RU41893U1 - GAME NETWORK EQUIPMENT SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The utility model relates to the field of entertainment and gambling, to the design of gaming equipment and can be used in local and global networks of casinos or gaming halls, which use homogeneous and heterogeneous, located at any distance from each other and from the computer center (IVC) gaming devices and other gaming network equipment.

BACKGROUND

Currently, the most widespread are gaming networks combining similarly located gaming machines that are used to draw a single prize.

With the increase in the number of gaming equipment inside the halls of slot machines and casinos, with the increase in the number of halls of slot machines and casinos, with increasing competition among operator companies, there is a need to provide players with additional services and capabilities, such as a variety of additional wins when playing any game on any gaming machine or casino gaming table, the organization of new games with the participation of several or many players at the same time, the organization of a system of reward players for participating in the main and complement ial games (accruing bonus points), simplifying payments for the game and get the winning, as well as the need arises in the organization of the account of money, timely collection of information about the events taking place on the gaming devices, and control of the technical state of play equipment. For this, it is necessary to unite in a single gaming network a large number of gaming equipment that is heterogeneous in types of communication interfaces and information exchange protocols, located both in the same slot machine hall or casino, and at large distances from each other - in different areas,

cities, countries - depending on the sphere of activity of the gaming business operator company, for receiving information from gaming equipment, monitoring its functioning and managing its work in real time from the IC of the operator company.

Known technical means do not allow to combine gaming equipment located at any distance from each other. Attempts to unite into a single gaming network using well-known technical means of equipment located at significant distances from each other, lead to a sharp increase in the cost of the gaming network and a decrease in the quality of its functioning.

Known technical means also do not allow combining heterogeneous gaming equipment, or they are designed in such a way that, if it is necessary to connect a new type of equipment or when solving new problems, their structural refinement and replacement in the entire gaming network is required, which leads to an increase in the cost of the gaming network and an increase in its complexity organization and does not allow the operator to use the latest technical developments in the entertainment industry.

A device is known for an additional game for a reward, which is played simultaneously by the host of the game and many players at the casino gaming table with many player positions, each of which has a receiver for tokens, light-emitting diodes-indicators for each player, a controller by which at the command of the master, the token receiver is blocked, random number generators connected to the controller, a display connected to the controller to display a random winning combination or card, uu communication network and a personal computer having a controller input / output card, the additional master controller and software [RF patent 2142309, A 63 F 9/24, publ. 12/10/1999, Bull. 34]. A significant disadvantage of this device is its operability only when connecting to the system identical to each other equipment of playing places, compatible with the type of input / output information signals of the personal computer of the host.

There is a known system for accounting bets and winnings in gaming machines by constantly counting the wagered amounts and amounts paid as prizes in gaming machines issuing random prizes, which contains the established

a gaming machine and performing all operations of reading, storing and transmitting information, control means connected to the communication board in the infrared range, and an adapter board connected to the information terminal, while the communication between the communication board and the adapter is carried out by means of infrared signals, which are for this purpose equipped with emitters and receivers, and the control tool installed in the gaming machine contains a communications microcontroller, a supervisor element that provides validation the operation of the circuit and the communication elements that determine the software and power failures [RF Application No. 94031566/09 G 07 F 17/38, publ. 1996.06.20].

A characteristic feature of this system is that the communication circuit is designed in accordance with the RS232 interface and allows you to connect peripheral devices that work only in this standard in limited local networks to the control tool, while the control tool contains a microcontroller that performs counting operations and acts as a memory device for storing information, fueled by a battery in case of power failures, an element of the supervisor that defines as failures When the program is run, there are power failures and a communication element designed to electronically transmit information to the communication board in the infrared range, and the entire control system is mounted on a printed circuit board, which, in addition to microcontroller elements, a supervisor element, communication elements and related electronic circuits, equipped with a connector through which communication with the gaming machine and communication board in the infrared range, as well as installation elements for installing the board inside cars.

Known controllers of certain types of gaming equipment, in particular, gaming machine controllers SMIB (Slot Machine Interface Board) company Mikohn, USA. However, these controllers are only suitable for connecting homogeneous gaming machines only to local networks.

The closest in technical essence and achieved technical result (prototype) is a previously developed system of gaming devices with a network controller of a gaming device system, which contains a processor with input / output ports of information signals that stores

device, means for transmitting information signals, software and hardware for autonomous automatic and / or remote monitoring of the operation of the network controller itself and / or one or more blocks of the network controller and / or game devices and / or additional equipment of game devices and / or information boards and / or means of transmitting information signals and / or their software, hardware-software means of autonomous automatic and / or remote tuning and the operation of the network controller itself and / or one or more blocks of the network controller and / or additional equipment of gaming devices and / or information boards and / or means for transmitting information signals and / or their software and hardware and software for protecting information signals and / or software for a network controller and / or means for transmitting information signals, while the controller processor includes an integrated device for monitoring the execution of programs mm and at least one of the processor ports contains a universal asynchronous transceiver of information signals or other similar means with the ability to process or convert in real time heterogeneous communication interfaces, for example TTL, RS232, RS422, RS485 or other standards or protocols for information and computer information exchange a center with gaming devices and / or additional equipment for gaming devices and / or information boards or other switched devices, and the network controller units are made with the ability to perform the functions of the network controller of the gaming device, the network controller of the information board and the network two-channel analyzer converter [RF Patent No. 2202124 G 07 F 19/00, G 07 F 161/00, A 63 F 13/12 publ. 2003.04.10, Bull. 10] (prototype).

