Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
  • G07F17/323—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Definitions

• a casino floor may include thousands of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) that are in communication with and monitored by the casino's gaming network.
• EGMs provide an enhanced gaming experience with computer graphics, stereo sound, animation, and other features that have been developed to maintain player interest in the game.
• EGMs may include secondary networked devices such as player tracking devices or enhanced player interfaces (e.g., Bally Gaming's iViewTM touch-screen display). Accordingly, there are a large number of EGMs and related components that need to be monitored, maintained, and serviced.
• gaming machines were stand-alone devices. Security of the gaming machines was accomplished via physical locks, security protocols, security personnel, physical and video monitoring, and the need to be physically present at a machine to attempt to breach the security of the gaming machine. By the same token, management of the gaming machines required a great deal of personal physical interaction with each gaming machine. The ability to change parameters ot the gaming machine also required physical interaction.
• gaming machines have become customizable via electronic communications and remotely controllable.
• Manufacturers of gaming equipment have taken advantage of the increased functionality of gaming machines by adding additional features to gaming machines, thereby maintaining a player's attention to the gaming machines for longer periods of time increasing minimum bet and bet frequency and speed of play. This, in turn, leads to the player wagering at the gaming machine for longer periods of time, with more money at a faster pace, thereby increasing owner profits.
• a technician typically needs to travel to the gaming machine in order to replace existing software package media (e.g., EPROMs, CD-ROM's, Compact Flash, etc.) with new software package media.
• existing software package media e.g., EPROMs, CD-ROM's, Compact Flash, etc.
• the software package update process may require that the EGM be disabled hours in advance to prevent any players from using the EGM when the technician is ready to perform software package changes.
• EGMs may be disabled prior to software package updates, but the technician must periodically check to ensure that the EGM(s) are not being used by a player.
• technicians may need to be supervised during the process of software package installation as the technician has access to critical areas of the EGM required for configuration or of those areas of containing cash.
• the system may configure an EGM from a remote terminal thereby providing improvements in operational efficiency when configuring EGMs. For example, operational efficiencies are possible by providing direct access to configure an EGM without the technician traveling to the physical machine, which may be miles away. For local EGM's, there will be efficiencies obtained by the number of EGM's configured per hour/per technician. For extremely remote EGM's, there are additional efficiencies by the reduction of travel and lodging expenses for the technician. Additionally, remote configuration of an EGM reduces security overhead. That is, some environments require authorized security or management personnel to witness a technician while the EGM is open during configuration. These witnesses are mostly required because critical areas of the EGM are accessible during the configuration process, including access to areas that contain cash. By remotely configuring the EGM, no critical areas are made accessible and thus no security or management personnel are needed.
• casino management may use remote configuration to optimize their machines in ways that would otherwise be impractical. This may provide the basis for a 'Yield Management' capability. For example, casino management may enable high denomination games and restrict low denomination games during peak demand periods. Alternatively, casino management may expand low denomination games configured during weekdays when the players are typically loyal locals.
• the network system uses option templates to support pre-configuration because a particular EGM or game theme within an EGM may support a large number and wide variety of options.
• option definition templates such as Combo Option templates or Option Group templates may be used to define the configuration of new content before it is downloaded to an EGM.
• a casino operator may schedule the download of a new game theme during off-hours and have the network host configure the new game theme as soon as installation is completes without requiring operator intervention.
• the network system provides a method of recognizing when an EGM needs data downloads or configuration, and the network coordinates these activities to avoid conflicts. For example, in one method, attempts to configure an EGM will be prevented until downloads for the EGM are completed. In another method, the network host automatically restores data modules and configures an EGM if it has been RAM-cleared or has been offline. Accordingly, an operator can monitor and manage a group of EGMs from a single terminal, thereby eliminating the need for slot technicians to collect configuration data and to manually reconfigure each EGM.
• Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a gaming network that may be used with the system.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of a gaming network that may be used with the system.
• Figure 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the system.
• Figure 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating one embodiment of the operation of the system.
• Figure 5 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the system.
• the system may configure an EGM from a remote terminal over network communications.
• the configuration of an EGM can vary upon the EGM' s installed software, so the system includes a mechanism for the remote terminal to query the EGM for its specific set of configuration options.
• the system allows the remote configuration of EGMs, the validation of the configuration, and configuration reporting by the EGM.
• EGM Once the EGM has responded to the query, all of the EGM options are available at the remote terminal. This information is used by an operator at the remote terminal to change the option settings while keeping the settings within constraints provided with the EGM options. The operator has the ability to change any number of options from the set of EGM provided options. The operator may choose to inspect EGM option settings and/or change one or more EGM option settings.
