GB2482929A

GB2482929A - Gaming apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2482929A
Application number: GB1105072.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Cechmanek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-08-18
Filing date: 2011-03-25
Publication date: 2012-02-22
Also published as: HU3971U; GB201105072D0; SK5881Y1; DE202011100507U1; CZ22206U1; SK72011U1

Abstract

Gaming apparatus has a main control unit 1, enabling multiple connections, connected online to a server 4 of a central gaming system. At least one central display unit 3, a central currency accepting mechanism 6 and a maintenance monitoring module 5 are provided. The currency accepting mechanism 6, the maintenance monitoring module 5 and the central display unit 3 are installed remotely from the control unit 1, and are connected with it by a wired or wireless communications link. The control unit 1 is connected to at least one portable video terminal 2. In use, credit may be inserted at the maintenance monitoring module 5 or on the central currency accepting mechanism 6, then the numerical key is pressed on the keypad 22, 35 corresponding to the sequence number of the respective portable terminal 2, and, finally, using the function push-button 36, 29, the inserted credit is transferred via the control unit 1 to the required portable terminal 2. The portable terminal 2 may be stored in a stand, when not in use, which has a power supply to recharge the terminal 2. The main control unit 1 may be integral with the portable terminal 2.

Description

GAMING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

s The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus for use in the lottery and gaming industry.

Prior Art

io In practice, the only gaming devices currently used are stable, compact machines comprising a control unit, one up to three screens, a currency accepting mechanism and control buttons installed together in one housing.

The drawback of the current gaming units is their bulkiness, massiveness and the fact that they may be used only as indivisible units predefined in is shape with an invariable place of operation and manner of usage, which, among other drawbacks, represents extensive spatial requirements and limited space for use.

Detailed Description of the Invention

These drawbacks of the currently known gaming units are removed in gaming apparatus according to the present invention which provides a partly mobile or portable gaming apparatus for use in the lottery and gaming industry comprising a control unit enabling multiple connections, connected on-line to the server of the central gaming system, at least one central display, the central display allowing for multiple connections, a central currency accepting mechanism, a maintenance monitoring module, whose principle consists in that the central currency accepting mechanism, the central display allowing for multiple connections, and the maintenance monitoring module are located away from the control unit and are connected to it by any known wire or wireless link, while the control unit is further connected to at least one portable video terminal.

According to the present invention, it is advantageous under certain circumstances if the control unit is installed inside at least one portable video terminal.

Another principle of the present invention is that the portable video terminal is provided with a touch screen, a loudspeaker, an activation push-button, and a secured maintenance access key preventing under-age gambling. It also includes a hole for credit issuance key of the maintenance, a hole for maintenance access key, a "start" button, a "pause-lock" button, a socket for io an adapter to provide connection to the mains, and a socket for connection to the communication ports. It is advantageous if the portable video terminal, when unused, can be stored and presented in charging stands connected to the power supply unit.

is According to the present invention, it is also advantageous, if the central currency accepting mechanism is provided with a numerical keypad, a display, a coupon printer, a coupon reader, a currency accepting mechanism and a club and credit card accepting mechanism.

The maintenance monitoring panel of the mobile gaming unit according to the present invention is used for transferring specified amounts of money to the required portable video terminals, for registering inserted and dispensed amounts of money, printing and reading of receipts, issuing a credit to club cards, and activating or deactivating selected video terminals. According to the present invention, it comprises a hole for the maintenance access key and a hole for the credit issuance key, a coupon printer, a coupon reader, a display, a numerical keypad with function buttons, and mechanical and electronic counters of inserted and dispensed amounts shown on its display.

Another principle of the present invention is that the mobile gaming unit is configured for games that require interconnection of portable video terminals with an n number of central displays, a central currency accepting mechanism and a maintenance module, while the access is wireless or via communication ports by means of the control unit enabling multiple connections of individual portable video terminals.

s The principle of the present invention is also the manner of maintenance of the mobile gaming unit consisting in the fact that the maintenance will set the credit on the maintenance monitoring panel using the key, or by means of the central currency accepting mechanism, he/she will then press the respective number key on the keypad, and, using the function push-button, io he/she will transfer the inserted credit via the control unit to the required portable video terminal using the transmitter and receiver, or the cable, or another communication device.

As the individual portable video terminals are connected to the control unit is via transmitters and receivers, or communication ports, and are also interconnected with the central currency accepting mechanism, the external maintenance module and one or more central displays, they are able to operate as single gaming devices, independent of each other.