The technical disadvantages of the prototype network controller are limited functionality, design complexity, a fixed, structurally limited number of communication ports for input / output of information signals of a predetermined type, installation of all elements on one board, and the presence of one processor (microcontroller) with an external power and operation supervisor . In this case, in the case of the appearance in the gaming network of a new type of gaming equipment operating earlier than

The communication interface or communication protocol provided for in the network controller requires a change in the design of the network controller and the replacement of network controllers throughout the game network.

TASKS OF A USEFUL MODEL

The main technical problem (which has not yet been fully solved by the inventive task), hindering the development of the gaming business, is that increasing mass use, increasing the requirements for the efficiency and economy of modern gaming networks, the attractiveness and excitement of games in gaming networks require localization (within the same slot machine hall or casino) and global (within several remote from any slot machine halls or casino halls) networks are heterogeneous design and operation of gaming devices and heterogeneous equipment of gaming networks, but the well-known and accessible to date network controllers are either structurally complex and not sufficiently reliable in operation, or they allow only homogeneous gaming equipment to be integrated into local networks.

In modern gaming networks, simultaneous connection to a gaming network of a large number of different equipment with heterogeneous standards for transmitting information signals (TTL, RS232, RS422, RS485, etc.), new types of interfaces, new standards for transmitting signals in the radio range and fiber optic lines. Therefore, the design of the network controllers of the gaming network equipment should include all possible and necessary input / output ports of information signals of various types and, accordingly, should provide the ability to quickly adapt network controllers to newly arising specific tasks and provide the ability to quickly modify network controllers.

TECHNICAL RESULT OF A USEFUL MODEL

The required technical result (the purpose of the utility model), achieved by using the utility model, is to solve the above inventive problems by creating a new design of the network controller for the gaming network equipment system, which allows to unite the gaming networks that are remote at almost any distance from each other and from the ITC and gaming network equipment that is heterogeneous in design and function,

which allows transmitting and processing in real time information signals from gaming network equipment with different types of communication interfaces and information exchange protocols, while increasing economic efficiency, reliability, reducing the complexity of manufacturing and maintenance of gaming networks, providing adaptive capabilities (if necessary, to solve specific tasks) to connect to the gaming network a variable number and variety of peripheral devices of the gaming network equipment, work different types of communication interfaces and information exchange protocols.

ESSENCE OF A USEFUL MODEL

The required technical result when using the utility model (the goal) is achieved by the fact that in the game network equipment system comprising game network equipment (OIC) connected by means of transmitting information signals, network controllers of the game network equipment and the information and computing center (IC), ACCORDING TO USEFUL MODEL network controllers contain the main boards of network controllers with processors of the main boards of network controllers with input / output ports of information signals, with means adaptation of the main boards of network controllers connected to the input / output ports of information signals of the processors of the main boards of network controllers, and means for processing communication interfaces and information exchange protocols between the information center and the gaming network equipment, made in the form of expansion cards for network controllers connected to the means adaptation of the main boards of network controllers, an information and computer center and gaming network equipment containing means of Browsing the interfaces and protocols of information exchange between network controllers and an information-processing center or gaming network equipment and containing expansion card processors with input / output ports for information signals, one of the input / output ports for information signals of processors of expansion cards for network controllers by means of adaptation of the main boards of network controllers and connected through the indicated means of adaptation of the main boards of network controllers with input / output ports of information signals

processors of the main boards of network controllers, and other input / output ports of information processors of expansion cards of network controllers are configured to connect to interface conversion tools and communication protocols between network controllers and a data processing center or gaming network equipment and are connected via said interface conversion tools and protocols of information exchange between network controllers and information and computing center Whether gaming network equipment with a means to transmit data signals.

At the same time, the adaptation tools for the main cards of the network controllers are made in the form of bus shapers, and the means for converting the information exchange interfaces between the network controllers and the data processing center or the gaming network equipment on the expansion cards of the network controllers are made in the form of universal asynchronous information signal transceivers.

In this case, the main boards of network controllers contain means for generating and / or storing unique identification numbers of network controllers connected to the input / output ports of information signals of the processors of the main boards of network controllers, diagnostic tools, read-only memory devices and random access memory devices connected to input / output ports information signals of the processors of the main boards of network controllers, and percent connected to the input / output ports of information signals quarrel main board intelligent network controllers panel with a real time clock, power controllers and autonomous power sources, providing autonomous operation in the event of network controllers damage means for transmitting information signals or interrupt information signal communication with the computer center.

In addition, the expansion boards of network controllers contain diagnostic tools connected to the input / output ports of information signals from processors of expansion boards of network controllers.