• the modified options may then be transferred from the Configuration Server Point (CSP) to the EGM with instructions of how to apply the modified options.
• CSP Configuration Server Point
• the EGM is responsible for monitoring the EGM state and comparing it with the applied conditions.
• the EGM is the authority on when the option changes get applied; however, the EGM uses the applied conditions provided by the operator at the remote terminal.
• EGM is intended to encompass any type of gaming machine, including hand-held devices used as gaming machines such as cellular based devices (e.g. phones), PDAs, or the like.
• the EGM can be represented by any network node that can implement a game and is not limited to cabinet based machines.
• the system has equal applicability to gaming machines implemented as part of video gaming consoles or handheld or other portable devices.
• a geo-location device in the handheld or portable gaming device may be used to locate a specific player for regulatory and other purposes.
• Geo-location techniques that can be used include by way of example, and not by way of limitation, IP address lookup, GPS, cell phone tower location, cell ID, known Wireless Access Point location, Wi-Fi connection used, phone number, physical wire or port on client device, or by middle tier or backend server accessed.
• GPS and biometric devices are built within a player's client device, which in one embodiment, comprises a player's own personal computing device, or provided by the casino as an add-on device using USB, Bluetooth, IRDA, serial or other interface to the hardware to enable jurisdictionally compliant gaming, ensuring the location of play and the identity of the player.
• the casino provides an entire personal computing device with these devices built in, such as a tablet type computing device, PDA, cell phone or other type of computing device capable of playing system games.
• the system uses a network configuration where one or more EGM's are networked with a CSP network server and at least one CSP network access terminal. Supplemental remote terminals can be networked with the CSP to provide multiple workstations for EGM configuration verification/alteration.
• the network may be shared among other casino network systems, or an exclusive network dedicated to configuration activities.
• the system may also include secure network technology to assure that only authorized systems and users may inspect or alter an EGM's configuration options.
• secure network technology to assure that only authorized systems and users may inspect or alter an EGM's configuration options.
• PKI and SHAl are applied to authenticate and validate configuration network messages.
• the system includes technology in the CSP network server and in the EGM to exchange an EGM's configurable options and constraints on possible settings for those options.
• the system uses a point-to-point protocol between the CSP and the EGM, where the CSP can request a full set or a subset of options from the EGM.
• the EGM uses the point-to- point protocol to respond to the request, providing either a full set or the appropriate subset of options and constraints.
• Each option is accompanied with constraints: either a range of valid settings or a list of valid settings - one of which can be active at any given time.
• the system includes technology to present the options and constraints to an operator at a remote terminal of the CSP.
• the remote terminal will accept changes to the option settings from the operator.
• the changes to any of the options will be checked for consistency with the constraints. Invalid selections will be flagged by the technology and the changed option setting will not be permitted.
• the system includes technology to send the modified configuration options from the CSP to the EGM, where the EGM will validate the new option settings. If the option settings are within constraints and match the EGM' s capabilities, then the EGM will accept the option settings. Otherwise, the EGM will reject the option settings and notify the CSP of the rejection.
• the system includes technology to specify the application conditions that EGM will use to apply the new option settings.
• the application conditions include optional time windows with date and times for the start and end times.
• the EGM will monitor itself to determine when the correct conditions are available to apply the new option settings.
• the system includes this technology to monitor and apply the new options only when the proper conditions have been met, and then to take the appropriate action after the new option settings have been applied.
• Option subsets such as, but not limited to, the following are typical:
• Game options (there may be game options that affect all games on the EGM. There can be options that are defined by theme and affect all of the games of that given theme, there can also be options defined at the paytable level that can affect a specific instantiation of a theme/paytable,denomination.) [0041] • Progressive options
• the network topology may be altered to accommodate the following communication schemes:
• Multi-drop asynchronous serial network where a common communication line is routed from the CSP to an EGM, then from EGM to EGM.
• Multi-drop synchronous serial network where a common communication line is routed from the CSP to an EGM, then from EGM to EGM.
• the specific constraints for common options can be pre-defined with defaults. This would reduce the data sent from the EGM to the CSP when the EGM responds to a CSP request for options. If the EGM had option setting constraints outside of the default constraints, the EGM would then provide explicit constraints for the option, which would be used to override the default constraints.
• the system also provides for the use of templates that represent a configuration state of an EGM. Instead of remotely setting or changing individual constraint or option, the operator can simply download the configuration template and change all options, constraints, and configurations at once. This can be used in connection with a plurality of EGMs that are either identical or are able to accept identical configuration templates.