If individual portable video terminals are in addition equipped with a full-featured control unit of its own, it would be sufficient to connect them on-line to the server of the central gaming system or any other gaming system.

The mobile gaming unit according to the present invention represents an entirely new manner and new concept of operation of on-line lottery, gaming and betting devices used in lottery and gaming industry.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a diagram of the connection of the mobile gaming unit according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows the portable video terminal according to the present invention. Figure 3 shows the presentation charging stand for portable video terminals. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the currency accepting mechanism, while Figure 5 shows the currency accepting mechanism as wall-mounted; Figure 6 shows the same currency accepting mechanism as in-built, and Figure 7 shows the same currency accepting mechanism installed on a supporting pole. Figure 8 shows the maintenance monitoring module, and Figure 9 shows an example of connection via communication ports.

Description of the Embodiment according to the Invention Figure 1 shows a diagram of the connection of individual components of the mobile gaming unit. The control unit 1 enabling multiple connections with appropriate equipment according to the required performance is on-line connected to the central gaming system 4 and monitoring centres 7. It is is provided with a transmitter 8 and a receiver 9, e.g. with a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth interface, or with another wireless connection or communication ports, by means of which it communicates and maintains connection with individual portable video terminals 2. The control unit 1 is further interconnected with the central display 3, the maintenance module 5, and the central currency accepting mechanism 6 by any known wire 11 or wireless link.

The portable video terminal 2 comprising an electronic device for data entry and display shown on Figure 2 is powered by a battery. It comprises a touch screen 12 with durable coating, e.g. "fingerprint-resistant", against undesirable finger prints, which is installed in a robust rubber-coated aluminium frame 13, a transmitter 8 and a receiver 9, e.g. with a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth interface, a loudspeaker 14, and an activation push-button 15 preventing under-age gambling. This activation push-button 15 works only together with the maintenance access key. The portable video terminal 2 is provided with a hole 16 for the credit issuance key, and a hole 17 for the maintenance access key, a socket 18 for connection to the mains, a socket 19 for connection to communication ports, a "start" push-button 20 and a "pause-lock" 21 push-button. It is connected to the control unit 1 either via any wireless technology, via communication ports 19, or it may be equipped with a sufficiently powerful control unit with communication modules that will be able to communicate by itself with the central gaming system 4 and other components of the mobile gaming unit, i.e. with the central display unit 3, the maintenance module 5 and the central currency accepting mechanism 6. In this case the portable video terminal 2 would become a separate gaming unit, a portable video terminal without the necessity of being connected to the control unit 1.

Referring to Fig 3, the storage stand 38 is used for presentation and charging of the portable video terminals 2, which may be installed both horizontally and vertically, e.g. mounted on the wall.

is Another component of the mobile gaming unit is the central currency accepting mechanism 6 as shown on Figure 4. It is provided with a numerical keypad 22, a display 23, a coupon printer 24, a coupon reader 25, a slot 26 for cash and a slot 27 for credit and club cards. It is connected to the control unit 1 via any of the above-mentioned means of connection. That means that it has a built-in transmitter 8 and receiver 9, or uses some other known mean of wireless communication, such as a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth interface, and in a similar manner it is connected to the control unit 1, the portable video terminals 2 and the maintenance module 5. In this manner it enables the customers to insert cash, and, after entering the required registration number 28 of the portable video terminal 2 on the numerical keypad 22 and pressing function push-buttons 29, to transfer the credit to the required portable video terminal 2.

The currency accepting mechanism 6 may be installed and mounted on the wall as shown on Figure 5, or installed separately on a supporting pole, see Figure 7, or installed as a built-in case, see Figure 6, or in a similar manner.

Another component of the mobile gaming unit is the monitoring module 5 shown on Figure 8. It is connected to the control unit I by a cable 11, or a transmitter 8 and a receiver 9 such as a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth interface, etc. The maintenance monitoring module 5 also comprises a hole 30 for the access key and a hole 31 for the maintenance credit issuance key, a coupon printer 32, a coupon reader 33, a slot 39 for club and credit cards, a touch screen 34, a numerical keypad 35 with function keys 36 and mechanical counters 37 of amounts inserted and dispensed.

io The last component of the system is the central display 3 used for advertising messages, presentation of bets, bonuses and jackpots, and other information about the games. In order to protect individual portable video terminals 2 against theft or unauthorised use, any common RF detection devices or similar safety appliances may be used.

Industrial Applicability

Thanks to its simplicity, easy use and accessibility for the public, this mobile gaming unit may be used as a supplementary service in places and locations, where casinos or gaming houses are not desirable, or cannot be established or operated in the given location due to whatever reason.