At the same time, means of converting interfaces and protocols of information exchange between a network controller and information and computing

the center or equipment of the gaming network is made connected through the means of transmitting information signals to the information and computing center or to the equipment of the gaming network in the form of gaming devices, visual and audio information devices, readers of information cards, devices for players to interact with the equipment of the gaming network.

At the same time, network controllers contain software located in the memory of processors of the main boards of network controllers, processors of expansion cards of network controllers, in read-only memory devices and random-access memory devices of the main boards of network controllers, which provide the ability to receive information signals through the means of transmitting information signals from the information and computing the center and from the equipment of the gaming network, their processing and transmission through transmission media signals in the Computer Center and the network to the gaming equipment.

In addition, network controllers are configured to receive information signals from the information and computing center and from gaming devices, process them and transmit them to the information and computer center and to gaming devices and contain software with the ability to receive, process and transmit information signals about the status and / or the functioning of gaming devices, counters of gaming devices, additional equipment for gaming devices, their software, means of transmitting information signals fishing, as well as with the ability to remotely configure network controllers, determine the type of protocols for exchanging information signals, as well as with the possibility of autonomous automatic and remote zeroing and restarting of network controllers in cases of detecting signs of incorrect operation or in the absence of signs of correct operation of gaming devices, game device counters, additional equipment for gaming devices, their software, means of transmitting information signals or directly network controllers themselves.

In addition, expansion cards for network controllers contain means of protecting and converting electrical signals from gaming network equipment.

Moreover, the network controllers are configured to receive information signals from the data center and from

visual and sound informing, their processing and transmission to the information and computer center and visual and sound informing means and contain software with the ability to control in real time the functioning of the means of informing using appropriate means of visual and sound signaling and indication, as well as with management of information tools by regulating the composition, order and form of filing information signals about the facts of winnings, current The calculation of the sums of winnings and advertising information, the possibility of receiving information signals from the information and computer center and from the means of visual and sound information, their processing and transmission to the information and computer center and to the means of visual and sound information and contain software with the possibility of receiving, processing and transmitting information signals about the state and functioning of the information media and their software, as well as with the possibility of remote figuring out means of informing, determining connection schemes, order and duration of activation of equipment for certain events, as well as with the possibility of autonomous automatic and remote restart of the corresponding software and reloading of templates defining the form and order of displaying information signals of several or any of the means of informing in cases of detection of signs incorrect operation or in the absence of signs of correct operation of the information media and their programs The leg support.

In this case, the main boards of network controllers and expansion cards of network controllers contain software and hardware for setting up and monitoring operation and are configured to connect software download devices and the ability to reprogram, while network controllers are made to operate independently when damaged by means of transmitting information signals or upon interruption exchange of information signals with the information and computer center and the possibility of reception, processing and transmitting information signals in real time.

In addition, network controllers contain means of protecting external input / output information signals of network controllers in the form

encryption / decryption software and means of protecting internal information signals and network controller software in the form of access restriction hardware.

At the same time, the network controllers are capable of autonomous automatic real-time display of the results of monitoring the status and functioning of the network controllers themselves, the main boards of the network controllers, expansion cards of the network controllers and equipment of the gaming network, the ability to connect to means of transmitting information signals in the form of dedicated or switched communication lines, for example, in the form of fiber optic lines, in the form of electrical or radio channels, in the form of a local network and and the global Internet and is connectable with the gaming devices in the form elektronnomehanicheskih gaming machines and machines, gaming and video machine videoavtomatov, computerized gaming devices or other similar and dissimilar interfaces and protocols for information exchange gaming devices.

In addition, network controllers are configured to provide accounting, control and analysis of the financial parameters and results of the gaming network, the ability to control and analyze the functioning of gaming devices and receive reports based on information collected in real time from gaming devices of the gaming network, and the ability to provide control technical condition and functioning of the gaming network equipment and the ability to ensure the organization and functioning of the system of additional locks nyh and global progressive winnings gaming devices gaming network.

LIST OF DRAWINGS FIGURES

The disclosure of the utility model is illustrated by the drawings of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the connection of a dissimilar OIC with the ITC through a network controller according to the utility model.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a design of a network controller. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of expansion cards of the EX-A type, designed primarily for connecting to the information center, connecting indicators of advertising information boards with the type of communication interface RS485 and devices for user interaction with the system.

Figure 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of expansion cards of the EX-B type, designed primarily for connecting indicators of advertising information boards with a type of communication interface RS422, sound notification devices about system events with a type of communication interface RS422 and devices for reading user identifiers ( card readers).

Figure 5 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an EX-C type expansion board, intended primarily for connecting indicators of advertising information boards with a type of communication interface RS232, readers of user identifiers (card readers) and gaming devices with a type of communication interface RS232 .

Figure 6 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an EX-D type expansion board designed primarily for connecting gaming devices with a type of communication interface StykS2, sound alerts for system events with a type of communication interface StykS2 and devices for reading user identifiers (card readers )

Figure 7 shows a block diagram of the organization of the gaming network with the most commonly used, but not all possible, options for connecting the IPO to the network controller to ensure communication of the IPO with the ITC.