• the configuration template can be communicated to one or more EGMs as part of a background download. In another embodiment, the configuration template can be communicated to one or more EGMs as part of a multicast.
• a machine can be configured remotely either by selection of individual options or by use of a template. Once an EGM has been configured, a copy of the configuration of the EGM may then be used to configure other EGMs, such as in a bank of similar EGMs. [0052] Once a machine has been configured, the host system may query the machine tor its configuration. The machine then responds with its option configuration. This allows for changes to be detected and allow for current configuration information in the host system. In one embodiment, the gaming machine provides data about the option type as well as the configuration setting to the host system. This meta-data makes it easier for the host system to present the data in an appropriate manner to a user for making configuration changes. For example, if the machine returns a configuration option related to volume, the fact that the type is volume may trigger the host system to display that option with a slider bar instead of as a text box.
• FIG. 1 An embodiment of a network that may be used with the system is illustrated in Figure 1.
• the example network consists of a top level vender distribution point 101 that contains all packages for all jurisdictions, one or more Jurisdiction distribution points 102A and 102B that contain regulator approved production signed packages used within that jurisdiction or sub-jurisdiction, one or more Software Management Points 103 A and 103B to schedule and control the downloading of packages to the EGM and a one or more Software Distribution Points 104A and 104B that contain regulator approved production signed packages only used in the gaming establishment that it supports.
• the Software Distribution Points (SDPs) 104 A and 104B can communicate with Systems Management Points (SMPs) 105 A and 105B, respectively as well as directly to one or more EGMs 106A and 106B.
• SDPs Software Distribution Points
• SMPs Systems Management Points
• the system allows for rapid and secure distribution of new games, configurations, and OS's from a centralized point. It makes it possible to update and modify existing gaming machines with fixes and updates to programs as well as providing modifications to such files as screen images, video, sound, pay tables and other EGM control and support files. It provides complete control of gaming machines from a centralized control and distribution point and can minimize the need and delay of human intervention at the EGM.
• the configuration control may be from the SDPs 101 or 104 or from the gaming servers 103.
• a core layer 215 includes one or more servers 201 that are coupled via a communication path 202 to one or more switches 203.
• tne servers ana switches of the core layer 215 are located within the gaming establishment premises in a secure administrative area.
• the servers 201 may, but are not required to be, game servers.
• the communication path 202 may be hardwire (e.g., copper), fiber, wireless, microwave, or any other suitable communication path that may be protected from attack.
• the switches 203 are L2/L3 switches. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other types of switches may be used without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed system.
• a distribution layer 216 communicates with the core layer 215 via high bandwidth communications links 204. These links may be copper, fiber, or any other suitable link. If desired, redundant links 205 may be built into the system to provide more failsafe operation.
• the communications links couple the core layer switches 203 to the distribution layer switches 206. These may be one or more switches, such as L2 switches, for example.
• the distribution layer 216 communicates with an access layer 217 via a high capacity communication link 207.
• the link 207 may be wire, fiber, wireless, or any other suitable communication link.
• the communication link 207 is coupled to a gaming carousel 208 that comprises a plurality of gaming machines (e.g., 16 gaming machines 215A-215P).
• a managed switch 209 is coupled to the link 207 to provide an interface switch to a plurality of other managed switches 210 through 213.
• each of the managed switches 210-213 manages four game machines 215(x). It is understood that the types of switches may be changed without departing from the scope of the claimed system. Further, switches with more or fewer ports may be substituted and more or fewer tiers of switches in the access layer may be used, as well, without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed system.
• each game machine has its own managed switch.
• the network uses TCP/IP sessions between the gaming machines 215 and the servers 201.
• the TCP/IP sessions are used to exchange private information concerning game operations, game performance, network management, patron information, revised game code, accounting information, configuration and download, and other sensitive information.
• sessions may be a single message and acknowledgement, or the sessions may oe an extended interactive, multiple transaction session.
• Other instantiations may include UDP/DP, token ring, MQ, etc.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a configuration management architecture that may be used in an EGM with the system.
• the architecture illustrates software functions within an EGM in one embodiment.
• a configuration server 303 is part of the game manager 304.
• An IPC connection 302 is made to a host interpreter 301.
• the host interpreter interprets for the so-called Best of Breed ("BOB") protocol or G2S protocol.
• BOB Best of Breed
• One or more clients 306A-306C have an IPC connection 305 to the configuration server 303.
