 232, RS 485, optical, etc), conversion of data from machine data generating devices to a desired format to be fed to the base module, adaptation for communication with a desired data-input connection (from machine meters, etc), security coding/decoding of data, connection to mains supply, etc.
  • the base module and/or the (or each) interface module is self powered by an internal battery.
  • the data handling system of the invention may be used with fruit machines or any other suitable kind of coin-operated entertainment or other machines.
  • Figure 1 shows a base module 1 of a data handling system which can be used with a coin-operated AWP machine of the fruit machine kind.
  • the module 1 comprises a plastics housing of rectangular cross-section with flat side faces, namely two large flat faces 2 parallel to each other and two narrow flat faces 3 parallel to each other.
  • One end of the housing is provided with a convexly shaped end cap 4 having flat side faces coplanar with the large faces 2, and curved ends which merge with the smaller flat faces 3.
  • Figure 2 shows an interface module 7 mated with the base module 1 by interengagement of a female (or male) connector of the interface module 7 with the connector 5 of the base module, and by releasable retaining interengagement of the module 7 with the clip arms 6.
  • FIG. 2 also shows two further interface modules 8, 9 connected with each other and with the interface module 7 by means of male/female data connectors. These data connectors preferably provide sole mechanical interconnection between the modules 7, 8, 9, although if desired spring clip arms of the kind described above or other clips may be also provided on each interface module 7-9.
  • the free end of the final interface module 9 has attached thereto an end cap 10, like the cap 4.
  • caps 4, 10 may be solely decorative or protective or may also be interface modules. In particular they may be interface modules which perform a checking function to establish that there is a completed, properly interconnected assembly before the power is switched on.
  • the interface modules 7-9 have rectangular cross-sections and flat faces, like the base module 1, whereby the assembly, as shown in Figure 2 has coplanar side faces and forms a compact, slim bar-shaped structure which can be easily and conveniently installed within an AWP or other machine.
  • the base module 1 contains a battery back-up power source 11 and data storage components 12.
  • the interface modules 7-9 comprise, in sequence, an output module 7, an input module 8 and a security module 9.
  • the output module 7 is connected to the base module 1 to receive stored data therefrom.
  • This module 7 has output connectors or leads 13 which link to appropriate data output connectors in the machine, such as a socket type data port or the like to supply data thereto with a desired standardised transfer protocol.
  • the input module 8 is connected to the base module 1, via the output module 7, to supply data from the machine to be stored in the module 1.
  • This module 8 has connectors or leads 14 which link to appropriate data-generating machine elements such as meters, door switches etc.
  • the base module 1 and output module 7 act to provide an output in a desired standardised transfer protocol by appropriate conversion of the input data.
  • the security module 9 is connected to the base module 1 via the input and output modules 7, 8 and provides local data and security control of access to the data through external interface.
  • the interface modules 7-9 can be interchanged with replacement such components as and when required to accommodate differing requirements due to differences in machines and/or to allow for updating and changing of machines and operational systems.
  • the output module may be changed to allow for changes in kind of output connection (e.g. data port, optical connection, etc). Modules may also be changed to ensure that a desired output transfer protocol is obtained from the particular input format of the machine.
  • kind of output connection e.g. data port, optical connection, etc.
  • Modules may also be changed to ensure that a desired output transfer protocol is obtained from the particular input format of the machine.
  • any number of additional modules may be introduced in series to provide additional functions.
  • a mains power supply module may be fined so that the system can be powered from local mains supply.
  • shift registers may be used.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Alarm Systems (AREA)
EP00300549A 1999-01-26 2000-01-26 Datenverarbeitungssystem Withdrawn EP1024462A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9901623 1999-01-26
GBGB9901623.0A GB9901623D0 (en) 1999-01-26 1999-01-26 Data handling system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1024462A1 true EP1024462A1 (de) 2000-08-02

Family

ID=10846476

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00300549A Withdrawn EP1024462A1 (de) 1999-01-26 2000-01-26 Datenverarbeitungssystem

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1024462A1 (de)
GB (2) GB9901623D0 (de)
ZA (1) ZA200000337B (de)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5051564A (en) * 1989-01-03 1991-09-24 Schmidt Alfred C Method and apparatus for controlling a machine
US5344046A (en) * 1993-06-03 1994-09-06 C-Power Companies, Inc. Universal pull-out drawer for vending machine
US5442568A (en) * 1994-11-15 1995-08-15 Audit Systems Company Vending machine audit monitoring system
EP0700024A1 (de) * 1994-09-02 1996-03-06 Gemplus Card International Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Datenübetragung von einem einzelnden Terminal für integrierte Mikroschaltungskarten
EP0762349A2 (de) * 1995-09-12 1997-03-12 Siemens Measurements Limited Verbesserung an oder in Bezug auf Gasmesser

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1222824A (en) * 1982-10-18 1987-06-09 David Eglise Data collection system
US4689757A (en) * 1983-01-17 1987-08-25 Vada Systems, Inc. Machine event processing system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5051564A (en) * 1989-01-03 1991-09-24 Schmidt Alfred C Method and apparatus for controlling a machine
US5344046A (en) * 1993-06-03 1994-09-06 C-Power Companies, Inc. Universal pull-out drawer for vending machine
EP0700024A1 (de) * 1994-09-02 1996-03-06 Gemplus Card International Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Datenübetragung von einem einzelnden Terminal für integrierte Mikroschaltungskarten
US5442568A (en) * 1994-11-15 1995-08-15 Audit Systems Company Vending machine audit monitoring system
EP0762349A2 (de) * 1995-09-12 1997-03-12 Siemens Measurements Limited Verbesserung an oder in Bezug auf Gasmesser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA200000337B (en) 2000-08-21
GB2347544A (en) 2000-09-06
GB0001631D0 (en) 2000-03-15
GB2347544B (en) 2003-04-02
GB9901623D0 (en) 1999-03-17

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