On Fig shows a block diagram of a method of organizing and operating a system of additional local and global progressive wins on gaming devices of the gaming network according to the utility model.

EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTING A USEFUL MODEL

Some individual particular features of the utility model are known, however, the totality of essential features of the utility model among technical solutions known in science and technology, in the scope of the search, was not found.

The set of essential features of the utility model performs new, previously unknown functions, that is, it provides the opportunity to obtain a new technical result.

The characteristic technical features of the system according to the utility model are the presence in the design of network controllers of the main board and expansion cards (up to 6 pcs or more, depending on the design of the tool

adaptation - bus driver), the presence on each expansion card of its processor with software and a variable number and types of input / output ports of information signals located on the expansion cards.

All this allows us to provide the above functionality and adapt network controllers to solve a specific task of modifying or functioning a gaming network, install as many ports and the type that is necessary for a specific gaming network, reduces the cost of solving a specific problem, as well as the cost of manufacturing and maintaining a network controller . If it is necessary to use new types of interfaces, the problem can be easily solved by manufacturing and installing in the network controller, according to the utility model, new modified expansion cards with corresponding interfaces and software.

A characteristic feature of the system according to the utility model is also the modularity of the construction of the hardware and software; therefore, the software and hardware controls and functioning of the gaming network equipment do not negatively affect each other. This dramatically increases the reliability of the operation of IPOs and provides ease of monitoring and control of the system.

The software update of the main board and expansion cards of network controllers is performed without replacing the microcircuits - by downloading through special software and hardware modules (ports) located on the main board and expansion cards. It is advisable to update the software mainly in the repair area using specialized programmers.

The design of network controllers of the system according to a utility model allows the use of modern element base and software to perform the specified functionality. This allows you to significantly miniaturize the network controllers of the system, significantly reduce the cost of their manufacture, increase the reliability of operation and ensure the implementation of these functionality at the hardware level.

At the same time, it is possible to combine the functions of network controllers of gaming devices and network controllers of information boards in the same hardware and software systems, that is, the same network

controllers in the system can be used both to control the operation of gaming machines and to monitor and control the operation of indicators of advertising information boards. It is also possible to use network controllers according to a utility model and as network analyzer-converters.

Using network controllers in the system according to a utility model allows for scalability (changing the scale of implementation) and scalability of the composition of gaming networks by installing additional, usually heterogeneous equipment, connecting new and modifying existing equipment without making significant changes to it, thus, new types and quantities OIC end devices do not affect the quality of operation of network controllers according to a utility model.

The essence of the utility model is illustrated by examples of the implementation of the utility model.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the connection of the network controller 1 with the ITC 2 and with a heterogeneous OIC in the form of gaming devices 3, indicators of advertising information boards 4, sound notification devices about system events 5, devices for reading user identifiers and operation indicators of these devices 6 , devices for user interaction with the system 7.

IVC 2 is, for example, a personal computer with a database installed on it, database management tools, software and client applications that provide gaming network functions. The tasks of the ITC include: detecting equipment newly connected to the network (initialization of network controllers and IPOs or restoration of communication with them after a loss of connection); fast detection of loss of communication with equipment; making decisions on messages received from equipment; formation and sending messages OIC.

For communication with the ITC 2 in the network controllers 1, an expansion card 10 of type EX-A is used (Fig. 3). The software of expansion cards of type 10 EX-A is intended for the organization of communication between the network controller 1 and the ITC 2.

To connect the gaming devices 3 to the gaming network, an expansion card 10 of EX-C type (Fig. 5) and EX-D type (Fig. 6) corresponding to the type of communication interface used in gaming systems is installed in the network controller 1

devices 3 (RS232 - EX-C, StykS2 - EX-D), and with software designed to connect to gaming devices 3.

Indicators of advertising information boards 4 are intended for displaying information on accumulated winnings, on the size and place of winnings, for displaying system messages and information of an advertising nature. Typically, in game networks, several types of indicators are used, differing in size, color, external design, etc., as well as types of communication interfaces - RS232, RS422, RS485.

To connect the indicators of the advertising information boards 4 to the network controllers 1, install expansion cards 10 corresponding to the type of communication interface used in these indicators, for example RS232 - EX-C (figure 5), RS422 - EX-B (figure 4), RS485 - EX-A (figure 3) having software designed to connect to these indicators.

The sound notification device for system events 5 is an MPEG player module for sounding events in the gaming network by playing back a sequence of sound fragments located in an external storage device for controlling additional warning devices using a 6-channel switch. To connect the sound notification device 5, an expansion card 10 is installed in the network controller that corresponds to the type of communication interface used in this sound notification device 5 (RS422 - EX-B, StykS2 - EX-D), which has software designed to connect to this device sound alert 5.