• the configuration server has access to local NVRAM 307 via the game manager 304.
• the configuration server 303 acts as a central point of configuration management.
• the server 303 does not necessarily have specific knowledge of any specific configuration options. Rather, the server handles each configuration option dynamically as it is registered and used. It is the responsibility of the configuration client to register for a configuration and respond to a configuration change.
• the client object's function is to provide a useful interface to the configuration service.
• the methods given are not direct IPC calls, but instead tools that use IPC calls to communicate with the configuration service.
• the majority of these methods accept vectors of configuration objects to reduce calls and simplify the interface, as it is anticipated that most configuration clients will have multiple options to manage.
• configuration objects may be created at any time, it is recommended that all configuration objects be registered before a "Game Complete" event. This will allow host interpreters to have a consistent point of completeness, and provide a more consistent interface with the given host system.
• the system contemplates a system for naming individual options so that they can be uniquely identified. There may be a number of volume options that can be configured using the system. Calling each of these options "volume” would limit the ability of a user to distinguish the particular volume option that is desired to configure.
• the system proposes a naming convention for configuration options so that plain English names can be used to enable easy understanding of an operator when implementing a configuration or configuration template. The example given is for one embodiment of the system and is not intended to be limiting.
• the components are part of a configuration option object that may be provided to an EGM.
• an Option can be viewed at any time as a C++ Object, or as a XML text buffer.
• the configuration Object will usually be handled within the context of a standard template library vector.
• Configuration Hosts and the configuration manager will view configuration options in their whole form, while configuration clients will typically only deal with the configuration options by their name and value.
• An object may be created from a file:
• Each configuration option name will include the path of the configuration file that it was created from. This reduces the restriction on option names to be unique per configuration file, but now allows multiple "volumes" across the system. This configuration path name may need to be overridden in some specific cases, m which case an IF(J can win oe supported to do so if and when it is needed.
• the configuration options when presented to in a GUI can be displayed as “Volume” but in the background can now be managed as “cfg/OSSound/Volume” and “game 1 /theme/volume”, keeping them separate and accurate.
• Every configuration object is responsible for defining rules that will prevent illegal configurations. This is important because the possibility of incomplete configurations needs to be avoided, as recovery from such situations may not always be possible due to one time configurations, interdependencies, and the like. Changes may occur singularly, or as a whole.
• Each configuration request will be treated as a single transaction regardless of the size or number of options that change. All rules will be re-evaluated before changes are implemented. Registered clients will receive their option changes at the same time to avoid chicken/egg situations. Configuration clients will have their handlers called in the order that the client registered with the configuration service.
• the components of a configuration option object include category, name, value, type, minimum, maximum, allowed values, allowed value rules, control type, rules, Readonly, OneTimeSettable, IsSet, ReadOnlyWithCredits, Visible,
• the creator of the Option is responsible for filling this with the "default" value.
• Type - The type of the option Value.
• the supported types are: double, signed long, string, and Boolean.
• Minimum - Optional the minimum value of Value, (e.g. minimum volume)
• Maximum - Optional the maximum value of Value, (e.g. maximum volume)
• Allowed Values - Optional if provided, Value must be equal to a value supplied in the allowed value list.
• Control Type - Type of control object to display in GUI to the operator.
• ReadOnly - Boolean signifying if this is a modifiable option. It is preferable if the Readonly flag be set once to prevent confusion or conflicts when copying one machines configuration to another.
• IsSet - Boolean signifying if this option has been set at least once since ram clear.
• Visible - Boolean signifies if this option can/will be displayed to the operator.
• RestrictToAllowedValues - Boolean signifies that the Value MUST be on the allowed value list. When this flag is not set, Allowed Values are used more as "suggested" values. Do not use this option in combination with Control Type Combo Box.
• CommaDelimitedList - Flag that signifies if this option is intended to be a list of values. Comma delimited lists are intended to have the format ⁇ (value)","(value2)”,”(value3)"
• An example would be in Iowa, there is no printer limit. So the printer limit is "Disabled”. You can give the printer limit a value, but it will have no effect on the operation of the machine. If Enabled is not present in the definition of an option, it is assumed to be true.
• Enabled's primary purpose is for the use in Rules. A rule may check the enabled state of itself, and either require that the value is some fixed number, or allow any value, since it has no effect for example. Rules may also check the enabled state of other rules. For the Iowa example, the tax limit may normally check to ensure that it is greater than printer limit, if the printer limit is enabled, otherwise, ignore the rule. The same rule would then work for jurisdictions that have a printer limit, and for jurisdictions that do not.