An undeniable advantage of this mobile gaming unit according to the present invention is the achievement of maximum comfort and discreetness during the game, and in betting. In this manner the customer is not obliged to enter a gaming room and sit down at an ordinary gaming machine, or hang around at a betting shop looking at the odds board, but he/she will borrow (free of charge) one of the stations of the portable video terminal, and sitting comfortably at a table in a coffee shop or bar, or at a similar place, he/she may quietly and undisturbedly devote his/her time to the game without a fear of being condemned by the public.

Another considerable advantage of the present mobile gaming unit is its spatial modesty, which means that it does not require a special dedicated room for its operation as the current gaming devices do, uselessly occupying space if inactive.

One way of achieving this is shown schematically in Figure 9. This shows how a portable video terminal 2 may be connected as desired by means of a cable 11 to the remainder of the apparatus via sockets 19, one of which is at the edge of terminal 2 and the other of which may be in a wall mounting or io on the top or edge of the table shown.

List of Reference Numbers 1 -Control unit s 2 -Portable video terminal 3 -Central display 4 -Central gaming system -server -Maintenance module 6 -Central currency accepting mechanism 7 -Monitoring centres 8 -Transmitter 9 -Receiver 10-Internet 11 -Interconnecting cable is 12 -Touch screen 13-Frame 14 -Loudspeaker -Activation push-button 16 -Hole for maintenance credit issuance key 17 -Hole for maintenance access key 18 -Socket for connection to the mains 19 -Socket for connection to communication port -Start button 21 -"Pause-lock" button 22 -Numerical keypad of the central currency accepting mechanism 23 -Display of the central currency accepting mechanism 24 -Coupon printer of the of the central currency accepting mechanism -Coupon reader of the of the central currency accepting mechanism 26 -Slot for cash of the of the central currency accepting mechanism 27 -Slot for cards of the of the central currency accepting mechanism 28 -Registration number of the portable video terminal 29 -Function push-button of the of the central currency accepting mechanism -Hole for access key in the maintenance module 31 -Hole for credit issuance key in the maintenance module 32 -Coupon printer in the maintenance module 33 -Coupon reader in the maintenance module 34 -Touch screen in the maintenance module -Numerical keypad in the maintenance module 36 -Function push-buttons on the maintenance module 37 -Mechanical counters in the maintenance module 38 -Storage stand for portable video terminals 39 -Slot for club and credit cards in the maintenance module

Claims

CLAIMS1. Gaming apparatus comprising a main control unit, a central server, a central display, the central display allowing the multiple connections, a central currency accepting mechanism and a maintenance monitoring module wherein the currency accepting mechanism, the central display and the maintenance monitoring module are installed at one or more locations away from the main control unit and are connected with the main control unit by any known wire or wireless link, the main control unit is connected on-line io to the central server and the apparatus including at least one portable video terminal connected to the main control unit.
2. Gaming apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the main control unit is built into at least one portable video terminal.
3. Gaming apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the portable video terminal is provided with a touch screen, a loudspeaker, an activation push-button for preventing under-age use, a hole for a maintenance access key, a hole for a maintenance credit issuance key, a "start" push-button, a "pause-lock" push-button, a socket for connection to a mains electricity supply and a socket for connection to a communication port.
4. Gaming apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 and including at least one stand connected to a power supply unit, and adapted to store and charge one or more of the portable video terminals.
5. Gaming apparatus according to any one of Claims I to 4 wherein the central currency accepting mechanism includes a numerical keypad, a display, a coupon printer, a coupon reader, a slot for accepting cash and a slot for accepting and reading data from credit and club cards.
6. Gaming apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the maintenance monitoring module comprises a hole for an access key, a hole for a maintenance credit issuance key, a coupon printer, a coupon reader, a slot for acceptance and reading data from credit and club cards, a touch screen, a numerical keypad including function push-buttons, mechanical counters adapted to display inserted and dispensed amounts, and a socket for connection to a communication port.
7. Gaming apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein at io least one portable video terminal is interconnected with the central display unit, the central currency accepting mechanism and the maintenance module, the connection being made via the main control unit, the interconnection being such as to enable multiple connections using communication ports, or wireless technology.
8. Gaming apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 and configured to operate in such a fashion that a credit set on the maintenance monitoring module or on the central currency accepting mechanism may be transferred via the main control unit to a given portable video terminal by means of any known communication device by pressing numerical keys on a keypad forming part of the maintenance monitoring module or the central currency accepting mechanism corresponding to the sequence number of the respective video terminal and, finally by using a function push-button on the keypad.