The device for reading user identifiers and operation indicators of these devices 6 are devices for reading magnetic, chip or other information cards and are intended to identify users of the gaming network, for example, to accrue bonus points to a player for a game. To connect devices for reading user identifiers 6, an EX-C type expansion card (Fig. 5) or EX-D (Fig. 6) is installed in the network controller

To connect devices for user interaction with the system 7 in the network controller 1 install expansion card 10 type EX-A (figure 3), with software designed to connect with these devices. User interaction devices with system 7 allow

the player to determine the desired actions (for example, cashless transfer of the amount from the player’s account to the gaming machine, from the machine to the account, account selection, PIN input, etc.) provide the display of the result of the operation and / or other information and can be performed, for example, in in the form of additional modules for slot machines, with a set of buttons and graphic or text indicators or in the form of touch screens.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the design of the network controllers 1 of the system according to the utility model, containing the main board 8 with an identifying device 9 in the form of a chip (for example, chip DS2401, http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/ DS2401.pdf) or other similar means generating and / or fixing a unique identification number for the unique identification of the network controller 1 in the gaming network, expansion cards 10, the processor of the main board 12 (for example, the Atmega128 processor, http://www.atmel.com / dyn / resources / prod documents / doc2467.pdf, with memory built into the Atmega128 processor Tew of programs - 128kB, internal RAM-4kB integrated into the Atmega128 processor, 4kB internal ROM integrated into the Atmega128 processor, internal firmware and / or functional adjustment built into the Atmega128 processor, with an Atmega128 UARTO processor port for connecting software download devices 11 to the memory of programs and / or diagnostics (for example, a Palm 105 microcomputer or a personal computer with special software), an Atmega128 SPI processor port, and other input / output pores of information systems gnal), external EPROM 13 (for example, an external serial access EPROM based on the AT24C256 chip, http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod documents / doc0670.pdf) for storing text templates displayed on advertising and information indicators display 4, external RAM 14 (for example, external 32 kB RAM based on the SRAM 8X256kBit chip, http://www.sharpsma.com/sma/products / memory / specifications / slow sram / tec specs 1h52256ch-85ll.pdf) for storage configuration files and system messages, adaptation tool 15 in the form of a bus driver for communication with expansion cards, an intelligent connection panel 16 (for example er, panel DS1216, http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/DS1216-DS1216D.pdf) for ensuring the non-volatility of external RAM 14 and for the formation of system time.

The main boards 8 of the network controllers 1 of the system according to the utility model in the preferred embodiment have the adaptation means 15 in the form of a bus driver mainly for six (or more, if necessary) slots (for example, a bus driver based on the 74HC243SO chip, http: // focus .ti.com / lit / ds / symlink / cd74hc243.pdf) for connecting expansion cards 10, which is determined by the needs of the network for connecting equipment and ensuring the optimal size of the network controller.

Depending on the type of equipment to be connected, various types of expansion cards with various software are installed in network controllers, in particular, an EX-A type expansion card 10 is installed in one of the slots (Fig. 3) for communication with the ITC 2, and in others, expansion cards 10 corresponding to the type of connected OIC.

For example, to the network controller 1 for communication with the IVC 2, you can connect four indicators of billboards 4 operating on the RS485 interface, one indicator of billboards 4 working on the RS232 interface, a gaming device 3 working on the RS232 interface and a reader user ID 6 installed on the gaming device 3, for which two expansion cards 10 of EX-A type (with different grammnym software) and two expansion cards, type EX-C (with software), the two slots of the bus driver 15 on the baseboard 8 network controller 1 remains unused.

Figure 3, 4, 5, 6, shows the block diagrams of the main options for the design of expansion cards, in particular, expansion cards of the EX-A type, designed primarily for connecting indicators of advertising information boards, devices for user interaction with the system and connecting with information and computing center (Fig. 3), expansion cards of the EX-B type, designed primarily for connecting indicators of advertising information boards, reading devices for user identifiers and sound devices tions system events (Figure 4), expansion cards of type C-EX intended primarily for connection-advertising placards indicators, gaming devices and reading user device identifiers (5) and expansion boards type EX-D,

users (Fig. 5) and expansion cards of the EX-D type, intended primarily for connecting gaming devices, sound notification devices about system events, devices for reading user identifiers (Fig. 6).

Expansion cards 10 contain the processors of expansion cards 18 installed on them (for example, Atmega323 processors, http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod documents / doc1457.pdf) containing program memory (for example, memory built into the Atmega323 processor programs - 32kB), RAM (for example, internal RAM in the Atmega323 processor - 2kB), EPROM (for example, an internal ROM in the Atmega323 processor - 1kB), ports for connecting built-in diagnostic devices 19 (for example, parallel ports of Atmega323 processors), programmatically - hardware controls and / or settings are functional ports (for example, internal firmware and / or functional settings built into the Atmega323 processor), ports for connecting software download devices 17 (for example, a personal computer with special software and a programmer) to the program memory and / or connecting to the main board (for example, SPI ports of the Atmega323 processor), input / output ports of information signals (for example, UART ports of the Atmega323 processor), as well as diagnostic devices 19 (for example, LEDs of different colors) and with interface conversion tools 20 (for example, for the RS485 interface, the ADM485 chip, http://www.analog.com/ UploadedFiles / Data Sheets / 32947177190506ADM485 e.pdf, for the JointS2 interface, the RS829 chip http: //smaecom1.sharpsec. com / eprise / main / FldrSharp // Techpub / productfocus / publications / opto / infrared / photo cpl / tec datasheet pc829 849.pdf, for the RS422 interface chip ADM488, and for the RS232 interface chip ADM202J, http: //www.analog .com / Uploaded-Files / Data Sheets / 373417631ADM488 9 b.pdf.http: //www.analog.com/UploadedFiles/ Data Sheets 440303855ADM202 3a.pdf).