• control types include:
• Multi-Line Edit Box This is a text box that will allow for new lines.
• Slider - This is a drag-able slider bar. To use, provide a min and max. Also supports allowed value list.
• RadioButton - Will list Allowed Values as Radio Button options, and the Operator will be allowed to select one.
• Configuration data may be streamed to the block as configuration changes are made.
• the NVRAM structure should be managed. If the reserved block is not managed, then theoretically, a change at the beginning of the structure in the length of a string can cause the entire block to be re-streamed to NVRAM, causing unacceptable resource loads. Instead the data should be kept in an allocation table, so that the data can be dynamically rearranged to reduce NVRAM writes on configuration changes. A background timer or thread can then be used to defragment the data over time, to create large blocks of space for future configuration changes.
• Configuration rules are intended to allow the configuration manager and the host system to pre-check all configuration requests and make accurate predictions on if a configuration is possible and valid.
• the host system will be able to also use the rules system to provide immediate feedback to a GUI user if the configuration they are creating is valid.
• the Rules system is not the last stand against illegal or bad configurations, but it should cover the majority of cases. Additional coded checks within the gaming machine should be made to ensure that an error in a configuration rule does not allow illegal configuration. For every rule, the final result must be true, or the option will be considered invalid. Multiple rules can be applied to any Option. It may be advantageous to have multiple rules than a single large rule consisting of a series of ands. This allows error reporting to be more specific.
• FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the system.
• the diagram shows the communication between the configuration client 401, configuration manager 402, host interpreter 403 and host system 404.
• the configuration client 401 registers its handler 405 and option 406 with configuration manager 402.
• Configuration manager 402 sends the configuration change 407 and game ready event 408 to the host interpreter 403.
• the host interpreter 403 sends an option update 409 to the host system 404.
• the host system 404 returns a configuration change 410 to the host interpreter
• the configuration manager 402 tests the rules 412 and returns the test results 413 to the host interpreter 403. If the test fails, the host interpreter 403 reports errors 414 to the host system
• the host interpreter 403 sends set values 415 to the configuration manager 402 who sends a change handler to configuration client 416.
• Host interpreter 403 reports success 417 to the host system 404.
• a configuration change is provided to an EGM.
• the EGM tests the configuration change for validity. If not valid at step 503, the system returns an error at step 504. Otherwise the system checks whether there are more changes at step 505. If so, the system returns to step 502 to validate those changes. Otherwise the system applies all of the changes at once at step 506. In one embodiment this means writing the changes to a block in an NVRAM at the EGM and then applying the changes to the EGM by applying the configuration parameters to the appropriate controllers in the EGM. At step 507 the system reports success to the server.
• the EGMs can recover from power failures more easily than before. Upon repower, all the configuration parameters are still present in the NVRAM and available for configuring the machine. In addition, the EGM can periodically broadcast its configuration state to a server as necessary.
• the system permits configuration changes from a handheld device that may be used by authorized personnel near the EGM. This may be particularly useful for controlling the audio volume of EGMs on a casino floor. In some cases, a standard volume level may sound louder in a particular environment or in a particular machine.
• the system allows a user to be adjacent an EGM and control some of the environmental parameters on the spot without needing the open the machine or shut it down. Some environmental parameters may have the ability to be changed during game play so that a player need not interrupt play on the machine while such updates are taking place.
• the system also supports the downloading and storing of multiple configuration templates that are each tested for validity.
• the server need only communicate a command to the EGM to select a previously validated, but locally stored, configuration template. In some cases, it may be desirable to having an automatically timed switch from one configuration to another based on time of day or day of week.
• a configuration template is established that represents a tournament mode of the EGM. If it is desired to initiate tournament play on one or more EGMs.
• the system provides the ability to obtain configuration states of an EGM and recreate field issues at a similar EGM that is located off floor for example. The issues can then be corrected and the appropriate configuration options can be provided remotely to the EGM that was originally having issues and correct it without needing to manually open the EGM. This replaces the prior art technique of taking an EGM out of play while converting it to tournament mode.
• One of the configuration options that can be controlled by the system is the denomination of the EGM.
• the system allows the denomination of an EGM to be easily increased or decreased as appropriate to maximize or increase yield based on real-time conditions.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
• Working Measures On Existing Buildindgs (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-09-12 AU AU2006291020A patent/AU2006291020B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-09-12 EP EP06814498A patent/EP1937378A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-09-12 CA CA002622380A patent/CA2622380A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-12 WO PCT/US2006/035454 patent/WO2007033153A2/en active Application Filing

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