The main technical functions of the network controllers of the system according to the utility model are the reception of messages from the information center, the sending of messages to the information center, the reception of messages from the IPO and the sending of IPO messages.

The messages received from the IVC include requests for various information about the operation of the network controller and the IPO connected to it, as well as the commands that need to be executed by the network controller or IPO,

connected to it. With the help of queries, the ITC receives, for example, information on the current operating parameters of the network controller and gaming equipment (settings, type of communication protocol, available additional equipment), information on the version of software installed on the network controller or gaming equipment, information on counters of gaming equipment ( e.g. the number of games played on a gaming device). Commands include, for example: loading network controller and game network equipment operation parameters, resetting and restarting the network controller or game network equipment. The network controller should send a confirmation of receipt of a command or a response to a request to all messages arriving from the IVC. If there is no response from the network controller within the time specified in the IVC, the IVC deletes the non-responding network controller from the list of operational IPOs in the IVC.

Some IVC messages are broadcast. Broadcast messages include information and communication centers with information for a large number of IPOs, for example, loading the current progressive win value to display on several indicators of the scoreboard or transmitting the current operating mode of gaming network devices (usually inside one room — for example, a test operating mode of equipment to verify operation display devices). Messages sent by the ITC broadcast usually do not require acknowledgment from network controllers.

Network controllers, in order to start working as part of a gaming network, need to wait for the request of the ITC, and then obtain from the ITC the operation parameters of the network controllers themselves and the IPO connected to them. These parameters are stored in the IVC and written there until the network controllers are connected to the gaming network.

In order for the network controllers to be able to transmit their own messages and messages from the OIC connected to it to the IVC, the IVC sends requests to all network controllers connected to the gaming network at the intervals specified in the IVC. In response to such a request, each network controller can transmit any message it has. Messages sent by the network controller to the IVC include responses to requests from the IVC, as well as messages about events that occur in the network controller or IPO connected

to him, for example, a message about the jackpot winning on a gaming device or about the incorrect operation of the network controller itself or the IPO.

The interaction of the network controller with the IPO depends on the type of equipment connected to the network controller and is determined by the software of the expansion cards for this IPO. For example, the following main types of OICs can be used in a gaming network: one type of equipment can only send messages to the network controller about events that occur inside the OIC (this type includes devices for reading user identifiers and some gaming devices used on the network), another type can receive messages from the network controller and send answers to requests from the network controller and messages about events that occurred inside the IPO - these are indicators of advertising information boards, devices sound of notification of system events, user interaction with the system devices as well as most of the gaming device used in gaming network.

All messages received by network controllers from the IPO network are stored in the memory of network controllers and then either sent to the information and communication center (for example, a message about a jackpot win on a gaming device, the number of games played on a gaming device, a message about incorrect operation of user ID readers), or are processed the network controllers themselves (for example, a message stating that in the indicator of the advertising-information board there is no one of the templates for displaying information, as a result of which network The controllers will send the required templates to the indicators, which are stored in the EEPROM of the network controllers themselves).

In order for OICs, which can receive messages from network controllers, to be able to transmit their own messages to network controllers and then to the ITC, network controllers send requests to all OICs connected to them at certain intervals. In response to such requests, the OIC can transmit any message it has, for example, about winning a jackpot on a gaming device or about incorrect operation. If there is no response from the equipment to the request of the network controller within the time specified in the network controller, the network controller will send a message to the ITC about the loss of communication with the IPO.

When commands and requests from the ITC appear in the network controller, the network controller, in response to some messages, transmits information it has previously received from the gaming network equipment (for example, requesting game device counters - the number of credits put on the game, the number of credits won, the number of played games, the maximum gain of the gaming device), and transfers the other part to the gaming network equipment for execution (for example, a command to restart the equipment, a progress loading command, progress net gain for displaying an advertising information board on the indicator).

In the event of damage to the means of transmitting information signals or interrupting the exchange of information signals with the Information and Communication Center, autonomous functioning of network controllers is ensured. For this, with the help of smart panels, the non-volatility of the external RAM of the network controllers is ensured and all messages received by the network controllers are stored in the external RAM of the network controllers with the indication of the time of their receipt for further transmission to the ITC. If there is no communication with the ITC, then the network controllers send all messages after reconnecting with the ITC.

The system according to the utility model functions and provides the transmission of messages from the ITC to the IPO through network controllers as follows:

A message from the ITC 2, for example, information about the place and amount of the winnings, is transmitted by means of transmitting information signals to the expansion card 10 of the EX-A type (Figure 3). Through a means of converting heterogeneous interfaces 20, if an interface conversion is necessary, the message is transmitted to the input / output port of information signals of the processor of the expansion board 18 and placed in the internal RAM of the processor 18. Using the input / output port of the processor of the expansion board 18, the message is transmitted to the main board 8 network controller (Figure 2). Through the adaptation means, the bus driver 15, the message is transmitted to the input / output port of the information signals of the processor of the main board 12. The processor of the main board 12 places the message in the external RAM 14, putting a time stamp on it using the real-time clock built into the smart panel 16. The processor the main board 12 determines which of the gaming network equipment connected to this network controller receives the message (e.g.

the indicator of the advertising information board 4) and transmits a message from the external RAM 14 via the input / output port via the bus driver 15 to the corresponding expansion card 10 of the network controller (for example, EX-B. see Figure 4). Through the input / output port of the processor of the expansion card 18, the message is placed in the internal RAM of the processor of the expansion card 18. Then, using the input / output port of the processor of the expansion card 18, the message is transmitted through the means for converting heterogeneous interfaces 20 (if conversion is necessary) to the gaming network equipment (for example, an indicator advertising and information board 4).

Using network controllers in the system according to a utility model allows you to organize a system of additional local and global progressive wins (jackpots) on the gaming devices of the gaming network. The jackpot can be played at the player’s main bet, when the player does not need additional investments to participate in the Jackpot, and the additional winnings are formed from deductions from the main bets of the players. The jackpot can also be played at the player’s bet, additional to the main game, while the additional win is formed from deductions from the players ’extra bets. Each player bet can take part in several jackpots. The percentage of deductions to the Jackpot, as well as the range of values of the main and additional bets of the players taking part in a certain draw, are set by the organizers of the games and recorded in the ITC.

Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for organizing and operating a system of additional local and global progressive wins on gaming devices of a gaming network, when a value of a win amount is randomly generated or randomly generated within a predetermined range of additional win values. The winner of the additional win is determined by the player on the gaming device on which the last bet was made, deductions from which led to the coincidence of the generated and accumulated values. After the occurrence of the winning event, the accumulated jackpot amount is reduced to the starting value set in the IVC.

A high degree of adaptation of network controllers of the system according to a utility model is achieved by using various expansion cards in the design of network controllers. This allows you to increase the number of types.

communication interfaces and information exchange protocols used in the OIC, as a result of which provide an almost unlimited coverage area of the gaming network, provide the possibility of combining an unlimited number of homogeneous and heterogeneous OICs into the gaming network, as well as drastically reduce the complexity of network maintenance, provide remote control and operational reprogramming of software network controller blocks.

Thus, the combination of general and particular essential features of a utility model provides the opportunity to solve the inventive problems, achieve the goals of the utility model and confidently achieve the required new technical result when using the utility model. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY.

To confirm the feasibility of implementing the utility model in an industrial way and experimentally confirm the feasibility of achieving the required technical result, pilot industrial models of network controllers of the system were manufactured and tested according to the utility model, a gaming equipment system was created and put into practice within the framework of a single information and prize game network, which showed high efficiency of the utility model.

Practical field tests showed that the use of the inventive gaming network equipment system allows for the implementation of a utility model in an industrial way, and they proved that the utility model is fundamentally operable when it is widely used in a real-life, created with the participation of the applicant unified information and prize network “JACKPOT” in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Bishkek, Blagoveshchensk, Cheboksary, Yekaterinburg, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Kaluga, Kazan, Kemerovo, Kiev, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Murmansk, Ni The harvest of Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Penza, Perm, Pyatigorsk, Rostov, Ryazan, Samara, Saratov, Sochi, Surgut, Tver, Ulan Ude, Ulyanovsk, Vladikavkaz, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vorkuta, Voronezh, Yakutsk, Yaroslavsk.

Claims (21)

1. The gaming network equipment system comprising gaming network equipment connected by means of transmitting information signals, network controllers of the gaming network equipment and an information and computing center, characterized in that the network controllers comprise main circuit boards of network controllers with processors of main circuit boards of network controllers with input / output ports information signals, with adaptation of the main boards of network controllers connected to input / output ports of information signals of processors main network controller cards, and means for processing communication interfaces and information exchange protocols between the data processing center and the gaming network equipment, made in the form of expansion cards for network controllers connected to the adaptation means of the main network controller cards, the information processing center and gaming network equipment, containing means for converting interfaces and protocols of information exchange between network controllers and information and computing m center or equipment of the gaming network and containing processors of expansion cards with input / output ports of information signals, while one of the input / output ports of information signals of processors of expansion cards of network controllers is made with the possibility of connection with adaptation means of the main boards of network controllers and connected through these means adaptation of mainboards of network controllers with input / output ports of information signals of processors of mainboards of network controllers, and other input / output ports the water of the information signals of the processors of the expansion boards of the network controllers is configured to connect to the means of converting the interfaces and protocols of information exchange between the network controllers and the data processing center or equipment of the gaming network and are connected via the said means of converting the interfaces and protocols of the exchange of information between the network controllers and the information and computing a center or equipment of a gaming network with means of transmitting information from persecuted. 2. The gaming network equipment system according to claim 1, characterized in that the adaptation means of the main boards of the network controllers are made in the form of bus drivers, and the means for converting the information exchange interfaces between the network controllers and the data processing center or the gaming network equipment on the expansion boards of the network controllers made in the form of universal asynchronous transceivers of information signals. 3. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the main boards of the network controllers comprise means for generating and / or storing unique identification numbers of the network controllers connected to input / output ports of information signals of the processors of the main boards of the network controllers. 4. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the main boards of the network controllers contain diagnostic tools, read-only memory devices and random-access memory devices connected to the input / output ports of the information signals of the processors of the main boards of the network controllers. 5. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the main boards of the network controllers include smart panels with real-time clocks, power controllers and autonomous power sources connected to the input / output ports of the processors of the main boards of the network controllers providing autonomous functioning of network controllers in the event of damage to the means of transmitting information signals or interrupting the exchange of information signals with information numeral center. 6. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the expansion cards of the network controllers include diagnostic tools connected to the input / output ports of the information signals of the processors of the expansion cards of the network controllers. 7. The equipment system in the gaming network according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for converting the interfaces and information exchange protocols between the network controller and the data processing center or gaming network equipment are connected via information signal processing means to the information processing computer the center or with the equipment of the gaming network in the form of gaming devices, visual and sound information tools, information card readers, game interaction devices fetters with gaming network equipment. 8. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers comprise software located in the memory of the processors of the main boards of the network controllers, the processors of the expansion cards of the network controllers, in read-only memory devices and random access memory devices of the main boards network controllers that provide the ability to receive information signals through the transmission of information signals from the information center and from the gaming equipment th network, their processing and transmission through means of transmitting information signals to the information and computer center and to the equipment of the gaming network. 9. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers are configured to receive information signals from the information and computing center and from gaming devices, process them and transmit them to the information and computer center and to gaming devices and contain software with the ability to receive, process and transmit information signals about the status and / or functioning of gaming devices, counters of gaming devices, additional equipment for gaming devices, and x software, means of transmitting information signals, as well as with the ability to remotely configure network controllers, determine the type of protocols for exchanging information signals, as well as with the possibility of autonomous automatic and remote zeroing and restarting of network controllers in case of signs of incorrect operation or in the absence of signs of correct operation gaming devices, counters of gaming devices, additional equipment for gaming devices, their software software, means of transmitting information signals or directly to the network controllers themselves. 10. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the expansion cards of the network controllers comprise means for protecting and converting electrical signals from the gaming network equipment. 11. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers are configured to receive information signals from the information and computer center and from visual and sound information, their processing and transmission to the information and computer center and to the means of visual and sound informing and contain software with the ability to control in real time the functioning of the means of informing using appropriate visual and sound signaling and indication, as well as with the ability to control the means of informing by adjusting the composition, order and form of filing information signals about the facts of the winnings, the current value of the sums of the winnings and advertising information. 12. The equipment system in the gaming network according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers are configured to receive information signals from the information and computer center and from visual and sound information, their processing and transmission to the information and computer center and to means of visual and sound informing and contain software with the ability to receive, process and transmit information signals about the status and functioning of informative means and their software providing, as well as with the ability to remotely configure the means of information, determine the connection schemes, the order and duration of activation of the equipment for certain events, as well as the ability to autonomously automatically and remotely restart the corresponding software and reload templates that specify the form and order of display of information signals of several or any from information tools in cases of detecting signs of incorrect operation or in the absence of signs the correct operation of the means of information and their software. 13. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the main circuit boards of the network controllers and expansion cards of the network controllers contain software and hardware for setting up and monitoring the functioning and are configured to connect software download devices and the possibility of reprogramming. 14. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers comprise means for ensuring autonomous functioning when the means of transmitting information signals are damaged or when the exchange of information signals with the information and computer center is interrupted, reception, processing and transmission of information signals in real time. 15. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers comprise means for protecting external incoming / outgoing information signals of network controllers in the form of encryption / decryption software and means for protecting internal information signals and software for network controllers in the form of hardware access restrictions. 16. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers comprise means for autonomous automatic real-time indication of the results of monitoring the status and functioning of the network controllers themselves, main network controller cards, network controller expansion cards, and gaming network equipment. 17. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers are connected to means for transmitting information signals in the form of dedicated or switched communication lines, for example, in the form of fiber optic lines, in the form of electric or radio channels, in the form LAN or WAN. 18. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers are connected to gaming devices in the form of electronic-mechanical gaming machines and machines, video game machines and video machines, computerized gaming devices or other uniform and heterogeneous interfaces and protocols for the exchange of gaming devices. 19. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers comprise means for accounting, control and analysis of financial parameters and gaming network performance. 20. A system for playing games in a gaming network according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers comprise means for monitoring and analyzing the functioning of gaming devices and receiving reports based on information collected in real time from gaming devices of the gaming network, and the ability to control the technical condition and functioning of the gaming network equipment. 21. The gaming network equipment system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the network controllers are connected to a system of additional local and global progressive wins on gaming devices of the gaming network.